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230 headlines found — Page 1 of 20

The Guardian Politics22 Jun 2026

Starmer has a strong green record – but a rightwing backlash weakened his plans

Prime minister was forced to row back on some policies despite strong support among voters for climate action Keir Starmer has faced a problem no Labour government has needed to deal with before. His energy and climate policies – core to solving the cost of living crisis – have come under attack from opposition parties, which have made dismantling the agenda one of their top priorities, second only to immigration, in their pitch to voters. This is new in British politics, where a cross-party con

PoliticsEconomyImmigrationEnvironment
The Guardian Politics22 Jun 2026

Keir Starmer’s fatal flaw? The blankness on to which voters projected their years of frustration | John Harris

His government was directionless and confused, and from that murk emerged the Peter Mandelson scandal On a bone-chillingly cold morning in January, it felt as if I had suddenly found at least part of the reason for Keir Starmer’s chronic unpopularity. I was in the Mancunian constituency of Gorton and Denton, where the prime minister and his people’s decision to block Andy Burnham from standing was about to hand victory to the Green party. More specifically, I was in a forlorn covered market abou

Environment
The Guardian Politics22 Jun 2026

After Burnham’s reign, battle begins for Greater Manchester’s mayoral crown

The influential role vacated by the new Makerfield MP will be fiercely contested by Labour, Reform and the Greens As Andy Burnham maps out the final steps on his path to Downing Street, he may feel that his future is clear. But a look back over his shoulder reveals a cloudier outlook, inviting the question: what now happens to his former role as Greater Manchester’s mayor? An election has been set for 30 July, and with the job widely seen as having grown under Burnham’s tenure to become one of t

PoliticsEnvironment
The Guardian Politics22 Jun 2026

The aftershocks of Brexit’s failure could be gaining strength – a fearful prospect for Ireland | Fintan O’Toole

On our side of the Irish Sea we have made the best of a bad job. But we saw the damage a reckless and reactionary British government could do To read more from the Brexit Vote: 10 Years On series, click here For Brexit’s true believers, Ireland will always be the spoke in the wheel that set everything off course, the green tarnish that took the shine off the golden age. Without the vengeful and malicious obstructionism of the Irish, all the promises of freedom and prosperity would have been fu

Environment
The Guardian Politics20 Jun 2026

Tory byelection victory gives Badenoch vital evidence to justify abandoning net zero

While the SNP’s recent issues put off some voters, the Tories’ support for North Sea oil drilling proved more decisive For the first time in 50 years, the Conservatives have won a byelection in Scotland, taking Aberdeen South from the Scottish National party and giving Kemi Badenoch one of her most significant achievements as party leader. The win for Douglas Lumsden, which was secured with a 15% swing, giving the Tories a majority of 6,050, provides the party leader with an important piece of e

PoliticsEnvironment
The Guardian Politics18 Jun 2026

Zack Polanski cleared by ethics inquiry over council tax payment complaint

Labour and Tories claimed Green party leader breached London assembly ethics code over non-payment of tax Zack Polanski has been cleared by an ethics inquiry looking into complaints that he did not pay council tax while living on a houseboat. A report by the Greater London authority’s monitoring officer found that the circumstances of the Green party leader’s living arrangements were beyond its scope and he had therefore not breached the code of conduct for London assembly members. Continue rea

EconomyEnvironment
The Guardian Politics16 Jun 2026

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 decision Thames Water nationalisation moves closer as government objects to rescue deal At 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 f

PoliticsDefenceEnvironment
The Guardian Politics16 Jun 2026

Refugee groups condemn Tory plan to remove judges from asylum appeals

Conservatives accused of attack on ‘crucial safeguards’ and of fostering ‘climate of hostility’ towards judiciary Refugee groups and lawyers have described Conservative proposals to strip judges of their powers to rule on asylum seekers’ appeals against deportations as “an attack on the concept of justice and equality under the law”. In a speech on Tuesday, Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said a Conservative government would quit the European convention on human rights (ECHR) and abolish

ImmigrationDefenceEnvironmentReformRemigration
The Guardian Politics16 Jun 2026

Tactical voting by Greens and Lib Dems could be key to Labour victory in Makerfield

Left-leaning voters more willing to back Andy Burnham than Restore supporters are to vote Reform UK politics live – latest updates Tactical voting could be fundamental to a Labour victory in Makerfield, with Green and Liberal Democrat supporters willing to back Andy Burnham to stop Reform from winning. Conversely, Reform’s main competitor for votes on the right is Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain party. Polling experts have said that current data suggests the size of their vote share is roughly s

PoliticsEnvironmentHousingRestoreRupert Lowe
The Guardian Politics16 Jun 2026

Thames Water nationalisation moves closer as government ‘objects to rescue deal’

Environment secretary reportedly raised concerns that customers would face ‘undue burden’ from £10bn plan Thames Water should be nationalised, says Burnham Business live – latest updates The UK environment secretary has reportedly objected to a £10bn rescue proposal for Thames Water because it would place an “undue burden” on consumers, pushing the troubled utilities firm closer towards public ownership. Emma Reynolds, the environment secretary, wrote to Ofwat, the regulator, on Monday to rai

DefenceEnvironment
The Guardian Politics13 Jun 2026

The case for Labour to introduce a wealth tax has never been stronger | Phillip Inman

A 2% levy on fortunes above £100m – with no exemptions – could begin to reverse decades of rising inequality Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting have sought to blunt the Green leader Zack Polanski’s popularity with a hint that a government run by either of them, should they win a Labour leadership race, would favour a tax of some kind on the wealthy. With SpaceX’s stock market launch on Friday sending Elon Musk’s fortune to the stars, it is clear to most people that the world’s super-rich are running

EconomyEnvironment
The Guardian Politics12 Jun 2026

Pro-Palestine activists believe ‘sea change’ coming in Labour’s approach to Middle East

Green surge in local elections and recent polling of Labour members may cause government to toughen stance on Israel UK politics live – latest updates Middle East crisis – live updates Pro-Palestine activists believe there could be a “sea change” in the Labour party’s approach to the crisis in the Middle East which could result in the government taking a tougher stance on Israel. Campaigners have pointed to the threat posed to Labour by the Green surge in the local elections, the likely depar

PoliticsEnvironment