14 h. ago Military sites could be used as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers, minister says – UK politics live

Starmer to ‘go up a gear’ as ministers consider changes to human rights laws in bid to head off Reform UKThe most significant moves in Starmer ’s reshuffle d cabinetConservative party chair Kevin Hollinrake has accused Reform UK of copying the former government’s migration policies.Speaking on Sky News this morning, Hollinrake said:All Reform are doing now – a few weeks ago they were talking about towing the boats back to France and they realised they couldn’t do that.And all their plans now are a copycat – exactly the plans that we had in the last government. Continue reading...

Politics

15 h. ago Ministers considering human rights reform in bid to head off Reform as defence secretary say Starmer going ‘up a gear’ – UK politics live

New home secretary Shabana Mahmood expected to to say asylum seekers will be moved from hotels to barracksJohn Healey also said Shabana Mahmood will be “just as tough as Cooper” on Palestine Action, the campaign group opposing Israel’s assault on Gaza that the government controversially proscribed under the Terrorism Act in July, making membership of or support of the group a criminal offence.More than 425 people were arrested in London yesterday at the largest demonstration yet opposing the proscription of Palestine Action.I think you’ll start to see Keir Starmer insist that dealing with the small boats, solving the immigration illegal immigration crisis, is part of the jobs the whole of government, not just the Home Office.So with the Home Office, I have been putting military planners into their Border Command and into their planning for the future, and we are looking at the potential use of military and non military use sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come ac...

Politics

29 h. ago Reshuffle of junior ministers raises fears over future of Labour’s workers’ rights bill

Some believe fight is looming over sweeping reforms after employment rights minister Justin Madders sacked and union allies sidelinedKeir Starmer has sought to tighten his grip on his government with a wave of junior ministerial changes that has sidelined allies of the unions, raising questions over the future of Labour’s workers’ rights package.The reshuffle has been used by Downing Street to signal a tougher stance on immigration in an apparent bid to take on Reform UK, with Shabana Mahmood – a self-described social conservative rising star – now in charge of the Home Office, supported by Sarah Jones who returns to her former policing brief. Continue reading...

Politics

35 h. ago Warnings renters rights reforms risks 'tidal wave' of illegal evictions

The Renters' Reform Coalition have raised concerns landlords who have relied on section 21 to evict tenants may increasingly turn to illegal methods once the bill is passed

Events

57 h. ago Nadine Dorries issues rallying call for Tory members to 'do the right thing' and copy her by switching to Reform as ex

The former Conservative minister, who served in Boris Johnson 's Cabinet, spoke at Reform's conference in Birmingham following her defection to Nigel Farage 's party.

Politics

66 h. ago Brexit didn’t solve Britain’s woes, but no matter: leaving the ECHR definitely will. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? | Polly Toynbee

As Reform gathers for its conference, momentum builds for ditching the European convention on human rights. It would be a disasterSign up for our new weekly newsletter Matters of Opinion, where our columnists and writers will reflect on what they’ve been debating, thinking about, reading and moreThere will be fireworks and celebration at Nigel Farage’s party conference this weekend. Burgeoning membership and council seats as Reform UK tops 30% in the polls. Immigration is the boat that sailed him here: the more small boats arriving, the broader his wolfish grin. Prime inflamer of foreigner hatred that he is, black and brown people report what they call the Farage effect in a wave of attacks: Mothin Ali, new deputy head of the Greens and a Leeds councillor, was attacked with bottles while with his family last week on Cromer beach in Norfolk, and racist abuse was hurled at them. He said that Reform rhetoric was causing people to blame immigrants and non-white people for Britain’s prob...

Politics

4 d. ago Don’t sugarcoat this: Starmer’s government is weak and may perish. Here are my five steps to recovery | John McDonnell

After so many avoidable mistakes, of course people are angry. But with the far right looming, we need action not despairJohn McDonnell is the MP for Hayes and Harlington. He was shadow chancellor for Labour from 2015 to 2020The Labour party is facing one of the most dangerous moments in its history, possibly an existential threat. Not only is it adrift in the polls, losing one council byelection after another, and with a leader whose popularity has plummeted; but the main threat comes from the xenophobic hard right in the shape of Reform UK.Labour has to wake up to this threat and seize the moment. It must take five basic steps to recovery:John McDonnell is the MP for Hayes and Harlington. He was shadow chancellor for Labour from 2015 to 2020Sign up for our new weekly newsletter Matters of Opinion, where our columnists and writers will reflect on what they’ve been debating, thinking about, reading, and more Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago The Guardian view on Zack Polanski’s rise: he wants to replace Labour, not work with it | Editorial

A mass politics of anti-austerity, identity and climate is emerging from the left’s margins. Keir Starmer cannot afford to ignore itZack Polanski’s landslide election as leader of the Green party marks a turning point for Britain’s fractured left. Young, rhetorically fluent and unafraid to cloak climate arguments in those about class, Mr Polanski is nothing if not ambitious. He sees his party not as a parliamentary pressure group but as a replacement for Labour itself.His ascent might have seemed fanciful last July when Labour had just won a thumping majority. Yet Labour languishes in the polls. Sir Keir Starmer’s personal ratings have collapsed. On the extreme right Reform UK now boasts 237,000 members, 870 councillors, and 10 councils under its control. The Greens have more MPs than ever before. And the uneasy leadership team of Jeremy Corbyn and Zara Sultana is preparing to launch a new party to Labour’s left. This is no longer political noise at the margins. This is about t...

Politics

6 d. ago UK Government to address the nation after weekend of fury across country

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper will address MPs this afternoon about Labour's plans to deal with immigration as one minister hinted at reforming the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)

Politics

6 d. ago Angela Rayner is warned her plan to hand trade unions more power 'violates human rights'

As part of her reforms to employment rights, the party's deputy leader (pictured) is scrapping a Tory-era requirement for union members to opt in if they want to contribute towards political funds.

Events

7 d. ago Claims NI peace deal stops UK leaving ECHR ‘entirely groundless’ – think tank

The Policy Exchange claims public debate on human rights law reform had been ‘distorted’.

Economics

9 d. ago Voices: Getting rid of the ECHR won’t stop a single boat of migrants

As New Labour grandees unite with Red Wall Labour MPs to call for the European Court of Human Rights to be reformed – legislation that Nigel Farage wants to scrap – Sean O’Grady says the mainstreaming of the view that it is no longer workable or needed is deeply dishonest

Events

1 week ago Farage attacked for ‘ugly’ rhetoric of plan for mass deportation of asylum seekers

Reform UK leader says he will rip up UK’s human rights commitments and pay despotic regimes to take people backNigel Farage has been accused of “ugly” and “destructive” rhetoric after announcing plans to deport hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers, and pledging to pay despotic regimes such as the Taliban to take them back.Unveiling Reform UK’s “Operation Restoring Justice” at a combative press conference in Oxford, Farage said he would rip up the UK’s postwar human rights commitments, contained in a range of international conventions, to deport “absolutely anyone” – including women and children – arriving by small boat. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Farage’s plan to deport thousands of asylum seekers draws scorn from legal experts

Reform UK leader told scheme is ‘simply not rooted in reality’ after he dodges questions on how it would workUK politics live – latest updatesNigel Farage’s plans to deport hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers to despotic regimes such as Afghanistan’s Taliban and withdraw the UK from vital human rights protections have triggered fierce condemnation from legal experts and political opponents, who said the proposals would dismantle Britain’s postwar commitments and shred fundamental rights.Unveiling Reform UK’s “Operation Restoring Justice” at a combative Oxford press conference, Farage claimed his party would detain and deport “absolutely anyone” arriving by small boat and ensure they are “never, ever allowed to stay”, insisting this would stop crossings “within days” and “save tens and possibly hundreds of billions of pounds”. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Nigel Farage vows to scrap UK human rights law and promises mass deportations

The Reform UK leader pledged to leave the European Convention on Human Rights and scrap the Human Rights Act

Politics

3 w. ago Father Ted creator Graham Linehan accuses JK Rowling of failing to defend him after he was cancelled over gender critical views

Graham Lineham, 57, said he backed the author's views on SNP 's Gender Recognition Reform Bill, which she dubbed 'the biggest assault on the rights of Scottish women and girls' in her lifetime.

Events

3 w. ago Southport victim Bebe King's family slam new plans to share suspects' ethnicity

Bebe King's grandfather said the actions of the far-right and Nigel Farage's Reform UK party in bid to "make a political gain" had been "despicable" in the wake of the horrific tragedy

Events

3 w. ago Trump comes across as a chauvinist but does respect women, says Reform MP

Sarah Pochin also said her party leader Nigel Farage was ‘quite right’ to have backed former Reform MP James McMurdock.

Politics

3 w. ago Russell T Davies blames Reform and Trump for decline in UK gay rights

Screenwriter known for reviving Doctor Who and writing Queer As Folk says LGBT community needs to fight backRussell T Davies has said gay rights are “rapidly and urgently getting worse” thanks to the rise of Reform UK and the influence of the Trump presidency on British politics.The award-winning screenwriter, who is best known for reviving Doctor Who and writing Queer As Folk, said the LGBT community should be “revolting in terror and anger and action” in response to growing support for Reform, which has pledged to “ban transgender ideology” in schools. Continue reading...

Politics

last month Warning Labour ‘won’t be trusted on renters’ rights’ as landlord MPs rake in £830k in a year

The register of interests reveals that 83 MPs are also landlords, declaring at least £10,000 in rental income in the past year, while the Labour government pushes through its Renters’ Rights Bill

Events