2 h. ago Keir Starmer to host Volodymyr Zelensky at Downing Street TODAY

Keir Starmer will host Volodymyr Zelensky at Downing Street today ahead of crucial talks between the US and Russia tomorrow.

Politics

3 d. ago Europe’s leaders raise pressure on Trump to involve Ukraine in Putin talks

Move comes as Germany warns White House against any deal hatched ‘over heads of Europeans and Ukrainians’Europe’s leaders have raised the pressure on Donald Trump to involve Ukraine in a planned summit with Vladimir Putin, as Germany warned the White House against any deal hatched “over the heads of Europeans and Ukrainians”.Speaking before a bilateral meeting expected to take place between the US and Russian leaders on Friday in Alaska, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said he hoped and assumed that Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, would also be involved. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Germany halts arms sales to Israel over Gaza offensive as Starmer warns of ‘more bloodshed’

Chancellor Friedrich Merz said it was ‘increasingly difficult to understand’ how the latest military push will help achieve Israel’s aims

Events

6 d. ago Lammy to host Vance in UK as Starmer denounces Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City – UK politics live

The foreign secretary is to welcome the US vice-president to Chevening, his grace-and-favour residence, and Gaza is expected to be on their agendaGood morning. Keir Starmer has this morning denounced the Israeli government’s decision to take over Gaza City, agreed overnight, saying it will “only bring more bloodshed”. He has been under growing pressure for a long time, from within the Labour party, as well as from the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and the Corbyn/Sultana independent leftwingers, to be more critical of Israel, and that led to the decision last week to recognise the state of Palestine. This morning’s statement, which will almost certainly have no practical impact but which is marginally stronger than what Starmer has been saying in the past, is fresh evidence of a shift in thinking.In his statement, Starmer said:The Israeli government’s decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong, and we urge it to reconsider immediately. This action will do nothing to ...

Politics

9 d. ago Pension age debate threatens to splinter Germany’s fragile coalition

Merz walks fine line as ‘lazy Germans’ debate sparks protest and economy minister calls to raise retirement age to 70The fact that ageing Germany’s generous pension system is unsustainable is political Berlin’s worst-kept secret, but a controversial call to save it by hiking the retirement age to 70 has sparked howls of protest and threatened to destabilise the fractious government.The chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has largely sidestepped the ticking timebomb of the greying population since taking office in May, preferring instead to announce sweeteners such as tax breaks for older Germans to continue working past the retirement age. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Israeli forces kill at least 27 at food site while minister’s al

Six more people die from malnutrition, while Itamar Ben-Gvir is first minister to publicly pray at sensitive siteAt least 27 people were killed by Israeli forces while trying to get food and six others died from starvation or malnutrition in Gaza on Sunday, Palestinian officials said, amid a regional outcry over an Israeli minister’s visit to Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site.Witnesses said Israeli forces fired on hungry crowds who were attempting to get food aid from a distribution site run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in the south of the territory, with some describing the fire as indiscriminate. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Britain is great at muddling through. But imagine if its leaders knew where they were heading | Timothy Garton Ash

Starmer’s successful ‘reset’ with Europe highlights an underlying incoherence. The only rational long-term strategy is to rejoin the EU, but our politics is far removed from thatLike a chronic ailment, strategic incoherence gnaws at everything Britain does in the world. Keir Starmer’s real achievement in resetting relations with mainland Europe – witness the recent visits of the French president Emmanuel Macron and the German chancellor Friedrich Merz – does not obscure, and in a way even highlights, this deeper confusion.After 1945, Winston Churchill envisioned Britain’s global role at the intersection of three circles: the British Commonwealth and (then still) empire; the Europe whose postwar recovery and unification he strongly supported; and the United States. As Commonwealth countries have formed stronger ties elsewhere, the first circle is no longer of strategic significance. Having committed itself in the 1970s to the most developed political and economic form of the second c...

Politics

3 w. ago German leader Merz says his government has a 'stable foundation' despite a dispute

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says his coalition has a “stable foundation” and has achieved a lot in its first 10 weeks

Politics

3 w. ago 'I was in the room as another European leader gave a scathing verdict on Brexit'

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz became the second European leader in a week after Emmanuel Macron to voice his dispair over Brexit, and the audience was reminded how it has hampered efforts to tackle small boats

Politics

3 w. ago I deplore Brexit, German chancellor admits as he signs new treaty with Starmer

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he personally "deplores'' Brexit as he signed a new co-operation deal between his country and Britain.

Politics

3 w. ago Keir Starmer says deal with Germany on tackling Channel boat gangs is 'clear sign we mean business' as he hosts Chancellor Merz (but crackdown was already announced last year)

Keir Starmer said the countries were sending a 'clear sign we mean business' as he and Friedrich Merz signed the first bilateral treaty since the Second World War.

Economics

3 w. ago Keir Starmer hails German deal to help smash Channel boat gangs as he meets Chancellor Merz in No10 (but crackdown was already announced last year)

Keir Starmer and Friedrich Merz have signed the first bilateral treaty between the countries since the Second World War.

Economics

3 w. ago Keir Starmer signs landmark deal to explore direct rail line from UK to Germany

Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have signed a treaty beefing up security arrangements between the nations and containing measures to tackle small boat crossings

Economics

3 w. ago Watch live: UK and Germany sign treaty on migrant smuggling crackdown

Watch live as Sir Keir Starmer meets with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at Downing Street on Thursday (17 July).

Events

4 w. ago Preparations to deliver Patriot missile systems to Ukraine under way, Nato’s top Europe commander says – Europe live

Alexus Grynkewich says Russia will remain a threat even if a peaceful solution to war in Ukraine can be foundAletha Adu in London and Deborah Cole in BerlinKeir Starmer will welcome Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, to Downing Street on Thursday to sign a new bilateral treaty that promises tighter action on smuggling gangs, expanded defence exports and closer industrial ties between the UK and Germany. Continue reading...

Events

4 w. ago Leaders of the UK and Germany to sign a treaty on defense, trade and migration

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are signing a treaty Thursday to strengthen defense ties and combat migrant smuggling across the English Channel

Politics

4 w. ago Keir Starmer to hold major meeting with German Chancellor in UK

Prime Minister Keir Starmer will welcome Berlin's plans to criminalise facilitating illegal migration to the UK by the end of the year as he meets with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday

Politics

4 w. ago Starmer to host Merz in chancellor’s first official visit to UK

The Prime Minister has been seeking to strengthen ties with EU countries.

Politics