The Guardian Politics

Andy Burnham presents his new government as more leftwing. In reality, it’s barely moved at all | Owen Jones

The prime minister talks the talk about reversing decades of privatisation and austerity, but we’re yet to see any policies to this endIf Starmerism sought to present the Labour government as more rightwing than it is, Burnhamism seeks to do the opposite.The change in rhetoric is certainly stark. Unlike his sulking predecessor, the new prime minister offers both an analysis and a vision. British stagnation and decline, Andy Burnham correctly told the House of Commons, can be explained by a serie

politics  Sep 4, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Digested week: Tom Tugendhat is a serious politician. What’s he doing in a Reform-lite Tory frontbench? | John Crace

Want to see how small the gene pool of Tory talent is? I give you Andrew Griffith as shadow chancellor. Also this week: Starmer’s Fomo, and telly warsIt’s the end of summer and Kemi Badenoch chose to mark the occasion with a reshuffle of her shadow cabinet. Her aim is apparently to get the Tories match fit in case Andy Burnham calls an early general election, but the vibes are much more rearranging the deckchairs on a sinking ship. After all, when the gene pool of talent is that small, there’s n

politics  Sep 4, 2026

BBC Politics

Mason: 'Not what Farage wanted today to look like'

Chris Mason speaks from the Reform UK conference as two of its senior officials step down following a Channel 4 investigation.

politics  Sep 4, 2026

BBC Politics

Stock up on food to prepare for extreme weather, minister warns

Dame Angela Eagle warns the weather event could lead to extreme storms this winter.

politics  Sep 4, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Drones, teargas, riot squads: why has the UK gone to war against asylum seekers already fleeing conflict? | Diane Taylor

Burnham and Macron have committed to going further in the crackdown on French beaches. But little is being done to offer refugees safe alternative routesGarang*, 18, is one of thousands of refugees recently caught in the crossfire of French riot police, who threw teargas and beat them with batons when they boarded dinghies to travel to the UK. He is a victim of a war in his home of South Sudan – and one being fought on France’s northern shores.He borrows a phone from anyone with credit who will

politics  Sep 4, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Britain’s schools are failing its young people – and 1m Neets are paying the price | Simon Jenkins

Obsessed with exams, devoid of vocational training: there is a total mismatch between schools and life beyond their gatesBlame the schools. Alan Milburn’s report on Neets, published in May, was one of the most damning comments on the welfare state I have read. It described a new generation of a million mostly poor Britons now encouraged to fare worse, not better, than their parents. This means, said Milburn, that “the great British promise” – the advance of generations – is being broken. A sizea

politics  Sep 4, 2026

BBC Politics

Two senior Reform UK officials step down after Channel 4 report

The party has launched an investigation after undercover filming by the broadcaster.

politics  Sep 4, 2026

BBC Politics

Three crucial questions facing Farage at Reform conference

Can the Reform UK leader put his policies into action, and become prime minister?

politics  Sep 4, 2026

The Guardian Politics

‘Capitalism is dying’: in Luton, these former car workers have a moral tale for our times | Aditya Chakrabortty

Abandoned by the company they worked for, let down by Labour and their unions – now they watch their friends turn to Reform for answersAfter everything, why would anyone still back Nigel Farage? In some of the comments below my piece last week about Reform UK, I spot the usual answers: Farage’s supporters are dim, racist, deplorable. Yet away from Westminster and the news cycle, Reform voters are being manufactured – not with headlines or crypto funds but through the failure of institutions they

politics  Sep 4, 2026

BBC Politics

Farage senior aide filmed suggesting way to avoid donations law

A film broadcast by Channel 4 shows senior Reform UK figures discussing donations with an undercover reporter.

politics  Sep 3, 2026

BBC Politics

British army told to stop non-essential training exercises to save money

Units in the UK not preparing to be deployed have been told to cut back on training exercises due to cost pressures.

politics  Sep 3, 2026

BBC Politics

Reform UK promises £80bn cuts to public spending

Speaking at the party's conference, economy spokesman Robert Jenrick says Reform will be the "party of fiscal responsibility".

politics  Sep 3, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Ben Jennings on the Reform UK conference opening in Birmingham – cartoon

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politics  Sep 3, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Unlike Keir Starmer, Andy Burnham promises us that things will get better. And we must believe they can | Polly Toynbee

The PM’s warmth and feelgood policies, such as scrapping VAT on energy bills and a taskforce looking at political donations, offer something rare: hopeOf all the epithets thrown at a new prime minister, “people-pleaser” bounces off Andy Burnham. After all, the polls have him with a favourability rating of +13, making him the only party leader who scores above zero. His manner as he responded to all 125 of his questioners on his first Commons appearance this week had a warmth and empathy that his

politics  Sep 3, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Reform’s media presenter worked for Chinese state propaganda channel

Party podcast and social media host Ray Addison fronted films about province where China is accused of genocideReform UK’s top media presenter has worked for a Chinese state propaganda channel within the past year, the Guardian can reveal.Ray Addison, who presents the political party’s in-house podcast and social media campaigns, fronted films about Xinjiang province – where the Chinese government is accused of committing genocide – for state media in September 2025. Continue reading...

politics  Sep 3, 2026

BBC Politics

Trump hints US would not back UK over Falkland Islands due to lack of Iran war support

The US president says the UK was not "there to help me" in his ongoing war with Iran.

politics  Sep 3, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Kemi the Valkyrie spoils for a fight and has the Russians in her sights | John Crace

Tory leader scents Labour weakness on defence spending and declares it’s 2030 or bustUK politics live – latest updatesThere’s something about Kemi Badenoch making a keynote speech – everything she does comes billed as keynote these days – about defence that makes most normal people a little nervous. Because when Kemi talks about defence, what’s really on her mind is war. Starting one, if possible.Kemi is never happier than when picking a fight. With herself, if no one else is around. You get the

politics  Sep 3, 2026

BBC Politics

Badenoch accuses Burnham of kicking defence spending into the long grass

Andy Burnham has committed to reaching the Nato target of 3.5% spending by 2035, but not 3% by 2030.

politics  Sep 3, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Kemi Badenoch: Farage would use state power to target his opponents

Tory leader warns of ‘authoritarian’ Reform at event where she also defended her party’s plan to cut housing benefitReform UK’s decision to ban some journalists from its conference shows that Nigel Farage would use state power to target opponents and be authoritarian in government, Kemi Badenoch has said.Answering questions after a speech on defence in London, the Conservative leader was asked about Reform’s decision to refuse accreditation to a series of journalists for its conference this week

politics  Sep 3, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Can Zack Polanski win Keir Starmer’s old seat? – podcast

The Green party leader, Zack Polanski, has confirmed he will stand in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection, which was triggered when Keir Starmer announced he was quitting as an MP. It’s going to be a tough race to win, so can he do it? Plus, Reform UK’s conference starts today but it’s been a rough couple of months for the party and Nigel Farage – can he hold it all together?Please keep sending your comments and questions to Pippa and Kiran on politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com Continue reading.

politics  Sep 3, 2026