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The Guardian Politics14 Aug 2026

Prisons are full - who should be released early? – podcast

Former prison governor Judith Feline on the reality of our overcrowded prisons and Peter Walker on why it’s causing a headache for Andy Burnham At the last count, two weeks ago, there were almost 86,500 people in prison in England and Wales. That’s about 5,000 more than even the Ministry of Justice accepts can be held safely on the prison estate. But that’s not a new story – prisons have been full for years now. They were full when David Cameron was prime minister. They were full under Boris Joh

ReformCrime
The Guardian Politics13 Aug 2026

Nigel Farage set for decisive but arguably empty victory in Clacton

Leader of Reform UK on course to defeat Count Binface and an assortment of fringe candidates as polls close in Essex Voting has closed in one of the UK’s more unusual and least tense byelections, with Nigel Farage set for a decisive if arguably empty victory against dozens of independent, fringe, extreme or otherwise oddball opponents. The Reform UK leader sought re-election to his Clacton seat in early July in an attempt to regain the political initiative following weeks of scrutiny over gifts

PoliticsReform
The Guardian Politics13 Aug 2026

Government could pay higher rents to spread asylum accommodation across UK

Greater use of private rental properties would form part of PM’s plan to spread accommodation more evenly across UK Ministers are considering paying higher prices for housing asylum seekers in private rental properties as part of Andy Burnham’s plan to spread accommodation more evenly across the country. The shift towards more private rental accommodation, known as “dispersal”, and the use of former military barracks, are cheaper than expensive hotels for asylum seekers. Continue reading...

ImmigrationDefenceHousing
The Guardian Politics13 Aug 2026

UK universities face ‘financial crisis’ amid collapse in international students

Higher education figures call on Labour to reverse tax on fees and warn institutions at risk of ‘going under’ University leaders are warning of financial turmoil in British higher education, after new figures suggest a collapse in international student numbers will deprive the sector of vital income and undermine its future. The sector’s leaders called on the government to rethink the levy on international student fees imposed under Keir Starmer, as a former universities minister warned that the

EconomyDefenceEducation
The Guardian Politics13 Aug 2026

The Guardian view on A-level and T-level results: a boost to the nation’s confidence | Editorial

Young people should be proud of their achievements. Ministers should focus on what comes next A strong set of A-level results should raise confidence in Britain’s future. These are difficult exams, and schools and colleges across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are rightly proud of their achievements. Top grades are up, especially in maths, which remains the most popular subject. A total of 262,820 18-year-olds have gained a place at university or college – 3% more than last year. But the he

Education
The Guardian Politics13 Aug 2026

Nearly 100 children detained as adults under UK-France migration deal

Figures emerge in critical letter to Home Office from organisation appointed to scrutinise detention facilities Nearly 100 children have been wrongly identified and detained as adults under Shabana Mahmood’s “one in, one out” deal with France, the Guardian can disclose. Home Office staff said that of 304 age-disputed cases arising from the scheme over nine months, 94 – or 31% – were ultimately found to be minors. Children are supposed to be excluded from the scheme, while government policy limit

Immigration
The Guardian Politics13 Aug 2026

Nicola Jennings on Nigel Farage, Count Binface and the Clacton byelection – cartoon

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PoliticsReform
The Guardian Politics13 Aug 2026

UK economy shows surprising resilience – but that might not last | Richard Partington

Weaker growth, rising energy costs and persistent inflation mean Britain could face tougher times in the autumn UK economic growth slows down Business live – latest updates In the spring the International Monetary Fund warned Britain faced the heaviest economic blow from the Iran war among the world’s most advanced nations. Almost six months into the conflict, on the surface, the UK appears to be proving the forecasters wrong. The latest official figures show the UK maintained its pole positi

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics13 Aug 2026

Polls open in Clacton, as research shows Farage has spent more than £10,000 in byelection – UK politics live

The Reform UK leader resigned as the MP for Clacton at the start of July and forced a byelection Good morning. In the media, August is known as the “silly season”. With parliament not sitting and many people on holiday, there is less proper news than normal, which means the nonsense stories get (even) more attention than usual. We are almost slap bang in the middle of the month, and today we’ve got a silly season classic in Clacton, where Nigel Farage, the Reform UK candidate, is fighting a byel

PoliticsReform
The Guardian Politics13 Aug 2026

Britain's scorched fields mean a food crisis – and the government is ignoring the one measure that would help | George Monbiot

This summer’s extreme weather and wars in Iran and Ukraine have made our need for food stockpiles more pressing than ever When a business makes long-term plans, they call it prudence. When a government makes long-term plans, they call it communism. Any sustained state intervention attracts the prefix “Soviet-style”, and triggers vicious attacks across the billionaire media. So governments have developed a bias against long-term thinking. This may explain why we no longer maintain strategic food

Defence
The Guardian Politics13 Aug 2026

Clacton polls open with Farage up against slew of fringe candidates

Longest ballot in UK voting history features likes of Count Binface and Howling Laud Hope alongside Reform leader Polls have opened in Clacton, with thousands of residents in the Essex seat to vote in a ballot featuring Nigel Farage and a range of novelty and fringe candidates led by Count Binface. The Reform UK leader resigned as the MP for Clacton at the start of July and forced a byelection in an attempt to address complaints over a deepening scandal about gifts he received. Continue readin

PoliticsReform
The Guardian Politics13 Aug 2026

Yvette Cooper says Labour ‘did not do government very well’ under Starmer

Health secretary praises more collegiate style under Andy Burnham and says previous No 10 sidelined her from key policy launch Yvette Cooper admits Labour has “not done government very well” in the last couple of years, and accused Keir Starmer’s No 10 of sidelining her during the launch of a key immigration policy when she was home secretary. Speaking on the Political Currency podcast with the former Conservative chancellor George Osborne, Cooper highlighted some of the difficulties ministers f

PoliticsImmigration