The Guardian Politics

Farage compares standards inquiry with investigations faced by fellow ‘outsider’ Trump

Reform UK leader dismisses criticism of his failure to register £5m gift as a sign of a ‘complainants’ society’Nigel Farage has compared his situation to that of Donald Trump being pursued by investigators for years, saying both of them are “outsiders” up against “the system”, as he admitted having become tetchy and aggrieved this summer.The Reform UK leader has been under huge scrutiny over his finances after failing to declare a £5m gift from the Thailand-based donor Christopher Harborne and f

politics  Sep 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Mass breeding of game birds without welfare checks may be curtailed in England

Campaigners say pheasants and partridges reared ‘on industrial scale’ do not have same protections as chickensThe government is considering a crackdown on pheasant shooting in England as part of a consultation on strict new animal welfare laws that would affect shoot organisers.Ministers are already considering plans for the issuing of licences for those who run game bird shoots. The proposals mean anybody associated with wildlife crime, such as the poisoning or shooting of birds of prey, would

politics  Sep 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Farewell Keir Starmer, a terrible politician whom we desperately wanted to be something more | Zoe Williams

‘U-turn’ doesn’t do justice to the myriad ways he found to break a pledge. Now the former PM is resigning as an MP, why did I have such high hopes?Keir Starmer exits the British political stage as he entered it: doing the exact opposite of the thing he said he was going to do. It’s only 10 weeks since he pledged to remain as MP for Holborn and St Pancras until the next election, despite stepping down as prime minister. That’s plainly the decent course of action: a dedicated Labour man wouldn’t w

politics  Sep 2, 2026

BBC Politics

Reform deputy leader defends unlicensed party

Richard Tice says it was "a private party and it was a good party".

politics  Sep 2, 2026

BBC Politics

Burnham's PMQs debut shows the challenge of delivering new style of politics

Burnham's exchanges with Kemi Badenoch slipped into familiar territory of trading barbs, writes Alex Forsyth.

politics  Sep 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

UK government does not know what datacentres are being used for, FoI request shows

Lack of information raises fears over environmental impact of the AI boomUK politics live – latest updatesThe UK government does not know what the country’s datacentres are being used for despite fears over the growing environmental impact of the AI boom.When asked in a freedom of information (FoI) request who was using the largest sites and what for, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said it did “not hold the requested information”. The ministry has since been dissolved. Con

politics  Sep 2, 2026

BBC Politics

'Friendly fire' at Andy Burnham's first PMQs

Andy Burnham had his first session of Prime Minister's Questions in the role on Wednesday.

politics  Sep 2, 2026

BBC Politics

Faisal Islam: Why bond market wildfire is keeping world leaders up at night

Huge AI spending plans and the ongoing war in Iran are driving up borrowing costs around the world.

politics  Sep 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Andy Burnham blames Tory legacy for leaving UK economy vulnerable

In first PMQs clash with Kemi Badenoch, prime minister rejects comparison to Liz Truss’s governmentUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham blamed the Conservatives’ legacy for leaving the UK vulnerable to market turmoil, in his first prime ministers’ questions clash with Kemi Badenoch, as the UK’s borrowing costs climbed further.The Conservative leader compared the market pressure on Burnham’s second day to Liz Truss’s mini-Budget. But the prime minister said it was the Tories’ failure to

politics  Sep 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

British banks in crosshairs as pressure mounts on Burnham to tax profits

Chancellor John Healey considering windfall tax on banks and oil firmsBusiness live – latest updatesThe countdown is on. Two months out from Andy Burnham’s inaugural autumn budget, bank executives are wringing their hands over whether the government will target their bumper profits with fresh taxes.The chancellor, John Healey, is reportedly considering a windfall tax on both banks and oil companies in the late October Westminster setpiece. Continue reading...

politics  Sep 2, 2026

BBC Politics

Reform up against 'complainants' society', Farage tells BBC

The Reform UK leader said a "whole ecosystem" didn't want "new kids on the block succeeding".

politics  Sep 2, 2026

BBC Politics

Reform UK's Richard Tice questioned on BBC Local Radio

Richard Tice questioned on Nigel Farage, council tax and migration on BBC Local Radio.

politics  Sep 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Thames Water, I refuse to pay the sewage charge in my bill while you pollute Britain’s rivers and coastlines | Jenny Jones

I will calmly read all the threatening letters and await the court case against me. But I will take a stand even if our government won’tI can’t even remember when I decided to stop paying the sewage element of my Thames Water bill. It might have been after reading this headline from the Guardian in July 2025: “Serious pollution incidents by English water companies rose 60% last year,” with the subheading: “Environment Agency records 75 serious incidents among total of 2,800, with Thames Water be

politics  Sep 2, 2026

BBC Politics

Watch: What to expect from Burnham's first PMQs

Political correspondent Henry Zeffman explains what we might see at Burnham's first PMQs on Wednesday.

politics  Sep 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Conservative reshuffle is a response to shifting political tides

With mix of One Nation centrists and rightwing hawks, Tories hope new shadow cabinet can bring back votersWhen Kemi Badenoch steps up to the dispatch box for prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, she will face a very different opponent. And while all eyes will be on Andy Burnham’s first PMQs, those in the Conservative ranks will be watching their own leader’s performance just as closely.Badenoch attempted to get out of the traps quickly this week, instigating a reshuffle of her frontbench lik

politics  Sep 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Andy Burnham has already made a mistake that will cost him his premiership: he lost his nerve over political donations | George Monbiot

Being subservient to the interests of the wealthy now means that his hands are tied, and he will be unable to tackle Britain’s most pressing issuesDamn the electorate. They’re so impatient. No sooner do they get a new leader than they want another one. Those ingrates are already starting to grumble about Andy Burnham. Maybe the country is becoming ungovernable. Perhaps it’s social media. Or a consumerist culture, always picking the next shiny thing. Perhaps we’re addicted to drama. As we’re on o

politics  Sep 2, 2026

BBC Politics

Chris Mason: Will Burnham find PMQs as 'nail biting' and 'nerve wracking' as Blair did?

Curiously, the questions at lunchtime may well feel like a minor extension of what he faced on Tuesday, the BBC's political editor writes.

politics  Sep 2, 2026

BBC Politics

Fatal crash police get £2m to tackle serious crime

The home secretary says the money will help support the force in the aftermath of the A66 crash.

politics  Sep 1, 2026

BBC Politics

Israel warns it will retaliate if UK imposes sanctions

The UK's Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband pledged on Tuesday to introduce a "comprehensive reset" of policy on Israel.

politics  Sep 1, 2026

BBC Politics

Burnham promises more devolution and public control of essential services

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said Burnham was offering "more government control, more taxes and more politicians", as he addressed MPs for the first time as PM.

politics  Sep 1, 2026