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The Guardian Politics14 Apr 2026

UK’s armed forces are in a sad state – and they have only themselves to blame

The MoD shows little sign of learning from its mistakes – no wonder the Treasury is reluctant to agree to its demands George Robertson, Tony Blair’s first defence secretary, a former Nato secretary general and an author last year of the latest in a series of evasive strategic defence reviews, accused Keir Starmer on Tuesday of a “corrosive complacency towards defence”. He said the prime minister was not willing to make the “necessary investment”. Lord Robertson could have directed his fire elsew

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics14 Apr 2026

Reeves hits out at ‘folly’ of US going to war without clear exit plan

Chancellor ‘frustrated and angry’ at decision to attack Iran ‘without being clear what the objectives are’ UK politics live – latest updates Middle East crisis – live updates Rachel Reeves has hit out at the “folly” of Donald Trump’s decision to go to war against Iran without a clear exit plan. Speaking to the Mirror before a trip to Washington for the International Monetary Fund spring meeting, the UK chancellor renewed her criticism of the war, which has pushed up oil prices and threatens a

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics14 Apr 2026

Reform activist suspended over racist and antisemitic comments remains election agent

Adam Mitula is acting as election agent for Reform candidates in three wards in Tameside area ahead of 7 May polls A Reform UK activist in the Gorton and Denton byelection who was suspended over racist and antisemitic comments has been named as the election agent for three of the party’s candidates in Manchester ahead of polls on 7 May. Adam Mitula, an interim campaign manager in the Tameside area, confirmed in February that he had been suspended as a party member “pending investigation”. Conti

PoliticsDefenceReform
The Guardian Politics14 Apr 2026

Hegseth right to mock Royal Navy, says ex-army chief as he backs claims over military underfunding – UK politics live

Richard Barrons backs George Robertson and says UK forces ‘too small and undernourished for the world that we now live in’ Good morning. When Keir Starmer gave evidence to the Commons liaison committee before the Easter recess, and when he made a statement to MPs yesterday on the first day after it was over, he was repeatedly asked when the government will publish its defence investment plan (DIP). On both occasions, he could not give a timetable and would just say it would be published as soon

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics13 Apr 2026

Starmer accused of ‘corrosive complacency’ about defence by ex-head of Nato

George Robertson says the UK is in peril due to military underfunding, adding that Iran war should be wake-up call The British government has shown a “corrosive complacency towards defence” and put the UK “in peril”, according to a government adviser, in fierce criticisms of Keir Starmer’s military policy. The former Nato secretary general and author of the government’s strategic defence review, George Robertson, believes Starmer was “not willing to make the necessary investment”, the Financial

Defence
The Guardian Politics13 Apr 2026

Anas Sarwar asks voters in Scotland to give Labour five years to ‘fix SNP’s mess’

Scottish Labour leader pledges more homes and tax cuts as party tries to reverse slump in support before May elections UK politics live – latest updates Anas Sarwar has appealed to voters to give Labour five years “to fix the Scottish National party’s mess” as he pledged more homes, tax cuts and a smaller public sector. The Scottish Labour leader is fighting a last-ditch attempt to reverse a steep slump in support. Recent polls put Sarwar’s party third or fourth behind Reform and the Scottish

PoliticsEconomyDefenceHousing
The Guardian Politics13 Apr 2026

Keir Starmer defends plan for closer alignment with EU rules

PM rejects claim plan is integration with EU ‘by stealth’, saying changes will happen only if parliament passes law UK politics live – latest updates Keir Starmer has defended plans for the UK to align more closely with some EU rules without parliamentary votes, saying a closer relationship with Europe “is in the UK’s best interest”, particularly given the international turmoil over the Iran war. Speaking to the BBC after the Guardian revealed that ministers were planning to use so-called Henr

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics13 Apr 2026

Starmer confirms UK will not support US blockade of strait of Hormuz – UK politics live

PM says opening waterway is ‘vital’ as he rules out any UK involvement in US moves to blockade strait Good morning. The parliamentary recess is over, the Iran war disaster isn’t, campaigning is ramping up because the May elections are less than four weeks to go, and there will be plenty for MPs to discuss as they meet in the Commons this afternoon. The full timetable, as usual, is down below. Keir Starmer is in Greater Manchester this morning, on a visit linked to the English local elections. Bu

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics12 Apr 2026

Britain could adopt single market rules without MPs’ vote as part of UK-EU reset

Exclusive: Ministers planning new legislation for alignment without full parliamentary scrutiny if in national interest Ministers are planning to fundamentally reshape Britain’s relationship with the European Union, with new legislation that could result in the UK signing up to EU single market rules without a normal parliamentary vote. In a major development in the prime minister’s push for closer ties with the continent in after the Iran war, the Guardian understands ministers are bracing to f

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics12 Apr 2026

Voting for populist parties in local polls will put NHS at risk, says Streeting

Exclusive: Health secretary warns of dangers of protest vote as he pitches NHS as key battleground in May elections Voters in May’s local and devolved elections risk putting the NHS in jeopardy if they vote for populist parties, Wes Streeting has said, as he sought to make the health service a key battleground. “The founding principles of the NHS are at greater threat than at any time since the NHS was founded in 1948,” the health secretary said. Continue reading...

PoliticsDefenceReformHealthcare
The Guardian Politics12 Apr 2026

Wes Streeting attacks Trump’s ‘outrageous’ Iran war rhetoric

Health secretary says failure of peace talks ‘disappointing’ and that UK-US relations have undoubtedly been strained Middle East crisis – live updates Wes Streeting has criticised Donald Trump’s rhetoric on Iran as “incendiary, provocative and outrageous”, and called the failure of US-Iran peace talks “disappointing” but said the success of future negotiations was necessary “in all of our interests”. “As ever in diplomacy, you’re failing until you succeed,” the health secretary told Sunday Mor

Defence
The Guardian Politics11 Apr 2026

Tories would reinstate two-child benefit cap to fund defence, says Badenoch

Conservative leader promises biggest peacetime rearmament effort in UK history if her party is re-elected The Conservatives would reinstate the two-child benefit cap and use the savings for a wide-ranging spending splurge on defence in what Kemi Badenoch said would be “the biggest peacetime programme of rearmament in our country’s history”. Speaking at a defence conference in London, the Tory leader criticised the government for Britain’s “lack of readiness” for war, which has been exposed by re

Defence