4 h. ago Spending 2.5% of GDP on defence ‘ambitious,’ Cabinet minister says

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson sought to manage expectations ahead of Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to the US.

Politics

24 h. ago Voices: Keir Starmer’s secret letter reveals that he sees Nigel Farage as the real leader of the opposition

The prime minister has set out a restrictive approach to immigration in a memo to cabinet ministers – making clear that he sees Reform, not the Conservatives, as the threat at the next election, writes John Rentoul

Politics

30 h. ago Political history fans are shocked by the uncanny resemblance between Churchill cabinet minister Duff Cooper and his famous descendent

A picture of Duff Cooper has the internet in a spin after eagle-eyed X users noticed how similar he looks to his great, great nephew.

Politics

45 h. ago Cabinet minister Jonathan Reynolds investigated by watchdog over solicitor claim

A spokesperson for the Solicitors Regulation Agency said the watchdog was looking into ‘further information’ about Mr Reynolds’ previous claim

Politics

48 h. ago Solicitors' watchdog reopens probe into Labour's Jonathan Reynolds over Business Secretary's CV 'lies'

Pressure piled on the Labour Cabinet minister after the Solicitors Regulation Authority said it would reinvestigate accusations he misrepresented his legal career.

Politics

52 h. ago Keir Starmer urged to ramp up defence spending – UK politics live

This is ‘probably one of the most alarming times for Britain’s defence since the second world war’, says Lib Dem leader Ed Davey as he calls for more spendingHello and welcome to our rolling coverage of UK politics.The Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has said the government must swiftly ramp up defence spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP).I’ve never known a time like this, it is probably one of the most alarming times for Britain’s defence and security since the second world war, with our closest ally changing their position. So we have to debate it, it is going to be difficult.I don’t think there’s an easy solution, but we have put some ideas on the table. One idea we have put is to increase the digital services taxes, a tax on about 20 multinational companies with turnovers of over £500m and we would raise it from the current 2% to 10%.Foreign secretary David Lammy is in South Africa for the second day of the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting.Scottish Labour leader Anas ...

Politics

67 h. ago Now Angela Rayner's CV is under scrutiny over how long she worked as a home help

Angela Rayner became the latest Cabinet minister to face questions over their employment history last night after conflicting accounts emerged around how long she worked as a carer.

Politics

2 d. ago Reeves ‘absolutely committed’ to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said an increase in spending in line with what Labour promised in its manifesto will be done ‘in the proper way’.

Politics

3 d. ago UK and Norway negotiating ‘ambitious’ new defence pact – UK politics live

Downing Street says the two leaders spoke overnight, after Donald Trump accused the Ukrainian president of being a ‘dictator’As well as appearing on the airwaves this morning to promote Labour’s £270m Arts Everywhere fund, culture secretary Lisa Nandy also supplied some quotes for the press release accompanying the launch.She said:Arts and culture help us understand the world we live in, they shape and define society and are enjoyed by people in every part of our country. They are the building blocks of our world-leading creative industries and make a huge contribution towards boosting growth and breaking down barriers to opportunities for young people to learn the creative skills they need to succeed.The funding we are announcing today will allow the arts to continue to flourish across Britain, creating good jobs and growth by fixing the foundations in our cultural venues, museums, libraries and heritage institutions [and] will ensure that arts and cultural institutions truly are f...

Politics

3 d. ago UK takes a different view to Trump on Zelensky, says Cabinet minister

Donald Trump repeated his attacks on the Ukrainian leader overnight after a war of words erupted between the two leaders.

Politics

3 d. ago Middle East crisis live: Hamas to return bodies of four Israeli hostages, including two children

Bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two children, Ariel and Kfir, who Hamas says were killed in an Israeli airstrike, as well as Oded Lifshitz, 83, to be handed overAhead of today’s release, Hamas said it is ready to release all its remaining hostages in a single exchange if the ceasefire agreement with Israel moves forward to a second phase next month.The offer came as the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, signalled his readiness to talk about a second phase of the Gaza ceasefire after an extended delay, by appointing one of his closest advisers, Ron Dermer, a US-born cabinet minister and former ambassador to Washington, to lead the Israeli delegation to the talks.Hamas has said it is ready to release all its remaining hostages in a single exchange if the ceasefire agreement with Israel moves forward to a second phase next month. A senior Hamas official, Taher al-Nunu, told Agence France-Presse “We have informed the mediators that Hamas is ready to release all hostages in one b...

Events

3 d. ago Legal watchdog is urged to launch an  investigation into Labour's Jonathan Reynolds after Business Secretary falsely claimed he was a solicitor

Cabinet minister Jonathan Reynolds has been taken to task by a legal watchdog for wrongly claiming to be a solicitor.

Economics

3 d. ago Denmark to spend billions on defence, citing fears over Russian rearmament

Mette Frederiksen says situation is ‘most dangerous’ in many years as she increases defence budget to 3% of GDPMette Frederiksen admitted that Denmark and other countries made a mistake by cutting their defence spending as she announced a 50bn Danish kroner (£5.5bn) package, saying: “It must never happen again.”The Danish prime minister increased defence spending to 3% of GDP in the next two years – up from 2.4% in 2024 – as she said Denmark needed a “massive rearmament” to avoid war. Continue reading...

Economics

3 d. ago Denmark announces plans to bolster its defense spending and raise it above 3% of GDP

The Danish government has announced plans to bolster its military by setting up a 50 billion-kroner ($7 billion) fund that it says will raise the country’s defense spending to more than 3% of gross domestic product this year and next

Events

3 d. ago Hamas offers handover of all hostages to Israel if next phase of ceasefire agreed

Benjamin Netanyahu signals readiness for talks on second phase by appointing adviser Ron Dermer to lead delegationHamas has said it is ready to release all its remaining hostages in a single exchange if the ceasefire agreement with Israel moves forward to a second phase next month.The offer came as the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, signalled his readiness to talk about a second phase of the Gaza ceasefire after an extended delay, by appointing one of his closest advisers, Ron Dermer, a US-born cabinet minister and former ambassador to Washington, to lead the Israeli delegation to the talks. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Cabinet minister Jonathan Reynolds accused of ‘fabricating CV’ after claiming to be solicitor despite never qualifying

Jonathan Reynolds never finished his training contract as he quit to stand for parliament in 2010

Politics

5 d. ago MPs likely to get a vote on UK peacekeepers for Ukraine, says Cabinet minister

Discussion of a peacekeeping force comes as US and Russian officials meet for the first time for talks on ending the war in Ukraine.

Politics

5 d. ago Keir Starmer faces growing pressure to boost defence budget now to prepare British troops for Ukraine

The PM was warned that without hiking spending to at least 2.5 per cent of GDP within days, he risked failing to meet his promise that the UK will play a 'leading' role in keeping the peace in Ukraine.

Events

5 d. ago UK should be cautious after change in US policy over Ukraine, think tank says

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said European nations need to spend 5% of GDP on defence and would be responsible for peacekeeping in Ukraine.

Events

6 d. ago Lucy Letby conviction for killing seven babies is ‘fair’ says Wes Streeting criticising campaign for a retrial

The Cabinet minister said he stood by this view unless this conclusion is successfully challenged in the courts

Events