UK politics

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UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
3 hours ago

Twenty one English councils ask for election delays

About a third of eligible English councils have requested postponement of May elections due to concerns about delivering polls during local government reorganisation.
fromwww.theguardian.com
5 hours ago

Reform UK politicians should be barred from speaking on campus, say 35% of students

The results show students' views on free issues tend to be nuanced and they sometimes seem contradictory. In particular, while the principle of free speech has stronger support from students than in the past, so do specific bans. While 35% said they would bar Reform politicians from speaking, that included 41% of those who said they voted for Reform in the 2024 general election.
UK politics
#digital-id
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
11 hours ago

The Guardian view on Labour policy U-turns: a dangerous pattern that corrodes confidence | Editorial

Making digital ID voluntary preserves its benefits while protecting civil liberties, but repeated government U-turns undermine authority and impose political costs.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
20 hours ago

The UK is watering down plans for mandatory digital ID cards after a backlash

The British government has scaled back mandatory digital ID plans, dropping the requirement to show it to get a job and launching a public consultation.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
23 hours ago

Labour and the Tories are banking on a return to the old normal'. That's not what voters want | Rafael Behr

Electoral outcomes hinge on whether voters trust the opposition to govern; incumbents hope economic performance and fear of Reform UK will sway sufficient voters to retain power.
#reform-uk
#labour-party
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 day ago

List of government U-turns as digital ID plans set to be scrapped

The government appears to have abandoned plans for a mandatory digital ID, reflecting multiple recent policy U-turns driven by political pressure and lobbying.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
12 hours ago

Onwards and sideways for Keir after another U-turn leaves him going nowhere | John Crace

Frequent government U-turns on major policies have eroded credibility and increased political instability for the prime minister and the governing party.
#journalism-funding
fromwww.independent.co.uk
2 days ago
UK politics

MPs clash over childish' petition calling for snap general election

The Independent funds on-the-ground journalism and keeps reporting free, while MPs debate a petition calling an immediate UK general election.
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 day ago
UK politics

We can't keep getting it wrong first time, Streeting admits after series of U-turns

The Independent asks for donations to fund open-access journalism; Wes Streeting defends responsive policy U-turns and promotes 'get it right first time'.
#social-media-ban
#northern-powerhouse-rail
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
21 hours ago

Police called as councillors vote to shelve elections

Redditch Borough Council voted to request postponement of May local elections to support local government reorganisation, citing £192,000 savings.
#hillsborough-law
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
7 hours ago

Hillsborough Law campaigners say they cannot back proposed bill

Bereaved Manchester Arena families say the proposed law fails to fully bind security-service staff, allowing intelligence chiefs discretion to withhold information under national-security claims.
#digital-identity
fromwww.theguardian.com
16 hours ago

Keir Starmer promises action over cancellation of Jewish MP's school visit

Can I start by thanking you for raising this case, because it is very serious, very concerning, and all members of parliament should be able to visit anywhere in their constituency, schools or other places without any fear of antisemitism. We do take this seriously. We are providing more funding for security and support we're putting in across the country, and we will be holding to account those who prevented this visit to this school.
UK politics
UK politics
fromArs Technica
13 hours ago

Deny, deny, admit: UK police used Copilot AI "hallucination" when banning football fans

Police used Microsoft CoPilot-generated intelligence that produced erroneous conclusions leading to a wrongful ban, prompting criticism, calls for accountability, and demands for Guildford's resignation.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
14 hours ago

Larry the cat trips up Polish president's photographer

Larry, the Downing Street cat, blocked a photographer when Karol Nawrocki left after meeting Sir Keir Starmer; UK and Poland agreed helicopter training in UK.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
18 hours ago

Victims' commissioner for England and Wales warns against U-turn on limiting jury trials

A government U-turn on reducing jury trials would collapse a fragile justice system and leave victims facing severe delays and massive backlogs.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
13 hours ago

Mahmood wins vote to ban animal testing lab protests

A government change criminalises non-violent protests at animal-testing facilities, exposing activists to prison and fines and raising concerns about the right to peaceful protest.
#west-midlands-police
fromESPN.com
1 day ago
UK politics

Police chief apologises for AI error that helped form Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban decision

fromESPN.com
1 day ago
UK politics

Police chief apologises for AI error that helped form Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban decision

fromwww.bbc.com
13 hours ago

Certainty needed over Ajax Army vehicles, say MPs

Shelley PhelpsWales Westminster correspondent PA Media MPs have called for certainty and swift decision-making on the paused Ajax armoured vehicles project to protect jobs in south Wales. Testing of the vehicles was paused and several investigations are being conducted after around 30 soldiers became ill from noise and vibration during a training exercise last year. The multi-million pound Ajax vehicles are made in Merthyr Tydfil by General Dynamics, which employs around 700 people.
UK politics
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
15 hours ago

Starmer won't back down' in fight with Musk's X over Grok AI sexualised images

Sir Keir Starmer demanded Elon Musk stop X's Grok AI creating sexualised deepfakes, triggering Ofcom investigation and prompting reported removal of the image-generation function.
#business-rates
UK politics
fromwww.standard.co.uk
16 hours ago

Met Police apologise for not investigating Chinese officials 'spying on protesters' outside planned London mega-embassy

Police initially told a victim to report alleged Chinese state-linked intimidation to Hong Kong’s embassy, later apologising for failing to investigate national security concerns.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
12 hours ago

MPs call for removal of water boss amid continuing totally shambolic' outages

MPs demand South East Water CEO David Hinton resign as 17,000 Kent and Sussex properties remain without water after burst pipes and power cuts.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
15 hours ago

X to comply with UK law over Grok deepfakes, Starmer says

X's AI tool Grok produced sexualised non-consensual deepfakes prompting an Ofcom investigation, government threats of new legislation, and X saying it will comply with UK law.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
15 hours ago

X is acting to comply with UK law, Keir Starmer tells MPs amid Grok row

UK government demands Elon Musk's X comply with UK law over Grok's sexualised images, backing Ofcom investigation and preparing to strengthen legislation if needed.
UK politics
fromTheregister
18 hours ago

MPs slam UK delay on banning AI nudification apps

UK government criticized for slow action on banning AI nudification tools and for narrow expedited legislation that misses multi-purpose platforms.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
10 hours ago

X acting to comply with UK law' after outcry over sexualised images

X's AI tool Grok generated nonconsensual sexual images, prompting UK government and Ofcom to press X for legal compliance and consider strengthening laws.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
12 hours ago

Liz Kendall's response to X nudification' is good but not enough to solve the problem | Nana Nwachukwu

AI image-generation tools enable rapid mass creation of nonconsensual intimate images, facilitating sexual harassment and allowing platforms to profit unless criminalised and tightly regulated.
fromwww.theguardian.com
23 hours ago

Palestinian citizen of Israel wins UK asylum over well-founded fear of persecution'

A Palestinian citizen of Israel has been granted asylum in the UK on the basis of a well-founded fear of persecution despite a former home secretary's attempt to block the claim. Hasan (not his real name) is believed to be the first Palestinian with an Israeli passport to be given refugee status in the UK. But the decision came only after two about-turns by the Home Office and a protracted legal battle.
UK politics
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 day ago

Tax and spending plans to be revealed in Scottish Budget

Scotland's 2026-27 Budget requires tough choices to balance funding, prioritize NHS and public services, and address cost of living, economy, and climate within limited resources.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

Home Office says illegal-working raids and arrests at record level UK politics live

Home Office reports record-high raids and arrests for illegal working in 2025 and launches a Secure Borders TikTok account to deter small-boat migration.
#welsh-politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 day ago
UK politics

Starting gun fired on crucial election as Wales' parliament returns

Welsh Labour, Plaid Cymru and Conservatives opened the 2026 campaign with heated Senedd clashes over independence, electoral positioning, bus-fare caps and scrapping stamp duty.
fromwww.bbc.com
1 day ago
UK politics

Lying ban for politicians in Wales prompts free speech fears

A proposed Welsh law would criminalise false or misleading election statements but contains broad powers risking free speech and lacks clear definitions and support.
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 day ago

Full list of former Tories who have defected to Nigel Farage's Reform

Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
UK politics
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

Scottish budget: SNP government cuts taxes for lowest earners

Scottish government raised income-tax thresholds modestly, cutting taxes mainly for low earners while using reserves, spending cuts, and borrowing to fund election pledges.
UK politics
fromLondon Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
1 day ago

Business confidence at record low for Starmer's government - London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

London business confidence and hiring intentions have fallen to their weakest levels under the Labour government amid tighter employment regulations and rising business costs.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

Dealing with post-Brexit paperwork pure hell', shipping head tells MPs

Post-Brexit veterinary paperwork and customs bureaucracy have imposed severe delays and costs on British exporters, detaining meat shipments and increasing logistics expenses.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

Wes breaks cover to challenge Keir without even mentioning him | John Crace

Wes Streeting is an ambitious, confident Labour frontbencher who outperforms Keir Starmer in media moments and appears prime minister material.
#chinauk-relations
fromwww.bbc.com
1 day ago

Lib Dems set out plan to end 12-hour A&E waits

There were an estimated 16,644 excess deaths associated with long A&E waits before admission in England in 2024, according to analysis by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine. Sir Ed said: "This deadly corridor crisis isn't befitting of the heroic doctors, nurses and other health professionals who work in our NHS. "It's not what we expect from our NHS, and it's not what we pay our hard-earned money in taxes to fund our NHS for."
UK politics
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

Wes Streeting attacks centre-left for excuses culture' of blaming civil service

Centre-left must abandon an excuses culture that blames Whitehall and stakeholders, take responsibility to steer and reform public services to retain public confidence.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 day ago

Labour MPs call for planned Chinese mega-embassy' in London to be axed

Nine Labour MPs urged the government to reject China's proposed London mega-embassy citing espionage, interference, intimidation risks and its placement above critical infrastructure.
#jeffrey-epstein
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

Labour MPs plan to oppose move to restrict protest at animal testing sites

Ministers propose reclassifying life-science facilities as key infrastructure to criminalize disruptive protests, prompting cross-party opposition over civil liberties and limited parliamentary scrutiny.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

When crowds direct offensive chants at Keir Starmer, who's to blame? I'm afraid he is | Jonathan Liew

Widespread public hostility toward Keir Starmer has become a unifying, apolitical chant reflecting deep, ambiguous grievances and collapsing traditional political alignments.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 day ago

MP's school visit cancelled over pro-Palestine protests

A Jewish Labour MP's school visit was canceled after local pro-Palestine campaigners opposed it because of his support for Israel.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

HMRC admits 71% wrongly targeted in child benefit fraud crackdown

HMRC suspended child benefit for many parents in error, with 71% wrongly targeted and only about 5% found to be fraudulent.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 day ago

I'm not racist, says Reform MS who used Chinese slur

Laura Anne Jones used a racial slur about Chinese people, apologized, undertook language training, and was suspended and pay-docked by the Senedd.
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 day ago

Watch live: Ministers questioned over Grok AI row as government vows to end abuse

Watch live as technology secretary Liz Kendall and culture secretary Lisa Nandy are questioned over AI and copyright on Tuesday (13 January). It comes after media watchdog Ofcom launched an investigation into Mr Musk's social media platform X after its AI tool Grok was used to generate sexualised images of women and children. If found to have breached the law, Ofcom can fine X up to 10 per cent of its global revenue or 18m, whichever is higher.
UK politics
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

Home Office TikTok account posting deportation footage accused of turning brutality into clickbait'

Home Office TikTok account posts footage of deportations and arrests set to dramatic music, criticized for turning enforcement into clickbait and fueling fear.
fromwww.bbc.com
1 day ago

Midnight gym workouts may boost council's income

Tower Hamlets said extending opening hours at the Whitechapel and Mile End centres could meet "rising demand from shift workers and younger adults". They also say it could allow badminton and other late-night bookings in the hall and more access to the fitness studio. The proposal is included in the council's draft budget plans for the 2026-27 financial year, which starts in April.
UK politics
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 days ago

Peter Mandelson apologises for Epstein association in sudden U-turn

Peter Mandelson apologised unequivocally for associating with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after previously declining to apologise in a BBC interview.
#ukip
fromLondon Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
1 day ago

Net zero could cost Britain billions more than officials estimate, warns new IEA paper - London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

He finds that headline figures have fallen dramatically not because net zero has become cheaper, but because public bodies have changed methodologies and relied on increasingly unrealistic assumptions. The CCC now claims that achieving net zero between 2025 and 2050 will cost just £108 billion - down from earlier estimates of over £1 trillion. Turver shows this is done by moving the goalposts from measuring gross costs to comparing against a notional baseline scenario.
UK politics
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