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The Guardian Politics14 Jun 2026

Ministers could give billions raised by business rates to England’s regions

Exclusive: devolving tax is part of plans to give local areas more power in areas including justice, health and education Ministers are considering handing over billions of pounds raised by business rates to regional mayors as part of one of the biggest shake-ups of the English tax system in recent years. Steve Reed, the local government secretary, said the government was working on plans to devolve the tax, which has been the subject of recent protests by pubs and other hospitality businesses.

EconomyEducationReformHealthcare
The Guardian Politics14 Jun 2026

‘Straight out of Trumpland’: LGBTQ+ members fight for Pride after Essex library ban

Rochford LGBTQ+ community say Reform council’s ban on flying pride flags or holding events states they’re not welcome Before Reform gained control of Essex county council in the May elections, Chris Taylor and members of the Rochford LGBTQ+ community already felt they were witnessing a growing tide of political rhetoric around identity. But they were still shocked when the county’s new leadership moved to ban Pride events in 74 libraries, scaling back events of “any particular groups or themes”,

Politics
The Guardian Politics14 Jun 2026

Wes Streeting plans to increase high-skilled immigration if he becomes PM

Leadership hopeful to also say tax revenues from new North Sea oil and gasfields should be used to cut energy bills Wes Streeting’s pitch to be the next Labour leader will include a plan to increase high-skilled immigration to the UK, arguing that Donald Trump is telling scientists and AI experts they are not welcome in the US. In a speech this coming week, the former health secretary will also say that tax revenues from new North Sea oil and gasfields should be used to cut energy bills. Contin

EconomyImmigration
The Guardian Politics14 Jun 2026

Farage vows to ban foreign nationals from social housing as byelection looms

Reform leader claims ‘anti-whiteness is institutionalised’ in UK as polls suggest Labour have lead in Makerfield UK politics live – latest updates Nigel Farage said he would ban foreign nationals from social housing and then deport them if they could not find private sector homes, in a hardening of anti-immigration rhetoric before the Makerfield byelection. It comes as two new polls in Makerfield suggests Farage’s Reform UK continues to leak potentially crucial support to its far-right rival R

PoliticsImmigrationReformHousingRemigration
The Guardian Politics14 Jun 2026

‘Labour had their chance – they flopped.’ Two days in Makerfield show me the scale of Burnham’s task | John Harris

Touring this bitterly divided constituency, what strikes you most is people want something better. But what exactly? Keir Starmer teeters. The defence secretary exits, and thereby seems to confirm the prime minister’s demise. Andy Burnham scents a final, belated breakthrough, while most of the national talk is of violence, a country in crisis and malaise. And in Platt Bridge, a neighbourhood at the heart of the constituency where the fates of the Labour party, the current government and the cou

DefenceHousing
The Guardian Politics14 Jun 2026

Cabinet ministers asked to look for cuts to fund UK defence spending increase

Lisa Nandy says discussions are taking place about how to ‘keep this country safe’ after John Healey’s resignation UK politics live – latest updates Cabinet ministers have been asked to look for more money in their departments to fund an increase in defence spending after the resignation of the former defence secretary John Healey. The culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, told the BBC that her department was among those still in conversations with the Treasury about finding further sums for defence.

PoliticsEconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics14 Jun 2026

UK forces board sanctioned Russian oil tanker in English Channel for the first time, says Keir Starmer - UK politics live

Prime minister says British armed forces intercepted a Russian shadow fleet vessel in the early hours of Sunday morning Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics. The British armed forces intercepted a Russian shadow fleet vessel in the English Channel in the early hours of Sunday morning, the UK’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, has said. Royal Marine commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency boarded a sanctioned oil tanker during a

PoliticsDefenceCrime
The Guardian Politics14 Jun 2026

Make platforms that promote violent content pay towards riot costs, Streeting says

Exclusive: Former minister calls for urgent action against companies such as X that allow incitement to violence Wes Streeting has called for Keir Starmer to take urgent action against X and other online platforms that have helped whip up social tensions, suggesting they should be forced to contribute to rebuilding costs after the riots in Belfast. The intervention by the former health secretary, who is seen as a likely challenger to Keir Starmer in any leadership contest, comes after Downing St

Defence
The Guardian Politics14 Jun 2026

Minister defends changes to UK workers’ rights against costs backlash

Kate Dearden says reforms such as enhanced sick pay simply bring UK into line with other big economies Labour’s radical workers’ rights reforms have simply put the UK on a “level playing field” with other big economies, the employment minister, Kate Dearden, has said. The government’s Employment Rights Act became law last year, with specific provisions being implemented this year and next. Continue reading...

The Guardian Politics14 Jun 2026

Illegal dump becomes ‘symbol of north-south divide’ at heart of Makerfield byelection

Failure to clear up rotting, rat-infested site is a key issue for local people as they weigh up politicians’ promises A mountain of rubbish sits behind a metal fence in the village of Bickershaw, where it has remained for more than 20 months. For many residents, it is a physical manifestation of the north-south divide as well as a rotting, rat-infested symbol of a broken system in which organised criminal gangs make millions while communities endure the toxic impact of their trade. The 25,000 to

PoliticsCrime
The Guardian Politics14 Jun 2026

How Brexit has made Britain poorer – in charts

Forecasters were wrong about an immediate recession but right that we would be worse off outside the EU As the 10th anniversary of the Brexit vote approaches, the verdict on Britain’s economic performance is clear: voting to leave has resulted in severe costs for households and businesses. The immediate recession predicted in the Treasury forecasts ordered by George Osborne – dubbed “project fear” by the Leave campaign – did not happen. The impact from the Covid pandemic, wars in Ukraine and Ira

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics13 Jun 2026

UK and Japan set to agree investment deal worth £18bn

Keir Starmer says commercial and government agreements will create tens of thousands of jobs and drive developments The UK and Japan are set to agree £18bn worth of investment, creating tens of thousands of jobs. Prime minister Keir Starmer will welcome his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi to Downing Street on Sunday ahead of the G7 summit next week. Continue reading...

Politics