25 h. ago Visas for young European under a youth mobility scheme with EU ‘not in Government plans’, says minister

Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds told MPs the Government is pursuing a new partnership with the EU which will make the UK ‘safer, more secure and more prosperous’.

Politics

28 h. ago Miliband confirms he could charge homes in the South more for electricity

The energy secretary confirmed ministers are looking at the plans, which have been dubbed ‘madness’ by Labour donor and eco-tycoon Dale Vince

Politics

32 h. ago SIM farms: Fraud minister Lord Hanson outlines plans to ban devices used by scammers to con the public

Fraud minister Lord Hanson writes exclusively for the NationalWorld network to explain the government’s plans to ban SIM farms - used by scammers to con the public

Politics

42 h. ago Indian closes land border with Pakistan after 26 tourists killed in Kashmir attack

Water treaty also suspended amid hunt for militants said to have executed men unable to recite Islamic versesIndia has closed a key land border with neighbouring Pakistan, cancelled a water-sharing treaty and barred Pakistan’s citizens from entering under a visa exemption scheme following Tuesday’s attack by Islamic militants in Kashmir that killed 26 tourists.The moves come as India’s defence minister, Rajnath Singh, said those who carried out and planned the Kashmir region’s worst attack on civilians in years, including those “behind the scenes”, would see a swift response. Continue reading...

Events

42 h. ago India closes land border with Pakistan after 26 tourists killed in Kashmir attack

Water treaty also suspended amid hunt for militants said to have executed men unable to recite Islamic versesIndia has closed a key land border with Pakistan, cancelled a water-sharing treaty and barred Pakistan’s citizens from entering under a visa exemption scheme after Tuesday’s attack by Islamic militants in Kashmir that killed 26 tourists.India’s defence minister, Rajnath Singh, said those who carried out and planned the Kashmir region’s worst attack on civilians in years, including those “behind the scenes”, would see a swift response. Continue reading...

Events

45 h. ago Ministers move to axe early public consultation phase for infrastructure schemes

Ministers insist that forthcoming amendments to flagship planning reforms will protect community input and boost the economy.

Politics

47 h. ago UK and Ukraine ministers meet as officials discuss peace plans

US secretary of state Marco Rubio did not attend the talks in London but defence and foreign ministers from the UK and Ukraine met.

Politics

49 h. ago UK peace talks on Ukraine downgraded as Marco Rubio pulls out

Planned ministerial-level talks replaced by discussions at official level amid reports of change in Kremlin stanceRussia-Ukraine war – latest news updatesMinisterial-level Ukraine peace talks that were due to take place in London on Wednesday have been postponed at the last minute amid speculation that Russia is willing to change its position and after the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said he could not attend.The UK Foreign Office indicated that ministerial-level meetings would be replaced by discussions at an official level – though initial public comments from the Kremlin suggested Moscow still opposed Nato countries sending peacekeepers to Ukraine. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Rebel Labour MPs double down on opposition to Starmer’s welfare cuts: ‘The whole policy is wrong’

Labour rebels are hardening their stance against the welfare cuts, with ministers planning a compromise to ease opposition

Events

5 d. ago Labour's WhatsApp plot to defy trans ruling: Ministers' leaked messages reveal their fury at calls to ban transgender women from female

The Government claimed to welcome the Supreme Court judgment - but the exchanges reveal the private fury on Sir Keir Starmer 's frontbench, with ministers planning to hold a meeting this week.

Politics

6 d. ago Israeli foreign minister planned to cut London trip short before UK blocked arrest attempt

Israeli foreign minister planned to cut London trip short before UK blocked arrest attempt  Middle East Eye

Politics

7 d. ago Britain needs houses, and Labour’s bold plan will address that. But it may require more migrants | Polly Toynbee

Ministers are ready to be relentless over planning reform. There is a skills gap though – and they must be brave enough to fill itAmid the shock of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) halving its growth forecast last month, one remarkable finding gets too little attention. It predicts housebuilding will rise to its highest level in 40 years, adding 0.2% growth or £6.8bn by 2029-30, potentially rising to more than 0.4% by 2034-35. The government has said that housing scores the biggest positive growth effect from a “zero-cost policy” the OBR has ever forecast.This is especially remarkable given that 2024 saw the fewest planning permissions granted for new homes for a decade, and the worst on record, according to the Home Builders Federation (HBF). Planning applications plummeted when the last government scrapped councils’ mandatory housing targets, but since Labour reimposed a national planning policy framework, applications in the works have risen by more than 160%.Polly Toyn...

Events

7 d. ago Giorgia Meloni to try to act as bridge between EU and US with Trump meeting

Italian PM’s summit with US president provokes trepidation among some European allies• Europe live – latest updatesGiorgia Meloni will attempt to burnish her credentials as a possible bridge between the EU and the US during a high-stakes summit with Donald Trump in the White House on Thursday, the first European leader to meet the US president since he announced and then paused some of his planned trade tariff hikes.Italy’s far-right prime minister, who has nurtured friendly relations with Trump, arrived in Washington on Wednesday night. The pair will have lunch at 12pm local time before the meeting in the Oval office, which will be attended by a pool of White House reporters and Italian journalists. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Giorgia Meloni aiming to act as bridge between EU and US in Trump meeting

Italian PM’s summit with US president has provoked trepidation among some European allies• Europe live – latest updatesGiorgia Meloni will attempt to burnish her credentials as a possible bridge between the EU and the US during a high-stakes summit with Donald Trump in the White House on Thursday, the first European leader to meet the US president since he announced and then paused some of his planned trade tariff hikes.Italy’s far-right prime minister, who has nurtured friendly relations with Trump, arrived in Washington on Wednesday night. The pair will have lunch at 12pm local time before the meeting in the Oval Office, which will be attended by a pool of White House reporters and Italian journalists. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago John Swinney fails to apologise to women after Supreme Court gender defeat

EXCLUSIVE: The First Minister spoke exclusively to the Record's Planet Holyrood podcast.

Events

1 week ago Crucial coal will be delivered to British Steel plant in Scunthorpe TODAY as ministers try to avoid full nationalisation

After stepping in to take control of British Steel over the weekend, the Government faced a race against time to get materials such as coking coal and iron ore to the site.

Politics

1 week ago ‘I need my RSJs’ Rayner jokes during visit to Scunthorpe steelworks

The Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary thanked British Steel staff for keeping the plant running during a turbulent time.

Politics

1 week ago UK government says raw materials on way to British Steel furnaces

China warns against politicising crisis at Scunthorpe plant after ministers step in to take control

Politics

1 week ago Could British Steel's furnaces go out because Labour can't move coal 25 miles? Ministers refuse to guarantee Scunthorpe plant will be saved with crucial shipment still at dock

Treasury minister James Murray confirmed that a shipment of coal needed to maintain operations is at docks in Lincolnshire.

Politics

1 week ago Viagogo failing to prevent potentially unlawful practices, say campaigners

Listings on resale site suggest that touts are speculatively selling tickets they do not yet haveThe ticket resale platform Viagogo has been accused of failing to prevent “misleading and potentially unlawful” practices on its platform, despite facing intense scrutiny as the government consults on new anti-touting laws.Ministers are weighing up plans to cap the price at which tickets can be resold, after Labour pledged in its election manifesto to tackle ticket touts using platforms such as Viagogo and StubHub to charge fans huge mark-ups for in-demand shows. Continue reading...

Events