15 h. ago QUENTIN LETTS: The Colombian's interpreter at Ed Miliband's global energy shindig had a growly voice worthy of any Spaghetti Western bandido

Well that was a bit of a diplomatic floater. Ed Miliband's global energy shindig started yesterday at London's Lancaster House. 

Politics

16 h. ago QUENTIN LETTS: The Colombian's interpreter at Ed Miliband's global energy shindig had a growly voice worthy of any Spaghetti Western bandido

Well that was a bit of a diplomatic floater. Ed Miliband's global energy shindig started yesterday at London's Lancaster House. 

Politics

63 h. ago Bridget looked likely to smash a pint glass in the nearest Hooray Henry's face

The hot topic of the day was trans people, following the latest ruling by the Supreme Court. Sir Keir Starmer said he no longer believed blokes could be women. Make your mind up, sunshine.

Politics

3 d. ago Catholics mourn ‘merciful’ Pope after death aged 88 following stroke

A special mass was held at Westminster Cathedral on Easter Monday in Francis’s memory.

Events

3 d. ago Catholics mourn ‘compassionate and merciful’ Pope after death aged 88

A special mass was held at Westminster Cathedral on Easter Monday in Francis’s memory.

Events

4 d. ago The Guardian view on a new deal for travel in Europe: bring back student exchanges | Editorial

The EU is expected to push for special youth visas at next month’s summit. Sir Keir Starmer should say yesStrong hints that a rebranded “youth opportunity scheme” will top the EU’s wishlist at next month’s EU-UK summit are good news for anyone who regrets the diminished travel opportunities that were one result of Brexit. Rising expectations of new European train routes – possibly including direct trains from London to Italy – can only add to the appeal of a potential rule change.There were more consequential impacts of Brexit than restrictions on travel. The disruption of trade, which is predicted by the Office for Budget Responsibility to cause a 4% reduction in long-run productivity, is far more significant economically. Drug shortages continue to create risks to people’s health, and cause problems for doctors and pharmacists. Cancer research and trials have also been badly affected, according to a new report, because of the increased difficulty of attracting scientists and fundi...

Economics

7 d. ago Why is Ed Miliband a target for all sides? Because he’s a lefty politician who gets things done | Andy Beckett

Not since Tony Benn has a Labour minister been so assailed – and not just by the Tory press, but also by his own colleaguesWhy exactly does Ed Miliband make so many people so angry? At 55, 20 years into his parliamentary career, with rare ministerial experience under both New Labour and Keir Starmer, and a reputation around Westminster and Whitehall as one of politics’ nicer, more knowledgeable characters, he could be a respected figure in a generally inexperienced government. Instead, he’s this unpopular administration’s most controversial member.“An eco-zealot”, “a net-zero fanatic”, a “nauseating” hypocrite, “a cackling madman”, an “eco-Marxist”, “out of control”, “trashing Britain”, “a recruiting sergeant for the opposition”, the “most dangerous man in Britain” – Miliband provokes rightwing journalists and voters like no other minister. Possibly not since the onslaught in the 1970s on the socialist disruptor Tony Benn, whom Miliband later worked for as a teenager, has a Labour m...

Politics

9 d. ago Protecting rights of all will inform response to Supreme Court ruling – Swinney

The court ruled the definition of a woman in the 2010 Equality Act is based on biological sex.

Events

1 week ago QUENTIN LETTS: At every New Zero slight, Ed fumbled furtively with his lower lip... then left

Westminster Bills normally need months of scrutiny but this one whizzed through in roughly the time it takes to chill a Cotes de Gascogne. By the end of a captious day we certainly all needed a gargle.

Politics

1 week ago Keir Starmer aims to pass emergency law in one day to prevent closure of the British Steel plant

Sir Keir Starmer has recalled MPs from Easter recess to Westminster for an emergency Saturday session, April 12, to discuss the future of British Steel.

Politics

2 w. ago QUENTIN LETTS: The public seats were full, but soon visitors were slack

With the world in Trumpian turmoil, an economy self-combusting and rats as big as centaurs cantering through Birmingham, the Commons liaison committee had 90 minutes to interrogate the PM.

Politics

2 w. ago QUENTIN LETTS: The poohbahs were like aristocratic ladies confronted by the pong of fish

Bumpy sort of day for our political class. Stock markets were diving like guillemots and Net Zero sprang a leak - Labour was doing a reverse-ferret on electric car rules.

Events

3 w. ago QUENTIN LETTS: After Trump's tariffs, this was no time to dust down the gramophone and play Don't Let's Be Beastly To The Germans

We took a wallop from the USS Donald Trump; but as MPs emerged from shelters and the Speaker's secretary dispensed tin mugs of sugared tea, there was a consolation: the EU copped it worse.

Politics

3 w. ago QUENTIN LETTS: Reeves pranced in, her orbit tinkling with laughter. But on camera, she started sounding like a duck

With the economy smoking like a wonky Moskvitch, how was Rachel Reeves faring?Was she feeling under the cosh from Donald Trump's tariffs and the pratfall of her Budget?

Politics

3 w. ago QUENTIN LETTS: How those lawyerly, cocksure sentences rolled forth... was Lord Hermer's first word as a toddler 'heretofore'?

With the economy smoking like a wonky Moskvitch, how was Rachel Reeves faring?Was she feeling under the cosh from Donald Trump's tariffs and the pratfall of her Budget?

Politics

3 w. ago QUENTIN LETTS: Once Robert Jenrick locks on to you, it's like seeing a Sidewinder missile chaser a Tiger Moth

QUENTIN LETTS: Shabana Mahmood's Tory shadow, Robert Jenrick, has had her in all sorts of difficulties over the Sentencing Council's 'two-tier justice' gambit.

Events

3 w. ago QUENTIN LETTS: With all these summits, Sir Keir is becoming Westminster's answer to Sherpa Tenzing

QUENTIN LETTS: Summits were once rare events at which the leaders of the USSR and USA frostily shook hands.

Politics

3 w. ago With all these summits, Sir Keir is becoming Westminster's answer to Sherpa Tenzing

QUENTIN LETTS: Summits were once rare events at which the leaders of the USSR and USA frostily shook hands.

Politics

4 w. ago QUENTIN LETTS from Westminster: At last, she speaks! So that's what gnomic Whitehall operative Sue Gray sounds like

QUENTIN LETTS: Lady Gray of Tottenham (Lab) is better known as Sue Gray, the gnomic Whitehall operative who torpedoed Boris Johnson with her report on his lockdown birthday cake.

Events

4 w. ago QUENTIN LETTS: Wrists trembling, Reeves sounded shrivelled as she tried to blame 'the party opposite'...but everyone knows she has brought disaster on herself

The speech lasted 33 minutes, half the time of a real Budget. For all Labour's groans when Tories talked of 'an emergency Budget', this nonetheless felt like a big event.

Events