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The Guardian Politics20 May 2026

Starmer to face Commons grilling at PMQs as Streeting plans resignation speech – UK politics live

The former health secretary will give resignation speech after prime minister’s questions Good morning. PMQs is back, and there are at least two obvious issues for Kemi Badenoch to raise when she faces Keir Starmer. What Tories calls Starmer’s “Soviet-style” plan to curb supermarket prices This is more nuts than a squirrel convention! I warned Rachel Reeves prices would go up if she raised taxes and drowned employers in red tape. She didn’t listen and now she’s proposing Soviet style measures!

PoliticsEconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics20 May 2026

‘Attainment at all costs’ approach could undermine Send changes, school leaders in England say

Union says emphasis on academic goals conflicts with proposed measures on special educational needs provision Changes to special educational needs provision in England could be thwarted by “academic attainment at all costs” policies that prioritise exam results and punish inclusive schools, headteachers have said in response to a government consultation. The Association of School and College Leaders said the government’s emphasis on academic goals conflicted with its measures designed to help ma

DefenceEducation
The Guardian Politics20 May 2026

The balance of global power is shifting fast, but Britain is stuck in the same old Brexit rut | Rafael Behr

Without a reckoning about the epic strategic error of leaving the EU, there is no serious debate about the country’s future place in the world While the Labour party was in meltdown last week, Donald Trump was visiting China. By the time Wes Streeting had sent his resignation letter to Keir Starmer, the US president had completed a two-hour bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, and moved on to sightseeing. The events unfolded in parallel, but in the competition for media an

Defence
The Guardian Politics19 May 2026

Spending watchdog warns £38bn cost of Sizewell C nuclear plant is ‘risky’

National Audit Office says potential benefits are ‘considerable but uncertain’ while risks are ‘immediate and substantial’ The cost of the government’s £38bn nuclear plant in Suffolk is subject to “significant uncertainty” and may outweigh the benefits for UK households until at least 2064, according to the government’s spending watchdog. The National Audit Office (NAO) has warned that although the potential benefits of the Sizewell C nuclear plant are considerable, they remain uncertain. The ri

Defence
The Guardian Politics19 May 2026

Andy Burnham to face Reform’s Robert Kenyon in crucial Makerfield byelection

Outcome of contest for seat just outside Wigan could change the course of British politics for years to come Andy Burnham will face Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon in next month’s crucial Makerfield byelection in a clash that could change the course of British politics for years to come. Reform are billing Kenyon, a plumber and army reservist who contested the seat just outside Wigan in the 2024 general election, as a local champion taking on a professional politician who is using the seat for his ow

PoliticsDefenceReform
The Guardian Politics19 May 2026

John Healey says Labour infighting puts government’s credibility at risk

Defence secretary say party has turned in on itself in thinly veiled criticism of Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting John Healey has criticised Labour figures jockeying to become prime minister in a politicised speech in which he said the party’s “very credibility“ in government was at stake if the infighting deepened. The defence secretary, a Keir Starmer loyalist, said the party had turned in on itself since the May elections in what appeared to be direct criticism of Andy Burnham, Wes Streeting a

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics19 May 2026

Stop the anonymous briefings and show respect, two ministers tell Labour MPs

Yvette Cooper and Jonathan Reynolds urge colleagues to support each other and remember ‘who we’re here to serve’ UK politics live – latest updates Two cabinet ministers have warned Labour colleagues against damaging anonymous briefings as the party prepares for a probable leadership contest, arguing it is disrespectful to voters to wage a factional war in public. The comments by Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, and Jonathan Reynolds, the chief whip, came as Labour MPs gathered late on Mon

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics19 May 2026

Police say extra funds to hunt grooming gangs in England and Wales will ‘likely fall short’

Government announces a near tenfold increase but forces fear it will not cover anticipated cost of dedicated teams Keir Starmer’s government has announced a near tenfold increase in funding for detectives hunting grooming gangs but has been warned by police that the amount will “likely fall short” of what is needed. Operation Beaconport, which was set up last year to review closed group-based sexual exploitation inquiries in England and Wales, will receive nearly £38m, a Home Office statement sa

DefenceCrime
The Guardian Politics19 May 2026

Labour likely to win next election with Burnham as leader, say party members – UK politics live

YouGov polling reveals support for prospective challenger, with members believing Starmer could not secure another victory Unemployment in the UK has unexpectedly risen to 5% while wage growth has slowed, according to official figures, in the first snapshot of how companies are reacting to the impact of the Iran war, Tom Knowles reports. Good morning. A week ago, at cabinet, Keir Starmer delivered a “put up or shut up” message to his critics. Wes Streeting, his leading opponent, decided to do n

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics19 May 2026

No feelgood factor for Reeves as Iran war snuffs out economic upturn

Rise in unemployment and weak pay growth underline how tough this year will be for UK households UK unemployment unexpectedly rises to 5% Business live – latest updates News that the UK unemployment rate jumped back to 5% in March appears to be the latest evidence that the Iran war has snuffed out the economic upturn Rachel Reeves had hoped to see in 2026. The Office for National Statistics reports that, after an unexpected fall in the unemployment rate to 4.9% in last month’s data, it ticked

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics19 May 2026

Wes Streeting’s Brexit play may be clever gamesmanship – but it has nothing to do with Europe | Anand Menon

Ten years after the referendum, its role as domestic football is still the order of day – and the ex-health secretary is happy to use it in his leadership bid Anand Menon is director of The UK in a Changing Europe Brexit, it seems, is back. Or at least back within the Labour party. Wes wants to be back in (at some point). Andy once said there’s a case, but seems to have changed his mind. Nigel, meanwhile, warns of betrayal. On one hand, this is all terribly predictable. Winning any Labour lead

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics19 May 2026

UK unemployment unexpectedly rises to 5% as firms squeezed by Iran war

Pay growth eases to 3.4% as businesses face pressure from soaring energy costs Unemployment in the UK has unexpectedly risen to 5% while wage growth has slowed, according to official figures, in the first snapshot of how companies are reacting to the impact of the Iran war. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of unemployment was up in the three months to March, from 4.9% in February, a rate that City economists had expected to hold. Continue reading...

Defence