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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

From migration to Mandelson: Keir Starmer’s successes and failures in No 10

Where did it go wrong for the outgoing prime minister? And how much – if at all – did it threaten to go right? Keir Starmer pitched himself as a leader for “stability and moderation” who would rebuild Britain, after Labour’s landslide victory in the 2024 general election. But after two years which have seen unforced errors, economic headwinds, scandals and, most recently, a disastrous set of devolved, mayoral and local election results the UK is set to have its sixth prime minister in seven year

PoliticsEconomyImmigration
The Guardian Politics21 Jun 2026

Burnham ally to unveil ambitious plan to reverse decades of privatisation

Exclusive: Productive State policy paper envisages state regaining control of basics to make life affordable, in fleshing out of Manchesterism Andy Burnham’s government should reverse 40 years of privatisation with a long-term plan to take over failing utilities in administration, issuing “bonds for shares” and setting up state competitors, according to a new blueprint for “Manchesterism”. The policy paper – The Productive State – is released on Monday as Burnham arrives in Westminster to be swo

PoliticsImmigration
The Guardian Politics20 Jun 2026

Boats, bankers and borders: five symbols that sum up Brexit a decade on

What do the touchstones of the referendum debate tell us about the complex legacy of Britain leaving the EU? Ten years ago the UK voted 52% to 48% to leave the European Union, triggering a long and tortuous political process. It took until 1 January 2021 for the country to sever its links to the single market and customs union, but the fractures Brexit left in Britain’s body politic, international relations and economy remain. Continue reading...

PoliticsEconomyImmigration
The Guardian Politics18 Jun 2026

Oxfordshire council seeks injunction over flags tied to lamp-posts across county

Council says it has so far spent £15,000 removing flags put up under campaign linked to anti-immigration protests Oxfordshire county council is seeking an injunction against the Raise the Colours campaign group after England flags were tied to lamp-posts across the county. The campaign has been putting up flags across the country since August last year, and there is a particular proliferation of them in and around Oxford. Though the campaign has said it is motivated by pride and patriotism, the

Immigration
The Guardian Politics17 Jun 2026

French police in £660m deal with UK authorised to use water cannon on asylum seekers

Refugee charity says decision to let officers request the devices as part of public order powers is ‘sickening’ French riot police deployed in northern France under a £660m deal with the UK are authorised to use water cannon against asylum seekers, the Guardian has been told. Two specialist policing units, including a 50-officer riot squad, have begun working to prevent asylum seekers and people smugglers from launching small boats under the landmark UK-France deal in time for the summer months.

ImmigrationCrimeRestoreRemigration
The Guardian Politics17 Jun 2026

The Guardian view on Britain and the EU: Ed Davey is right – a changed world changes the argument | Editorial

The Liberal Democrat leader’s call for more ambitious reintegration with Europe brings a necessary focus on economic and strategic reality Membership of the European single market was at stake when the UK voted on Brexit, but it was not the decisive question in the campaign. The leave campaign dishonestly promised a cost-free severance of ties with Britain’s largest trading partner. As immigration came to dominate the debate, the requirement to allow free movement of people as a condition of sea

EconomyImmigration
The Guardian Politics17 Jun 2026

Cross purposes: how the England flag got caught in a tug-of-war between rightwing nationalists and football fans

Last summer the St George’s cross was co-opted by anti-immigrant groups. Now, as the World Cup begins, some communities are reclaiming it as a symbol of a very different sort of pride As I drove into London with my daughter a week ago, we passed a roadside pub festooned with dozens of England flags. Our eyes met in recognition: we were in one of those areas, we assumed. In the eyes of many, St George’s cross flags have become a kind of territorial marker in the English landscape, signifying a ce

ImmigrationDefenceHousing
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

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

PoliticsImmigrationCrimeHealthcareRemigration
The Guardian Politics15 Jun 2026

Jenrick rebuked for not providing evidence to asylum detention inquiry

Former immigration minister criticised by inquiry chair for failing to give statement about ‘wretched’ Manston site The former Conservative immigration minister Robert Jenrick has been rebuked by the chair of an inquiry for failing to provide vital evidence about conditions for small boat arrivals at a controversial processing centre. The independent Manston inquiry was set up to examine the events surrounding the detention of thousands of people who arrived by small boat between 1 June 2022 and

Immigration
The Guardian Politics14 Jun 2026

Wes Streeting plans to increase high-skilled immigration if he becomes PM

Leadership hopeful to also say tax revenues from new North Sea oil and gasfields should be used to cut energy bills Wes Streeting’s pitch to be the next Labour leader will include a plan to increase high-skilled immigration to the UK, arguing that Donald Trump is telling scientists and AI experts they are not welcome in the US. In a speech this coming week, the former health secretary will also say that tax revenues from new North Sea oil and gasfields should be used to cut energy bills. Contin

EconomyImmigration