The Guardian Politics

British politics is fractured and chaotic – but at last it’s brimming with ideas for the future | Polly Toynbee

Finally, Labour is talking policy, thanks to the leadership contest and Tony Blair’s intervention – and the centre-right is making a much-needed fightback too“Wouldn’t it be great if Tony Blair kept his mouth shut about the Labour party?” Readers may have cheered that Guardian letter-writer’s response to yet another infuriating assault by Blair from the outer-stratosphere of nowhere. Isn’t Labour in enough trouble with a life-or-death byelection against the forces of darkness without incoming fi

politics  Jun 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Despite what the UK right will tell you, appeasing bond markets has actually led to instability | Andy Beckett

Austerity has benefitted bond traders but impoverished British society and led to the rise of populism. Is it right that we carry on adhering to their interests?Should politics always be dominated by economics? Should questions about how governments and voters pay for things – whether by earnings, taxes or borrowing – be settled before we consider the wider consequences?In an anxious capitalist democracy such as Britain, with a modern history of patchy economic success and intermittent but recur

politics  Jun 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

The party dragging Nigel Farage further to the right – podcast

Daniel Trilling on the far-right party threatening Reform’s chances in the Makerfield byelectionDoes Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain threaten to erode the Reform UK vote share in the Makerfield byelection?“Restore [Britain] have positioned themselves as a harder-line alternative to Reform,” says Daniel Trilling, journalist and author of If We Tolerate This: How the British Establishment Made the Far Right Respectable. “They’re pushing for an even more extreme policy of deportations for unauthorise

politics  Jun 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

New Mandelson files: how embarrassing are they? – podcast

More than 1,000 pages of emails and WhatsApp messages have been released relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as the UK’s ambassador to the US. The documents show Mandelson’s criticism of Keir Starmer, and his desperation to become the Oxford University chancellor – but the controversial vetting file from when he was appointed ambassador is missing. Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey explain what these files show us Continue reading...

politics  Jun 1, 2026

BBC Politics

Mandelson files: What you need to know

The government has published more than 1,000 pages of documents about the former US ambassador's appointment.

politics  Jun 1, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Mandelson files reveal a man for whom betrayal is a way of life | John Crace

The Prince of Darkness appears in his element bad-mouthing colleagues and allies behind their backPeter Mandelson *** Red Dispatch Box *** Please contact *** and ask her to talk to *** about *** . It is ridiculous that *** cannot do *** in time for the *** . In the meantime, please also get *** to vote for me as Oxford Chancellor. It’s the least I deserve. My bank account details are *** . Feel free to send to ***. Probably best to discreetly delete all correspondence on these matters. This mess

politics  Jun 1, 2026

The Guardian Politics

What documents are missing from the new release of Mandelson files?

From vetting summary to declaration of interest, here are the five key papers withheld from latest disclosuresUK politics live – latest updatesMore than 1,500 pages of documents were published by the government on Monday afternoon about Peter Mandelson’s appointment as the ambassador in Washington. Despite claims this was “an unprecedented piece of government transparency”, there are still a number of significant missing documents.Some of the documents have been withheld by the government at the

politics  Jun 1, 2026

The Guardian Politics

The Guardian view on the Mandelson files: the missing vetting document matters most | Editorial

A data dump exposes Labour’s courtier politics. But it still does not explain why the peer was cleared to be US ambassadorThe Epstein files fatally damaged Peter Mandelson. Gone was his reputation as Westminster’s great survivor: the politician who could weather any scandal and return to the centre of power. Allegations that he leaked market-sensitive information to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after the financial crash led to a criminal investigation. The peer was sacked as Britai

politics  Jun 1, 2026

BBC Politics

Chris Mason: Decision to appoint Mandelson continues to inflict damage

When Sir Keir Starmer looks back on his time at No10, his decision to send Lord Mandelson to Washington will be a central part of the critique of his tenure.

politics  Jun 1, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Why have two US commentators been banned from entering the UK?

Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker were supposed to address events at SXSW London before their ETAs were cancelledFree speech activists condemn UK entry ban for Hasan Piker and Cenk UygurCenk Uygur, the host of the Young Turks online political talkshow, and Hasan Piker, who runs his own hours-long stream each day, have been banned from entering the UK by the British home secretary, Shabana Mahmood. They were supposed to address events at SXSW London, a creatives-led festival. Uygur was also planning to

politics  Jun 1, 2026

BBC Politics

'Bereft and beleaguered' - Mandelson messages reveal criticism of No 10

Newly published documents show Lord Mandelson and ministers' concerns about the prime minister and Labour MPs.

politics  Jun 1, 2026

The Guardian Politics

What is new in the latest release of Peter Mandelson documents?

Massive tranche reveals ex-ambassador’s scorn for Starmer’s leadership and his unwillingness to share informationIt is, Downing Street has said, the most extensive release of government documents ever done in response to a Commons motion – nearly 1,500 pages in all. But what does the second and main tranche of documents connected to Peter Mandelson’s role as US ambassador to Washington tell us that is new? Continue reading...

politics  Jun 1, 2026

BBC Politics

Minister at the heart of Mandelson files

BBC Politics reporter Joe Pike explains how there's an unexpected person at the heart of Mandelson files.

politics  Jun 1, 2026

BBC Politics

How big is the Mandelson document drop?

More than 1,000 pages of documents on Lord Mandelson's appointment as the UK's ambassador to the US have been published.

politics  Jun 1, 2026

BBC Politics

PM wants delayed defence investment plan published by Nato summit, MPs told

Unions and defence firms warn delays are a "threat" to British jobs, skills and national security.

politics  Jun 1, 2026

BBC Politics

Key messages between Mandelson and ministers

The 1,000 pages include criticisms of Labour MPs, No 10 and the prime minister.

politics  Jun 1, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Reeves examines using private sector funds to speed building of new towns

Chancellor in talks with banks and investment funds about public-private partnerships to build infrastructureBusiness live – latest updatesRachel Reeves is examining how to attract funds from private investors to accelerate the government’s development of new towns in England.The chancellor has begun talks with some of the UK’s biggest banks and investment funds about building infrastructure for new towns based on public-private partnerships (PPP) – a successor to the much-criticised Tony Blair-

politics  Jun 1, 2026

BBC Politics

UK wins court case over collapsed Rwanda asylum deal

A court has ruled the UK does not need to pay Rwanda after the UK pulled a deal between the two countries.

politics  Jun 1, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Two US political commentators say they have been banned from entering UK

Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker say UK has stopped them travelling to speak at SXSW LondonTwo prominent US political commentators who were due to speak at events in the UK this week have said they have been banned from entering the country.Cenk Uygur, the host of the Young Turks online political talkshow, and Hasan Piker, who runs his own hours-long stream each day, said they had been stopped from appearing at SXSW London, while the former claimed also to have been prevented from speaking at an event

politics  Jun 1, 2026

BBC Politics

Ministers braced as Mandelson document release will expose government working

The documents will offer a fascinating internal insight into how government works, including the way information flows and disagreements.

politics  Jun 1, 2026