54 h. ago MPs urge minister to adopt definition of Islamophobia amid rise in hate crime

Forty Labour and independent MPs call on Steve Reed to take ‘important step’ of defining anti-Muslim hatredMore than three dozen Labour and independent MPs have written to the housing secretary calling on the government to adopt a definition of Islamophobia, after recent figures revealed hate crimes against Muslims were up by nearly a fifth.Forty MPs, including Labour MPs Diane Abbott, Dawn Butler, Kim Johnson and independent Andrew Gwynne, were among the signatories on the letter from Afzal Khan who wrote to Steve Reed on Friday asking him to adopt a definition of anti-Muslim hatred as an “important step” in addressing discrimination, prejudice and hatred the community faces. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Scottish Labour figures believe Keir Starmer will quit if SNP wins Holyrood election

EXCLUSIVE: Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has been urged to be bolder while another insider urged party MPs north of the border to "shut the f**k up".

Politics

1 week ago New WASPI update on calls for State Pension age compensation for millions of women

Dozens of MPs have urged DWP ministers to meet with WASPI campaigners ahead of a legal challenge.

Economics

2 w. ago Don’t cut London’s affordable housing quotas, Labour MPs urge ministers and mayor

Don’t cut London’s affordable housing quotas, Labour MPs urge ministers and mayor  The Guardian

Politics

2 w. ago MPs urged to confront royal family over Prince Andrew’s Epstein links

Calls grow for parliamentary rule changes to strip Andrew of titles and ask questions of royalsParliament is under mounting pressure to examine what the royal family knew about Prince Andrew’s links to Jeffrey Epstein and introduce a mechanism to strip him of his titles.There were calls on Sunday night for Andrew to face a police investigation and for ancient rules barring parliament from freely scrutinising royals and formally removing their titles to be revisited. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Labour 'tears up Islamophobia definition' amid free speech concerns

Ministers formed a working group aimed at defining Islamophobia or anti-Muslim hatred in February, in a bid to stem rising numbers of hate crimes against Muslims.

Politics

2 w. ago Angela Rayner 'to make statement to MPs on resignation' after ministers urged her to make a comeback

Angela Rayner has kept largely out of the public eye since quitting for failing to pay the correct stamp duty on an £800,000 seaside flat.

Politics

2 w. ago Labour MPs urge Chancellor to scrap hospitality business rates plan

MPs have written to the Chancellor to warn that her reforms run the risk of business closures and job losses.

Politics

3 w. ago All beliefs are welcome in London – we cannot allow extremists to divide us | Sadiq Khan

Attacks against Jewish and Muslim communities are on the rise, and some politicians are exacerbating tensions by appealing to our worst instinctsSadiq Khan is mayor of LondonFor the first time in three years, hate crime in England and Wales is on the rise. The latest statistics released by the Home Office, showing religiously motivated offences at a record level, are deeply disturbing. But for those who have witnessed some of the appalling scenes on our city’s streets in recent months, they will not be surprising.Over the past two years, Jewish people have faced a rising tide of antisemitism, and the heinous terrorist attack in Manchester on Yom Kippur was a terrible reminder of just how pervasive this poisonous form of hatred continues to be. Between January and June, the Community Security Trust reported more than 1,500 antisemitic incidents. A survey by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research found that 35% of Jewish people feel unsafe in the UK.Sadiq Khan is the mayor of London...

Politics

3 w. ago UK MPs urged to investigate TikTok’s plans to cut 439 content moderator jobs

Trade unions and online safety experts sign letter warning jobs losses could expose children to harmful contentTrade unions and online safety experts have urged MPs to investigate TikTok’s plans to make hundreds of jobs for UK-based content moderators redundant.The video app company is planning 439 redundancies in its trust and safety team in London, leading to warnings that the jobs losses will have implications for online safety. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Starmer faces Commons showdown as MPs set to grill him over collapse of adviser's China spy trial

Speaker Lindsay Hoyle is expected to grant an Urgent Question to the Conservatives on the issue when MPs return to Parliament this week.

Politics

4 w. ago Campaigners urge MPs not to cave in to 'Beijing bullies' as China turns off water taps for British diplomats in bid to force UK government to approve London 'mega

The ploy is said to be the latest tactic by President Xi Jinping to ensure he gets approval for his plans to build a complex at Royal Mint Court in the City.

Politics