1 hour ago Grooming gangs inquiry must ‘leave no stone unturned’, Kemi Badenoch says

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp meanwhile urged the Government to adopt inquiry rules which would examine the ethnicity of perpetrators.

Events

2 h. ago Kemi Badenoch accuses Labour of lacking 'political courage' to carry out grooming gangs probe that looks at role of 'Asian and Pakistani' men in crimes

The Tory leader called for the inquiry to examine the ethnicity and religion of offenders who targeted mainly teenage girls in English towns.

Events

4 h. ago Labour 'has done nothing on grooming gangs': Kemi Badenoch heaps pressure on government over 'stalled' inquiry

The Tory leader called for the inquiry to examine the ethnicity and religion of offenders, ahead of a press conference unveiling draft terms of reference drawn up with the help of victims.

Events

3 d. ago What to know about Hong Kong's legislative election after a fire raised governance concerns

The deadliest fire in Hong Kong in decades is putting pressure on Beijing’s governance system in the city

Politics

7 d. ago Starmer raises pressure on head of OBR by saying budget leak was ‘serious error’

PM says he is ‘very supportive’ of spending watchdog but breach was a ‘massive discourtesy’ to parliamentUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has increased pressure on the head of the government’s spending watchdog over the budget leak by saying that while he was “very supportive” of the institution, a “serious error” had been made.The prime minister said the breach of market-sensitive information, shortly before Rachel Reeves delivered her statement last week, was a “massive discourtesy” to parliament. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Pressure mounts on Labour Government to call for release of two British businessmen 'forgotten' for 17 years in a UAE jail

Two leading human rights lawyers have written to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper calling on her to personally intervene in the cases of Ryan Cornelius, 71, and Charles Ridley 66.

Events

8 d. ago Venezuela denounces ‘colonialist threat’ as Trump orders airspace closed

President made declaration in a social media post, after FAA last week warned airlines of ‘worsening security situation’The Venezuelan government has responded defiantly to the heightened pressure by the US government, including Donald Trump’s recent statements on Saturday that the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela is to be closed in its entirety.In a statement, the Venezuelan government said Trump’s comments are a “colonialist threat” against their sovereignty and violate international law. The government also said it demanded respect for its airspace and would not accept foreign orders or threats. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Pressure mounts for Government inquiry into 'internal civil war' at crisis

Tory MSP Stephen Kerr is calling for Holyrood culture committee to push the Scottish Government for an inquiry into Historic Environment Scotland

Events

1 week ago Voices: Hong Kong’s devastating fire must spell the end of bamboo scaffolding

Experts say traditional materials allowed the fire to spread from one tower block to another, engulfing seven in total. There is now huge pressure on Hong Kong’s government to act, writes Asia editor Adam Withnall

Events

2 w. ago Price cap: Why energy bills are going up when wholesale prices are down

Experts say the price cap increase adds to pressure on the Government

Economics

2 w. ago Britain's broken finances get WORSE: Government borrowing balloons ahead of Budget leaving Rachel Reeves under even more pressure

The Chancellor was urged to get a tighter grip on spending after the Office for National Statistics revealed public sector borrowing stood at £17.4billion in October.

Politics

2 w. ago The Guardian view on Labour’s asylum plans: ministers cannot out

Shabana Mahmood’s asylum overhaul burdens an overstretched system and hands political advantage to her opponentsIn government, politicians often mistake gestures for progress. It is disappointing to see Shabana Mahmood succumb to that temptation. The home secretary’s flurry of proposals are designed to signal purpose, but constitute a wishlist of demands that her department can’t deliver. Currently, those fleeing persecution are given a five-year right to stay in the country and can apply for settled status after that. Ms Mahmood wants refugees to stay in the country initially only for a 30-month period, and then review their status to see whether they will be allowed to remain in the country for another 30 months. After two decades in Britain, they could apply to stay here permanently.Denmark is held up as the model. A decade ago a centre-left government there was under pressure, with a surging populist right and immigration dominating voters’ concerns. Danish Social Democrats clai...

Politics

3 w. ago Republicans are regimented. Democrats are undisciplined. Just look at the shutdown | Robert Reich

Democrats finally had bargaining power and they caved. It’s nothing new – but it’s proof voters must make our demands clearChuck Schumer couldn’t hold his senators together at a time when their unity and toughness were essential. And at a time when they were winning: most of the public was blaming Republicans for the shutdown, and pressure was growing to reopen the government (flight delays were mounting).Does this mean Schumer should go? Yes.Robert Reich, a former US secretary of labor, is a professor of public policy emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a Guardian US columnist and his newsletter is at robertreich.substack.com. His new book, Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America, is out now Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago US House begins voting on bill that could end longest ever government shutdown

House Democrats vow to vote no but Republican leaders optimistic legislation to reopen government will passUS politics – live updatesThe House on Wednesday began voting on legislation that would end the longest government shutdown in US history, as Democrats voiced fury that the Senate-brokered compromise fails to extend expiring healthcare subsidies.The House returned to Washington to vote after a more than 50-day absence ordered by the Republican speaker, Mike Johnson, to pressure Senate Democrats into reopening the government.The measure’s passage would be welcome news for the White House, which is looking to end the shutdown. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago The EU invited Ukraine to join the club, but will it ever happen?

Zelenskyy wants admission before 2030, but with a growing far-right, anti-enlargement contingent and budgetary fears mounting, some countries are hiding behind a Hungarian veto• Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereVolodymyr Zelenskyy may be a wartime leader, but he is fighting to deliver peacetime ambitions, too: he wants Ukraine to become an EU country – soon.Ukraine’s tireless president is ramping up pressure on EU governments to accelerate the slow process of joining: he sees the collective sacrifice of his people as a struggle “for the Ukrainian future, the future of Ukraine in the European Union”. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Government to make major statement to the UK today as pressure mounts

Justice Secretary David Lammy will face questions from MPs later today as pressure mounts over prisoners freed in error, while the BBC chaos will also take centre stage

Politics