4 h. ago MPs back bill to end criminal penalties for abortion in key vote

Parliament votes on biggest shake-up to reproductive rights in England and Wales in 60 yearsCasey says in the past government has talked relentlessly about the need for better data sharing between departments.But she says there is a need to consider making this mandatory.I was there when the tragedy of Soham happened. We knew at that point that if we had had better data sharing there’s a possibility that we might have saved those girls’ lives. There’s certaintly an absolute clarity that intelligence would have been much faster in either avoiding it or or actually finding that dreadful human being earlier.And we’ve known that forever onwards. And so I think there is also an issue that the Home Office can’t drag their feet on, looking at police intelligence systems, given we’ve living in the 21st century. Probably everbody in this room can connect within seconds. Yet we had Befordshire police finding a young boy that was being, in my mind trafficked to London. But the data intelligenc...

Politics

6 h. ago Women being prosecuted under 19th century law passed by men, MP says, before vote on decriminalising abortion – UK politics live

Parliament to vote on decriminalising abortion in what would be biggest shake-up to reproductive rights in England and Wales in 60 yearsCasey says in the past government has talked relentlessly about the need for better data sharing between departments.But she says there is a need to consider making this mandatory.I was there when the tragedy of Soham happened. We knew at that point that if we had had better data sharing there’s a possibility that we might have saved those girls’ lives. There’s certaintly an absolute clarity that intelligence would have been much faster in either avoiding it or or actually finding that dreadful human being earlier.And we’ve known that forever onwards. And so I think there is also an issue that the Home Office can’t drag their feet on, looking at police intelligence systems, given we’ve living in the 21st century. Probably everbody in this room can connect within seconds. Yet we had Befordshire police finding a young boy that was being, in my mind tr...

Politics

7 h. ago Starmer hits back at Badenoch over grooming scandal, claiming Tories did nothing

Sir Keir Starmer asked ‘why on earth’ Mrs Badenoch did not bring forward a duty for authorities to report child sexual exploitation in power.

Events

8 h. ago MPs to debate proposals to decriminalise abortion – UK politics live

Parliament to vote on decriminalising abortion in what would be biggest shake-up to reproductive rights in England and Wales in 60 yearsCasey says in the past government has talked relentlessly about the need for better data sharing between departments.But she says there is a need to consider making this mandatory.I was there when the tragedy of Soham happened. We knew at that point that if we had had better data sharing there’s a possibility that we might have saved those girls’ lives. There’s certaintly an absolute clarity that intelligence would have been much faster in either avoiding it or or actually finding that dreadful human being earlier.And we’ve known that forever onwards. And so I think there is also an issue that the Home Office can’t drag their feet on, looking at police intelligence systems, given we’ve living in the 21st century. Probably everbody in this room can connect within seconds. Yet we had Befordshire police finding a young boy that was being, in my mind tr...

Politics

9 h. ago Kemi Badenoch insists she is ‘not doing politics’ on grooming gangs after Baroness Casey criticism

Baroness Louise Casey told the BBC she was ‘disappointed’ by the Opposition’s response to her review of the grooming gangs scandal

Politics

11 h. ago Badenoch ‘not doing politics’ on grooming gangs as report author urges ‘calm’

Baroness Louise Casey told the BBC she was ‘disappointed’ by the Opposition’s response to her review of the grooming gangs scandal.

Politics

13 h. ago Louise Casey criticises ‘public irresponsibility’ of officials over grooming gang race data – UK politics live

Casey tells MPs she was surprised to be asked to re-engage with issue 10 years after her Rotherham report but says it was right decisionGrooming gangs in UK ‘thrived in culture of ignorance’Casey says in the past government has talked relentlessly about the need for better data sharing between departments.But she says there is a need to consider making this mandatory.I was there when the tragedy of Soham happened. We knew at that point that if we had had better data sharing there’s a possibility that we might have saved those girls’ lives. There’s certaintly an absolute clarity that intelligence would have been much faster in either avoiding it or or actually finding that dreadful human being earlier.And we’ve known that forever onwards. And so I think there is also an issue that the Home Office can’t drag their feet on, looking at police intelligence systems, given we’ve living in the 21st century. Probably everbody in this room can connect within seconds. Yet we had Befordshire po...

Politics

28 h. ago Child sexual abuse victim criticises ‘smug’ Badenoch over grooming inquiry

Liberal Democrat MP Josh Babarinde told the Commons he was ‘disgusted’ by the Conservative leader’s ‘party political assault’.

Events

30 h. ago Cooper says law on rape being tightened so adults cannot use consent as defence against charge of raping child under 16 – UK politics live

Yvette Cooper tells parliament that Louise Casey audit found some cases were downgraded from rape to lesser charges ‘because 13- to 15-year-old is perceived to have consented’Starmer launches new grooming gangs investigationIn his interview on the Sky News this morning Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said that Keir Starmer should apologise for saying in January that those calling for a national inquiry into grooming gangs were jumping on a far-right bandwagon. Kemi Badenoch, his party leader, is also quoted today in an Daily Express splash story saying Starmer should apologise, but she is saying he should apologise for not agreeing to hold a national inquiry earlier.At the Downing Street lobby briefing this morning the No 10 spokesperson was asked if Starmer still thought that people who backed a national inquiry in January were joining a far-right bandwagon. In response, the spokesperson defended the phrase, and insisted that it only applied to Tories who were now demanding...

Society

31 h. ago Audit found ‘clear evidence of representation’ of Asian and Pakistani men in grooming gang cases in local data, MPs told – UK politics live

Yvette Cooper tells parliament that Louise Casey audit found ‘organisations avoided topic for fear of appearing racist or raising community tensions’Starmer launches new grooming gangs investigationIn his interview on the Sky News this morning Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said that Keir Starmer should apologise for saying in January that those calling for a national inquiry into grooming gangs were jumping on a far-right bandwagon. Kemi Badenoch, his party leader, is also quoted today in an Daily Express splash story saying Starmer should apologise, but she is saying he should apologise for not agreeing to hold a national inquiry earlier.At the Downing Street lobby briefing this morning the No 10 spokesperson was asked if Starmer still thought that people who backed a national inquiry in January were joining a far-right bandwagon. In response, the spokesperson defended the phrase, and insisted that it only applied to Tories who were now demanding an inquiry they never set...

Politics

34 h. ago Starmer and Zelensky will urge Trump to hit Russia with more sanctions at G7 summit over Putin's failure to agree peace deal to end brutal Ukraine war

The Prime Minister said targeting Moscow with further action would 'undoubtedly' form part of talks at the international summit this week unless the Kremlin engages in peace talks.

Politics

35 h. ago No 10 says Starmer stands by claim Tories were jumping on far

Prime minister’s comments were about ‘ministers from previous government who sat in office for years and did nothing’, says No 10 spokespersonStarmer launches new grooming gangs investigationIn his interview on the Sky News this morning Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said that Keir Starmer should apologise for saying in January that those calling for a national inquiry into grooming gangs were jumping on a far-right bandwagon. Kemi Badenoch, his party leader, is also quoted today in an Daily Express splash story saying Starmer should apologise, but she is saying he should apologise for not agreeing to hold a national inquiry earlier.At the Downing Street lobby briefing this morning the No 10 spokesperson was asked if Starmer still thought that people who backed a national inquiry in January were joining a far-right bandwagon. In response, the spokesperson defended the phrase, and insisted that it only applied to Tories who were now demanding an inquiry they never set up whe...

Politics

6 d. ago Wynne Evans told his girlfriend 'I have to kill myself' in lowest moment after Strictly scandals

Wynne Evans has claimed he was suicidal following the Strictly Come Dancing scandal

Events

9 d. ago Post Office Horizon scandal victims offered 'pathetic' levels of compensation

Dozens of postmaster in the Post Office Horizon scandal have been offered “pathetic”compensation, it has been claimed, following the ITV hit show drawing attention to the ordeal

Events

1 week ago Kemi Badenoch says ECHR is letting Channel migrants 'mug' Britain and is blocking action on grooming gangs as Tory leader says UK will 'likely' have to quit treaty

In a major speech, the Tory leader bemoaned the effect of the treaty in a number of areas - including tackling illegal migration, deporting sex offenders, and protecting military veterans.

Events

1 week ago US warns Starmer it is 'important' UK hits new Nato target for spending 3.5% of GDP on defence as Labour struggles to balance the books

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered the message as he met ministers from the military alliance in Brussels.

Events

2 w. ago ANDREW NEIL: Starmer is shifting Leftwards to save his own skin. And that means one thing: yet more tax rises are coming our way...

I'm a man without conviction, I'm a man who doesn't know,' sang Culture Club's Boy George in his huge 1980s hit Karma Chameleon. It could be Keir Starmer's theme song.

Events

2 w. ago Marine conservation group claims damage to seabeds is a ‘national scandal’

The charity Open Seas accused Scottish ministers of continuing to allow ‘destructive’ fishing practices to be carried out in protected areas.

Events

2 w. ago Prepayment meter compensation: UK energy customers to get £1,000 after energy firms scandal

Thousands of customers are in line for surprise payouts — and some could clear their debts ⚡

Economics

3 w. ago Jake Tapper claims Biden health scandal coverup is 'worse than Watergate'

The extraordinary admission came during an interview with Piers Morgan promoting his tell-all book Original Sin, co-authored alongside Axios reporter Alex Thompson.

Politics