4 h. ago Wes Streeting: I will defend the tax rises funding 8.3m GP appointments

Exclusive: Health secretary to challenge Reform on how it would fund investment in NHSWes Streeting will launch a vocal defence of the party’s tax rises on Tuesday, pledging an extra 8.3m GP appointments to “end the 8am scramble” and telling his opponents that the investment would not be possible without the national insurance rise.The health secretary, who has been the party’s most vocal challenger on Reform, is expected to step up the attacks on opposition parties, which have dubbed the NICs rise for employers a “job tax” and said he would challenge those who had criticised the rise on how they would fund investment in the health service. Continue reading...

Economics

5 h. ago Why Europe needs a common defence fund – outside the EU | Simon Nixon

It would be open to the UK, Norway and Switzerland, and give governments more bang for their buck as the continent rearmsOf all the shocks to have hit Europe over the past three months, none is more devastating than the realisation that the continent may no longer be able to count on a US security guarantee. Even if Donald Trump’s disdain for Europe had been telegraphed well in advance, few imagined a world in which a US president would publicly humiliate the head of state of a European ally in the Oval Office, cut off intelligence sharing in the middle of a war or cook up a one-sided peace deal with Russia over the heads of Kyiv and its European allies.What has made the shock worse is the brutal revelation of Europe’s inability to defend its own interests. Even as European leaders plead with Trump that a peace without robust security guarantees for Ukraine is no peace at all, their position is fatally weakened by the fact that they are in no position to provide those security guara...

Politics

4 d. ago Britain must pay a 'fee' for firms to bid for EU defence contracts from €150bn fund after France demands restrictions

The Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative has been set up by Brussels following Donald Trump's threats to scrap American security guarantees for the continent.

Economics

9 d. ago Kemi Badenoch accuses Labour leader of 'selling out' British fishing rights to the EU in exchange for a new trade deal

The Prime Minister is close to agreeing a reset with the European Union which will allow British defence companies to bid for a new €150 billion defence fund.

Politics

2 w. ago US officials to meet European leaders in Paris to discuss Ukraine war

Trump envoys to meet Macron as well as British and German politicians to discuss concerns about RussiaTwo of Donald Trump’s top national security aides will hold talks in Paris on Thursday with European politicians and security advisers, as the US and Europe search for common ground on ending the Ukraine war and averting an Iran conflict.The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, are expected to hear concerns about Russia amid so-far fruitless US attempts to arrange a ceasefire three years after Russia invaded its neighbour. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Europe's race to rearm is pointless if its adversaries are waging war online | Johnny Ryan

Ireland holds the algorithm off-switch. Ursula von der Leyen must force Dublin to use itEurope is scrambling to remilitarise. The European Commission is raising a €150bn (£129bn) defence fund and is calling on EU countries to invest €650bn (£561bn) more. Germany has cast aside its government debt limit to invest hundreds of billions of euros in defence. Poland will train every male of fighting age for battle, and envisages an army 500,000 strong. Latvia’s president has urged the rest of Europe to conscript citizens, as Latvia does. Even neutral Ireland is buying combat jets. No wonder Europe’s defence industry is booming. In just a few months, the share prices of several big weapons manufacturers have nearly doubled and doubled again. But, despite this new martial pulse, the continent is still sleepwalking towards disaster.Europe can harden its shell and sharpen its claws, but it has done little to protect its soft underbelly against political manipulation. The US is capitulating to...

Events

3 w. ago JK Rowling vows to back bereaved mother faced with prosecution after posting about police 'failures' probing daughter's death

The Harry Potter author declared she would 'fund' the mother's defence after Gloucestershire Police warned Caroline Charters to delete the file which exposed their botched probe.

Events

3 w. ago King Charles urges close ties in a historic speech to Italy's parliament as war rages in Europe

King Charles III has stressed the need for close ties between Italy and the UK in a historic speech in the Italian parliament, calling for unity in defense of common values at a time of war in Europe

Politics