5 h. ago Trump says talks with Iran could happen ‘in the near future’

US president’s comments come a day before British, French and German foreign ministers set to meet Iranian counterpart

Politics

6 h. ago Spain rejects Nato plan for member states to spend 5% of GDP on defence

PM Pedro Sánchez says he wants a ‘more flexible formula’ that would make target optional or allow Madrid to opt outSpain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has rejected Nato’s proposal for member states to increase their defence spending to 5% of their GDP, saying the idea would “not only be unreasonable but also counterproductive”.Sánchez said that he was not seeking to complicate next week’s Nato summit in The Hague, but he wanted there to be a “more flexible formula” that would either make the target optional or allow Spain to opt out. Continue reading...

Politics

8 h. ago Ministers set out plans to spend £725bn on UK infrastructure over 10 years

Government strategy includes spending £9bn a year on fixing schools, hospitals, courts and prisonsMinisters have pledged to spend £9bn a year on fixing crumbling schools, hospitals, courts and prisons over the next decade as part of the government’s infrastructure strategy.Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Treasury, set out plans on Thursday to spend a minimum of £725bn over 10 years to boost UK-wide infrastructure and achieve a “national renewal”. Continue reading...

Politics

14 h. ago Thai prime minister's leaked phone call with Cambodia's Hun Sen sparks outrage and political turmoil

Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has apologized for the political turbulence set off by a leaked recording of her negotiating with Cambodia’s former leader in the two nations' latest border dispute

Politics

14 h. ago John Major urges misconduct crackdown, warning of falling political standards

The former prime minister set out a code of conduct which all public servants and officials must abide by to address a series of sleaze scandals.

Events

3 d. ago Grooming gangs review to be unveiled as PM’s inquiry plan gets mixed reaction

The Home Secretary is set to address Parliament over the review as the Prime Minister has committed to a national inquiry.

Events

4 d. ago Anas Sarwar pledges to back local businesses as First Minister as bus firm set to leave Scotland

SUNDAY MAIL EXCLUSIVE: The Scottish Labour leader will join mayors of some of the UK's biggest cities to try and create a contracts pipeline for domestic firms.

Politics

5 d. ago Procurement rules set to be overhauled as ministers lay out infrastructure plans

The Treasury has promised hundreds of billions over the next decade for projects such as roads, railways and homes.

Politics

5 d. ago Keir Starmer agrees to national inquiry into grooming gang scandal after months of pressure

The prime minister has bowed to pressure to agree to set up an inquiry into grooming gangs with legal powers to call witnesses

Events

7 d. ago Michelle O’Neil accuses DUP minister of inflaming racial tensions on social media

Gordon Lyons rejects calls to resign after posting information about leisure centre hours before it was set on fireNorthern Ireland’s first minister has accused a DUP politician of “inflaming” tensions, as the display of political unity after three nights of violence fractured when a leisure centre in Larne was set on fire.Gordon Lyons, the communities minister, should “consider his position”, Michelle O’Neill said. Hours before the centre was set on fire by a mob of masked youths, Lyons had posted on social media that the building was used to accommodate several people who had fled from Ballymena, about 20 miles (32km) away. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Northern Ireland minister rejects call to resign as political unity over riots cracks

DUP’s Gordon Lyons criticised for social media post about leisure centre before it was set on fire by masked attackers A minister in Northern Ireland has rejected calls to resign, as the display of political unity amid three nights of violence fractured after a leisure centre in Larne was set on fire.Staff and customers, including children learning to swim, were in the building at the time. The attack coincided with violent scenes amid tensions over immigration in the nearby town of Ballymena. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago A reckless splurge we (and our children) will be paying off for years: Voters brace for tax hikes as Rachel Reeves embarks on unprecedented spending spree

In a return to Labour's tax-and-spend approach, the Chancellor set out plans to 'invest' a staggering £4 trillion to fund 'the renewal of Britain'.

Economics

8 d. ago Keir Starmer fails to rule out further tax rises to fund his winter fuel U

The Prime Minister refused to set out in the House of Commons how Labour would stump up the estimated £1.25billion needed for his humiliating reversal.

Economics

8 d. ago Rachel Reeves says she ‘chooses investment’ as she prepares to unveil Labour’s spending review – UK politics live

Chancellor will reveal how the government plans to spend almost £1.4tn in 2026-27, rising to almost £1.5tr in 2028-29In Wales politcians from almost all parties have been complaining for years about the UK governments decision to categorise HS2 as a project for England and Wales, even though the line does not go through Wales at all. Treating it as a project that nevertheless benefit Wales means Wales does not get equivalent money for its own infrastructure, under the Barnett formula.According to a report by ITV Cymru, Wales will get £445m for rail in the spending review. ITV quotes a Welsh Labour source as saying:This investment is more than Wales would have had so far had HS2 been Barnettised. It will make a massive difference economically and politically.We need to go much further and faster to get one step ahead of the tactics used by small boat gangs.That is why we will boost investment to secure our borders, with up to £280m per year in the Border Security Command by 2028/29. ...

Politics

8 d. ago Rachel Reeves says she ‘chooses investment’ ahead of unveiling Labour’s spending review – UK politics live

Chancellor will reveal how the government plans to spend almost £1.4tn in 2026-27, rising to almost £1.5tr in 2028-29Good morning. The government plans to be spending almost £1.4tr in 2026-27, rising to almost £1.5tr in 2028-29. Those annual limits are already agreed. Today, when Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, stands up at 12.30pm to present the spending review, she will explain how she has decided to divvy up that money between government departments over the next three years.This is not a budget, and she will not be announcing changes to tax policy. But it will feel like a budget because, like a budget, it will involve decisions that affect the public services people rely upon. And it is bound to intensify speculation about whether taxes will have to go up in the next budget, in the autumn.This government is renewing Britain. But I know too many people in too many parts of the country are yet to feel it.This government’s task – my task – and the purpose of this Spending Review – i...

Politics

9 d. ago Rachel Reeves pledges £39bn to build hundreds of thousands of affordable homes for Brits

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will announce plans to spend £39billion on a new affordable homes programme over the next decade as part of her long-awaited Spending Review

Economics

9 d. ago AI plans will allow teachers to spend more time with pupils and less on marking

Educators could be given more time to work directly with pupils if artificial intelligence tools are used effectively, Government guidance suggests.

Politics

9 d. ago World's tallest woman forced to pay for SIX plane seats and has to be carried on via stretcher when she flies

Rumeysa Gelgi, who stands at 7ft 0.7inches, revealed she is 'forced' to pay for six plane seats when travelling - as she's required to spend the entire flight strapped down to a stretcher.

Politics

1 week ago Home Office plans to spend £2.2bn of foreign aid on asylum support this year

International rules allow countries to count first-year costs of supporting refugees as overseas development assistance.

Economics

1 week ago Ministers accused of being ‘asleep at the wheel’ over UK’s soft power around the world

Government’s own advisers warn of funding crisis for BBC World Service, British Council and universitiesAs US retreats, is there a ‘soft power’ opportunity for UK?Ministers have been accused of being “asleep at the wheel” over threats to the UK’s soft power around the world, as some of their own advisers warned a funding crisis is undermining key institutions promoting British influence.Members of the government’s new soft power council, set up by ministers earlier this year, warned the BBC World Service, the British Council and universities – regarded as the bodies at the forefront of the UK’s soft power efforts – all face major financial pressures. Continue reading...

Politics