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The Guardian Politics14 Apr 2026

Kemi Badenoch’s memory wipe and the eternal sunshine of the spotless mind | John Crace

Seemingly more gentle Tory leader is blessed with the ability to forget everything that happened the day before Please sit down. Loosen your clothing. Do not adjust your screen. Take several deep breaths. Close your eyes. Imagine yourself in your happy space. Your life might not be quite the same again. Hard to believe, but Kemi Badenoch has had a psychological makeover. Don’t get me wrong. We’re not talking a complete personality change. There hasn’t been a miracle. A laying on of hands by Don

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

Scottish Greens pledge free bus travel and basic income in election manifesto

Party says plan for ‘radical change’ will be funded in part through higher taxes on aviation, gambling and landlords UK politics live – latest updates The Scottish Greens have called for free bus travel, thousands of extra teachers and doctors and a universal basic income among hundreds of uncosted manifesto pledges. The party is enjoying a bounce in Scottish opinion polls, with some putting it ahead of Labour, driven partly by the surging support for the Green party of England and Wales under

PoliticsEconomyEducationEnvironmentHousingHealthcare
The Guardian Politics14 Apr 2026

UK steel exports to EU at risk as bloc doubles tariffs and halves quotas

Decision to reduce duty-free quotas by 47% aimed at curbing Chinese imports Business live – latest updates The EU is to go ahead with plans to double tariffs and halve quotas on imports of steel from July, in a move designed to curb Chinese imports but which could damage UK exports to the bloc. The decision by EU lawmakers and member states after late night talks on Monday, will reduce duty-free quotas by 47%. Exact country allocations have yet to be determined. Continue reading...

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

EHRC updates guidance on how to apply supreme court ruling on gender

Changes follow concern that original code created a legal minefield for organisations implementing it The equalities watchdog has updated its guidance on how to implement the supreme court ruling on gender after the government requested changes to the original proposals submitted last year. In a statement, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said that after feedback from the government, as well as consultation responses and extra legal advice, it had made changes to what is officiall

Crime
The Guardian Politics14 Apr 2026

Telegraph takeover by German buyer cleared by culture secretary

Lisa Nandy says there are no grounds to refer Axel Springer deal to Ofcom, ending almost three years of uncertainty for titles Business live – latest updates The culture secretary has cleared Axel Springer’s £575m takeover of the Telegraph, paving the way for the end of almost three years of uncertainty over the ownership of the titles. Lisa Nandy said that she does not believe there are grounds to intervene and refer the deal to the media regulator, Ofcom, for an in-depth regulatory investiga

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

Take heart, Keir Starmer – Australia’s PM faced similarly dim prospects, and he triumphed | Tim Soutphommasane

Labour could benefit from Reform’s association with an unpopular US president – but only if it learns to connect again with voters It has never been worse for Labour, at least according to the polls. Some now place it as the fourth party of British politics. The impending local elections in May mean there’s more pain to come. But there is an international example that could provide some encouragement and hope for Keir Starmer and Labour. Around this time last year, Australia’s Labor prime minist

Politics
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

Chagos Islands treaty is now ‘impossible to agree at political level’, UK minister says

Stephen Doughty says US withdrawal of support means bill cannot complete passage through parliament A treaty over ceding sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has become “impossible to agree at political level” and the corresponding bill will not complete its passage through parliament, a Foreign Office minister has said. Stephen Doughty told the Commons that the agreement with Mauritius was initially negotiated in close coordination with the US, but Donald Trump’s position “appears to

Politics