2 h. ago UK would be ‘foolish’ to pursue customs union with EU, business secretary says

Peter Kyle warns against ‘simple solutions’ for boosting growth in FT interview

Politics

2 h. ago ‘In a volatile world, Britain stands out’: Reeves to try to turn Trump tariffs into an opportunity for UK business

The chancellor and business secretary will both be attending Davos with a message that the UK ‘offers the stability’ that businesses need to invest amid increasing global volatility

Politics

3 d. ago People in Minneapolis and St Paul: what is life like in the Twin Cities right now?

We want to hear from people in Minnesota about the surge of thousands of federal immigration agents in the areaThousands of federal immigration agents have been sent into Minneapolis in recent days, with protests taking place in Minnesota and across the country in response to last week’s shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer.The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing federal immigration authorities in Minnesota of racial profiling and unlawful arrests. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Ban on Elon Musk's X by Ofcom would have Government's full support, says No10 in storm over Grok sexual images

Business Secretary Peter Kyle slammed as ‘disgusting’ that women were being digitally undressed to be pictured in bikinis

Politics

7 d. ago Hit Musk X with 'full extent of law,' minister urges Ofcom as it starts probe into Grok sexual images storm

Business Secretary Peter Kyle slammed as ‘disgusting’ that women were being digitally pictured in bikinis

Politics

7 d. ago Hit Musk's X with 'full extent of law,' minister urges Ofcom as it starts probe into Grok sexual images storm

Business Secretary Peter Kyle slammed as ‘disgusting’ that women were being digitally pictured in bikinis

Politics

7 d. ago UK prepared to BAN X over its Grok AI being used to create child abuse images despite Elon Musk labelling move 'fascist'

The business secretary said he expected the production of 'nudifying images' to be 'dealt with', saying they were 'disgusting and clearly unlawful'.

Events

7 d. ago Minister rules out proscribing Iranian Revolutionary Guard despite brutal suppression of protesters

Business secretary Peter Kyle said that the UK government has ‘already used the sanctions against Iran to the full extent we can’ despite Yvette Cooper promising that Labour would proscribe the IRGC in opposition

Politics

7 d. ago UK threatens action against X over sexualised AI images of women and children

Government signals support for possible Ofcom intervention on Grok as scrutiny of X’s AI tool intensifiesBusiness live – latest updatesElon Musk’s X “is not doing enough to keep its customers safe online”, a minister has said, as the UK government prepares to outline possible action against the platform over the mass production of sexualised images of woman and children.Peter Kyle, the business secretary, said the government would fully support any action taken by Ofcom, the media regulator, against X – including the possibility that the platform could be blocked in the UK. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Hit Elon Musk's X with 'full extent of the law,' Cabinet minister urges Ofcom amid Grok sexual images storm

Business Secretary Peter Kyle slammed as ‘disgusting’ that women were being digitally pictured in bikinis

Politics

8 d. ago Update on 'UK boots on the ground in Greenland' amid Donald Trump threats

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander claimed 'business as usual discussions' are ongoing about security in the Arctic amid reports a NATO mission to the island is being planned as an alternative to a US invasion

Politics

2 w. ago Starmer signals new plan to unpick Brexit harm a decade on from EU referendum

Prime minister says closer alignment to the single market could be in the national interest, but rejects customs union idea that Wes Streeting said had ‘enormous’ benefits

Politics

2 w. ago Starmer says closer ties with EU single market preferable to a customs union

Prime minister gives clearest sign yet that government is seeking to further deepen Britain’s links with BrusselsCloser ties with the EU single market are preferable to a customs union, Keir Starmer has said, in his clearest sign yet that the government is seeking to further deepen links with Brussels.The prime minister said the UK should consider “even closer alignment” with the single market. “If it’s in our national interest then we should consider that, we should go that far,” he told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago 25 billion reasons why the UK should rejoin the European Customs Union

Given the state of the UK economy, Labour cannot afford to shun the estimated £25 billion in extra tax revenues that rejoining the Customs Union would bring

Politics

2 w. ago KEMI BADENOCH: Starmer's trying to save his skin by unpicking Brexit

Recent weeks have seen a bizarre push by some Labour and Lib Dem politicians - including in major newspaper interviews - to rejoin the EU's customs union.

Politics

2 w. ago Kemi Badenoch accuses Labour of reopening old Brexit wounds to shore up its core vote after senior ministers urge closer relationship with Europe

The Tory leader said growing calls by some ministers for the UK to rejoin the European customs union showed the Government has no plan or new ideas.

Politics

3 w. ago Union boss piles pressure on Starmer to rejoin EU customs union as he calls for 'closest possible economic and political relationship' with Euro bloc

Paul Nowak, the leader of the Trades Union Congressand the most senior trade unionist in the UK, said the government should look at 'every possible' opportunity for relations with the EU.

Economics

3 w. ago Paul Nowak calls on Labour to forge closer relationship with Europe

In an exclusive interview, the head of the TUC says a customs union with the EU could boost the UK’s economyKeir Starmer should seek out a far closer relationship with Europe, including a possible customs union, the head of the TUC has said.Paul Nowak, TUC general secretary, said the British public recognised the need for a vastly improved trading arrangement and said it had become more urgent than ever because of the fickle nature of the relationship with Donald Trump’s United States. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trade unions leader calls on Labour to forge closer relationship with Europe

In an exclusive interview, the head of the TUC Paul Nowak says a customs union with the EU could boost the UK’s economyKeir Starmer should seek out a far closer relationship with Europe, including a possible customs union, the head of the TUC has said.Paul Nowak, TUC general secretary, said the British public recognised the need for a vastly improved trading arrangement and said it had become more urgent than ever because of the fickle nature of the relationship with Donald Trump’s United States. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago More than 75% of Labour, Lib Dem and Green voters think PM should open talks on joining EU customs union – as it happened

YouGov poll for the Times suggests even 40% of Conservative voters support such a moveWes Streeting, the health secretary, used an interview with the Observer published at the weekend to suggest that he favours joining a customs union with the EU. This is something that Keir Starmer has ruled out.But Labour supporters back Streeting on this. According to YouGov polling for the Times, 80% of people who voted Labour at the last general election say a future leader should open negotiations on joining a customs union with the EU. Continue reading...

Politics