41 m. ago POLL OF THE DAY: Should Labour scrap digital IDs entirely, after axing mandatory plan for workers in latest U

Keir Starmer had vowed to crack down on illegal immigration by making digital ID compulsory to verify a person's right to work in the UK, but he was forced into a 13th U-turn since becoming PM.

Politics

42 m. ago Starmer faces Badenoch at PMQs amid criticism over digital ID U

Ministers have rolled back central element of digital ID plans, possibly allowing people to use other forms of identification to prove their right to workHere are extracts from three interesting comment articles about the digital ID U-turn.Ailbhe Rea in the New Statesman in the New Statesmans says there were high hopes for the policy when it was first announced.I remember a leisurely lunch over the summer when a supporter of digital IDs told me how they thought Keir Starmer would reset his premiership. Alongside a reorganisation of his team in Number 10, and maybe a junior ministerial reshuffle, they predicted he would announce in his speech at party conference that his government would be embracing digital IDs. “It will allow him to show he’s willing to do whatever it takes to tackle illegal immigration,” was their rationale.Sure enough, Starmer announced “phase two” of his government, reshuffled his top team and, on the Friday before Labour party conference, he duly announced his ...

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75 m. ago Keir Starmer expected to accept place on Trump’s board to run Gaza

Former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair was previously considered for the board, but was denied full membership following objections from Middle Eastern state leaders

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83 m. ago Disney+ signs Stephen Graham and Hannah Walters’ company to release new series

Matriarch Productions is best known for producing Netflix hit Adolescence.

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94 m. ago PMQs live: Starmer set to clash with Badenoch as PM criticised over ‘shambolic’ digital ID U

Sir Keir Starmer will face questions from MPs

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2 h. ago Digital IDs will not be only way to prove right to work in UK, says Chancellor

It is the latest in a series of U-turns by the Government.

Politics

2 h. ago X's Grok AI 'won't produce sexualised images of women and children'

After the Prime Minister demanded the US tech billionaire to act to stem the creation of deepfakes, the social media tool last night began refusing to comply with user requests.

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2 h. ago Rachel Reeves says digital IDs will not be only way to prove right to work in UK

It is the latest in a series of U-turns by the Government.

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3 h. ago The UK is watering down plans for mandatory digital ID cards after a backlash

The British government has scaled back plans for mandatory digital ID cards, initially proposed as a way of helping control immigration

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4 h. ago Keir Starmer to address nation as fury builds over 'spineless' U

The Government is reportedly preparing to water down its digital ID proposals, as Labour struggles to regain its popularity following a string of debacles and the rise of Reform UK

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4 h. ago 'We look stupid': Furious Labour MPs hammer Starmer after latest shambolic U

Keir Starmer has humiliatingly dropped his flagship plans to make digital ID cards mandatory for right to work checks.

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7 h. ago Europe must now tell Trump that enough is enough – and cut all ties with the US | Alexander Hurst

How do you retain a space of democracy in a world that is reverting to violent conquest? By building a protective moat of federalism around it‘He keeps encouraging me to choose between Europe and the US. That would be a strategic mistake for our country,” Keir Starmer said in response to Ed Davey’s question in the House of Commons last week, about whether a US move against Greenland would mean the end of Nato.What about Europe, though? As Danish and Greenlandic ministers prepared to face JD Vance in the White House, the question was would Europe finally choose between Europe and the US? Will its leaders have the courage to tell the full truth – that the US isn’t simply abandoning its allies and destroying the international order but is now in the position of active and hostile predation by force – and more importantly, to act on it? To offer Denmark moral and material backing, and Greenland a future of self-determination and membership, rather than subservience to US resource plunde...

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15 h. ago Attorney General facing backlash over claims he lobbies Keir Starmer in the No 10 flat to water down policies that would curb human rights

Ministers have voiced frustration that Lord Hermer is exploiting his close personal friendship with Keir Starmer to bypass normal Cabinet government.

Events

16 h. ago QUENTIN LETTS: Not a single backbench MP backed the new spy base

Not a single backbencher supported the planned London spy base - sorry, I do apologise, I mean embassy. Even some of Labour's most assiduous greasers criticised the proposal.

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16 h. ago 'Spineless' Keir Starmer backtracks on plans for compulsory digital ID cards

As the government struggles to maintain its popularity with the public, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said that plans to introduce digital ID cards have been scrapped

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19 h. ago Keir Starmer 'will accept offer' to sit on Donald Trump's board to run Gaza

As part of his 20-point peace plan for the Middle East, Mr Trump has proposed a new international transitional body to oversee the redevelopment of Gaza.

Politics

22 h. ago Keir Starmer hits out at 'intolerance' after Jewish MP's school visit is cancelled following campaign by pro

Damien Egan, the Labour MP for Bristol North East, had been due to speak to students at Bristol Brunel Academy in his constituency.

Events

22 h. ago Watch live: Ministers questioned over Grok AI row as Keir Starmer vows to end abuse on X

Watch live as technology secretary Liz Kendall and culture secretary Lisa Nandy are questioned over AI and copyright on Tuesday (13 January).

Politics

23 h. ago Andy Burnham piles pressure on Rachel Reeves to 'rebalance' taxes on the high street after Chancellor refuses to extend rate bail out beyond pubs despite fear of mass closures

The Greater Manchester mayor, a former Cabinet minister and possible challenger to Keir Starmer, said changes were needed as part of wider reform that includes revaluing council tax.

Events

24 h. ago Keir Starmer tells MPs he is open to social media ban for young people

PM says he is alarmed at reports about children’s screen time and has shifted position on Australian-style policyUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has told MPs he is open to the idea of an Australian-style ban on social media for young people after becoming concerned about the amount of time children and teenagers are spending on their phones.The prime minister told Labour MPs on Monday evening he had become alarmed at reports about five-year-olds spending hours in front of screens each day, as well as increasingly worried about the damage social media is doing to under-16s. Continue reading...

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