3 h. ago Now is not the time for a Labour leadership election | Polly Toynbee

The focus should be on talking up this government’s achievements so far – and preventing a Reform victoryThe dominant political force sweeping across Europe is the “throw the bastards out” party, whoever happens to be in power. Discontent and distrust spread as global democracy declines. Only 6.6% of the world’s people live in a full democracy, according to the Economist’s global index, down from 12.5% 10 years ago. Europe is still the most democratic place, but it’s turbulent.Britain is an insular country that needs reminding it is not alone in its political turmoil after an omnishambles week for Keir Starmer’s government. The rumbling earthquakes beneath No 10 also shake the ground under the Élysée Palace and other official residences. A number of European countries have thrown out old governments in the past three years, including Finland, Germany, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden and the UK (Starmer is Britain’s sixth prime minister in less than a decade)...

Politics

7 h. ago 'I'm going nowhere': Keir Starmer insists he will be PM at next election

A YouGov survey of 2,100 people found 23 per cent think the party leader should quit now and elect someone else.

Politics

9 h. ago Human rights groups criticise Troubles Bill ‘lawfare’ claims

The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill is due for its second reading in the UK Parliament on Tuesday.

Economics

10 h. ago Keir Starmer insists he will lead Labour into next general election

The prime minister said that discussions around his leadership amounted to time-wasting

Politics

14 h. ago Keir Starmer vows he'll lead Labour into next election as he slams 'wasted' time on rows

The Prime Minister hit out at time-wasting rows over party leadership and said bearing down on cost of living pressures clobbering families was his top priority

Politics

14 h. ago UK asylum reforms spark backlash within Labour Party, support from rivals

The British government plans to tighten its asylum system, sparking resistance within its own party

Events

15 h. ago Shabana Mahmood tells MPs asylum system is ‘out of control and unfair’ amid Labour backlash over proposals – UK politics live

Labour MP calls government’s asylum plans ‘dystopian’ as home secretary announces measures in CommonsMomentum, the leftwing Labour group, has also denounced the government’s asylum plans. In a statement it says:The home secretary’s new immigration plans are divisive and xenophobic.Scapegoating migrants will not fix our public services or end austerity.Draconian, unworkable and potentially illegal anti-asylum policies only feed Reform’s support.The government has learnt nothing from the period since the general election.Some of the legal changes being proposed are truly frightening:Abolishing the right to a family life would ultimately affect many more people than asylum-seekers. Continue reading...

Politics

16 h. ago Mahmood sets out plans for tougher asylum system in face of Labour resistance

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said even people who are genuine refugees ‘asylum shop’ their way across Europe before choosing the UK.

Events

16 h. ago Labour MP calls asylum plans ‘dystopian’ as government accused of ‘performative cruelty’ by rival parties – UK politics live

Nadia Whittome says government has sunk so low it is being praised by Tommy Robinson as SNP and Plaid Cymru criticise plansMomentum, the leftwing Labour group, has also denounced the government’s asylum plans. In a statement it says:The home secretary’s new immigration plans are divisive and xenophobic.Scapegoating migrants will not fix our public services or end austerity.Draconian, unworkable and potentially illegal anti-asylum policies only feed Reform’s support.The government has learnt nothing from the period since the general election.Some of the legal changes being proposed are truly frightening:Abolishing the right to a family life would ultimately affect many more people than asylum-seekers. Continue reading...

Politics

17 h. ago Labour accused of ‘performative cruelty’ over asylum plans – UK politics live

SNP and Plaid Cymru say government facilitating Farage’s agenda with proposals to drastically tighten rulesMomentum, the leftwing Labour group, has also denounced the government’s asylum plans. In a statement it says:The home secretary’s new immigration plans are divisive and xenophobic.Scapegoating migrants will not fix our public services or end austerity.Draconian, unworkable and potentially illegal anti-asylum policies only feed Reform’s support.The government has learnt nothing from the period since the general election.Some of the legal changes being proposed are truly frightening:Abolishing the right to a family life would ultimately affect many more people than asylum-seekers. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago British oatcake could be banned by Brussels diplomats as part of Keir Starmer's reset deal with the European Union

The national favourite, often served with cheese or full English items, might not meet strict European food safety rules in what is being called another Brexit 'sausage war'.

Politics

18 h. ago BBC ‘determined to fight’ Trump legal challenge, says chairman

It is understood that Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump did not speak on the phone over the weekend, despite speculation that the prime minister would try and call the US president about the scandal

Politics

19 h. ago Keir Starmer STILL hasn't spoken to Donald Trump over his threat to sue the BBC for $1bn

No10 said the Prime Minister was yet to hold talks with Mr Trump more than a week on from his threat to leave TV licence fee-payers with a huge bill.

Politics

20 h. ago Starmer facing growing backlash from Labour MPs as Mahmood sets out asylum plans – UK politics live

Home secretary to announce a drastic tightening of rules, including requiring asylum seekers to wait 20 years before getting the right to permanently settle in UKMomentum, the leftwing Labour group, has also denounced the government’s asylum plans. In a statement it says:The home secretary’s new immigration plans are divisive and xenophobic.Scapegoating migrants will not fix our public services or end austerity.Draconian, unworkable and potentially illegal anti-asylum policies only feed Reform’s support.The government has learnt nothing from the period since the general election.Some of the legal changes being proposed are truly frightening:Abolishing the right to a family life would ultimately affect many more people than asylum-seekers. Continue reading...

Politics

22 h. ago Starmer braced for backlash from Labour MPs as Mahmood sets out asylum plans – UK politics live

Home secretary to announce a drastic tightening of rules, including requiring asylum seekers to wait 20 years before getting the right to permanently settle in UKMomentum, the leftwing Labour group, has also denounced the government’s asylum plans. In a statement it says:The home secretary’s new immigration plans are divisive and xenophobic.Scapegoating migrants will not fix our public services or end austerity.Draconian, unworkable and potentially illegal anti-asylum policies only feed Reform’s support.The government has learnt nothing from the period since the general election.Some of the legal changes being proposed are truly frightening:Abolishing the right to a family life would ultimately affect many more people than asylum-seekers. Continue reading...

Politics

26 h. ago Andy Burnham beats Keir Starmer as political duo take to the stage in Manchester

The Rest is Politics podcast is all about disagreeing agreeably - except the presenters don't seem to disagree about much at all

Politics

27 h. ago Labour has entered its musical chairs era. Don’t fall for another pointless death spiral | Nesrine Malik

Briefing wars, toxic infighting, paranoid office politics: we’ve seen it all before. And once again, the drama at No 10 has absolutely nothing to do with us Sorry, what just happened? Before we hurtle on to the next instalment of Labour government drama, let’s pause for a second to recap. So Keir Starmer’s allies briefed against Wes Streeting accusing him of plotting a leadership challenge, then Streeting denied the claims, and Starmer apologised for them, before belatedly claiming the briefing had not come from Downing Street at all. A claim so implausible that a government source said journalists “must have all been tricked by several impostors posing as No 10 staff”.If this sounds farcical, vaguely embarrassing for all concerned and massively irrelevant to your life, you would be right. But in between the first chapter and the last (or perhaps the penultimate, given the aftershocks still reverberating through No 10), the episode acted as a masterclass in the patterns that define ...

Events

27 h. ago Labour has entered its musical chairs era – and we’re sucked into another pointless death spiral | Nesrine Malik

Briefing wars, toxic infighting, paranoid office politics: we’ve seen it all before. And once again, the drama at No 10 has absolutely nothing to do with us Sorry, what just happened? Before we hurtle on to the next instalment of Labour government drama, let’s pause for a second to recap. So Keir Starmer’s allies briefed against Wes Streeting accusing him of plotting a leadership challenge, then Streeting denied the claims, and Starmer apologised for them, before belatedly claiming the briefing had not come from Downing Street at all. A claim so implausible that a government source said journalists “must have all been tricked by several impostors posing as No 10 staff”.If this sounds farcical, vaguely embarrassing for all concerned and massively irrelevant to your life, you would be right. But in between the first chapter and the last (or perhaps the penultimate, given the aftershocks still reverberating through No 10), the episode acted as a masterclass in the patterns that define ...

Events

28 h. ago Scots can end Keir Starmer's time in Downing Street by voting for the SNP in May

In his regular column for the Record, First Minister John Swinney says he will tell Keir Starmer what people in Scotland expect him to deliver.

Politics

32 h. ago Pressure is on PM to talk Donald Trump out of his $5billion legal threat to the BBC as looming bill 'will hit taxpayers'

Keir Starmer was due to hold a crunch phone call with the US President as the fallout intensifies over the corporation twice broadcasting doctored footage of his speech before the Capitol riots.

Economics