The Guardian Politics

Capital gains tax: more people have to pay, so here’s what you need to know

The rules have changed and more taxpayers are being pulled into the net, not only the wealthyLess generous rules have turned capital gains tax into a “cash machine” for the government, with income from the levy soaring by almost 80% to £24bn in the last tax year – equivalent to well over £800 a household.A series of changes to the way the charge works means more people are being pulled into the capital gains tax (CGT) net, and not only the wealthy. And, given the scale of the change, this week e

politics  Jun 17, 2026

The Guardian Politics

The Belfast riots, Palestine Action protests. What is terrorism now – and why the hypocrisy? | George Monbiot

The right is obsessed with ‘two-tier policing’. This is indeed a two-tier government – but the real victims are progressives“If you are targeting people on the basis of the colour of their skin,” the Northern Ireland secretary, Hilary Benn, asked last week, “how else can you describe them? That is racist thuggery.” It is. But there is another way of describing the actions of the rioters burning people out of their homes in Belfast, though ministers somehow cannot bring themselves to say it. Terr

politics  Jun 17, 2026

BBC Politics

Troubles bill risks helping IRA goals, says ex-minister Carns

Al Carns has said the bill was one of the reasons he stepped down as armed forces minister.

politics  Jun 16, 2026

The Guardian Politics

The tide is turning on Thames Water: special administration looks best

It is still not totally clear what the government wants but the political mood seems to be shifting towards a decisionThames Water nationalisation moves closer as government objects to rescue dealAt last, Emma Reynolds, the environment secretary, has opined on the future of Thames Water. So what’s it to be? A takeover by the company’s creditors? Special administration, which would allow anyone to pitch up with an offer while the state temporarily funds the company? Or even a quick flush to full

politics  Jun 16, 2026

BBC Politics

Row over potential cull of Dartmoor hill ponies

Campaigners say requirements to cut livestock grazing could lead to a 90% cull of its hill ponies.

politics  Jun 16, 2026

BBC Politics

Streeting warns against 'expensive' Labour leadership pledges

The ex-health secretary says he would not make campaign promises that he would have to later reverse.

politics  Jun 16, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Starmer carries on regardless as G7 leaders ponder question of leaving gift | John Crace

‘I am going to fight on,’ said the PM. Perhaps his delusion was more deep-rooted than the others had fearedShortly before he arrived in Évian at the beginning of the week, Emmanuel Macron set up a new WhatsApp group for world leaders. Only Keir Starmer wasn’t included. Call it the G6, if you like. The idea was to have a safe space to discuss how best to deal with the UK prime minister. Should they confront head-on that this was going to be his last G7? That next year’s outing would be an athleis

politics  Jun 16, 2026

BBC Politics

Labour activist admits vote rigging offence

Gabriel Leroy, a former councillor in Southend, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit an offence under the Criminal Law Act and the Computer Misuse Act.

politics  Jun 16, 2026

BBC Politics

UK forces face operational cuts without more cash, defence chief warns

Sir Richard Knighton backs ex-defence secretary John Healey's claim the government is not providing adequate funds.

politics  Jun 16, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Starmer denies being snubbed by Trump at G7 summit

PM did not have bilateral meeting with US leader but says pair had ‘very productive’ conversations in group sessionsEurope live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has denied being snubbed by Donald Trump at the G7 in France after the two did not have a bilateral meeting at the summit.The prime minister, who did meet the US president in a series of discussions involving other leaders, said he had a series of “very productive, very good conversations” with Trump. He added that Britain was ready to play

politics  Jun 16, 2026

BBC Politics

Watch: Defence spending plans fall well short, says Healey

The ex-defence secretary repeats his call for more funding in a Commons speech following his resignation.

politics  Jun 16, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Who are the key figures around Andy Burnham and how could they fit in government?

With Burnham predicted to win Makerfield byelection, talk is turning to who would join him if he replaced Keir StarmerUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham looks on the brink of returning to Westminster this weekend if polls showing he is heading for victory in the Makerfield byelection are to be believed. It is now clear his intention is to seek to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister as early as possible.Talk in Westminster has turned to who could be part of setting the direction of

politics  Jun 16, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Makerfield voters are giving Burnham the benefit of the doubt. If he fails, the consequences will be grave | Owen Jones

Winning this byelection wouldn’t make Reform disappear. Would Burnham really have the courage needed to see them off in No 10?‘Well, good,” says a middle-aged woman outside Boots about the prospect of millions of migrants being deported. “Because we want the country safe.” I point out that, even as immigration has risen sharply for the last two decades, by every measure – murder rates, or numbers of people admitted to hospitals because of knife attacks and assaults – violence has fallen steeply.

politics  Jun 16, 2026

BBC Politics

UK will play full part in reopening Strait of Hormuz, Starmer says

The prime minister says the UK is working with other countries on a plan to protect vessels in the key waterway.

politics  Jun 16, 2026

The Guardian Politics

I spent an evening with fans of Lotus Eaters – the hit podcast shaping Britain’s new far-right culture | Oliver Haynes

At a sold-out show in its home town, Swindon, all the bombast and conviction driving this Restore-linked outlet was there to seeIf I asked you to name a popular politics podcast, what would you think of? Maybe The Rest Is Politics for centrist dads. Novara Media’s Downstream for young lefties, perhaps, or Triggernometry for conservatives.While these podcasts have achieved mainstream success and recognition, the contemporary media landscape also allows fringe political shows to gain huge audience

politics  Jun 16, 2026

The Guardian Politics

‘The developers got greedy’: the women who took on the leasehold scandal – and won

Katie Kendrick, Cath Williams and Jo Darbyshire were subject to tens of thousands of pounds of hidden costs as their new-build freeholds soared in value, making their homes unsellable. Their campaign could finally end the ‘feudal’ system in England and WalesWhen a leaflet about leasehold injustice landed on Cath Williams’ doorstep in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, nearly a decade ago, she barely gave it a second thought, tossing it straight into the bin. Had she given it more than a cursory glance, s

politics  Jun 16, 2026

BBC Politics

Starmer pleased 'justice has been done' after arson attacks

The prime minister said he was "very pleased for my family's sake" that two men had been convicted of the 2025 arson attacks.

politics  Jun 16, 2026

The Guardian Politics

‘Sadly, things are worse,’ says sister of MP Jo Cox 10 years after her murder

Kim Leadbeater, now an MP, and fellow politicians fear that ‘kinder, gentler politics’ after Cox’s death was an illusionTen years on from Jo Cox’s murder, Kim Leadbeater fears that the consensus around “kinder, gentler politics” in the wake of her sister’s death was short-lived.“Sadly and regrettably, over the last decade things are worse,” she says. Cox, the Labour MP for Batley and Spen and mother of two young children, was murdered outside a library in West Yorkshire in June 2016 by an Englis

politics  Jun 16, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax isn’t far off Labour’s housing policy. Not that you’ll ever hear Starmer say it | Anna Minton

The UK has its own progressive policies such as the second home and ‘mansion’ taxes. So why isn’t the PM shouting it from the rooftops?In April, to mark the day on which Americans are expected to file their taxes, the New York mayor, Zohran Mamdani, filmed himself on Billionaires’ Row, an enclave of super-tall apartment buildings just south of Central Park. When he took office, he said, he would tax the rich, and now, outside the hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin’s $238m penthouse, he was ready

politics  Jun 16, 2026

BBC Politics

Thames Water moves step closer to nationalisation after government objects to rescue deal

A government spokesman tells the BBC the current offer "does not do enough to protect consumers or the environment".

politics  Jun 16, 2026