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The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

A year after nationalisation, is South Western Railway delivering?

Rail minister Peter Hendy says fast rollout shows reforms are working as questions over reliability remain South Western Railway’s newest train, wrapped in union jack-inspired Great British Railways livery, may divide opinion on aesthetics, but the interior is certainly an upgrade: air-conditioned carriages, more space and greater passenger capacity. For ministers, the fact that it is the 45th Arterio model brought into service since the SWR network was nationalised is vindication of the GBR app

The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

Ministers urged to act as households in Great Britain face energy bill ‘anxiety’

Under government’s price cap typical gas and electricity bills are forecast to rise by £209 from this summer Ministers face growing calls to cut utility bills as millions of households in Great Britain face energy cost “anxiety,” with gas and electricity costs forecast to rise to almost £1,900 from this summer. The typical dual-fuel bill is expected to climb by nearly 13% under the government’s energy price cap, adding £209 a year to household costs, in a blow to families already hit by rising p

The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

HMRC made us wait a year for £150,000 tax rebate

The tax office is quick to demand money owed and threatens fines, but is slow when giving refunds When my mother died, there was a four-year delay in achieving probate owing to financial complexities. During this time my father paid inheritance tax (IHT) on the advice of his solicitor, to prevent interest accruing. It turned out that the solicitor’s estimate of the amount was wildly out. Continue reading...

Economy
Conservative Home25 May 2026

David Gauke: Burnham cannot muddle through fiscal policy forever

At some point tough decisions on public spending are going to have to be made, and neither Burnham nor his party are reconciled to that. He can kick the issue of EU membership into the long grass, but it will not go away and it continues to divide the voters to whom Labour is trying to appeal. The post David Gauke: Burnham cannot muddle through fiscal policy forever appeared first on Conservative Home.

Economy
Conservative Home25 May 2026

Nigel Huddleston: Why does Labour have a problem with tourism and hospitality?

Since Rachel Reeves' first budget, about half of all jobs lost have been in the hospitality and tourism sectors – that's more than 100,000 jobs. Never mind about the tens of thousands more that have never been created in the first place. The post Nigel Huddleston: Why does Labour have a problem with tourism and hospitality? appeared first on Conservative Home.

EconomyHealthcare
Conservative Home25 May 2026

Lucius Vellacott: Labour’s pledge to “empower communities” has proved false

Conservatives are doing two essential things: trusting our truly local leaders to get the job done and fight for their areas, and planning our policy in line with our values before launching it across the media and onto our leaflets. The post Lucius Vellacott: Labour’s pledge to “empower communities” has proved false appeared first on Conservative Home.

The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

To understand Britain’s new politics, look no further than this Shakespearean saga in Worcestershire | Jason Okundaye

What should be a story of Reform incompetence instead speaks to the broader refusal of Westminster to adapt to multiparty democracy If you want a window into how a fragmented nation and a splintered party system are reshaping British politics, look no further than the drama at Worcestershire county council. It shows the consequences of Britain governing like a two-party state, when it now votes like a multiparty democracy. Last week, opposition councillors from the Conservatives, Greens, Liberal

PoliticsEnvironment
The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

The byelection, Wes Streeting and Europe: your questions answered – podcast

Can Andy Burnham do a better job than Keir Starmer? Is Makerfield more important for Reform than Labour? Can the UK rejoin the EU? Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey answer your messages and emails Continue reading...

Politics
BBC Politics25 May 2026

Starmer 'appalled' by case of boys spared jail after raping teenage girls

The prime minister said it was "right" that the sentences were being urgently reviewed.

BBC Politics25 May 2026

Education secretary to order review of hidden childcare costs

Bridget Phillipson will ask the competition watchdog to examine costs that families are still facing in government-funded free childcare.

Education
BBC Politics24 May 2026

RAF jet carrying defence secretary has signal jammed near Russian border

Pilots on board had to use a different navigation system while the plane's GPS was disabled.

ImmigrationDefenceHousing
BBC Politics24 May 2026

RAF jet carrying defence secretary has signal jammed near Russian border

Pilots on board had to use a different navigation system while the plane's GPS was disabled.

ImmigrationDefenceHousing