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The Guardian Politics17 Mar 2026

UK must learn lessons from AI race and retain its quantum computing talent, says minister

Liz Kendall announces £1bn funding to help design large-scale quantum computers for scientists, researchers, public sector and business The UK will not let quantum computing talent slip through its fingers and must learn lessons from US dominance of the AI race, the technology secretary has said, as the government announced a £1bn quantum funding pledge. Liz Kendall said the government hoped to retain homegrown quantum startups, engineers and researchers rather than lose them to competing countr

The Guardian Politics17 Mar 2026

‘National disgrace’: pothole repair backlog hits record £18.6bn in England and Wales

Only half the road network is in good condition despite 1.9m repairs last year, says industry body A losing battle with potholes has now seen the backlog of repairs across England and Wales reach a record £18.6bn, according to an annual industry estimate, despite councils filling in about 1.9m holes last year. The “national disgrace” of dangerously pockmarked local roads has been exacerbated by a notably wet winter, with only half of the network now reported to be in good condition. Continue re

The Guardian Politics16 Mar 2026

EU calls for urgent reboot in talks with UK to stop reset deal failing

Time is running out to find agreement on areas such as tuition fees EU citizens would pay in Britain and rules for food safety The EU is hoping to urgently reboot talks on the “reset” of relations with the UK as negotiations are in danger of foundering before a planned July summit. At a public meeting of the EU-UK parliamentary partnership assembly in Brussels, the European Commission vice-president and trade commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, said both sides had to “change gears” now to ensure the d

Politics
The Guardian Politics16 Mar 2026

Starmer distances UK from Iran war as EU leaders rule out sending warships

PM refuses to be drawn into wider conflict as Germany and Italy defy Trump’s call to help reopen strait of Hormuz Middle East crisis – live updates Keir Starmer has insisted that the UK will not be drawn into the wider war in the Middle East as European leaders ruled out sending warships to the strait of Hormuz. In his clearest signal yet of the UK’s divergence from Donald Trump’s attack on Iran, the prime minister said he would stand firm in the face of US pressure despite the decision being

Defence
The Guardian Politics16 Mar 2026

Iran war cannot be ’windfall’ for Putin, says Starmer, as Zelenskyy arrives in UK

Ukrainian president’s visit coincides with deadline for Roman Abramovich over proceeds from £2.5bn Chelsea sale Middle East crisis – live updates Keir Starmer will host Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Tuesday as the prime minister warns US-Israeli strikes on Iran cannot be allowed to become a “windfall for Putin”. Zelenskyy’s visit will come on the day of the government deadline for the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich to pay proceeds from his sale of Chelsea FC to victims of the

Defence
The Guardian Politics16 Mar 2026

The Guardian view on SUVs: London’s mayor is right to push back on supersize cars | Editorial

Huge vehicles are popular with drivers, but their wider impacts on road safety and the environment must be tackled No one who walks, cycles or drives around London, or many of the world’s big cities, could fail to notice the vastly increased size of the typical car. A type of vehicle once associated with rural settings and outdoor lifestyles is now ubiquitous. Heavily marketed as sports utility vehicles (SUVs), supersize cars are among the key consumer trends of recent decades. In 2022, they acc

EnvironmentReform
The Guardian Politics16 Mar 2026

Starmer speech leaves Reform UK and the Tories playing catch-up | John Crace

The PM’s decision not to sign up the UK to the Middle East conflict reflects the public mood better than Badenoch and Farage’s former gung-ho support It was a message that could just as easily have been given via a ministerial statement in the Commons. But Keir Starmer needs every break he can get at the moment and he wasn’t going to pass up the chance to look like a world leader at a press conference in Downing Street. The advantages were obvious. No need to have to listen to Kemi Badenoch dron

PoliticsReform
The Guardian Politics16 Mar 2026

Trump’s war is bringing economic calamity to the UK – and another shock to our politics | Gaby Hinsliff

Hard choices lie ahead for Downing Street if higher fuel prices spark resentment and trigger a renewed cost of living crisis Seventy years ago this winter, the streets of Britain fell eerily quiet. After one last panic buying spree, many garages shut, and traffic even in the heart of London dwindled away. The formal introduction of petrol rationing had begun, limiting drivers to 200 miles’ worth a month – with exceptions for farmers, doctors and vicars – after the Suez crisis blocked fuel suppli

PoliticsEconomyDefenceHealthcare
The Guardian Politics16 Mar 2026

Labour MPs have no reason to oppose new welfare reforms, says minister

Pat McFadden unveils £1bn youth employment scheme and appeals for support from backbench MPs who rebelled over welfare last year Labour MPs have no reason to oppose a fresh government attempt to overhaul the welfare system, the work and pensions secretary has said as he unveiled a £1bn youth employment scheme. The announcement by Pat McFadden – who said the public wanted the system to promote work and “value for money” – is seen as a prelude to a renewed bid to reform the welfare system after

Politics
The Guardian Politics16 Mar 2026

Can Starmer avoid being drawn into the US-Iran war? – podcast

The PM says the UK will not be dragged into wider war in the Middle East and pledges support to households struggling to pay for heating oil. Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey talk about what the government is doing to support people during the cost of living crisis and the fallout from the war. Plus a look at Brussels as the government works on another EU-reset to create closer ties Continue reading...

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics16 Mar 2026

Mayor unveils £1.5bn ‘People’s Network’ transport plan for South Yorkshire

Trams, buses and hire bikes will be integrated under molten orange and asphalt black brand highlighting industrial heritage, says Oliver Coppard South Yorkshire’s transport system will be known as the “People’s Network”, with trams, buses and hire bikes all coming under public control. The plan was unveiled on Monday by the region’s mayor, Oliver Coppard, who said it would create an affordable, joined-up network in molten orange and asphalt black colours. A large fleet of electric buses and 25 n

The Guardian Politics16 Mar 2026

Britons should strive to pay minimum tax legally possible, says Richard Tice

Reform UK’s deputy leader comments came as he was responding to questions raised about his own tax affairs All Britons should do their best to pay the minimum tax possible, Reform UK’s deputy leader has argued as he dismissed a newspaper investigation over his own tax affairs as a smear. Richard Tice, who was presenting a press conference on Monday about Reform’s claims to have saved large sums of money in the English councils it runs, faced questions about a Sunday Times story which detailed a

EconomyReform