15 h. ago Trump administration accuses UK of failing to uphold human rights

US state department says Labour government ‘repeatedly intervened to chill speech’ online after Southport attackThe Trump administration has accused the UK of backsliding on human rights over the past year, citing antisemitic violence and “serious restrictions” on free speech.The annual US state department assessment, which analyses human rights conditions worldwide, highlighted laws limiting speech around abortion clinics, as well as the way government officials “repeatedly intervened to chill speech” online after the 2024 Southport attack. Continue reading...

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31 h. ago ‘It felt like a scene from The Handmaid’s Tale’: US comics on the dangers of political satire

As Jena Friedman, Michelle Wolf and Sam Jay perform at the fringe, they discuss the threats to freedom of speech in the era of Donald Trump In April, comedian Jena Friedman had a strange encounter in Vancouver airport. She had just performed a Ted talk about the future of comedy and was heading home to the US, when someone she thought worked for airport security quizzed her about her visit.Thinking he was probing for visa infringements, “I just said I was doing comedy. Then he asked: ‘What do you joke about?’ Stupidly, I lightly flirted with him, and was like: ‘Everything other than airport security!’ He didn’t react at all. Then I realised he was US border control. He asked again: ‘What do you joke about?’” Continue reading...

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5 d. ago Recall Parliament to debate Netanyahu’s Gaza plan, Green MP urges

‘We need to recall Parliament immediately to hold the UK Government to account’, Green Party MP Ellie Chowns said.

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5 d. ago Vance says UK and US have ‘disagreements’ over Gaza, as he confirms Trump does not back Palestinian state recognition – as it happened

David Lammy is hosting the US vice-president at Chevening, his grace-and-favour residence in Kent, where they will discuss the Middle EastThe SNP is calling for the recall of parliament so that MPs can approve sanctions against Benjamin Netanyahu in the light of his decision to extend the occupation of Gaza. In a statement Stephen Flynn, the SNP leader at Westminster, said:A genocide is happening before our eyes in Gaza. Words of condemnation aren’t anywhere near enough - if we have any hope of stopping this genocide strong actions are desperately needed, now. That means Keir Starmer needs to recall Westminster and take concrete steps to sanction the Israeli government. Those sanctions must include ending all arms sales to the Israeli military, stopping all training, logistical and military support to the IDF, directly and personally sanctioning Netanyahu and his ministers and finally and immediately recognising the state of Palestine before it is brutally wiped off the map. If the ...

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5 d. ago Vance says UK and US have ‘disagreements’ over Gaza, as he confirms Trump does not back Palestinian state recognition – UK politics live

David Lammy is hosting the US vice-president at Chevening, his grace-and-favour residence in Kent, where they will discuss the Middle EastThe SNP is calling for the recall of parliament so that MPs can approve sanctions against Benjamin Netanyahu in the light of his decision to extend the occupation of Gaza. In a statement Stephen Flynn, the SNP leader at Westminster, said:A genocide is happening before our eyes in Gaza. Words of condemnation aren’t anywhere near enough - if we have any hope of stopping this genocide strong actions are desperately needed, now. That means Keir Starmer needs to recall Westminster and take concrete steps to sanction the Israeli government. Those sanctions must include ending all arms sales to the Israeli military, stopping all training, logistical and military support to the IDF, directly and personally sanctioning Netanyahu and his ministers and finally and immediately recognising the state of Palestine before it is brutally wiped off the map. If the ...

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5 d. ago Vance meets Lammy in UK as Starmer denounces Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City – UK politics live

The foreign secretary is hosting the US vice-president at Chevening, his grace-and-favour residence, and Gaza is expected to be on their agendaThe SNP is calling for the recall of parliament so that MPs can approve sanctions against Benjamin Netanyahu in the light of his decision to extend the occupation of Gaza. In a statement Stephen Flynn, the SNP leader at Westminster, said:A genocide is happening before our eyes in Gaza. Words of condemnation aren’t anywhere near enough - if we have any hope of stopping this genocide strong actions are desperately needed, now. That means Keir Starmer needs to recall Westminster and take concrete steps to sanction the Israeli government. Those sanctions must include ending all arms sales to the Israeli military, stopping all training, logistical and military support to the IDF, directly and personally sanctioning Netanyahu and his ministers and finally and immediately recognising the state of Palestine before it is brutally wiped off the map. If...

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5 d. ago Canadian cities cancel US Christian nationalist’s performances

Eight cities have revoked permits for Sean Feucht, a pro-Trump preacher and singer, sparking free speech debateEight Canadian cities have revoked performance permits for Sean Feucht, a Trump-supporting Christian nationalist preacher and musician, who led anti-gay demonstrations outside Disneyland and protested against mask mandates during the Covid-19 pandemic.Over the past two weeks, performances by Feucht, have been cancelled in Halifax, Nova Scotia; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Moncton, New Brunswick; Quebec City, Quebec; Vaughan, Ontario; and Abbotsford, British Columbia. Local authorities cited safety concerns or code of conduct violations as reasons for cancelling his appearances. The municipal government in Winnipeg, Manitoba, denied Feucht a permit to perform due to “operational challenges”. Continue reading...

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6 d. ago Trump Education Secretary’s speech interrupted with ‘corrupt billionaire’ audio and clown music

Donald Trump’s education secretary was interrupted as the sound system at a national youth conservative conference in Washington DC was hacked on Wednesday (6 August).

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8 d. ago Spike Lee, Adam McKay and over 2,000 writers decry Trump’s ‘un

Screenwriters from Writers Guild of America, also including David Simon and Celine Song, call out president’s ‘authoritarian assault’ on free speechMore than 2,300 members of the Writers Guild of America, including Spike Lee and Adam McKay, have signed an open letter decrying the actions of Donald Trump’s administration that represent “an unprecedented, authoritarian assault” on free speech.The letter, a combined effort from the WGA East and West branches, cites the US president’s “baseless lawsuits” against news organizations that have “published stories he does not like and leveraged them into payoffs”. It specifically references Paramount’s decision to pay Trump $16m to settle a “meritless lawsuit” about a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris. The letter notes that Trump “retaliated against publications reporting factually on the White House and threatened broadcasters’ licenses”, and has repeatedly called for the cancellation of programs that criticize him. Continue reading...

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3 w. ago Stephen Flynn jokes he’ll be ‘washing hair’ when Donald Trump visits UK

Stephen Flynn joked he will be washing his hair when Donald Trump is in the UK for his state visit in September.

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3 w. ago Problems piling up for Ruben Amorim as Manchester United struggle to rebuild | Jamie Jackson

The ‘infamous five’ told to train separately, lack of new signings and a restricted budget – United’s manager is stuck in summer of discontentThe on-off Bryan Mbeumo saga and Liam Delap choosing Chelsea are troubling bellwethers of Manchester United’s predicament a month from the start of the season. So, too, is having half an outfield first team in a bomb squad that skulks in for training in the late afternoon when those not in the same club-decreed quasi-shame have left for the day.As time ticks towards Arsenal’s opening Premier League Sunday visit and, beyond, to the window’s close on 1 September, Ruben Amorim can hardly be ecstatic at how the summer is progressing. The head coach has added only Matheus Cunha from Wolves, for the forward’s £62.5m release clause, a sizeable chunk of a transfer budget constricted by a looming debt mountain and the need to sell to buy a No 9 and, possibly, finally prise Mbeumo from Brentford. Continue reading...

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4 w. ago Voices: Trump just delivered a word salad speech that would’ve got Biden impeached

In a few short remarks, the president revealed he has very little knowledge of the U.S. economy; is incapable of remembering where his own representatives or aides are and cannot stay awake during an early afternoon public appearance, Holly Baxter writes.

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4 w. ago Donald Trump shrugs off missing out on Westminster speech and says MPs should 'have a good time'

The US President said there was no need to recall MPs from recess and to "let them have a good time".

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4 w. ago Trump shrugs off not being able to give speech to Parliament during State Visit saying MPs should 'go and have a good time' instead of returning to Westminster

Donald Trump is due in the UK for a ceremonial visit from September 17-19. But the trip is happening while the Commons is in recess - meaning he will not get the honour of addressing both Houses.

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4 w. ago Trump dismisses parliamentary recall idea and praises Starmer’s Brexit efforts

US president says he likes PM ‘even though he’s a liberal’, lauding his handling of trade deal and progress since exit from EUUK politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump has said he does not want parliament to be recalled for his state visit to the UK, praising Keir Starmer, and saying that, despite being a liberal, the prime minister was straightening out a “sloppy” Brexit.Speaking in a rare interview with the BBC, the president said he had made trade agreements to lower tariffs on the UK specifically because of his affinity with Britain, saying he believed in its special relationship with the US. Continue reading...

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last month Parliament WON'T be recalled for Trump speech during State Visit in September

Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the US President and First Lady Melania will be in the UK from September 17 to 19.

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last month Starmer to meet Trump during Scotland trip ahead of state visit

The US president is expected to travel to Scotland in July before the state visit in September.

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last month Starmer to meet Trump in Scotland this month as demonstrations planned against state visit – UK politics live

PM to meet US president during private visit in July as Stop Trump Coalition announces protest planned for SeptemberAs Rowena Mason revealed recently, No 10 has issued guidance that in effect bans civil servants from any level of speaking at events where journalists are present.Today the Times has published a letter signed by almost 30 experts – including former senior officials, thinktank leaders, academics and union leader – saying this policy is a mistake because it is having “a chilling effect on public discussion” and that it should be withdrawn. They say:The government’s new guidance that prevents public officials from participating properly in public or stakeholder events is a mistake. Effective government relies on public servants, whose salaries are paid by the taxpayer, hearing directly from businesses, charities, academics and citizens to help them make better policy. They should be able to explain government activity to those same groups. Continue reading...

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last month Nigel Farage demands Parliament sits in September so Trump can address both Houses during State Visit

Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the US President and First Lady Melania will be in the UK from September 17 to 19.

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last month Donald Trump's next visit to the UK confirmed as King Charles set to host

The US President will make an unprecedented second state visit to the U.K. in September, when he will be hosted by King Charles II and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle.

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