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The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

The Guardian view on lenient sentences for rape: teenage survivors deserve more from the justice system | Editorial

Rehabilitation of young offenders is vital. But victims should not leave court wondering why they bothered The decision to review the sentences of two teenage boys convicted of raping two girls, aged 15 and 14, in separate incidents in November 2024 and January 2025, and a third boy who took part in the second rape, is correct. A knife was used to threaten the second victim, and the attacks were filmed with footage later uploaded to social media. Given the severity of the crimes, and the fact th

ReformCrime
The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

Oppressing women is how authoritarianism begins. So listen to what Reform is saying | Zoe Williams

We saw it when Russia jailed members of Pussy Riot, and again when the US overturned Roe v Wade: misogyny is a powerful political weapon. Let’s focus on fighting it, not ‘understanding’ it In preparation for interviewing Pussy Riot’s Maria “Masha” Alyokhina at the Charleston festival, I was reading her new memoir, Political Girl. I thought I remembered the group’s origin story pretty well – in 2012, they performed their anthem, Punk Prayer (Virgin Mary Banish Putin), and two band members were im

Politics
The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

Nigel Farage’s Russian hack claim ‘without any merit’, former NCSC chief says

Ciaran Martin says Reform UK leader’s allegation over Guardian report on £5m gift ‘entirely unsubstantiated’ Nigel Farage’s claim that a Russian hack was behind a Guardian report on the £5m gift he received from a crypto billionaire has been described as “without any merit” by a former head of the National Cyber Security Centre. Ciaran Martin, founding chief executive of the agency, which is part of GCHQ, said Farage’s allegation, if true, would have major implications for UK policy towards Russ

DefenceReform
The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

Here is Andy Burnham’s route to save Labour: a new manifesto, a new election and electoral reform | Polly Toynbee

Proportional representation can rescue Britain’s warped politics. It could stop Nigel Farage arriving at No 10 with less than 30% of the vote Here comes the prospect of redemption, a second chance for Labour to start over. A victory for Andy Burnham in the Makerfield byelection not only opens the door to No 10; a leadership contest also allows him and Wes Streeting to finally stretch their wings. Ideas currently firmly chained up in a Downing Street dungeon could be freed. Land value tax? Wealth

PoliticsEconomyDefenceReformHousing
The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

Labour has never had a female leader because ‘it’s a bit sexist’, says Jess Phillips

However, former minister tells Hay festival ‘the idea that a woman leads and it makes it better for women is not one I’ve recognised in this country’ The Labour MP Jess Phillips has described her party as “sexist” for having no permanent female leaders in its history. Asked at the Hay literary festival why Labour has never had a female leader, Phillips responded that “like all institutions, it’s a bit sexist innit”. She added that “every institution that every single person in this room works fo

The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

UK’s higher-earning immigrants may be driven out by tougher rules, report suggests

Figures raise questions over ministers’ plans to raise qualifying period for settled status from five years to 10 Higher-earning immigrants are less likely to remain in the UK long-term and could be further deterred from staying by the government’s planned crackdown on settlement rights, analysis has revealed. A report from the Migration Advisory Committee’s , Who Stays, Who Leaves?, follows about 900,000 journeys between 2014 and 2024. Continue reading...

Immigration
The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

Labour needs ‘system reset’ to tackle youth unemployment, report to say

Alan Milburn, who is leading review commissioned by government, says current strategy ‘going in wrong direction’ Labour has failed to tackle soaring youth unemployment and must launch a “system reset” involving a fresh attempt to overhaul health and disability benefits, a report commissioned by the government is to warn. Alan Milburn, who is leading a review into why almost a million young people are not in education or work, said ministers had so far responded with a series of disjointed jobs p

DefenceEducationHousing
The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

A Britain where people cannot afford to raise children? We see that risk, and won’t let it happen | Bridget Phillipson

We are spending billions to help families with childcare, but I fear profiteers are denying them the full benefit. I’ll put a stop to that Bridget Phillipson orders review of hidden childcare charges hitting parents Britain is facing a family crisis that politicians do not talk about nearly enough. Birthrates are now the lowest since records began. More and more young people are delaying having children – or deciding they simply cannot afford to have a family at all. When you look at the cost

Housing
The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

Reform MP refuses to say whether Farage should produce evidence for Russian hack claim

Danny Kruger says matter is ‘private’, after party leader claimed hack was behind Guardian story about £5m gift A senior Reform UK figure has refused to call on the party’s leader, Nigel Farage, to hand evidence to the UK’s security services to support his claim he was hacked by Russian agents. Farage has come under mounting pressure to substantiate the claim that a state-sponsored Russian hack was behind the disclosure published by the Guardian last month of a £5m gift he had received from the

Reform
The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

Musk retweet signals rightwing split that could help Burnham in Makerfield byelection

Far-right party set up by former Reform MP appears to be taking some support from Farage Andy Burnham is unlikely to be Elon Musk’s first pick to be prime minister of the UK. But an intervention by the US tech billionaire on behalf of a far-right offshoot of Reform UK is one of several signs that a divided right wing could deliver the Makerfield seat to the Manchester mayor. On 18 June, Burnham will fight a byelection in Greater Manchester, and polls have him only slightly ahead of Reform’s cand

PoliticsReform
The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

Peter Murrell pleads guilty to embezzling £400,000 from SNP

Ex-husband of Nicola Sturgeon admits reduced charges in court after deal with prosecutors Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National party, has pleaded guilty to charges of embezzling £400,310.65 from the party after agreeing a deal with prosecutors. Murrell, the ex-husband of the former SNP leader and first minister Nicola Sturgeon, appeared in the high court in Edinburgh after being charged last year with stealing from the SNP to fund an expensive lifestyle including a

Crime