26 m. 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

98 m. ago Voices: Look away, Sir Keir! Labour’s bible has given its verdict on you

The New Statesman’s new editor is a critical friend of the prime minister – very critical, as it turns out, writes John Rentoul (a former deputy editor of the magazine)

Politics

3 h. ago Revealed: Winston Churchill's generosity towards the man his glamorous 'first great love' chose to marry instead

The future British wartime prime minister would have been within his rights to feel aggrieved at Victor Bulwer-Lytton who had won the affection of Pamela Plowden.

Events

3 h. ago European journalists targeted with Paragon Solutions spyware, say researchers

Citizen Lab says it found ‘digital fingerprints’ of military-grade spyware that Italy has admitted using against activistsThe hacking mystery roiling the Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s rightwing government is deepening after researchers said they had found new evidence that two more journalists were targeted using the same military-grade spyware that Italy has admitted to using against activists.A parliamentary committee overseeing intelligence confirmed earlier this month that Italy had used mercenary spyware made by Israel-based Paragon Solutions against two Italian activists. Continue reading...

Events

4 h. 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

5 h. ago ‘People see government as the enemy’: Bangladesh’s interim leader on the legacy of a toxic system

A year after a student-led revolt unseated Sheikh Hasina, Muhammad Yunus is fighting to convince both sides of politics to agree to reformA year on from the political uprising that swept the prime minister of Bangladesh into exile, people still see government as the enemy, according to the country’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus.Rooting out corruption at every level, from village to government, is the only way for people to believe in a “new Bangladesh”, he says. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer makes statement after Air India crash

Sir Keir said the scenes are 'devastating'

Politics

12 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

22 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

22 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

23 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

24 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

25 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

25 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

25 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

25 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

27 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

28 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

28 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

28 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