71 m. ago Wes Streeting rubbishes claims of Angela Rayner 'joint ticket' plot for No10

Health Secretary Wes Streeting categorically rules a leadership challenge with ex-Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner after reports claimed his allies were seeking a 'joint ticket'

Politics

4 h. ago As the UK looks to invest in nuclear, here’s what it could mean for Britain’s environment

In this week’s newsletter: The government’s bid to speed up nuclear construction could usher in sweeping deregulation, with experts warning of profound consequences for nature• Don’t get Down to Earth delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereWhen UK prime minister Keir Starmer announced last week that he was “implementing the Fingleton review”, you can forgive the pulse of most Britons for failing to quicken.But behind the uninspiring statement lies potentially the biggest deregulation for decades, posing peril for endangered species, if wildlife experts are to be believed, and a likely huge row with the EU.2025 ‘virtually certain’ to be second- or third-hottest year on record, EU data showsJust 0.001% hold three times the wealth of the poorest half of humanity, report finds‘Even the animals seem confused’: a retreating Kashmir glacier is creating an entire new world in its wake Continue reading...

Events

11 h. ago European leader quits less than a year into the job after huge protests rock capital

BULGARIA was thrown into chaos last night after its prime minister dramatically quit less than a year into the job. Rosen Zhelyazkov walked away from power as enormous crowds flooded Sofia, demanding his government be kicked out. His resignation landed just 20 days before the country joins the euro, plunging Brussels into alarm. The shock...

Politics

11 h. ago Another Canadian Conservative lawmaker defects to Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal Party

A Canadian Conservative opposition lawmaker has defected from his party and joined Prime Minister Mark Carney’s governing Liberals, a political coup that leaves the Liberal Party just short of a simple majority of the seats in Parliament

Politics

12 h. ago Publicans ‘petrified’ over closures and job cuts after Budget tax increases

Industry bosses are calling for urgent tax relief after holding an emergency meeting on Wednesday.

Economics

13 h. ago Why Keir Starmer's facing criticism for stuffing the House of Lords with even more peers

The Prime Minister has announced a raft of new members of the House of Lords, but has received criticism over the move

Politics

14 h. ago ‘Superflu’ mayhem will drag into New Year as mutant bug’s ‘longtail fuels post

THE NHS has been plunged into its worst-case winter scenario as an “unprecedented wave of superflu” pushed hospital cases up 55 per cent in a week.  Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urged Britons to “be careful” and blasted doctors plotting a mid-crisis strike next week as “irresponsible”.  NHS officials said there are now enough virus...

Science

15 h. ago Lammy demands Farage cleans racists out of Reform after vile attacks

The deputy prime minister intervened after being subject to racist abuse from Reform UK politicians

Events

16 h. ago The Guardian view on Labour’s new peerages: another boost for the ermine arms race | Editorial

Sir Keir Starmer promised to bring meaningful reform to the House of Lords. He is failing to introduce itIn opposition, Sir Keir Starmer called the unelected House of Lords “indefensible”. This week, barely 18 months into his prime ministership, Sir Keir took the total of unelected peers he has appointed since July 2024 to 96. Remarkably, Wednesday’s 34 new life peerages, mainly Labour supporters, take his appointment total above those of each of his four most recent Conservative predecessors. You must go back to David Cameron to find a prime minister who did more to stuff the Lords than Sir Keir.At the last election, Labour presented itself to the voters as a party of Lords reform. The party manifesto promised to remove the remaining hereditary peers, to reform the appointments process, to impose a peers’ retirement age, and to consult on proposals for replacing the Lords with an alternative second chamber. The House of Lords, the manifesto flatly declared, was “too big”....

Politics

17 h. ago Trump and Europe want ‘same thing’ for Ukraine, insists Starmer

The Prime Minister said there were a ‘number of issues still to be resolved’ but dismissed suggestions his optimism had been frayed

Politics

19 h. ago Bulgaria’s entire government resigns after mass protests over corruption

Mass protests have gripped the country just weeks before it is due to join the eurozone

Politics

19 h. ago Blackburn MP raises St Kentigern's Academy question in parliament

The Blackburn and Linlithgow MP called on the Prime Minister to join her demand for the Scottish Government to step up to meet the funding gap in light of the £10 billion extra in funding received since July 2024.

Politics

20 h. ago Spain’s ruling socialist party accused of failing to act on sexual misconduct by senior men

Slew of allegations of sexual harassment hits party already battered by corruption claims and political setbacksEurope live – latest updatesSpain’s ruling socialist party, which has been battered by a barrage of corruption allegations and political setbacks, is scrambling to reassert its feminist credentials after being accused of failing to act on sexual misconduct by senior men in the party.Pedro Sánchez appointed 11 women and six men to his cabinet when he became prime minister in 2018, saying his Spanish Socialist Workers’ party (PSOE) was “unmistakably committed to equality” and to reflecting recent changes in Spanish society. Continue reading...

Events

21 h. ago UK issued major warning by Putin mouthpiece as 'target list' for WW3 issued

Former Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin issued the warning while responding to comments made by former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace in October

Events

22 h. ago Bangladesh to hold national elections in February, the first since 2024 mass uprising

Bangladesh’s next national elections would be held on Feb. 12, eighteen months after former Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina was ousted through a mass uprising following weeks of violence that left hundreds dead and thousands injured

Politics

22 h. ago Sir Keir Starmer clarifies 'wear a mask' advice in 'be careful' warning as flu cases soar

The Prime Minister has urged 'common sense' amid a rise in flu cases

Events

22 h. ago Putin mouthpiece names 23 UK towns and cities on Russia's target list for WW3

Former Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin issued the warning while responding to comments made by former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace in October

Politics

22 h. ago Trump and Europe want ‘same thing’ for Ukraine, Starmer says

The Prime Minister said there were a ‘number of issues still to be resolved’ but dismissed suggestions his optimism had been frayed.

Politics

24 h. ago Keir Starmer says buses 'shouldn't cost the earth' in new £3 cap message

The Prime Minister has issued a fresh message on public transport costs this morning

Economics

25 h. ago Wes Streeting ‘frustrated’ by ‘technocratic approach’ to governing

The Health Secretary argued Labour must be better at communicating its achievements and values to voters.

Politics