5 h. ago If Keir Starmer’s Labour can’t satisfy the unions, another party will | Andy Beckett

At this year’s TUC conference, I found cautious optimism about the employment rights bill – and a resurgent left looking to capture hearts and mindsSign up for our new weekly newsletter Matters of Opinion, where our columnists and writers will reflect on what they’ve been debating, thinking about, reading and more‘Unions winning” declared a giant, cheerily multicoloured sign along the windy seafront side of the Brighton Centre this week. Built in the unions’ distant 1970s heyday, the hulking traditional venue for their annual TUC conference is sometimes a melancholy place, windowless meeting rooms half-full of delegates and union leaders trying to raise their spirits while talking about setbacks, betrayals and rare victories.Yet for much of this conference the sun was out, the wind was light by Brighton standards and, inside the centre, the exhibition stand for Labour Unions, the collective body for those affiliated to the party, was plastered with uplifting posters promoting “Labou...

Politics

12 h. ago Starmer under scrutiny as Mandelson ‘admitted long ties with Epstein in vetting’

Questions are swirling about the Prime Minister’s political judgment after he sacked the peer a day after defending him.

Politics

19 h. ago Starmer is always torn between risk and caution. When it came to Mandelson, the wrong side won | Emma Burnell

The PM stood by his man for so long, he can’t even claim credit now for firing him. It’s a worst-of-both-worlds scenarioEmma Burnell is the editor of LabourListKeir Starmer’s public image is one of stolid caution. This was something deliberately crafted at the start of his leadership of the Labour party to put him into sharp contrast with the charismatic but chaotic then prime minister, Boris Johnson. Starmer is – we were repeatedly told – forensic. He’s a details man who plays by the book.However, look more closely and you will see that Starmer is actually something of a political risk-taker. The hiring – and now firing – of Peter Mandelson is just the latest case in point.Emma Burnell is the editor of LabourList Continue reading...

Events

22 h. ago Labour ‘unprepared’ for the ‘state’ of its inheritance, new Commons Leader says

Conservative shadow Commons leader Jesse Norman described Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership as being like an ‘unending episode of The Office’.

Politics

24 h. ago Keir Starmer sacks Lord Mandelson as ambassador to US over Epstein friendship

The New Labour grandee has been withdrawn over emails showing the depth of his relationship with the convicted paedophile.

Politics

25 h. ago Welsh council leader steps down criticising Labour's direction under Keir Starmer

Sean Morgan said his "moral standing" prevented him being "aligned with the Labour Party any longer"

Politics

27 h. ago Pressure mounts on Mandelson over ‘sickening’ links to Epstein

A Government minister said emails between Lord Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein made him ‘shudder’.

Events

27 h. ago Minister 'shudders' at Peter Mandelson email to Jeffrey Epstein as pressure mounts on PM

Home Office minister Mike Tapp said hearing an email from Peter Mandelson to Jeffrey Epstein made him 'shudder' as Keir Starmer faces a growing Labour rebellion

Politics

35 h. ago Downing Street 'ignored warnings about Peter Mandelson's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein when Labour grandee was made ambassador'

The senior Labour peer Maurice Glasman privately warned Keir Starmer 's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney against the appointment in January.

Events

39 h. ago Mandelson fights to stay as UK ambassador amid new Epstein revelations

Tories urge Sir Keir Starmer to remove the Labour peer from his role as envoy to Washington

Politics

39 h. ago Mandelson fights to stay as UK envoy to the US amid new Epstein revelations

Tories urge Sir Keir Starmer to remove the Labour peer from his post

Politics

39 h. ago Mandelson fights to remain UK envoy to US amid Epstein revelations

Tories urge Keir Starmer to remove Labour peer from his post

Politics

40 h. ago Keir Starmer ally Bridget Phillipson sails through to next stage of Labour deputy leadership race as field slims to five after fellow minister drops out

The Education Secretary, who is being viewed as No10's de facto candidate, has now been nominated by 116 MPs in the battle to become Labour's number two.

Politics

45 h. ago Labour MPs turn on Starmer after PM backs Mandelson amid growing calls for him to quit over Epstein links

Pressure on Sir Keir Starmer over the Mandelson-Epstein scandal as Labour MPs grow increasingly nervous over defences of the ambassador to the US

Politics

47 h. ago Keir Starmer blasts Nigel Farage over 'dangerous' vaccine conspiracies that cost lives

After being questioned by Labour's Dr Simon Opher, Keir Starmer lashed out at Reform UK for platforming a speaker who linked Covid vaccines with cancer among Royal Family members

Politics

47 h. ago Starmer says he has confidence in Peter Mandelson despite resurfaced ties to Jeffrey Epstein – UK politics live

PM was grilled by Kemi Badenoch on suitability of Mandelson for job as US ambassador Helena Horton is a Guardian environment reporter.Emma Reynolds, the new environment secretary, had a difficult job this morning: meeting a group of farmers after Labour caused fury in the rural community by introducing a new inheritance tax.The Treasury reserve, designed to be used for “genuinely unforeseen, unaffordable and unavoidable pressures” has recently been used to fund higher public sector pay and compensation payouts.In a letter to ministers, the chancellor said Treasury would only consider providing reserve funds to departments that have already maximised their savings Continue reading...

Politics

50 h. ago Keir Starmer will meet Israeli president Isaac Herzog as MPs express ‘grave concern’ at the visit – UK politics live

The visit is seen as highly contentious amid the war in Gaza and Israel’s bombing of Qatar in a targeted strike aimed at Hamas officialsPeter Mandelson, the British ambassador to the US, has spoken at length about how he regrets “very, very deeply indeed” his past friendship with the billionaire paedophile sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.After new evidence about the extent of that friendship came to light yesterday, Mandelson gave an interview to the Sun’s editor-at-large in the US, Harry Cole, accepting that the disclosures were “very embarrassing to see and to read”.I just feel two things now – one, I feel a tremendous sense, a profound sense of sympathy for those people, those women, who suffered as a result of his behaviour and his illegal criminal activities.Secondly, I regret very, very deeply indeed carrying on that association with him for far longer than I should have done I just would say this during all the time I was an associate of his, I never saw the wrongdoing. I neve...

Politics

50 h. ago Starmer should beware: in this volatile age, no majority and no leader is secure for long | Rafael Behr

Labour’s massive election victory already feels long ago. The PM needs to build a new electoral alliance – and quicklySign up for our new weekly newsletter Matters of Opinion, where our columnists and writers will reflect on what they’ve been debating, thinking about, reading and moreKeir Starmer doesn’t see himself as the leader of a coalition government. With 399 MPs and a working majority of 156, why should he?One reason is that those numbers mark a high tide of anti-Tory feeling that receded as soon as Rishi Sunak’s rotten administration was swept away. Voters from diverse places with disparate grievances embraced Starmer’s promise of change, often uncertain what it meant in practice. They needed reasons to be glad of the choice they had made and haven’t found them. Support for the government has tanked as a result.Rafael Behr is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

Politics

58 h. ago The Labour left lining up to come for Starmer: As MPs throw their hat in the ring to replace Angela Rayner as Deputy PM... who's the biggest nightmare for Sir Keir

Six MPs threw their hat in the ring to replace Angela Rayner as nominations opened in the fast-tracked contest. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson took an early lead on Tuesday night.

Politics

59 h. ago Labour deputy leadership candidates to make their pitch in hustings

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has so far secured the most nominations in the race to replace Angela Rayner as the party’s deputy leader.

Politics