Political news

• Trump describes Burnham as 'the mayor of a town' and 'extremely liberal'

  25-06-2026 06:30 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Donald Trump gives his first public reaction to the prospect of Andy Burnham becoming prime minister.
  
  Read more

• What will Burnham do on immigration?

  13-07-2026 20:01 via ft.com
  Likely next prime minister is looking to satisfy calls for tougher borders while appealing to Labour’s liberal supporters
  
  Read more

• Burnham will struggle to exorcise Labour’s historic weakness

  13-07-2026 18:55 via ft.com
  History shows us that the party will default to over-optimism and spending money that isn’t there
  
  Read more

• Shabana Mahmood tells MPs suspect in Ann Widdecombe investigation ‘not known to Prevent’ – UK politics live

  13-07-2026 18:02 via theguardian.com
  Home secretary updates Parliament after counter-terrorism police take over investigation into her deathAnn Widdecombe death: counter-terrorism police take over investigationThe government has announced that it is in effect proscribing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It is doing so using new powers under the National Security (State Threats) Act 2026.Ministers have been under pressure for years to proscribe the IRGC, which backs terrorist activity outside Iran. But the last Conserva
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Count Binface represents the Silly Sausage Britain I know and love | Sofie Jenkinson

  13-07-2026 17:19 via theguardian.com
  Mr Blobby, the Liz Truss lettuce, Boaty McBoatface … the Clacton hopeful is part of a rich tradition – and a reminder that it’s laughter that defines us, not hateNigel Farage’s pointless byelection in Clacton, in which he will stand against Count Binface, has inadvertently pitted two versions of Britain against one another. In one corner we have those who will argue that we are divided, cynical and jaded, that Britain isn’t what it once was and there is little to c
  
  Read more

• Twelve arrests over alleged far-right threat to Muslim event in Suffolk

  13-07-2026 16:29 via ft.com
  Organisers of religious festival ended event early after police warning about threat of ‘disorder’
  
  Read more

• UK and Switzerland to loosen visa restrictions as part of services trade deal

  13-07-2026 16:00 via ft.com
  Agreement will also enable British travellers to use automated passport gates at Swiss airports
  
  Read more

• Burnham expected to vote in favour of Mahmood’s asylum system changes

  13-07-2026 15:38 via theguardian.com
  Home secretary also set to outline plans to enable deportation of grooming gang ringleader Shabir AhmedUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham is expected to vote for the immigration bill on Monday night in the Commons, with his team indicating that he backs Shabana Mahmood’s changes for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and on refugee settlement.The bill returns to the Commons on Monday for its second reading, where Mahmood is also expected to announce plans to make it possible
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Counterterror police take over Widdecombe murder probe

  13-07-2026 15:13 via ft.com
  Police say ‘new information and evidence’ have come to light over killing of former Conservative minister
  
  Read more

• Olly Robbins launches legal challenge to dismissal as Foreign Office chief by Keir Starmer

  13-07-2026 14:08 via theguardian.com
  Ex-FCDO top civil servant says he was given ‘irrational’ reasons for firing amid Peter Mandelson vetting scandalUK politics live – latest updatesOlly Robbins, the former Foreign Office chief sacked by Keir Starmer over the Peter Mandelson security vetting scandal, has submitted a legal challenge over his dismissal.Robbins has applied to the high court for a judicial review of the prime minister’s decision to remove him as the top civil servant at the Foreign Office, the F
  
  Read more

• UK uses new powers to ban Iran’s IRGC and Russian intelligence unit

  13-07-2026 13:59 via ft.com
  Iranian group ‘almost certainly directed’ antisemitic attacks in UK earlier this year, minister says
  
  Read more

• Counter-terror police take over Widdecombe murder probe

  13-07-2026 13:58 via ft.com
  Former Conservative minister was found dead at her home in Devon on Thursday
  
  Read more

• UK to list Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as terrorist organisation

  13-07-2026 13:42 via theguardian.com
  Home Office announces ban on support for Iranian military group in escalation of diplomatic tensions with TehranThe UK will list Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation, ministers have announced, in a major escalation of the diplomatic tensions with Tehran.The Home Office said on Monday it would ban support for the IRGC, a central branch of the Iranian military, after years of political division over the issue. The move is equivalent to proscription, though not
  
  Read more

• Plan to restore nature in England by 2030 criticised as ‘completely insufficient’

  13-07-2026 13:27 via theguardian.com
  Critics accuse ministers of failing to take control of nature crisis and leaving it to private landowners to act voluntarilyThe government’s plan to protect and restore nature in England by 2030 has been condemned as “pathetic” and “completely insufficient” in the face of the spiralling environmental crisis.The long-awaited plan published on Monday calls for landowners to voluntarily opt to protect and enhance nature, rather than creating legal protections for natur
  
  Read more

• Andy Burnham has body of work that speaks volumes about how he gets football | Rob Draper

  13-07-2026 11:38 via theguardian.com
  Prime-minister-in-waiting has been a key figure in overhauls behind the scenes of the game, as well as helping to create the Hillsborough Independent PanelPicking up the country when it is in a slump of self-doubt is perhaps within Andy Burnham’s reach. And football, close to his heart, may provide the template. There have been several occasions in the past 20 years when English football has been in a state of anguish, but a nadir came in 2007 – when Burnham made one of his most
  
  Read more

• Top civil servant seeks judicial review over sacking in Mandelson scandal

  13-07-2026 11:31 via ft.com
  Olly Robbins says Keir Starmer’s actions were ‘unlawful’ and ‘unreasonable’
  
  Read more

• Olly Robbins takes legal action over sacking in Mandelson scandal

  13-07-2026 11:31 via ft.com
  Former Foreign Office chief says Keir Starmer’s actions were ‘unlawful’ and ‘unreasonable’
  
  Read more

• A bold, unpopular Budget could pay off

  13-07-2026 10:30 via ft.com
  Getting big and controversial reforms out of the way can reap dividends for governments closer to election time
  
  Read more

• More than 16,000 refugees unable to reunite with families in UK, says Refugee Council

  13-07-2026 08:00 via theguardian.com
  Suspension of family reunion route has left many stuck in conflict zones or using people smugglers to reach safetyMore than 16,000 refugees have been unable to reunite with families in the UK, leaving them either stuck in conflict zones or resorting to using people-smugglers to reach safety, according to the Refugee Council.The government suspended the refugee family reunion route last September. It allowed a person granted refugee status to apply to bring immediate family members such as a spou
  
  Read more

• UK proposal on EU youth mobility scheme is ‘non-starter’, diplomats warn

  13-07-2026 06:00 via ft.com
  Number of places available is key sticking point in ‘reset’ negotiations between London and Brussels
  
  Read more

• Speeding up digital finance shift ‘could deliver £33bn boost’ to UK economy

  13-07-2026 06:00 via ft.com
  Chair of new task force predicts ‘huge prize’ if progress is made in areas such as issuing sovereign bonds on blockchain
  
  Read more

• Home Office to spend £250m on protecting Jewish communities in England and Wales

  13-07-2026 01:01 via theguardian.com
  Three-year plan will deliver an extra 500 officers to patrol Jewish neighbourhoods after series of antisemitic incidentsMore than £250m will be invested by the government to increase policing in Jewish communities after a spate of violent attacks, the Home Office has announced.The funding over the next three years will deliver more than 500 additional officers across England and Wales in Jewish neighbourhoods and around schools, synagogues and community centres, while strengthening nationa
  
  Read more

• Burnham explores holding expanded autumn Budget

  12-07-2026 16:35 via ft.com
  UK’s incoming PM is considering combining fiscal statement with spending review to set out his political strategy
  
  Read more

• Andy Burnham looks at holding expanded autumn Budget

  12-07-2026 16:35 via ft.com
  UK’s incoming PM is exploring combining fiscal statement with spending review to set out his political strategy
  
  Read more

• Andy Burnham explores holding expanded autumn Budget

  12-07-2026 16:35 via ft.com
  UK’s incoming PM is considering combining fiscal statement with spending review to set out his political strategy
  
  Read more

• Reeves makes last-minute pitch for senior job under Burnham

  12-07-2026 15:41 via ft.com
  Chancellor will say in Mansion House speech on Tuesday that she has left the economy in a good state for incoming PM
  
  Read more

• Police ‘open minded’ on motive for Widdecombe killing after second arrest

  12-07-2026 14:06 via ft.com
  Former Conservative minister was found dead at her home in Devon on Thursday
  
  Read more

• UK must cap political donations to stop the rich buying influence | Heather Stewart

  12-07-2026 13:01 via theguardian.com
  If Keir Starmer won’t act then his successor should – by restricting the power of a small group of mega-donorsJust as Nigel Farage kicks off a summer of “arguing with a bin”, as the chancellor, Rachel Reeves called it, Labour’s bill to clean up politics returns to the House of Commons this week.As more questions emerge about the financing of Reform UK and Farage’s mega-donor chums – through the brilliant reporting of Guardian colleagues – MPs shoul
  
  Read more

• Nigel Farage is just one strand in the tangle of rightwing politicians and crypto investors | John Harris

  12-07-2026 13:00 via theguardian.com
  These financiers want to remodel the UK into a form that suits them – one that could threaten to erode the barriers between crime and businessThis coming Tuesday, the government’s representation of the people bill comes back to the House of Commons for its third reading. It bundles up a multitude of measures, including an extension of the franchise to 16- and 17-year-olds and welcome changes to voter registration. But thanks to the continuing furore around Nigel Farage and his extrem
  
  Read more

• UK launches national dementia registry to speed up search for treatments

  12-07-2026 06:00 via ft.com
  Platform aims to improve access to clinical trials and boost life sciences investment in the country
  
  Read more

Follow @political_UKnws on Twitter!