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The Guardian Politics14 May 2026

You’ve heard the king’s speech – but I think a better one might run like this | David Blunkett

If I were in government I’d propose a very different response to the challenges we face – starting with protecting people from the cost of living David Blunkett was Labour home secretary from 2001 to 2004 While I welcome many measures in the king’s speech, an alternative might look something like this. My lords, and members of the Commons: my government is committed to winning back the support of the British people and demonstrating that they are “on the side” of those who are working – or who

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The Guardian Politics14 May 2026

As the right moves in on antisemitism, where does that leave the Jewish left?

After Reform politicians were cheered and progressive rabbis booed at rally against antisemitism, some fear longstanding alliances are fracturing Rabbi Charley Baginsky, the co-leader of Progressive Judaism, admitted she felt apprehensive before speaking at last weekend’s central London rally against antisemitism. As she addressed the crowd, there were some boos. It wasn’t the first time – last year, on a similar stage outside Downing Street, Baginsky and her fellow co-lead, Rabbi Josh Levy, wer

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Express Politics14 May 2026

Starmer invokes Henry VIII powers so your MP won't get a say on new EU rules

Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled a new bill that would allow EU regulations to enter British law automatically, with no guarantee MPs will get a vote on each rule.

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BBC Politics13 May 2026

Starmer warns against leadership contest in pleas to ministers and MPs

Sir Keir battles to save his job, as Health Secretary Wes Streeting is thought to be plotting a leadership challenge potentially as early as Thursday.

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The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

Wes Streeting prepares to launch leadership challenge against Keir Starmer

Health secretary’s move to force race sparks scramble on left of Labour for candidate to oppose him UK politics live – latest updates Wes Streeting is preparing to launch a leadership challenge against Keir Starmer on Thursday if the health secretary can secure the support of enough MPs to trigger a contest. Streeting’s move to force a race has sparked a frantic scramble on the left of Labour to find a candidate to oppose him, with Ed Miliband and Angela Rayner both possible contenders. Conti

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The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

Wes Streeting: PM-in-waiting or ‘this generation’s David Miliband’?

Health secretary’s lack of challenge had reassured Starmer and his allies – but then briefings for a speculative Thursday launch emerged As the unofficial political truce of the king’s speech approached, with still no sign of a leadership challenge from Wes Streeting, some of his Labour colleagues assumed the health secretary’s chance to go for the top job might have passed for ever. “There is a risk he becomes the David Miliband of this generation if he doesn’t do something,” one MP said, a ref

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The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

Who would be in Wes Streeting’s corner if he ran for the Labour leadership?

The health secretary’s backers have different – not always ideological – reasons for supporting him Wes Streeting plans to resign and mount leadership challenge, allies say For all that Labour’s left denounce Wes Streeting as a reincarnated Blairite, he has friendships and alliances across various Labour factions, not all of which lean into each other. As he considers a possible bid to challenge Keir Starmer, the MPs supporting him are not ideological clones. Some are personal allies, while

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The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

‘Hold the line’: Burnham tells allies in parliament he still has options to return

Greater Manchester mayor seeks to reassure his supporters after potential seats for him fail to materialise Andy Burnham has told Labour MPs they should hold the line and that he has options to return to parliament after several seats identified by allies of the Greater Manchester mayor failed to materialise. Two seats his backers had described as “nailed on” as recently as Monday night are now out of contention after the MPs concerned got cold feet. Continue reading...

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The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

As Westminster rages, and Labour sinks into civil war: what about the people? | Aditya Chakrabortty

Voters are desperate for a turnaround in living standards. The runners and riders for the Labour leadership must address this “Westminster is a cocoon. Lots of people in lovely jobs, so it becomes easy to forget the world outside.” Catherine West should know. She’s been an MP for 11 years, even if you hadn’t heard of her until this weekend when the Labour backbencher threatened Keir Starmer for the leadership, firing the first shots in the civil war that now engulfs the government. Before Wes St

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The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

‘It’s more incrementalism’: Starmer’s safe king’s speech fails to quell mutiny

One of PM’s expanding cohort of critics in Labour party says policy programme ‘sums up where we have gone wrong’ For Keir Starmer’s Labour critics, his second king’s speech, in which the government set out what it would do in parliament over the next 12 to 18 months, was a crystallisation of everything that was wrong with the prime minister’s strategy. Over 34 bills and three draft ones, Starmer set out a programme he said would “make this country stronger and fairer”. But the package, which inc

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The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

The Guardian view on the king’s speech: an agenda for a government that lacks conviction | Editorial

Keir Starmer’s programme is fatally limited by the timidity of an election manifesto that shied away from hard arguments Ending 14 years of Conservative rule was supposed to bring an end to dysfunctional government. In the speech that launched his 2024 general election campaign, Sir Keir Starmer said that “a vote for Labour is a vote for stability … a vote to stop the chaos”. Less than two years later, Sir Keir’s government looks no sturdier than its predecessors. The prime minister’s chances o

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The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

King’s speech might be the last word on Starmer as reluctant monarch does his duty | John Crace

With the PM’s future numbered in days no wonder Charles might have felt reading out the government’s agenda was not the best use of his time The king looked fed up. His attempts to throw a sickie had come to nothing. Did the government really want to go ahead with the state opening? Apparently it did. Would it be OK if he phoned it in? He fancied a day WFP. Working from palace. It wouldn’t. It was a three-line whip. One of the few occasions a monarch was obliged to attend. “My lords. Pray be sea

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