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1202 headlines found — Page 13 of 101

The Guardian Politics11 Jun 2026

Polite but deadly: John Healey skewers Keir Starmer as he heads for the door | John Crace

The defence secretary’s departure was the wrong resignation at the worst possible time for the prime minister UK politics live – latest updates During Wednesday’s prime minister’s questions, the defence secretary was standing at the other end of the Commons, away from other cabinet members on the government frontbench. His expression gave nothing away as Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch blamed one another for spending too much on welfare and not enough on defence. In hindsight, he was possibly t

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics11 Jun 2026

John Healey’s departure is less of a surprise than it might seem

Despite his managerial veneer and quiet approach, outgoing defence secretary is a highly political operator UK politics live – latest updates If there was one thing for which Downing Street could rely on with John Healey, it was avoiding unnecessary drama. Whether in parliament or on the morning broadcast round, his sober suits and general demeanour of a benign but firm headmaster spelled reassurance. But then just before 12.10pm on Wednesday, the drama arrived. In a letter posted to social me

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics11 Jun 2026

John Healey resignation letter: what it said and what he meant

The note accompanying the defence secretary’s sudden departure was full of unspoken meanings UK politics live – latest updates John Healey’s sudden resignation as defence secretary was set out in a letter to Keir Starmer. Here is what it said – but also, the unspoken meanings within the text. Continue reading...

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics11 Jun 2026

​John Healey resigns as defence secretary over military spending

Minister accuses Starmer of being ‘unable to commit the resources to defend the country at this time of rising threats’ • UK politics live – latest updates The defence secretary, John Healey, has resigned over the government’s defence spending plans. The long-awaited defence investment plan (DIP) was expected to be published imminently, but in a letter to the prime minister, Keir Starmer, Healey said it fell “well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time”. Co

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics11 Jun 2026

Ministers want 60% of pupils in England ‘actively’ travelling to school by 2035

Exclusive: Transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, says cycling and walking plan focuses on ‘everyday travel needs’ UK politics live – latest updates Ministers are to launch a major push to get more children walking and cycling to school as part of a wider boost for “active travel” by the transport secretary Heidi Alexander. In the first significant change to active travel policy since the Boris Johnson era, thousands of new safe routes and crossings will be built around schools in England, with

PoliticsEducation
The Guardian Politics11 Jun 2026

Northern Ireland secretary condemns Belfast riots as ‘racist thuggery’ after 12 police officers injured – UK politics live

‘If you are targeting people on the basis of the colour of their skin how else can you describe them?’ said Hilary Benn Full report: Police use water cannon against rioters in Northern Ireland Gavin Robinson MP, DUP leader, has said borders into the UK need “protecting” more. Speaking on BBC’s Good Morning Ulster, he also said that he believed that there was “less” violence last night than on Monday. Of the violence, he said: “You cannot raise your concerns about damage to British values and t

PoliticsImmigrationCrime
The Guardian Politics10 Jun 2026

Elon Musk’s X not facing action from UK government over posts inciting violence in Belfast

Any official reprimand will come from regulator Ofcom, but not for at least two months UK politics live – latest updates Elon Musk’s X will face no action to remove a mass of posts inciting violence in Northern Ireland for at least two months despite widespread condemnation of the platform and its billionaire owner. Concern over the role social media played in spreading disturbing images and fuelling anger continued to grow on Wednesday as police and community leaders urged calm. Continue rea

PoliticsCrime
The Guardian Politics10 Jun 2026

Farage suddenly returns to political stage – but dodges questions about £5m gift

Reform UK leader has been unusually quiet in recent weeks – at great cost to the party during a crucial byelection Fake images of Nigel Farage have been ubiquitous online lately – but the real politician has proved far more elusive since it was revealed seven weeks ago that he took a £5m personal gift from a crypto billionaire. And while an AI-generated depiction of the Reform UK leader was falsely shown getting violent on BBC’s Question Time, Farage has been largely avoiding the TV studios wher

PoliticsReform
The Guardian Politics10 Jun 2026

Keir Starmer aides ‘war gaming’ over leadership contest with Andy Burnham

Prime minister is ‘hellbent’ on fighting any contest - including sacking ministers who support Burnham UK politics live – latest updates Keir Starmer’s closest aides are “war-gaming” how to win a leadership contest ahead of Andy Burnham’s much-anticipated return to Westminster if he wins the Makerfield byelection, the Guardian understands. Downing Street sources said the prime minister had taken the last fortnight to think seriously about his future but was now “hellbent” on fighting any conte

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics10 Jun 2026

The Guardian view on far-right violence: digital radicalisation is threatening democracy | Editorial

Violence on the streets of Northern Ireland is the real-world expression of a sinister mechanism that goes unchecked online Masked men who drive terrorised families out of their homes cannot be called protesters, since the word implies legitimate grievance. The outbreak of racist violence in Northern Ireland this week is connected to the politics of migration, but not in the way that the mob and those who incited it claim. The ostensible trigger was a brutal assault, partially captured on video.

PoliticsImmigrationHousing
The Guardian Politics10 Jun 2026

UK minister defends changes to student loans as pressure grows for reforms

Treasury minister Lucy Rigby says the government has the right to alter terms of existing agreements Ministers have rejected accusations that recent changes to student loans were unfair, arguing they are so heavily subsidised that the government has the right to alter their terms. Pressure has been intensifying on the UK government to reform the student loans system but the chief secretary to the Treasury, Lucy Rigby, told MPs on Wednesday that less than half of young people go to university, an

PoliticsEconomyEducation
The Guardian Politics10 Jun 2026

There are no guardrails now on the right of UK politics: where Restore Britain goes, others will follow | Owen Jones

In the UK – and across the west - incendiary language and white supremacist policies are entering the political mainstream What qualifies as too rightwing these days? It’s a question I’ve considered often in recent years. But it takes on even greater urgency when contemplating the rise of Restore Britain. Founded by multimillionaire businessman and former Reform MP Rupert Lowe, the party enjoys the active support of far-right tech bro Elon Musk, the world’s richest man. If Nigel Farage strikes y

PoliticsReformRestoreRupert Lowe