6 h. ago Britain facing ‘catastrophe’ because of children being addicted to social media, peers told – as it happened

House of Lords debate amendments to bill that could ban children under the age of 16 from having social mediaWe’re not far off PMQs. Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question.There will be two statements in the Commons after PMQs. At 12.30pm Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, will give one about the warm homes plan, and about an hour later Emma Reynolds, the environment secretary, will give one on the water white paper. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago The Guardian view on Keir Starmer and Donald Trump: quiet diplomacy has reached its limit | Editorial

The prime minister has a duty to be candid with the British public about the scale of the global realignment caused by a volatile US presidentOne foreign policy achievement that Donald Trump prefers not to boast about is his role in helping Mark Carney win last year’s Canadian general election. The incumbent Liberal party faced crushing defeat before Mr Trump threatened to annex Canada. Mr Carney’s candidacy was buoyed up by a patriotic rally against US bullying.Perhaps because his country has also been coveted by Mr Trump, Mr Carney has given one of the most clear-sighted responses of any democratic leader to the US president’s designs on Greenland. Addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, the Canadian prime minister set out the challenge for countries whose security and prosperity have depended on a global system underwritten by the US.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 b...

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6 h. ago Britain facing ‘catastrophe’ because of children being addicted to social media, peers told – UK politics live

House of Lords debate amendments to bill that would ban children under the age of 16 from having social media We’re not far off PMQs. Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question.There will be two statements in the Commons after PMQs. At 12.30pm Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, will give one about the warm homes plan, and about an hour later Emma Reynolds, the environment secretary, will give one on the water white paper. Continue reading...

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7 h. ago Farage says Greenland would be safer as part of the US after Starmer says UK ‘will not yield’ to tariff threat – UK politics live

Reform UK leader says Greenland would be ‘more secure’ if part of the US, after PM says he will not back down to TrumpWe’re not far off PMQs. Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question.There will be two statements in the Commons after PMQs. At 12.30pm Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, will give one about the warm homes plan, and about an hour later Emma Reynolds, the environment secretary, will give one on the water white paper. Continue reading...

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9 h. ago Hardened Starmer changes tack as gentle approach fails to sway Trump

Prime minister surprisingly forceful at PMQs over US president’s volte face on Chagos and refusal to drop tariffs threat on GreenlandUK politics live – latest updatesFor a man who chooses his words so carefully, there is no doubt that Keir Starmer’s shift in tone towards Donald Trump at prime minister’s questions was intentional.Since the turn of the year, as the US president has shown his imperialist ambition, the prime minister’s softly-softly approach to his unpredictable friend in the White House has come under increased strain. Continue reading...

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9 h. ago Trump renews attack on UK for not allowing more oil drilling in North Sea – UK politics live

The US president highlighted the North Sea as part of a wider criticism of clean energy policiesWe’re not far off PMQs. Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question.There will be two statements in the Commons after PMQs. At 12.30pm Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, will give one about the warm homes plan, and about an hour later Emma Reynolds, the environment secretary, will give one on the water white paper. Continue reading...

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12 h. ago Starmer tells MPs he ‘will not yield’ over Greenland despite US pressure – UK politics live

PM says Trump’s Chagos Islands comment designed to put pressure on him to ‘yield’ over Greenland, but he will not complyWe’re not far off PMQs. Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question.There will be two statements in the Commons after PMQs. At 12.30pm Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, will give one about the warm homes plan, and about an hour later Emma Reynolds, the environment secretary, will give one on the water white paper. Continue reading...

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12 h. ago PMQs live: Starmer says Badenoch is putting ‘naked opportunism over national interest’ by siding with Trump on Chagos deal

The prime minister answers questions from MPs and Conservative leader in the House of Commons We’re not far off PMQs. Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question.There will be two statements in the Commons after PMQs. At 12.30pm Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, will give one about the warm homes plan, and about an hour later Emma Reynolds, the environment secretary, will give one on the water white paper. Continue reading...

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13 h. ago Rachel Reeves suggests UK won’t impose retaliatory tariffs on US over Greenland – UK politics live

The chancellor said Starmer was focused on trying to ‘de-escalate and get the best deal for Britain’Steven Morris is a Guardian reporter covering the West of England.Plans for a food and essentials distribution hub – billed as the first of its kind in England – has been revealed by the West of England mayoral combined authority.These proposals are innovative and nation-leading, bringing together food and non-food redistribution together for the first time under one roof. Continue reading...

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14 h. ago Ed Miliband defends Starmer’s ‘calm’ response to Trump as world leaders amp up rhetoric – UK politics live

‘Keir Starmer’s leadership is absolutely right on this and I think at this stage, it’s about de-escalation and finding a way through this tricky situation,’ the energy secretary saidKeir Starmer will reportedly visit China next week after controversial plans for Beijing to build a vast embassy in London were approved by his government, Ben Quinn reports.Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, has apologised to the parliamentary commissioner for standards for failing to declare income received in the Commons register of members’ interest on time on 17 separate occasions. In total, the earnings were worth more than £380,000.During my investigation, I established that there had been 17 breaches of rule 5 of the code by Mr Farage’s failure to add interests within the 28-day period 10 set by the House.Having met with Mr Farage to discuss how these late registrations occurred, I concluded that the failure to register these interests on time was inadvertent because of staffing and other admini...

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30 h. ago Ella Baron on Keir Starmer, Donald Trump and social media bans – cartoon

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54 h. ago Ben Jennings on the special relationship between Donald Trump and Keir Starmer – cartoon

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Politics

61 h. ago Starmer rules out retaliatory tariffs against US over Greenland

PM says US tariffs are in no one’s interests – and Greenland row should be resolved through ‘calm discussion’ UK politics live – latest updatesEurope live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has ruled out imposing retaliatory tariffs on the US, saying they would be the “wrong thing to do”, after Donald Trump threatened them against Nato allies to try to secure Greenland.The prime minister said US tariffs would damage the British economy and were “in no one’s interests”. The UK would instead prefer to address the issue through “calm discussion” between allies, he added. Continue reading...

Economics

61 h. ago Starmer plays down retaliatory tariffs against US over Greenland

PM says US tariffs are in no one’s interests – and Greenland row should be resolved through ‘calm discussion’ UK politics live – latest updatesEurope live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has played down the prospect of retaliatory tariffs on the US, saying they would be the “wrong thing to do”, after Donald Trump threatened them against Nato allies to try to secure Greenland.The prime minister said US tariffs would damage the British economy and were “in no one’s interests”. The UK would instead prefer to address the issue through “calm discussion” between allies, he added. Continue reading...

Economics

3 d. ago Trump’s tariff threat over Greenland risks ‘dangerous downward spiral’, warn Nato members – Europe live

The leaders of Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK issue joint statement ahead of EU ambassadors meetingThe United States will also suffer if president Donald Trump implements threats to impose tariffs on European countries opposing his plans to acquire Greenland, a French minister said on Sunday.“In this escalation of tariffs, he has a lot to lose as well, as do his own farmers and industrialists,” French agriculture minister Annie Genevard told broadcasters Europe 1 and CNews. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Meloni warns Trump over Greenland tariffs as EU ambassadors summoned for emergency talks – Europe live

European leaders hit back at Trump ‘blackmail’ as president escalates plan for the US to acquire GreenlandThe United States will also suffer if president Donald Trump implements threats to impose tariffs on European countries opposing his plans to acquire Greenland, a French minister said on Sunday.“In this escalation of tariffs, he has a lot to lose as well, as do his own farmers and industrialists,” French agriculture minister Annie Genevard told broadcasters Europe 1 and CNews. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago EU ambassadors summoned for emergency talks after Trump threatens tariffs over Greenland

European leaders say tariff threat ‘unacceptable’ as Trump escalates plan for the US to acquire Greenland Some more from the UK’s culture secretary Lisa Nandy on Greenland this morning.Speaking to Sky News, she said:As the prime minister has very clearly said we disagree with this decision.We’re going to go and have that conversation with our American counterparts, and while we’re having that conversation with them, we’re also going to be talking about the security of the United Kingdom and the United States and how our interests are better served by working together. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Keir Starmer denies change to digital ID plan is yet another U

No 10 says ditching of key plank of plan is technical tweak after Kemi Badenoch targeted Starmer over issue at PMQsKeir Starmer has rejected the claim that his change of plan over digital IDs represents another U-turn, as the prime minister faced accusations from the Conservatives that his government had “no sense of direction”.Late on Tuesday it emerged that a key plank of the controversial plan for digital IDs was being rolled back, with a proposal to make the document mandatory for people to show their right to work being dropped, with other forms of identification being allowed instead, for example a passport with a digital chip or e-visa. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Starmer faces Badenoch at PMQs amid criticism over digital ID U

Ministers have rolled back central element of digital ID plans, possibly allowing people to use other forms of identification to prove their right to workHere are extracts from three interesting comment articles about the digital ID U-turn.Ailbhe Rea in the New Statesman in the New Statesmans says there were high hopes for the policy when it was first announced.I remember a leisurely lunch over the summer when a supporter of digital IDs told me how they thought Keir Starmer would reset his premiership. Alongside a reorganisation of his team in Number 10, and maybe a junior ministerial reshuffle, they predicted he would announce in his speech at party conference that his government would be embracing digital IDs. “It will allow him to show he’s willing to do whatever it takes to tackle illegal immigration,” was their rationale.Sure enough, Starmer announced “phase two” of his government, reshuffled his top team and, on the Friday before Labour party conference, he duly announced his ...

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8 d. ago Keir Starmer tells MPs he is open to social media ban for young people

PM says he is alarmed at reports about children’s screen time and has shifted position on Australian-style policyUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has told MPs he is open to the idea of an Australian-style ban on social media for young people after becoming concerned about the amount of time children and teenagers are spending on their phones.The prime minister told Labour MPs on Monday evening he had become alarmed at reports about five-year-olds spending hours in front of screens each day, as well as increasingly worried about the damage social media is doing to under-16s. Continue reading...

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