2 h. ago The success of this government now rests in Wes Streeting’s hands

Editorial: Labour’s vision for a new era for NHS England – one with community hubs, artificial intelligence and early diagnosis at its heart – could be a model of public policymaking. But if it is to have a chance of success, the health secretary must now persuade the trade unions and professional bodies to join him

Politics

6 h. ago New NHS plan shows ‘future already looks better’ under Labour – Starmer

Patients will be given more control of their health via the NHS app, while there will be less reliance on hospitals, the plan says.

Politics

9 h. ago After a year studying Starmer, I can tell you that he is at once a very kind man and a ruthless one | Anushka Asthana

Those around the Labour leader operate with the knowledge that everyone is expendable and no one is safeAsk friends of Keir Starmer what they make of him and one of the first things they will say is that he can be incredibly kind. I’ve heard it time and again.The former Labour leader Neil Kinnock described how Starmer was among the first to turn up on his doorstep after he lost his beloved wife, Glenys. “You don’t have time for this; you’ve got a party to lead,” Kinnock told him.Anushka Asthana is ITN’s US editor and author of Taken As Red: The Truth About Starmer’s Labour Continue reading...

Events

10 h. ago Desperate Keir Starmer tries to stabilise Labour by vowing to make NHS a six

In what has swiftly become the PM's worst week in office so far - after he was forced to shelve key welfare reforms - Sir Keir will outline a major health shake-up.

Politics

10 h. ago Future already looks bright for the NHS under Labour, Starmer says

Chancellor Rachel Reeves made her first appearance since she was seen crying in the Commons on Wednesday.

Politics

12 h. ago PM shoulders blame for welfare fiasco and says No 10 ‘didn’t get process right’

Keir Starmer says Downing Street should have engaged more with Labour MPs and repeats support for Rachel ReevesUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has admitted No 10 “didn’t get the process right” in handling the government’s controversial welfare bill and says he shoulders the blame.Looking to repair some of the damage done by Labour’s 11th hour climbdown on the central plank of its welfare changes, Starmer said the government would reflect on its mistakes. Continue reading...

Politics

12 h. ago Can Labour survive its identity crisis? Ask chief political commentator John Rentoul anything

The Independent’s chief political commentator, John Rentoul, is here to answer your questions as Labour grapples with a welfare reform crisis, mounting pressure on Keir Starmer’s leadership, and growing doubts over Rachel Reeves’s position

Events

18 h. ago Starmer faces Labour turmoil and global volatility as he marks year in Number 10

The Prime Minister’s first year in office has been marked by a series of domestic and global challenges after Labour’s landslide victory.

Politics

22 h. ago Rachel Reeves admitted 'I'm under so much pressure' before crying in Commons

Chancellor Rachel Reeves admitted feeling 'under so much pressure' minutes before she cried as Keir Starmer spoke on the Labour frontbench - in scenes now being dubbed 'waterworksgate'

Events

25 h. ago No 10 defends chancellor after day of bitter recriminations over welfare bill fiasco

Rachel Reeves said to have PM’s full backing after she was in tears in the Commons amid fallout of Labour’s welfare bill U-turnKeir Starmer has been forced to defend his chancellor after a day in which the bitter recriminations over Labour’s welfare bill fiasco appeared to leave Rachel Reeves in tears and the markets in turmoil.Ministers said there would be long-lasting implications for the government’s spending priorities after it was forced to abandon the central plank of its welfare changes to prevent a damaging defeat by rebel MPs. Continue reading...

Economics

26 h. ago DAN HODGES: What one Cabinet minister has told me about what REALLY lies behind Reeves's public breakdown, the truth about Angela Rayner's role

We may never properly learn what finally brought Rachel Reeves to break down in tears in the House of Commons chamber yesterday.

Politics

27 h. ago The Guardian view on Labour’s welfare rebellion: Starmer must learn from his mistakes | Editorial

A poorly devised cuts policy was mis-sold as reform and MPs were dismissed when they pointed out the problemA clash between the government and Labour MPs over disability benefits was foreseeable long before this week’s Commons rebellion. That doesn’t mean a crisis was inevitable. Compromise might have been reached before the 11th-hour climbdown that averted a defeat in parliament.The conflagration that burned a lot of Sir Keir Starmer’s authority was all the greater because trust had broken down. The twin causes were failure of political judgment in Downing Street and bad policy. The prime minister underestimated the potency of MPs’ objections to the withdrawal of personal independence payment (Pip) from disabled people, and overestimated the capacity of his whips to bully and cajole his party into accepting the changes.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to...

Politics

28 h. ago 'I'm under so much pressure': What Rachel Reeves said before mystery tears as markets tumble and No10 frantically denies Starmer bust

The Chancellor is said to have made the admission to Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle before taking her seat for an extraordinary session of Prime Minister's Questions.

Events

28 h. ago ‘Certain inevitability’ to Grangemouth closure when Labour won power – minster

Michael Shanks told MPs the plant was ‘far too far down the line’ for the outcome to be averted by the time his party won the election.

Politics

29 h. ago Rachel Reeves' mystery tears send markets tumbling as No10 frantically denies Starmer bust

Chancellor Rachel Reeves was sitting next to Keir Starmer as he insisted the smoking ruin of his benefits reforms would still make things better.

Politics

30 h. ago How Starmer went from defiant to defeated as he scrambled to get his bill over the line

The debacle over the welfare reforms has stripped Keir Starmer of his authority and left his government damaged. David Maddox tracks how the prime minister lost control

Politics

30 h. ago Rachel Reeves 'had row with Starmer' minutes before bursting into tears in astonishing moment at PMQs... and now markets drop amid chaos fears

Chancellor Rachel Reeves was sitting next to Keir Starmer as he insisted the smoking ruin of his benefits reforms would still make things better.

Events

30 h. ago Voices: Only Angela Rayner has emerged from the welfare debacle with her reputation intact

It took the intervention of the deputy prime minister to persuade the prime minister that the game was up – now some Labour MPs are wondering if she’ll replace him, writes John Rentoul

Politics

30 h. ago Labour MP reintroduces bid for Hillsborough Law after campaign stalls

Ian Byrne (Liverpool West Derby), who was with family at the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, said a law is needed to restore faith in justice.

Politics

31 h. ago DAN HODGES: No wonder Rachel's crying! Keir Starmer's behind

The House of Commons has just witnessed one of its most incredible - and distressing - sessions of Prime Minister's Questions.

Politics