5 h. ago 'Say the word never': Angela Rayner asked to rule out EVER running for Labour Party leader

The Deputy Prime Minister denied leaking a memo as part of an underhand bid to challenge Keir Starmer

Politics

5 h. ago Deputy PM Angela Rayner: ‘I don’t want to be leader of the Labour Party’

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has quashed rumours that she is vying to become leader of the Labour Party, saying she has “no desire” to take on the role.

Politics

5 h. ago Angela Rayner blasts leadership rumours: I don’t want to be leader of the Labour Party

Sir Keir’s deputy said she will ‘never’ be leader of the party, amid growing speculation she could launch a leadership challenge

Politics

6 h. ago Boris Johnson's allies 'urging him to make bombshell return' as Tory leader with party rebels 'considering options' for ousting Kemi Badenoch

Details of a plot to reinstall the ex-premier to the political frontline have emerged as pressure piles on current party leader Kemi Badenoch.

Politics

20 h. ago Inside Labour plot to oust Keir Starmer as PM is given 12 months to turn things around

This week’s dramatic winter fuel U-turn has not been enough to stop behind-the-scenes talks over how to change leader within the Labour Party, asThe Independent’s political David Maddox found out

Politics

20 h. ago ‘We’re totally smitten’: Boris and Carrie Johnson welcome fourth baby

Former prime minister and his wife share news of Poppy Eliza Josephine Johnson’s arrival in an Instagram postThe former prime minister Boris Johnson and his wife, Carrie Johnson, have welcomed a fourth baby to the family.The former leader of the Conservative party can be seen holding his daughter, Poppy Eliza Josephine Johnson, in an Instagram post shared on Saturday. Continue reading...

Politics

47 h. ago Reform UK promises to reverse ban on new North Sea oil drilling if elected

Party spokesperson says policy has ‘clear benefits for securing jobs and energy independence’Reform UK has promised to reverse the government’s ban on fresh North Sea oil and gas drilling as a “day one” priority if elected to power, with the taxpayer taking a stake in the projects.Richard Tice, the party’s deputy leader, has met with senior UK oil executives in recent weeks to pledge the party’s support for the industry, which has been hit hard by the government’s windfall tax and moves to block fresh North Sea exploration licences. Continue reading...

Politics

2 d. ago Sadiq Khan distances himself from Starmer with vow to ‘stand up for trans Londoners’ after Supreme Court ruling

Sadiq Khan’s response to the ruling was a stark contrast with his party leader Sir Keir Starmer

Events

3 d. ago Nine Perfect Strangers season two review – not even Nicole Kidman’s new wig makes this worth watching

The good news is that the star has rediscovered her ability to emote facially. The bad news is that this boring drama about a creepy wellness guru is almost impossible to care aboutThe wig is better. Everything else is worse. The second series of Nine Perfect Strangers – which was so clearly set up by the open-ended finale of the original, starring Nicole Kidman in a blond hairpiece that would disgrace a four-year-old’s Frozen birthday party – is here.Mad/bad/traumatised wellness guru/cult leader/visionary genius Masha (Kidman) was last seen driving to freedom after experimenting on the stupid, affluent guests at her California health retreat for the stupid and affluent. Tranquillum House was the name, microdosing subjects with psychotics and without consent so they hallucinated dead children and fires was the game. Plus, constant surveillance by hidden cameras feeding private information back to Masha at all times. Let me stop you there and say – well, yes, quite. But Melissa McCar...

Politics

3 d. ago Israeli politician critiques the Gaza war's toll on Palestinians and sparks an outcry

An Israeli center-left opposition party leader and former general sparked an outcry this week when he made rare criticism of the toll of the war on Palestinian civilians in Gaza

Politics

3 d. ago Volodymyr Zelenskyy has courage. Pope Francis had it too. Why are there so many cowards? | Alexander Hurst

Corruption and greed have eroded morality in public life. Powerful people who do what is right are in short supply“Courage is seeking the truth and speaking it,” Jean Jaurès, the French philosopher and Socialist party leader, told a group of high school students in 1903. “It is not yielding to the law of the triumphant lie as it passes, and not echoing, with our soul, our mouth and our hands, mindless applause and fanatical jeering.”When the first world war reared its ugly, pointless head, Jaurès refused to give in to mindless fanaticism and attempted to coordinate a Franco-German general strike to stop the rush to war. In 1914, he paid for those efforts with his life when a 29-year-old French nationalist shot him twice in the back.Alexander Hurst is a Guardian Europe columnist Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Trump surprises South African leader in Oval Office with ‘genocide’ evidence including video and photos

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa says his government’s policy is ‘completely against’ policies espoused by the leader of a minority party who calls for killing of farmers

Politics

3 d. ago ‘I feel embarrassed for her': John Bercow launches brutal attack on Kemi Badenoch and calls Tories 'jokers'

The former speaker claimed the Tory leader is in ‘deep trouble’ following her party’s recent election drubbing

Events

4 d. ago Israel still blocking aid for Gaza despite promise to lift siege, says UN

Continued restrictions come as opposition leader says Israel is becoming pariah nation that ‘kills babies as a hobby’Middle East crisis – live updatesTwo days after Benjamin Netanyahu announced he was lifting the siege of Gaza, Israel is still blocking food from reaching starving Palestinians, the UN has said, as the leader of the country’s centre-left Democrats party said his country was becoming a pariah nation that “kills babies as a hobby”.Only five trucks of aid had reached Gaza by Tuesday afternoon and aid workers had not been given permission to distribute even that token shipment, Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN humanitarian office (OCHA) told a Geneva press briefing. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Kemi Badenoch insists Tories should not be written off at Welsh conference

The Tory leader suggested her party faces a long, hard battle to return to power and prominence as she spoke at the Welsh Conservative Conference.

Politics

9 d. ago AOC or bust: New poll finds NY congresswoman or ‘no one’ are top choices for face of Democratic party

AOC is seen by Democratic voters as a good representation of the party

Politics

1 week ago Farage says Starmer ‘learning a great deal from Reform’ as PM defends immigration speech – UK politics live

Reform leader asks PM to declare a national emergency at the bordersHere is the list of MPs down to ask a question at PMQs, which starts at noon.In March Reform UK reported Rupert Lowe (at the time one of their five MPs) to the police, claiming he had threatened the party chair, Zia Yusuf, with violence. Reform UK announced the news shortly after Lowe gave a newspaper interview criticising Nigel Farage, the party leader,Following a thorough and detailed review of the evidence in relation to an allegation of threats, we have decided that no criminal charges should be brought against a sitting MP.Having considered a number of witness statements, we have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.If Farage were ever to control the vast power of the British state, I believe he would not hesitate to do to his adversaries what they have tried to do to me. With real power, I fear he would wield that immense responsibility to crush dissent - ...

Politics

1 week ago PMQs live: Starmer defends immigration speech as Farage claims Labour ‘learning from Reform’

Reform leader asks PM to declare a national emergency at the bordersHere is the list of MPs down to ask a question at PMQs, which starts at noon.In March Reform UK reported Rupert Lowe (at the time one of their five MPs) to the police, claiming he had threatened the party chair, Zia Yusuf, with violence. Reform UK announced the news shortly after Lowe gave a newspaper interview criticising Nigel Farage, the party leader,Following a thorough and detailed review of the evidence in relation to an allegation of threats, we have decided that no criminal charges should be brought against a sitting MP.Having considered a number of witness statements, we have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.If Farage were ever to control the vast power of the British state, I believe he would not hesitate to do to his adversaries what they have tried to do to me. With real power, I fear he would wield that immense responsibility to crush dissent - ...

Politics

1 week ago Who is the first woman leader of Australia’s opposition Liberal Party?

Sussan Ley is a veteran politician who has served across portfolios

Politics

1 week ago Sussan Ley leaves possibility open of Coalition abandoning net zero targets but insists ‘there won’t be a climate war’

Liberal party’s first female leader narrowly defeats Angus Taylor with 29 ballot votes to 25, as Ted O’Brien elected deputyAustralia news live: latest politics updatesSee our full coverage of the Australian electionGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSussan Ley has left open the possibility the Coalition could abandon net zero emissions targets, but insists she is not interested in restarting Australia’s bitter climate wars.In her first press conference since being elected opposition leader earlier on Tuesday, Ley said all the Coalition’s policies were up for review after this month’s devastating election loss, including plans by the former leader Peter Dutton for the introduction of nuclear energy.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

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