2 h. ago British fishing boat named after famous Prime Minister 'taken prisoner by the French'

The French navy has seized a British fishing boat named after Margaret Thatcher in the English channel, after it was accused of illegally fishing for whelks in the English Channel

Politics

3 h. ago Some Tories privately support PM’s stance on Israel and Gaza, Conservative says

Mark Pritchard, MP for the Wrekin, said he believed Sir Keir Starmer was on the ‘right side of history’.

Politics

3 h. ago British fishing boat named after Margaret Thatcher is 'held hostage' by the French

The Lady T, which is based in Eastbourne, East Sussex, is being held in Boulogne-sur-Mer, while the Francesca TO 80, which is registered in Truro, Cornwall, was escorted to Brest.

Events

4 h. ago Any trade deal with US must be based on ‘respect not threats’, says EU commissioner

Maroš Šefčovič’s remarks come after pace of talks prompted Trump to propose 50% tariff on goods from blocThe European Union’s trade chief has struck a defiant tone after Donald Trump threatened to place a 50% tariff on all goods from the bloc, saying any potential trade deal between Brussels and Washington must be based on “respect not threats”.The US president made his statement after voicing frustration with the pace of progress on a trade agreement with the EU. The new rates would come into effect from 1 June. Continue reading...

Events

4 h. ago Kemi Badenoch facing ‘inevitable’ leadership challenge as Tories battle dire poll ratings

It comes after The Independent revealed that Tory MPs are plotting to remove Mrs Badenoch

Politics

22 h. ago Badenoch urges Prime Minister to visit fishermen affected by EU trade deal

The Conservative leader visited Bridlington in East Yorkshire on Friday and met fishermen from the town.

Politics

26 h. ago Ukraine’s Zelenskyy confirms major prisoner swap with Russia – Europe live

The first stage of a major prison swap between Ukraine and Russia has taken place in Turkey, with 390 people released todayFor more coverage of Trump’s tariffs threats – which also include a warning that Apple must pay a 25% tariff unless it manufactures its iPhones in the US – follow our business live blog here:US president Donald Trump has just called the EU “very difficult to deal with,” lamenting the bloc’s “powerful Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against American Companies, and more” (original capitalisation!).“Our discussions with them are going nowhere! Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025. Continue reading...

Events

26 h. ago In Ukraine, I saw Trump’s ‘peace deal’ wouldn’t just trade away land – but lives, memories and homes | Timothy Garton Ash

Ukrainians I met in Kyiv and Lviv were grimly realistic about the end of the war. We should follow their exampleThe next time a breathless news anchor talks about the prospect of a war-ending “deal”, with Ukraine “ceding land for peace”, I want to sit them down with Adeline. In Lviv last week, Adeline showed me on her phone map her lost home in Russian-occupied Nova Kakhovka, just across the Dnipro River from the Ukrainian-liberated territory around Kherson. Look, she said, with tears welling up in her eyes, here on this satellite snapshot you can see the ecological disaster that followed Russia’s destruction of the Kakhovka dam in 2023. And here’s the place where she dreamed of setting up a small art gallery. “Why should I give up on my home?” she cried. Why indeed.The territory occupied by Russia is the size of Portugal and Slovenia combined. It’s difficult to get accurate figures, but perhaps some 5 million people live there, while at least another 2 million refugees from those t...

Politics

26 h. ago UK should get rid of ‘unsightly windmills’ and drill for North Sea oil – Trump

The US President was writing about the effects of the trade deal with the UK on his social media platform.

Politics

27 h. ago Kneecap mock Kemi Badenoch as they release new song ahead of festival appearance

Irish rap trio Kneecap has taken aim at Tory leader Kemi Badenoch in new track, The Recap, released just days after band member Liam O hAnnaidh was charged with a terror offence.

Culture

28 h. ago Labour hits back after furious Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu accuses Keir Starmer of 'siding with Hamas' in wake of Washington DC shootings

Following the killing of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington DC , Mr Netanyahu tore into the UK Prime Minister and other world leaders.

Events

30 h. ago Starmer and Swinney meet with both still working out the relationship 'reset'

The Council of Nations and Regions will meet in London on Friday

Politics

31 h. ago Minister defends ‘good value’ Chagos deal as Badenoch says Trump ‘laughing’

Armed forces minister Luke Pollard faced questions about the Government’s estimation of the full cost.

Politics

45 h. ago Violent Israeli settlers under UK sanctions join illegal West Bank outpost

Exclusive: Neria Ben Pazi and Zohar Sabah witnessed visiting base set up to drive Palestinians from homes• Middle East crisis live – latest updatesTwo violent Israeli settlers on whom sanctions were imposed by the UK government this week have joined a campaign to drive Palestinians from their homes in the West Bank village of Mughayyir al-Deir.Neria Ben Pazi’s organisation, Neria’s Farm, had sanctions imposed by London on Tuesday, as the UK suspended negotiations on a new free-trade deal with Israel over its refusal to allow aid into Gaza and cabinet ministers’ calls to “purify Gaza” by expelling Palestinians. Continue reading...

Politics

47 h. ago Starmer defends Chagos deal as Badenoch criticises multibillion ‘surrender tax’

Sir Keir Starmer said the agreement to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius secured the ‘vital’ Diego Garcia military base.

Economics

65 h. ago Keir Starmer asked if more pensioners will get fuel payments next winter

The Prime Minister said further details will come at a ‘fiscal event’, likely to be the next budget in the autumn.

Economics

3 d. ago ‘I feel embarrassed for her': John Bercow launches brutal attack on Kemi Badenoch and calls Tories 'jokers'

The former speaker claimed the Tory leader is in ‘deep trouble’ following her party’s recent election drubbing

Events

3 d. ago Controversial pregnancy drug campaigners accused Labour of ignoring parents of "affected" kids

Many women given Primodos blame it and similar drugs for causing abnormalities in babies.

Events

3 d. ago Cabinet in ‘open warfare’ over tax and MPs can’t trust Starmer, says Badenoch

The Tory leader said deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is ‘on manoeuvres’ and asked how MPs could ever trust Sir Keir after a U-turn on fuel cuts.

Economics

3 d. ago Starmer to look at making more pensioners eligible for winter fuel allowance

The Prime Minister has faced pressure to change course over the squeeze on benefits.

Politics