1 hour ago Hundreds of soldiers descend on Parliament angry at 'witch hunt' plan that could drag British veterans of the Troubles to court

MPs, who were watched by dozens of veterans in the public gallery in Westminster Hall, urged the Prime Minister to think again about the decision to repeal the Northern Ireland Legacy Act.

Events

7 h. ago Israel’s military and political leadership clash over proposed camp for Palestinians

Controversial Gaza ‘humanitarian city’ plan, likened to a concentration camp by a former Israeli PM, is hampering ceasefire talks with HamasA feud has broken between the Israeli government and the military over the cost and impact of a planned camp for Palestinians in southern Gaza, as politicians attacked former prime minister Ehud Olmert for warning that the project would create a “concentration camp” if it goes ahead.The “humanitarian city” project has become a sticking point in ceasefire talks with Hamas. Israel wants to keep troops stationed across significant parts of Gaza, including the ruins of Rafah city in the south, where defence minister, Israel Katz, says the camp will be built. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago Israeli government and military clash over proposed camp for Palestinians

Military opposed to Gaza ‘humanitarian city’ plan, which a former Israeli PM has likened to a concentration campA feud has broken between the Israeli government and the military over the cost and impact of a planned camp for Palestinians in southern Gaza, as politicians criticised the former prime minister Ehud Olmert for warning that the project would create a “concentration camp” if it goes ahead.The “humanitarian city” project has become a sticking point in ceasefire talks with Hamas. Israel wants to keep troops stationed across significant parts of Gaza, including the ruins of Rafah city in the south, where the defence minister, Israel Katz, says the camp will be built. Continue reading...

Politics

14 h. ago Voices: Beware the second Trump state visit – here’s how it could all go horribly wrong

The prime minister has also sensibly opted for the Trump visit to be held during the parliamentary recess – one might almost think it intentional, writes Sean O’Grady

Politics

14 h. ago Voices: My niece, Zara Aleena, was murdered – now Starmer’s told me how he’ll halve violence against women and girls

Three years after the devastation of her niece’s murder, Farah Naz had a face-to-face with the prime minister to urge him to take concrete action. What he told her gave her hope of real change – for the first time

Events

17 h. ago Most people in France, Germany, Italy and Spain want UK to rejoin EU, poll finds – but on new terms

Poll results after prime minister Keir Starmer welcomed the French president for the first state visit from a European Union leader since the UK left the bloc

Politics

19 h. ago Inside the misunderstood relationship between Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher

On paper, Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher should have had one of the best working relationships of any monarch and Prime Minister.

Politics

22 h. ago Call for British Museum to take Bayeux tapestry to ‘1066 country’

MP calls for region where Battle of Hastings took place to be included in events surrounding return of artworkThe MP for Hastings and Rye has called on the British Museum to let the Bayeux tapestry spend time in “1066 country” when it comes to the UK, and to ensure the region reaps the benefits of the “once-in-a-generation exhibition”.The tapestry will return to the UK for the first time in more than 900 years as part of a landmark loan agreement announced by the prime minister, Keir Starmer, and the French president, Emmanuel Macron. Continue reading...

Politics

31 h. ago ‘Humanitarian city’ would be concentration camp for Palestinians, says former Israeli PM

Ehud Olmert says forcing people into camp would be ethnic cleansing, and anger at Israel over Gaza war is not all down to antisemitismThe “humanitarian city” Israel’s defence minister has proposed building on the ruins of Rafah would be a concentration camp, and forcing Palestinians inside would be ethnic cleansing, Israel’s former prime minister Ehud Olmert has told the Guardian.Israel was already committing war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank, Olmert said, and construction of the camp would mark an escalation. Continue reading...

Politics

38 h. ago Brexit: Most people in France, Germany, Italy and Spain want UK to rejoin EU, poll finds – but on new terms

Poll results after Labour prime minister Keir Starmer welcomed the French President to the UK for the first state visit from a European Union leader since the UK left the bloc

Politics

44 h. ago Australia rebuffs calls to commit to joining hypothetical US

Anthony Albanese says he doesn’t support unilateral action in Taiwan amid reports Washington seeking guarantees about how Canberra would respond in event of Indo-Pacific conflictFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia will refuse any US request to join a “hypothetical” conflict with China over Taiwan and won’t make any advance commitment, the defence industry minister, Pat Conroy, has said, amid reports Washington is seeking such promises in discussions over the Aukus submarines.The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, also pushed back on such a request, alluding to America’s own position of so-called “strategic ambiguity” on whether the US would militarily respond in a conflict over Taiwan. He said Australia wanted to see “peace and security” in the region.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Politics

51 h. ago The ultimate Blair Rich Project: Former PM and his wife install £500,000 James Bond

The former Prime Minister, who declared himself a socialist during his political career, is splashing out on a floor that drops and rises at the touch of a button.

Economics

59 h. ago Voices: Keir Starmer has achieved the first half of his impossible mission

The small boats deal with France was a negotiating triumph – but if it doesn’t work, the prime minister is doomed, says John Rentoul

Events

62 h. ago How Angela Rayner has become the most influential figure in Starmer’s government – for now

The Independent's Political Editor David Maddox says that despite the clash with Unite, the deputy prime minister’s influence is unmatched since the welfare rebellion

Politics

65 h. ago Unite boss accuses Angela Rayner of ‘totally and utterly abhorrent’ behaviour as clash with Labour escalates

The general secretary of Unite has launched fresh attacks on deputy prime minister Angela Rayner

Politics

2 d. ago Young people don’t feel part of the EU – and they’re right | Francesco Grillo

Its remote, top-down structures need a fresh, citizen-led approach fit for the digital age. Let’s start by extending Erasmus to school-goersThe former Italian prime minister Mario Draghi produced his much-awaited prescription for how to reboot Europe’s economy last year. The Draghi report was rightly applauded as a rude awakening for a European Union that is far too complacent about its own obsolescence. Draghi concluded that an €800bn-a-year public spending boost would be needed to end years of stagnation. If Europe did not catch up with its rivals, he warned, it would face a “slow and agonising” decline.And yet, one ingredient was missing from Draghi’s recipe. In his nearly 400-page roadmap for rescuing the EU, the word “democracy” is mentioned only three times (once in the bibliography). By contrast, “integration” is used 96 times and “defence” 391 times. It’s true that Draghi’s report was explicitly devoted to the future of European competitiveness (and not more widely to the Eu...

Politics

3 d. ago Rayner ’will not be pushed around’ by Unite after union votes to suspend her

Deputy PM targeted for role in Birmingham bin strikes but sources say she resigned her membership months agoAngela Rayner has made clear she will not be “pushed around” by the Unite trade union after it voted to suspend her membership and rethink its ties with the party.The deputy prime minister was targeted for censure by the union over her role in the Birmingham bin strike, although party sources said Rayner resigned her membership of Unite some months ago. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Labour goes to war with Unite: Union accused of 'silly stunts' after suspending Angela Rayner for failing to back striking bin workers 'causing misery' in Birmingham

The party accused Unite of engaging in 'silly stunts' after its annual conference voted to suspend the membership of the Deputy Prime Minister, who said the walk-out was causing 'misery' and should end.

Events

3 d. ago The Guardian view on Starmer and Macron’s channel crossings deal: safe routes hold the key to future progress | Editorial

The government has hailed its ‘one in, one out’ migrant returns deal as a breakthrough. But awkward questions over its implementation remainTo use a football analogy that he might appreciate, the first year of Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership has been a game of two halves. Domestically, grievous strategic mistakes have been made. On the foreign stage, however, an approach that Sir Keir likes to style as “quiet, serious diplomacy” has yielded some tangible results.For the most part, this week’s state visit by Emmanuel Macron further showcased the benefits of leaving behind the blowhard politics of the post-Brexit years. Sir Keir and the French president used the occasion to pledge greater cooperation on security and strengthened their joint commitment to safeguarding Ukraine’s future as a sovereign independent state. But the biggest take-away from Mr Macron’s trip launched the prime minister straight back into toxic domestic terrain.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this a...

Politics

3 d. ago Labour in clash with unions as Unite suspends Rayner’s membership and says party is not on side of workers

General secretary Sharon Graham said the deputy prime minister ‘has had every opportunity to intervene and resolve this dispute’ over Birmingham’s bin strike

Economics