2 h. ago Starmer faces Badenoch at PMQs amid criticism over digital ID U

Ministers have rolled back central element of digital ID plans, possibly allowing people to use other forms of identification to prove their right to workHere are extracts from three interesting comment articles about the digital ID U-turn.Ailbhe Rea in the New Statesman in the New Statesmans says there were high hopes for the policy when it was first announced.I remember a leisurely lunch over the summer when a supporter of digital IDs told me how they thought Keir Starmer would reset his premiership. Alongside a reorganisation of his team in Number 10, and maybe a junior ministerial reshuffle, they predicted he would announce in his speech at party conference that his government would be embracing digital IDs. “It will allow him to show he’s willing to do whatever it takes to tackle illegal immigration,” was their rationale.Sure enough, Starmer announced “phase two” of his government, reshuffled his top team and, on the Friday before Labour party conference, he duly announced his ...

Politics

6 h. ago UK digital ID card: Everything we know as Labour announces another U

The UK government has seemingly reversed its decision to implement mandatory digital ID cards to prove the right to work

Politics

18 h. ago Compulsory digital ID plan axed as Labour performs another U

New identity verification scheme aimed at deterring illegal migration is reportedly to become optional

Politics

4 d. ago Labour to spend £200million on preparing troops for Ukraine as Russia unleashes terrifying nuclear

John Healey was speaking after a one-day visit to Kyiv on Friday, where he discussed plans for the Multinational Force Ukraine with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Economics

8 d. ago Morning Live star halts show filming after wife calls to announce she’s gone into labour

MORNING Live star Xand Van Tulleken was forced to halt recording his show and rush to hospital after his wife went into labour. The BBC star was given the shock news while he was co-hosting one of the broadcaster's popular podcasts, when he received an unexpected call from his heavily pregnant wife. The 47-year-old who...

Culture

1 week ago Digital wallet fraud: how your bank card can be stolen without it leaving your wallet

Fraudsters use phishing to steal card details, which fund a spending spree using Apple Pay or Google PayYou get a call from your bank and the informed voice asks to you to confirm the personal details they have on file, which you do. You are then asked whether you bought something at an electrical retailer recently for £120 and spent £235 in Birmingham, but neither transaction rings true.The caller tells you they have blocked the payments but they must now secure your account, and say they will send you a notification to approve, or a code to pass on to them. You feel under pressure to protect your money, so you do what is asked. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Morning Live star stops recording as his wife calls to announce she's gone into labour

Xand van Tulleken, who is best known appearing on the BBC's Morning Live, had to rush out of the recording studio when his wife called to say she was in labour

Politics

3 w. ago Farmers now risk being undercut by imports after Labour's animal welfare reforms

Labour dealt another blow to farmers on Monday as they announced animal welfare changes that could see them being undercut by foreign competitors.

Events

3 w. ago Bathgate MP backs UK Government's expansion of Youth Guarantee scheme

Labour has announced new measures to support 16-24-year-olds across Britain. By expanding its Youth Guarantee scheme with £820 million of new funding, the Government is tackling the problem and giving a brighter future to young people.

Politics

3 w. ago ‘You’re barred!’: Labour’s battle with pubs promises a new year headache

A protest barring MPs from pubs is exposing deeper tensions between politicians and the communities they representLabour MPs heading back to their constituencies this weekend will do so with a sense of relief that another turbulent term in British politics is over. But those hoping to pitch up at their local pub for a restorative pint with colleagues and constituents may find festive cheer is in short supply. In fact, some may not be allowed through the door.For the past few weeks, pubs across the country have been putting up signs declaring “No Labour MPs” in protest at changes to business rates announced by the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, in her latest budget. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Finally, Labour is finding its nerve and getting Britain’s bad Brexit deal undone | Polly Toynbee

Rejoining Erasmus should just be a first step – as the economic evidence piles up, the need for closer ties with Europe could not be clearerMonth by month, Labour is bringing us closer to Europe. This week, the UK announced it is rejoining the Erasmus+ youth exchange programme. This will open the door beyond the many young people who attend university – its remit includes FE students, apprentices, and youth and school groups. A whoop of excitement greeted the announcement, with opportunities for those involved in education, training, culture and sport, and a commitment to maximise take-up by disadvantaged young people. Widening experience, encouraging adventure: Erasmus+ may help cure Britain’s monolingual handicap and the catastrophic decline in language courses. Last year in the UK, less than 3% of A-levels were in languages.This all eludes Europhobes such as Andrew Neil, who posted on X that “extra taxes now being inflicted on working people will be used to finance some ‘study’ i...

Economics

3 w. ago Local elections face further delays as councils struggle to reorganise in time

Opposition parties say Labour is ‘scared of voters’ but government says merging authorities have voiced concernsLocal elections could be delayed again as merging councils lack the capacity for reorganisation, the government has announced, triggering claims from opposition parties that Labour is “scared of the voters”.Sixty-three council areas could opt to postpone elections until 2027 after some were already delayed until May 2026 as two-tier authorities are being combined into single unitary councils. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago UK digital ID card: Everything we know as whistleblowers sound alarm over data security

Concerns over data security have cast doubt on the UK's digital ID card plans, raising fears of a potential data breach

Events

4 w. ago Green Party gains 5 London councillors in same borough as mass defections from Labour announced

Green Party gains 5 London councillors in same borough as mass defections from Labour announced  My London

Politics