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The Guardian Politics18 Aug 2026

Do not cut benefits for disabled young people, dozens of UK charities urge ministers

More than 40 charities write to Pat McFadden and review head Alan Milburn over fears of stricter eligibility rules More than 40 of the UK’s leading charities have warned ministers against imposing tougher benefit sanctions or cuts on disabled young people, as the government considers how to encourage more young people into work. The charities raised concerns that an imminent review of young people and work by Alan Milburn could bring in stricter eligibility rules for keeping disability benefits

Defence
The Guardian Politics18 Aug 2026

Russia threatens UK over supplying drones to Ukraine — The Latest

Russia has threatened the UK with ‘consequences’ after reports that British drones were used by Ukraine to strike targets on Russia’s mainland for the first time. The Ministry of Defence has rebuffed these threats, saying the UK is ‘committed to providing equipment Ukraine needs to defend itself against Putin’s illegal invasion’. Annie Kelly speaks to senior international correspondent Luke Harding – watch on YouTube Luke’s new book Betrayal: Trump, Putin and the New Age of Conquest will be publ

Defence
The Guardian Politics18 Aug 2026

Things get even more tricky for Dicky Tice, the Reform deputy with lots of cash but zero self-awareness

Telling the country to enjoy the heat while it burns, you have to wonder if Tice has lost all sense of reality These are the doggiest of dog days. Times when hours turn into days and almost nothing happens in between. Days of precious R&R, when only a few politicians venture out, and then only to fend off accusations they are doing next to nothing and prove they are still alive. Much like the rest of us. The silliest days of the silly season. Days that are made for men like Richard Tice. There a

DefenceReform
The Guardian Politics18 Aug 2026

Moscow warns UK over reports Ukraine using British drones to attack Russia

Ministry of Defence rebuffs threat of ‘consequences … for deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis’ Moscow has threatened the UK with “consequences” after reports that British drones have been used to strike targets on Russia’s mainland for the first time. Ukraine used drones made by two UK companies as part of a so-called deep strike campaign, the Sunday Times reported. Continue reading...

Defence
The Guardian Politics17 Aug 2026

Huge number of children would fall into poverty under Reform’s benefits plans, say campaigners

Party wants to cut £50bn from UK welfare bill but charity says proposals would cause ‘horrific levels of destitution’ Hundreds of thousands of children would be tipped into poverty and destitution under plans unveiled by Reform UK to slash £50bn a year from the UK benefits bill, campaigners have warned. The warnings came after Reform published plans to drastically reduce disability payments, ban non-UK citizens from claiming benefits and introduce compulsory 20 hours a week unpaid workfare for

DefenceReform
The Guardian Politics17 Aug 2026

Ministers drop plan to relax affordable housing rules after negative response

Government concedes ‘significant opposition’ requires new approach on quotas for medium-sized development sites Ministers have dropped plans to relax affordable housing rules for developers in England after a backlash from housing experts who warned it could drastically cut the number of cheaper homes available in rural areas. The government said on Monday it would not go ahead with proposals to end affordable housing quotas for private builders on sites containing between 10 and 49 houses after

DefenceHousing
The Guardian Politics17 Aug 2026

Reform’s Tice says people should stop tackling climate crisis and ‘enjoy’ heat

Deputy leader says it is ‘arrogant’ to try to stop global heating, despite UK being left reeling by summer firewave Reform’s deputy leader has dismissed efforts to tackle climate breakdown as futile, as he urged British people to “enjoy” the warmth of the recent heatwaves. Richard Tice told a press conference on Monday he believed it was “arrogant” to try to stop the climate emergency and added that politicians should focus instead on adaptation efforts, while encouraging people to focus on upsi

DefenceEnvironmentReform
The Guardian Politics17 Aug 2026

Massive Attack and Paris Paloma join musicians urging Burnham to reject new North Sea drilling

Brian Eno and Olly Alexander also among signatories saying exploitation of Rosebank and Jackdaw fields defies reality More than 200 musicians including Massive Attack and Brian Eno have written to Andy Burnham, urging him to reject plans for more oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. The letter, signed by artists such as Olly Alexander and Paris Paloma, called on the prime minister to reject the Rosebank oilfield, warning the project will fail to lower energy bills or provide energy security as

Defence
The Guardian Politics17 Aug 2026

JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon warns UK chancellor not to hike taxes on banks

Billionaire CEO of world’s biggest bank says any windfall tax on sector’s bumper profits could harm jobs in the City Jamie Dimon, the boss of the US bank JP Morgan, has urged John Healey not to use his first budget as chancellor to increase taxes on banks’ bumper profits. Speculation has been growing that a windfall tax could be imposed on UK lenders to fund Andy Burnham’s cost of living agenda, with campaigners estimating such a move could raise £19bn. Continue reading...

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics17 Aug 2026

More women will die if domestic abusers leave prison early, victim’s parents warn

Parents of Michaela Hall, whose partner killed her after he left prison in 2021, say Probation Service cannot cope with mass release More women will die if ministers include domestic abusers in the early prison release scheme, the parents of a woman murdered by her partner shortly after he was freed have warned. Michaela Hall, a 49-year-old charity worker, was killed in her home in Cornwall, by Lee Kendall in 2021 two weeks after he was released from prison, where he had been serving a sentence

DefenceHousingCrime
The Guardian Politics16 Aug 2026

Taliban threaten former Afghan police worker after MoD leak reveals identity

UK has refused resettlement application despite ‘years of loyal service’ that have resulted in ‘constant fear’ of reprisals A man has received threats from the Taliban after his work for the Afghan police was revealed by a Ministry of Defence leak and the UK refused his application for resettlement. Hamid* worked for the Afghan national police special unit and received certificates for his work signed by senior British figures praising his “dedication, unparalleled service and leadership”. His d

DefenceCrime
The Guardian Politics16 Aug 2026

Burnham urged to crack down on gig economy firms to protect 4m workers

Exclusive: Campaigners say millions are missing out on key rights including sick pay and protection against unfair dismissal Andy Burnham is being urged to protect 4 million gig economy workers by prosecuting companies that use widespread “bogus” self-employment practices to deny people their rights. As the prime minister fleshes out his agenda, the Fabian Society and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation have warned that millions of workers are missing out on key statutory rights including parental le

EconomyDefenceReformHousing