The Guardian Politics

Reform and Restore are both hard right and poisonous – but their differences could be their undoing | Andy Beckett

It is not enough to revile them both. Understanding the personal and ideological divergence is essential to taking back the ground they now occupyFor all their claims to be mould-breaking politicians, the feuding Nigel Farage and Rupert Lowe are in many ways predictable and traditional rightwingers. Two wealthy white men in their 60s from southern England, with private educations and previous careers in the City, they were once members of the Conservative party – before, like many in their demog

politics  Jun 11, 2026

BBC Politics

Met Police calls on tech firms to make stolen phones unusable

Sir Mark Rowley has asked the home secretary to introduce legislation forcing companies to publish data on stolen devices.

politics  Jun 11, 2026

BBC Politics

How do locals feel about the Makerfield by-election?

How do local people feel about the Makerfield by-election?

politics  Jun 11, 2026

BBC Politics

Facing a seismic by-election, the people of Makerfield tell us what matters to them

In conversations with residents, business owners and campaigners in Makerfield, the BBC found a mixed mood.

politics  Jun 11, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Elon Musk’s X not facing action from UK government over posts inciting violence in Belfast

Any official reprimand will come from regulator Ofcom, but not for at least two monthsUK politics live – latest updatesElon Musk’s X will face no action to remove a mass of posts inciting violence in Northern Ireland for at least two months despite widespread condemnation of the platform and its billionaire owner.Concern over the role social media played in spreading disturbing images and fuelling anger continued to grow on Wednesday as police and community leaders urged calm. Continue reading..

politics  Jun 10, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Farage suddenly returns to political stage – but dodges questions about £5m gift

Reform UK leader has been unusually quiet in recent weeks – at great cost to the party during a crucial byelectionFake images of Nigel Farage have been ubiquitous online lately – but the real politician has proved far more elusive since it was revealed seven weeks ago that he took a £5m personal gift from a crypto billionaire.And while an AI-generated depiction of the Reform UK leader was falsely shown getting violent on BBC’s Question Time, Farage has been largely avoiding the TV studios where

politics  Jun 10, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Keir Starmer aides ‘war gaming’ over leadership contest with Andy Burnham

Prime minister is ‘hellbent’ on fighting any contest - including sacking ministers who support BurnhamUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer’s closest aides are “war-gaming” how to win a leadership contest ahead of Andy Burnham’s much-anticipated return to Westminster if he wins the Makerfield byelection, the Guardian understands.Downing Street sources said the prime minister had taken the last fortnight to think seriously about his future but was now “hellbent” on fighting any contest. H

politics  Jun 10, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Not even a cameo from needy Nige as Tice tries twice to push Reform’s rubbish ideas

Reform leader’s unwillingness to answer questions on £5m ‘donation’ leaves Dicky to serve up not-so-special guests It’s been 50 days since the last Reform press conference. In Nigel Farage time, that’s at least five California marriages. He has been known to do two, sometimes three, pressers in a week.Not because he has anything important to say, but because he is impossibly needy. Nige is a man who usually only knows he’s alive if there’s a camera recording his every movement and utterance. His

politics  Jun 10, 2026

BBC Politics

Changing visa rules for care workers is wrong, says Rayner

The former deputy prime minister says changing visa rules for migrants already living in the UK would be "un-British".

politics  Jun 10, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Ben Jennings on Britain’s anti-immigration protests – cartoon

Continue reading...

politics  Jun 10, 2026

The Guardian Politics

The Guardian view on far-right violence: digital radicalisation is threatening democracy | Editorial

Violence on the streets of Northern Ireland is the real-world expression of a sinister mechanism that goes unchecked onlineMasked men who drive terrorised families out of their homes cannot be called protesters, since the word implies legitimate grievance. The outbreak of racist violence in Northern Ireland this week is connected to the politics of migration, but not in the way that the mob and those who incited it claim.The ostensible trigger was a brutal assault, partially captured on video. A

politics  Jun 10, 2026

BBC Politics

Belfast knife attack disorder 'destabilising', says terror adviser

Jonathan Hall KC tells the BBC it was "absolutely legitimate" to talk about immigration in relation to national security.

politics  Jun 10, 2026

BBC Politics

Vets advise ban on over the counter flea treatment for pets

Pet owners have historically been advised they should treat cats and dogs as a preventative measure every month.

politics  Jun 10, 2026

The Guardian Politics

There are no guardrails now on the right of UK politics: where Restore Britain goes, others will follow | Owen Jones

In the UK – and across the west - incendiary language and white supremacist policies are entering the political mainstreamWhat qualifies as too rightwing these days? It’s a question I’ve considered often in recent years. But it takes on even greater urgency when contemplating the rise of Restore Britain. Founded by multimillionaire businessman and former Reform MP Rupert Lowe, the party enjoys the active support of far-right tech bro Elon Musk, the world’s richest man. If Nigel Farage strikes yo

politics  Jun 10, 2026

BBC Politics

Starmer dithering over defence spending, says Badenoch

The clash at PMQs comes amid a cabinet battle over how a military investment plan will be funded.

politics  Jun 10, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Reform deputy says ‘not aware’ of more financial gifts but unable to check all members

Richard Tice grilled at first party press conference since £5m gift to Nigel Farage from crypto billionaire revealedReform UK is “not aware” of any other large gifts to Nigel Farage or other senior party figures apart from the £5m from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, but cannot check every member’s bank accounts, the party’s deputy leader has said.Richard Tice, who is second in command to Farage, was given a grilling over the controversial £5m gift as the party gave its first press conf

politics  Jun 10, 2026

BBC Politics

Fly-tippers should face higher fines, Reform UK urges

The party also wants an annual "national action day" to help "rekindle civic pride".

politics  Jun 10, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Cars burn in Belfast, bricks fly in Southampton – and the ubiquitous cry of ‘civil war’ goes up again | John Harris

For most, what we see in real life is mundane. But those who wish to fan the flames of anti-immigrant feeling share a different image onlineIt was the summer of 2024 when it all decisively started, with the horrific murders in Southport, countrywide violence and Elon Musk’s observation that a British civil war was somehow “inevitable”. A year later came a hot season of flags on lamp-posts, protests outside hotels used to accommodate asylum seekers, the ubiquitous use of the word “tinderbox” and

politics  Jun 10, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Peter Kyle’s quest for UK’s first $1tn firm is honourable, but he is overselling state activism | Nils Pratley

Business secretary exaggerates role of the British Business Bank and the National Wealth Fund in nurturing firmsIs the business secretary, Peter Kyle, suffering from SpaceX fever? It must be something of that sort because his launch this week of a “concierge service” to allow fast-growing companies to navigate Whitehall bureaucracy came with an extraordinary pitch. The new service is “part of his [Kyle’s] quest to nurture the UK’s first trillion-dollar firm,” said the official announcement.One t

politics  Jun 10, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Man to appear in court over Belfast knife attack as rioting described as ‘race-based pogrom’ by SDLP leader – UK politics live

30-year-old man to appear in court today charged with attempted murder, with Keir Starmer expected to face questions on the disorder during PMQsGood morning. Soon after becoming PM in 2024, Keir Starmer had to deal with a period of rioting in England, prompted by the Southport murders and mostly targeted at asylum seekers. Last night, in Northern Ireland, there were similar race riots, triggered by a knife attack involving a Sudanese suspect. Here is our overnight story about the rioting.And thi

politics  Jun 10, 2026