10 h. ago Labour and the Tories are banking on a return to the ‘old normal’. That’s not what voters want | Rafael Behr

An economic recovery could still change the parties’ fortunes. But the days when only two parties were licensed to supply Britain with prime ministers are goneUnpopular politicians take consolation in the thought that opinion polls are sometimes wrong and often describe the wrong thing. They capture the moment but don’t predict the future. A midterm poll measures how much voters like the government. A general election asks whether the opposition is trusted to take over. It isn’t the same question.Labour’s hopes for recovery rest on that distinction. The plan is that economic growth and governing competence will boost general wellbeing in the coming years. That will dial up the risks associated with other parties, especially for Reform UK. Voters who lack enthusiasm for the prime minister may be persuaded to stick with him if the alternative is Nigel Farage.Rafael Behr is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

Politics

68 h. ago Darts star who was declared bankrupt and owed £500,000 breaks down in tears after regaining PDC Tour Card

MERVYN KING broke down in TEARS after regaining his PDC Tour Card just two months before his 60th birthday. The oche veteran reached the semi-final of the last day of Qualifying School in Milton Keynes to secure his return to the professional circuit. It is a huge moment for the cult darts hero after he...

Economics

7 d. ago Dismal reading for Labour as latest UK poll sees them drop behind Tories and Reform pull further ahead

At a UK election Labour would slump to just six seats in Wales, new polling projection shows

Politics

7 d. ago ANOTHER poll shows Labour in third behind Reform and Tories as Starmer allies turn on 'idiot' rebels ahead of first New Year PMQs

Research by More in Common put the party in third place on just 19 per cent, down two points since before Christmas.

Politics

7 d. ago Keir Starmer faces Labour revolt as Tories force vote TODAY on scrapping jury trials for swathe of cases

The Tories will force a vote in the House of Commons over the proposals announced by Justice Secretary David Lammylast year.

Politics

7 d. ago Fresh humiliation for Starmer as Labour falls into third place after new year relaunch flounders

A More in Common poll has put Labour down two points on 19 per cent behind both Reform and the Tories

Politics

7 d. ago Is Starmer’s reluctance to criticise Trump smart tactics – or the sign of a man without a plan? | Rafael Behr

The PM won’t call out Trump over Venezuela, and won’t commit to Europe. His refusal to choose leaves vital choices for Britain to be made by others For an inveterate liar, Donald Trump is remarkably honest. The best guide to what he thinks is what he says. When forecasting his likely course of action, start with his declared intentions – removing the president of Venezuela, for example – and assume he means it. When he says the US must take possession of Greenland, he is not kidding.The motives are sometimes muddled but rarely hidden. Trump likes making deals, especially real estate deals, and money. He wants to be great and to have his greatness affirmed with praise and prizes. He craves spectacle. The world as he describes it doesn’t always resemble observable reality, but there is an effortless, sociopathic sincerity to his falsehoods. The truth is whatever he intuits it to be in the moment to advance his interests and manipulate his audience.Rafael Behr is a Guardian columnist C...

Politics

8 d. ago New Year... same old Keir: Robotic PM reads out 'rousing' note to grim

Gathering his senior team for the first time in 2026, Keir Starmer talked up his action to ease pressure - admitting that will be what the government is judged on come the election.

Politics

8 d. ago Labour drops behind Tories for first time since election ahead of make

Pressure on prime minister Keir Starmer as he trails Nigel Farage’s and Kemi Badnoch’s parties in key poll just months before elections in Scotland, Wales and English councils

Politics

8 d. ago Does anyone believe you, Keir? Starmer tells Cabinet he IS tackling cost of living crisis despite Brits struggling with debt and food bills

Gathering his senior team for the first time in 2026, Keir Starmer talked up his action to ease pressure - admitting that will be what the government is judged on come the election.

Economics

8 d. ago Does anyone believe you, Keir? Starmer to tell Cabinet he IS tackling cost of living despite Brits struggling with debt and food bills

Gathering his senior team for the first time in 2026, Keir Starmer is set to talk up his action to ease the financial pressures.

Economics

8 d. ago Labour hits record low in London with Tories 4th behind Greens and Reform, new poll

Labour hits record low in London with Tories 4th behind Greens and Reform, new poll  London Evening Standard

Events

8 d. ago Labour hits new record low in London with Tories pushed into fourth place behind Greens and Reform, poll finds

EXCLUSIVE: Just 31% of Londoners now say they would vote for Sir Keir Starmer’s party, according to a Savanta survey, down from 43% at the 2024 General Election

Events

1 week ago Tories seek to stop Labour's controversial Troubles Bill that will 'kneecap' SAS

The law will end the immunity for former and serving members of the Armed Forces brought in by the Conservatives.

Events

2 w. ago Tories and Labour face questions over support for activist Alaa Abd el

Dissident was freed by Egypt after campaign by successive UK governments but offensive posts have surfacedThe decision by successive UK governments to campaign for the release and return of British-Egyptian democracy activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah has been called into question after past violent and offensive social media posts came to light.The dissident’s historical remarks – in which he appeared to call for violence towards “Zionists” and the police – have prompted a widespread backlash since his return from detention in Egypt on Friday. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago The Guardian view on May 2026 elections: a new political geography is coming into view across Britain | Editorial

Over the holiday period, the Guardian leader column is looking ahead at the themes of 2026. Today we look at the impact of devolution on growing volatility of party political allegianceNext year will be pivotal in British politics, and 7 May will be the point around which things pivot. Elections to local councils, the Scottish parliament and the Welsh Senedd will give millions of voters across the UK a chance to express party preferences. Their verdicts could imperil Labour and Conservative leaders. In Wales, Labour might be sent into opposition for the first time since devolution. Plaid Cymru and Reform UK are set to make substantial gains. At Holyrood, the Scottish National party (SNP) is on course for a majority. That would be an extraordinary defiance of political gravity for a party weighed down by nearly two decades of incumbency.In England, both Labour and the Tories risk losing scores of councillors as their vote shares are gobbled up by the Liberal Democrats, Reform UK and ...

Politics

3 w. ago Tories: Farmers’ personal cost not forgotten despite inheritance tax change

Labour’s watered-down plans will see the relief threshold for farmers raised from £1 million to £2.5 million.

Economics

3 w. ago Tories: Farmers’ personal cost won’t be forgotten despite inheritance tax change

Labour’s watered-down plans will see the relief threshold for farmers raised from £1 million to £2.5 million.

Economics

3 w. ago Pollsters claim Reform UK is ‘in decline’ as lead over Labour drops

A Yougov poll has shown that the lead held by Nigel Farage’s party has dropped from 10 to five points with both Labour and the Tories gaining

Politics

3 w. ago When the AI bubble bursts, humans will finally have their chance to take back control | Rafael Behr

The US economy is pumped up on tech-bro vanity. The inevitable correction must prompt a global conversation about intelligent machines, regulation and riskIf AI did not change your life in 2025, next year it will. That is one of few forecasts that can be made with confidence in unpredictable times. This is not an invitation to believe the hype about what the technology can do today, or may one day achieve. The hype doesn’t need your credence. It is puffed up enough on Silicon Valley finance to distort the global economy and fuel geopolitical rivalries, shaping your world regardless of whether the most fanciful claims about AI capability are ever realised.ChatGPT was launched just over three years ago and became the fastest-growing consumer app in history. Now it has about 800m weekly users. Its parent company, OpenAI, is valued at about $500bn. Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO, has negotiated an intricate and, to some eyes, suspiciously opaque network of deals with other players in the sector...

Politics