3 h. ago Geert Wilders collapsed the Dutch government. He wanted power, but had no idea how to govern | Koen Vossen

The anti-Islam ideologue has exposed the limits of his insular, badly organised operation. For a ‘radical’, opposition is a much easier placeKoen Vossen is the author of The Power of Populism: Geert Wilders and the Party for Freedom in the NetherlandsEarlier this month, Geert Wilders decided he had had enough. “No signature for our asylum plans. No changes to the coalition agreement. The PVV is leaving the coalition,” he posted on X. After 11 months, he was withdrawing support for the Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof’s rightwing cabinet, forcing the Netherlands back to the polls.The decision put an end to Wilders’ far-right Freedom party’s (PVV) first spell in power. Following an unexpected victory in the 2023 elections, the PVV joined a government for the first time in its 18-year history – alongside the conservative-liberal People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the centrist New Social Contract (NSC), and the agrarian-populist Farmer–Citizen Movement (BBB) – although Wild...

Politics

13 h. ago Police leaders say they will struggle to fulfil Labour’s promise to recruit 13,000 officers

Projected £1.2bn police funding shortfall expected to grow after spending review outlined fall in Home Office spending powerPolice forces will struggle to fulfil Keir Starmer’s promise to recruit an additional 13,000 officers and the public will “pay the price”, police leaders have warned, after the chancellor outlined a decline in Home Office spending power on Wednesday.The National Police Chiefs’ Council said it would be incredibly difficult to deliver the prime minister’s election pledge within the lifetime of this parliament, with a projected £1.2bn shortfall in police funding expected to grow. Continue reading...

Events

14 h. ago Labour promised people we would rebuild Britain – and that’s what we’re doing | Keir Starmer

This week’s spending review marks a new stage in the mission of national renewal, built on the foundations laid last yearKeir Starmer is the prime minister of the United KingdomThe mandate we received from the British people could not have been clearer. First, we had to stop the chaos and return Britain to economic stability. Second, we had to turn the page on Tory decline with clear Labour choices. Third, we were instructed to rebuild our country.Wednesday’s spending review turbocharged that rebuilding. It is an investment in Britain’s renewal, so working people have more money in their pocket, more pride in their community and more hope for their children’s future. It’s what people voted for. An NHS cutting waiting lists, with care closer to the community. Wealth and opportunity no longer hoarded by only a few towns and cities. Continue reading...

Politics

14 h. ago Government can hit NHS waiting times targets despite scepticism, says Reeves

The NHS has received a 3% increase in real terms per year in the Government spending review.

Events

15 h. ago Donald Tusk wins vote of confidence after Polish presidential election blow

Vote passed by 243-210 for prime minister whose preferred presidential candidate lost election this monthThe Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, has comfortably won a vote of confidence in parliament that was called to shore up his fragile coalition government after a bruising setback in the presidential election earlier this month.The vote of confidence on Wednesday was passed by 243 votes in favour to 210 against. Continue reading...

Politics

16 h. ago Spend every penny of increased cash on affordable housing, charity urges

The Chancellor announced an increase of £39 billion for housing in the next decade.

Economics

17 h. ago Tusk wins vote of confidence in Polish parliament – Europe live

Tusk bounces back from presidential election defeat two weeks ago with 243 votes in favour and 210 againstThere are about 260 questions to Tusk, one minute each, so it may take a while.Hope he is making comprehensive notes. Continue reading...

Politics

17 h. ago Israeli government issuing ‘illegal’ orders that must not be obeyed, say IDF intelligence officers

In letter to Netanyahu, 41 signatories say hostages given ‘death sentence’ and Israel waging ‘unnecessary’ warMiddle East crisis – latest updatesIsrael’s government is issuing “clearly illegal” orders that must not be obeyed, a group of Israeli military intelligence officers have said, announcing they will no longer participate in combat operations in Gaza.In a letter addressed to Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the defence minister, Israel Katz, and the head of the military, the group of 41 officers and reservists said the government was waging an “unnecessary, eternal war” in Gaza. Continue reading...

Politics

17 h. ago Israeli army officers refuse to serve in ‘unnecessary, eternal war’ in Gaza

In letter to Netanyahu, 41 signatories say government’s orders are ‘clearly illegal’ and hostages have been given ‘death sentence’Israel’s government is issuing “clearly illegal” orders that must not be obeyed, a group of Israeli military intelligence officers have said, announcing they will no longer participate in combat operations in Gaza.In a letter addressed to Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the defence minister, Israel Katz, and the head of the military, the group of 41 officers and reservists said the government was waging an “unnecessary, eternal war” in Gaza. Continue reading...

Events

18 h. ago How to make a white lady, David Cameron's favourite cocktail, according to Sarah Vine

The former Prime Minister apparently loves a white lady in the evening

Events

19 h. ago John Swinney carries out mini reshuffle of his top ministerial team

The First Minister made the new appointments less than a week after the SNP suffered a by-election defeat

Politics

19 h. ago Starmer says he could ‘go on all morning’ about Labour’s success

Sir Keir Starmer has said he could “go on all morning” about Labour’s achievements in government - in his Prime Minister’s Questions speech, which started at 12 noon.

Politics

19 h. ago PM picked ‘wrong Chancellor and wrong priorities’, claims Badenoch

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch accused Sir Keir Starmer of appearing at the despatch box ‘all puffed up and self-righteous’.

Politics

19 h. 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

20 h. ago Netanyahu's government faces possible collapse as the opposition seeks to dissolve it

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government faces a major test on Wednesday after the opposition submitted a bill to dissolve the government

Politics

20 h. ago PMQs: Starmer says there is ‘no easy answer’ to finding way of seizing frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine – UK politics live

Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, asks prime minister about frozen Russian assets in the UK after sanctioning of two Israeli ministers on TuesdayGreen party MPs and activists staged a protest outside parliament today saying the government should use the spending review to announce a wealth tax. In a post on social media, Adrian Ramsay, the party’s co-leader, said:We expect the Chancellor to take another axe to public spending today: decline by design from a govt that refuses to tax wealth to properly fund our overstretched public services & support the most vulnerable. We need to invest in a secure & fairer future. #TaxExtremeWealthSenior SNP figures held a secret meeting on Monday night to discuss removing John Swinney as party leader, The Herald has learned, following last week’s defeat in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse byelection.One of the 25 attendees said the first minister had two weeks to come up with a new strategy on independence — or risk facing a leadership ch...

Politics

20 h. ago Mauritius 'will use cash from Labour's Chagos Islands deal to scrap income tax for 81% of its population and help pay off its national debt'

The Prime Minister last month signed an agreement to cede sovereignty of the stretegically-important Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius.

Economics

21 h. ago Watch live: Starmer faces Badenoch at PMQs ahead of Rachel Reeves spending review

Watch live as Keir Starmer faces Kemi Badenoch at Prime Minister’s Questions ahead of Rachel Reeves’ much-anticipated spending review on Wednesday (11 June).

Politics

21 h. ago Trump is waging war against his own citizens in Los Angeles | Judith Levine

In its first months in office, the Trump administration enacted what could be called soft authoritarianism. Now we are in a second phaseOn Monday, the Pentagon sent 700 active-duty marines to Los Angeles and doubled the number of national guard troops deployed there to 4,000, to quell protests Donald Trump said on Sunday were already “under control”, “still simmering ... but not very much”.The same day, the US president used the word “insurrectionists” to describe demonstrators against the unprecedentedly large and fierce immigration deportation raids by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) that started on Friday in that city. The remark echoed his long-held desire to invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act, which would authorize him to send the military anywhere in the country to put down dissent. Continue reading...

Politics

23 h. ago Keir Starmer begs Trump White House to start 'phasing in' UK trade deal this week with Britain's car and steel industry still in limbo over tariffs

The Prime Minister dropped in on a meeting between Howard Lutnick and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds in Downing Street on Tuesday.

Economics