The Guardian Politics

Britain's apology for the scandal of forced adoption can never heal the pain for people like me | David Batty

An estimated 185,000 babies were taken from unmarried mothers in England and Wales between 1949 and 1976. I was one of themAfter my adoptive father died in November last year, my adoptive siblings found a short story by Enid Blyton among his possessions. The Child Who Was Chosen was read to us as children to explain the circumstances of my adoption. It follows a nice middle-class couple whose domestic bliss is marred by childlessness, prompting them to go to a “very kind lady” who helps them to

politics  Jul 2, 2026

BBC Politics

Bunny courses for new owners backed by charity after politician said training was needed

Mike Hedges said people should be restricted from being owners until "they understand the needs of rabbits".

politics  Jul 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Is Starmer deliberately leaving a mess for Burnham? – podcast

Keir Starmer has been accused of leaving Andy Burnham with a £4.7bn black hole in defence funding. The government announced on Tuesday the defence investment plan, complete with a £15bn boost – but nearly £5bn would have to be found by a future chancellor. Allies of Burnham have called the announcement an ‘unexploded bomb’, so what options does the PM-in-waiting have? Kiran Stacey and Jessica Elgot discuss the political fallout. Plus Kiran and Jess answer your questions on Labour, No 10 North an

politics  Jul 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Ministers call for better tracking of teenagers at risk of dropping out of work or training in England

Councils and schools urged to do more as figures show there is no information on whereabouts of 32,100 ‘Neets’The government has urged councils and schools in England to drastically improve the way they identify young people at risk of dropping out of training and work, as it admitted thousands are unaccounted for.Publishing official figures on Thursday, the government said councils had no information on the whereabouts of 32,100 young people aged 16 to 17 who were not in education, employment o

politics  Jul 2, 2026

BBC Politics

Burnham meets trade union leaders in bid to shore up support

Andy Burnham's possible chancellor could be among the conversations between unions and the prospective prime minister.

politics  Jul 2, 2026

BBC Politics

President Trump joked about 'fat foxes' during first call with Starmer

Trump joked about 'fat foxes' during first call with Starmer

politics  Jul 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Bitcoin firm advertised by Nigel Farage loses 15% of asset value

Exclusive: Finance experts warn against investing in bitcoin treasury companies after Stack BTC assets plungeA bitcoin company that Nigel Farage has advertised lost more than 15% of its asset value, prompting finance experts to warn investors against investing in those types of firms.The Reform UK leader has invested £215,000 in a bitcoin treasury company named Stack BTC. A bitcoin treasury buys the cryptocurrency on behalf of its shareholders, and Stack aims to purchase other companies with the

politics  Jul 2, 2026

BBC Politics

Grooming gang leader released from prison

Shabir Ahmed, known as 'Daddy' by his victims, was jailed for a total of 22 years in August 2012.

politics  Jul 2, 2026

BBC Politics

Labour failed to prepare for power, admits PM's former top aide

In his first-ever interview, Morgan McSweeney tells the BBC the party did not deliver quickly enough in office.

politics  Jul 2, 2026

BBC Politics

Political Thinking with Nick Robinson

Morgan McSweeney, once Keir Starmer's right hand man, speaks for the first time.

politics  Jul 2, 2026

BBC Politics

Home Secretary admits failures led to Southport attack

Shabana Mahmood says the government accepts the "fundamental failures" identified by an inquiry.

politics  Jul 2, 2026

BBC Politics

Government 'looking at every route' to deport grooming leader

Shabir Ahmed is barred from deportation by the provisions in a 55-year-old piece of legislation.

politics  Jul 2, 2026

BBC Politics

Starmer to formally apologise to victims of forced adoptions

The practice saw thousands of babies taken from their mothers between 1949 and 1976.

politics  Jul 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

They say Andy Burnham is ‘good at politics’ – but the proof will only come in time | Zoe Williams

The PM-in-waiting brings the promise of likability and a mission voters can believe in. He’ll need all that and more to surviveThere is some uncertainty and trepidation in these liminal days before the nomination period for the next Labour leader opens. But it’s not about the “who” of the next prime minister so much as the “what”. How different can Andy Burnham be, given that he is bound by the same manifesto, assailed by the same headwinds? It’s widely agreed that he has a vision where his pred

politics  Jul 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Why is Nigel Farage being paid so much to promote a gold bullion company?

Reform UK leader was paid £270,000 for 12 hours’ work – but who is behind Direct Bullion and what does it do?Tell us: have you invested in gold through a specialist bullion company?Despite the demands of being the MP for Clacton and leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage has found time to develop several alternative income streams since being elected to parliament.His side hustles include being a social media influencer, presenting on GB News, and a stint recording on-demand videos for the Cameo plat

politics  Jul 2, 2026

BBC Politics

RAF Barnham asylum plan meets local resistance

There is cross-party agreement that the proposal for the Suffolk/Norfolk border is inappropriate.

politics  Jul 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Burnham’s No 10 North: could two-centre government be made to work?

Plan to move part of Whitehall to Manchester wins praise but would involve major logistical challenges and costs‘It’s a stellar idea’: readers on Andy Burnham’s No 10 North plansIt first found fame as the centre of Manchester’s textile industry and later as the home of celebrated nightclub Sankeys. But now Ancoats, on the northern edge of Manchester city centre, could become the somewhat unexpected heart of British government.The site of a disused retail park, which was once home to Toys R Us, A

politics  Jul 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

‘It’s a stellar idea’: readers on Andy Burnham’s No 10 North plans

Some hail the opportunities greater devolution could bring, while others question the costBurnham’s No 10 North: could two-centre government be made to work?Andy Burnham has said if he becomes prime minister, he would create a new “No 10 North” in Manchester as the “nerve centre of a rewired Britain” to oversee a devolution of power and resources across the UK.While full details of how this will work have not yet been made available, we asked Britons what they thought of the idea in principle. C

politics  Jul 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

US-UK drug deal could result in 229,000 excess deaths in England, analysis suggests

Analysis reveals extent of impact on NHS of placating Donald Trump over price of British medicine exportsThe NHS will have to divert £45bn from essential services to pay for new medicines under the terms of the UK-US trade deal agreed last December, leading to more than 200,000 avoidable deaths of patients, analysis has found.Ministers have defended the deal as a way of helping British drug exports to the US avoid tariffs, and giving patients in England access to potentially life-extending drugs

politics  Jul 1, 2026

BBC Politics

Majority of Senedd defends Nation of Sanctuary as Reform call for Welsh policy to be scrapped

Most of the Senedd defends the Welsh government's Nation of Sanctuary policy in a heated debate.

politics  Jul 1, 2026