5 h. ago Starmer says Tories are ‘dead party walking’ as Badenoch dismisses trade deals

The Opposition leader said agreements with Narendra Modi and Donald Trump’s governments are ‘tiny tariff’ deals.

Economics

27 h. ago There’s only one problem with Labour’s immigration plans: they’re completely untethered from reality | Jonathan Portes

The government’s new policy will take us back to an uglier, more dangerous place – and it’s not even supported by the dataHow do you reduce immigration while at the same time boosting growth? Labour’s recent immigration white paper sets out a supposedly clear answer. Since the recent “surge” in immigration was driven by the system shifting away from “higher-skilled migration”, it has “distorted the labour market” and undermined the UK’s productivity and GDP.This argument, which has been made in increasingly shrill tones by the rightwing press and thinktanks over the past two years, was echoed by the prime minister, Keir Starmer, who tweeted that “the Tories ran an immigration system that relied on cheap foreign labour”. It sounds plausible. There’s just one problem. It doesn’t fit the facts, and the government knows it.Jonathan Portes is professor of economics and public policy at King’s College London and a former senior civil servant Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Conservative party is fighting for its life, says former Tory cabinet minister

Simon Clarke says ‘pipeline of future voters is dead’ as party figures warn Kemi Badenoch her job as leader is in dangerThe Conservative party is fighting to justify its existence amid concerns that its pipeline of future voters is “completely dead”, a former cabinet minister and leading thinktank director has said.Simon Clarke, an ally of Boris Johnson who backed Kemi Badenoch for the leadership last year, was among a string of former Tory ministers and serving MPs to tell the Guardian she faced removal by her party if she did not turn its fortunes around by next year’s local elections. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Bank of England chief urges Starmer to 'do everything' to 'rebuild' trade with the EU after sealing deal with Trump... as Tories warn Brexit must NOT be unwound

Andrew Bailey backed deepening relations as the PM pushes ahead with his Brexit 'reset' - after sealing a damage limitation deal with Donald Trump .

Events

5 d. ago Trump hails Brexit for making UK trade deal possible: Inside astonishing day that saw President blindside Starmer during Arsenal match and resulted in Tories deriding 'Diet Coke' agreement

The deal, which President Trump said was only possible 'because of Brexit ', will cut US tariffs on cars imported from the UK from 25 per cent to 10 for the first 100,000 vehicles.

Politics

6 d. ago Tories accuse Starmer of 'shafting' Britain with US trade deal: Trump lowers tariffs on car and steel exports to America while US farmers get access to Britain

Donald Trump said the agreement would be 'really good' for both sides - as British businesses hope for relief from his brutal tariffs.

Economics

6 d. ago Tories accuse Starmer of 'shafting' Britain with US trade deal: President lowers tariffs on car and steel exports to America while US farmers get access to Britain

Donald Trump said the agreement would be 'really good' for both sides - as British businesses hope for relief from his brutal tariffs.

Economics

6 d. ago Environment Secretary accuses Tories of trying to ‘weaponise’ farmer deaths

Victoria Atkins asked whether Steve Reed will ‘on a point of principle’ resign if Labour does not change its approach to inheritance tax.

Events

7 d. ago Keir Starmer slams Kemi Badenoch as 'climate defeatist' but she says he's 'on another planet' in net zero row

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch was first to raise winter fuel payment cuts, saying her party ‘wouldn’t balance (the public finances) on the back of pensioners’

Politics

7 d. ago PMQs: Starmer under fire from Tories, Lib Dems and SNP on winter fuel payment cuts and net zero

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch was first to raise winter fuel payment cuts, saying her party ‘wouldn’t balance (the public finances) on the back of pensioners’

Events

1 week ago Farage: Reform UK has ‘supplanted’ Tories after local elections sweep

The Reform leader said the Conservatives will ‘never recover’.

Politics

2 w. ago Starmer and Badenoch clash as Labour and Tories brace for tough elections

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK hopes to take the Runcorn and Helsby seat in the Commons off Labour and scores of councillors off the Tories.

Politics

2 w. ago Tony Blair’s climate crisis views ‘absolutely aligned’ with government policy, Starmer says – UK politics live

PM says he and Blair aligned ‘if you look at the detail of what he said’PMQs is starting soon.Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Tories 'face losing 500 seats' in Reform local elections surge as Keir Starmer 'stays away' from Runcorn by

Tension is building ahead of the crucial votes on Thursday, with Reform expected to make sweeping gains.

Politics

3 w. ago Heartbreaking details of The Vivienne's 'secret' lethal ketamine addiction revealed by drag star's family

James Lee Williams, better known as The Vivienne, died of a cardiac arrest linked to the party drug and powerful painkiller in January being found dead at their home.

Society

3 w. ago Travel blogger Vanessa Konopka dead at 28 after extreme sickness left her 'unable to speak'

Vanessa Konopka, 28, died after spending months at a hospital in the Philippines 'unable to eat, walk and speak.'

Events

3 w. ago Miliband hits back at Farage over ‘nonsense and lies’ about net zero

The Energy Secretary said both Reform UK and the Tories were prepared to concoct falsehoods to ‘pursue their ideological agenda.’

Events

3 w. ago Disengaging from China on business would be ‘foolish’, Rachel Reeves says

Chancellor supports economic ties with Beijing as she prepares to fly to US next week for trade deal talksRachel Reeves has dismissed the idea of economically disengaging from China, amid concerns the US may put pressure on the UK to limit its deals with Beijing.The chancellor, who will discuss a trade deal with the US on a trip to Washington next week, said it would be “very foolish” for Britain to have less involvement with Xi Jinping’s administration. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Cutting business ties with China would be ‘foolish’, Reeves says amid reports of US pressure

Chancellor supports economic ties with Beijing as she prepares to fly to US next week for trade deal talksRachel Reeves has dismissed the idea of economically disengaging from China, amid concerns the US may put pressure on the UK to limit its deals with Beijing.The chancellor, who will discuss a trade deal with the US on a trip to Washington next week, said it would be “very foolish” for Britain to have less involvement with Xi Jinping’s administration. Continue reading...

Events