99 m. ago Russia accuses UK and France of ‘heating up’ Ukraine war amid defence push

The accusation comes as the Prime Minister flies to the US to meet Donald Trump after promising a dramatic increase in defence spending.

Events

1 hour ago 'Keir Starmer must make that call and save my mum's life TODAY', daughter begs

Laila Soueif is fighting for her life after going on hunger strike demanding the release of her son, British citizen Abdel Fattah el-Sisi who is desperate to be reunited with his son in Brighton

Politics

3 h. ago No question of paying any paramilitary group to disband, says Hilary Benn

Sir Keir Starmer also told the Commons he is ‘committed to making progress towards ending paramilitaries once and for all’.

Events

3 h. ago Voices: Making the world’s most defenceless people pay for UK defence is reprehensible

When countries are reneging on their promises where Britain stands on international development is a critical test of the prime minister’s leadership, writes Christian Aid boss Patrick Watt

Politics

3 h. ago Zelensky says no US security guarantees agreed in minerals deal as Starmer heads to Washington for Trump talks

PM travelling to Washington following his weekly Commons grilling after announcing dramatic increase in UK’s war chest

Politics

3 h. ago Sunak calls for targeted national screening programme for prostate cancer

The former prime minister said thousands of lives could be saved as a result of targeted measures.

Events

4 h. ago Keir Starmer FAILS to rule out Labour's defence spending boost being used to fund £9billion deal to hand Chagos Islands to Mauritius

The Prime Minister has announced that Britain's defence spending will rise from its current 2.3 per cent of GDP to 2.5 per cent in 2027.

Economics

4 h. ago Keir Starmer says SNP needs to 'take responsibility' for widening attainment gap in Scots schools

The Prime Minister said the Nationalists were "playing the politics of grievance" during PMQs on Wednesday.

Politics

4 h. ago Defence spending numbers defended by Starmer amid ‘silly games’ criticism

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch pressed the Prime Minister in the Commons over the spending increase and his plan for Ukraine.

Politics

4 h. ago John Swinney makes Trident nuclear deterrent declaration after Sir Keir Starmer defence spending decision

It came as the First Minister backed an increase in defence spending announced by Sir Keir Starmer

Events

4 h. ago Nuclear weapons provide 'no tangible benefit' to Scotland's security, insists John Swinney

The First Minister backed Keir Starmer's decision to increase UK defence spending but said cash should be spent on "conventional" weapons instead of nukes.

Events

4 h. ago Rayner pledges ‘change and reform’ as she formally responds to Grenfell report

Grenfell Next of Kin, a group representing some bereaved, said it will be ‘paying close attention to these words and intentions’.

Politics

5 h. ago Keir Starmer quietly dismantles Kemi Badenoch's 'desperate search for relevance' with savage putdown

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch tried to claim credit for the PM's plan to boost defence spending - claiming she'd made the suggestion over the weekend and saying it was the quickest response she'd ever had from No10

Politics

5 h. ago DAN HODGES: As Keir Starmer prepares to enter the lion's den and meet an increasingly erratic King Donald, this is why his visit will tell us who the true patriots

The opposition MP is usually one of Starmer's most voluble critics. But after watching the PM's statement on Ukraine yesterday, even he was prepared to acknowledge he'd done a decent job.

Politics

5 h. ago Swinney says SNP right to oppose Trident as he welcomes defence spending boost

But the Scottish First Minister said it is the ‘wrong choice’ to fund increased spending by slashing international aid.

Politics

5 h. ago Starmer may need to play his Royal Trump card for difficult White House talks

Starmer will get a ‘respectful’ greeting but is going to face a difficult meeting with Trump as subjects like Ukraine, trade, free speech and Chagos dominate discussions, as David Maddox reports. Could the prospect of a royal visit help the prime minister’s cause?

Politics

5 h. ago Vladimir Putin mouthpiece says UK 'perfect' target for nuclear weapons in rant

Vladimir Putin's propagandists have threatened to test nuclear weapons on Britain in response to Keir Starmer's announcement yesterday that the Government will spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2027

Events

5 h. ago Watch live: Keir Starmer faces Kemi Badenoch at PMQs ahead of crunch US talks with Donald Trump

Watch live as Sir Keir Starmer faces Kemi Badenoch at PMQs today (26 February) ahead of crunch US talks with Donald Trump.

Politics

6 h. ago Ukraine minerals deal agreed as Donald Trump drops key demand ahead of talks with Keir Starmer in Washington

The PM will travel to Washington following his weekly Commons grilling after announcing dramatic increase in UK’s war chest

Politics

6 h. ago Starmer’s cuts are a huge mistake – foreign aid is an investment, not an expense | Halima Begum

At the height of the cold war, the west advanced its soft power through aid and development spending. If we cut that now, who will fill the vacuum?Halima Begum is the chief executive of Oxfam GBThe savagely deep cuts that Keir Starmer has announced to the international aid budget make a mockery of the pledge his party made to the British people in its manifesto. Then, it promised to restore development spending at the level of 0.7% of gross national income “as soon as fiscal circumstances allow”. On Tuesday the prime minister stood in front of parliament and announced that he will cut it from 0.5% to 0.3% of GDP. In the same manifesto, Labour made a commitment to “rebuild Britain’s reputation on international development with a new approach based on genuine respect and partnership with the global south”. This week, the government turned its back on it.Of course, I understand the argument that defence spending has to be increased, but cutting our aid budget still further when governm...

Politics