31 h. ago Lib Dems take aim at Tory place as ‘party of Middle England’ in local elections

The Liberal Democrats are hoping to erode the Conservative vote at the local elections in May.

Politics

41 h. ago DAN HODGES: Labour is set to suffer a tornado of rage from the voters it has betrayed... so why is Kemi Badenoch doing NOTHING to win them round?

Oh, how the clever boys in Tory HQ must have laughed. What a jolly jape. Mocking up a series of tweets to mimic US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's messages on bombing the Houthis.

Politics

51 h. ago 'We feel like we have to walk on egg shells': Tory MPs bemoan Kemi Badenoch's near ban on criticising Trump

Tory MPs are complaining about Kemi Badenoch 's 'controlling' approach and her effective ban on criticising the Trump team.

Politics

60 h. ago Voices: Michael Gove’s advice to Kemi Badenoch reveals how far the Tories have fallen

The former cabinet minister’s insights into the Conservative's struggles highlight the party's deepening crisis and the challenges facing its future, writes John Rentoul

Politics

60 h. ago Voices: Michael Gove explains why he abandoned Boris Johnson twice

The former cabinet minister’s insights into the Conservatives’ struggles highlight the party’s deepening crisis and the challenges facing its future, writes John Rentoul

Politics

67 h. ago Justice Secretary warned against ‘megaphone diplomacy’ in sentencing row

Former Tory justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland also suggested he had no truck with accusations the Government was implementing ‘two-tier’ justice.

Events

3 d. ago Controversial MAFS couple split after one year as they release surprise statement

Tori and Jack from Married At First Sight Australia have revealed that they have broken up after a year of dating, but that they will 'remain the best of friends'

Politics

4 d. ago Smartphone bans alone do not give children healthy tech relationship – academics

A group of experts has warned that blanket phone bans fail to prepare children for modern life in a digital world.

Society

4 d. ago Nigel Farage rules out election deal with Tories branding them 'stuffy boring old b******s' and claiming Net Zero will be major vote battleground

The Reform leader said he would rather his party replaced the Tories as the home of rightwing voters and questioned counterpart Kemi Badenoch 's work ethic in a scathing attack.

Politics

5 d. ago Ofsted chief backs headteachers taking ‘tough’ decision to ban phones in schools

Sir Martyn Oliver told parents at a Q&A in London that he had walked into schools in ‘utter chaos’ where phones were rife.

Politics

5 d. ago 250,000 more people will face relative poverty after Rachel Reeves’ benefits cuts, DWP says – spring statement live

Department for work and pensions says thousands, including children, will be hit by chancellor’s reforms, as OBR forecasts UK growth to halve in 2025Spring statement 2025: key points at a glanceRachel Reeves will not be raising taxes in the spring statement today, even though there are many people on the left who would prefer taxes to rise as an alternative to public spending being cut. Reeves came into office promising only one budget-type event a year, and that is one reason why she is not hiking taxes today. But mainly it’s because she thinks Britons are relatively highly taxed already, because Labour was elected on a manifesto ruling out most of the obvious possible tax rises and because she’s not convinced a sweeping wealth tax would work.But that has not stopped campaigners calling for a wealth tax, and yesterday about 300 people attended a ‘Tax the Super-Rich’ rally outside the Treasury. It was organised by charities and social justice campaign groups, but one of the speakers...

Politics

5 d. ago Reeves announces welfare changes, increased defence spending and new growth forecasts – spring statement live

Chancellor OBR forecasts for UK growth halved in 2025 but up in the remaining years of this parliamentSpring statement 2025: key points at a glanceRachel Reeves will not be raising taxes in the spring statement today, even though there are many people on the left who would prefer taxes to rise as an alternative to public spending being cut. Reeves came into office promising only one budget-type event a year, and that is one reason why she is not hiking taxes today. But mainly it’s because she thinks Britons are relatively highly taxed already, because Labour was elected on a manifesto ruling out most of the obvious possible tax rises and because she’s not convinced a sweeping wealth tax would work.But that has not stopped campaigners calling for a wealth tax, and yesterday about 300 people attended a ‘Tax the Super-Rich’ rally outside the Treasury. It was organised by charities and social justice campaign groups, but one of the speakers was Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green party...

Economics

5 d. ago Keir Starmer says a mandatory ban on phones in schools is 'completely unnecessary' in fiery PMQs clash over Labour block on law change

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch took aim after Labour blocked a proposal to bar the use of smartphones in educational settings.

Politics

5 d. ago Keir Starmer faces PMQs before Rachel Reeves delivers spring statement – UK politics live

Chancellor is expected to announce further welfare cuts when she outlines departmental spending plansRachel Reeves will not be raising taxes in the spring statement today, even though there are many people on the left who would prefer taxes to rise as an alternative to public spending being cut. Reeves came into office promising only one budget-type event a year, and that is one reason why she is not hiking taxes today. But mainly it’s because she thinks Britons are relatively highly taxed already, because Labour was elected on a manifesto ruling out most of the obvious possible tax rises and because she’s not convinced a sweeping wealth tax would work.But that has not stopped campaigners calling for a wealth tax, and yesterday about 300 people attended a ‘Tax the Super-Rich’ rally outside the Treasury. It was organised by charities and social justice campaign groups, but one of the speakers was Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green party, which is in favour of a wealth tax.Across th...

Politics

5 d. ago DAN HODGES: We're being ruled by idiots. And here's exactly why today's political elite are so out of touch... as revealed by the utterly damning thing a top MP told me

Pete Hegseth's almost treasonous blunder has finally torn the curtain away. Trump and his acolytes aren't masters of the deal. They are incompetent, reckless, crazy men.

Politics

5 d. ago Further welfare cuts expected as Rachel Reeves prepares to deliver spring statement – UK politics live

Keir Starmer will face Kemi Badenoch at PMQs before the chancellor delivers her spring statement John Healey, the defence secretary, has been doing an interview round this morning because overnight the Treasury briefed journalists that Rachel Reeves will announce an extra £2.2bn in defence spending from April in the spring statement. (Presumably that was the story the Treasury press office were hoping would be leading the news bulletins this morning, not the new benefit cuts).In its news release, the Treasury said:The chancellor will announce a further £2.2bn funding increase for defence from April, as she warns that Britain has to “move quickly in a changing world”.The funding will be invested in advanced technologies so that Britain’s armed forces have the tools they need to compete and win in modern warfare. This includes guaranteeing the investment to fit Royal Navy ships with Directed Energy Weapons by 2027. These weapons can hit a £1 coin from 1km away and take down drones at ...

Politics

6 d. ago Kemi Badenoch is 'not doing enough' to earn a hearing from voters says only Tory metro mayor Lord Houchen ahead of local elections

Lord Ben Houchen hit out at the leadership, saying it needed to start putting forward concrete Tory ideas now to help see off the threat from Nigel Farage's Reform UK.

Politics

8 d. ago Labour minister asked AI for advice on AI and what podcasts to appear on

FOI request have reavealed that a Labour government minister asked artificial intelligence for advice about AI and what podcasts it would be appropriate for him to appear on

Politics

9 d. ago Davey: ‘Disdainful’ Badenoch thinks fixing church roofs is beneath her

Her comments reveal the Tories’ ‘disdainful thinking’, the Lib Dem leader will say in a speech to his party’s spring conference.

Politics

9 d. ago Kemi Badenoch’s Tory shadow business secretary enjoyed skiing and BAFTAs freebies

Millionaire Andrew Griffith accepted discounted Davos ski passes, guiding and hospitality before taking his wife to BAFTAs after being handed £4,000 tickets

Politics