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The Guardian Politics1 Apr 2026

Starmer’s ‘five-point plan’ was not a plan | Nils Pratley

Two of the points were measures on energy bills from the autumn budget, another restated the existing energy strategy “We have a five-point plan for the immediate crisis,” declared the prime minister during his remarks from Downing Street on Wednesday. Really? Two of his five points were measures on energy bills that pre-date the Iran war. One was a description of support for a sub-set of consumers but dodged the key question of who else could get help. Another stated the government’s longstandi

PoliticsEconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics1 Apr 2026

Families condemn UK ‘impotence’ over UAE ‘social media misuse’ detentions

Ministers accused of being too fearful of offending Emirates to help Britons detained for sharing images of war Middle East crisis live – latest updates The families of UK citizens held in the United Arab Emirates over allegations that they shared images of the conflict with Iran have voiced frustration at the British government’s failure to help. Several British citizens are among more than 100 foreign nationals who have been detained under draconian Emirate rules that outlaw publishing or sh

Defence
The Guardian Politics1 Apr 2026

Britain to host 35 countries for strait of Hormuz talks, says Starmer

US understood not to be invited directly to talks that will explore ways of reopening critical waterway Middle East crisis – live updates The UK will convene 35 countries – excluding the US – to explore ways to reopen the strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping route for oil and gas that has been blocked by Iran. Keir Starmer, the prime minister, said the next phase of discussions in the joint British and French efforts to secure the waterway would be held on Thursday, with Yvette Cooper, the for

The Guardian Politics1 Apr 2026

Royal Navy captain steps back from duties over link to MP whose husband faces China spy claims

Joani Reid MP reportedly swapped flirtatious messages with senior officer in charge of nuclear-armed submarine A Royal Navy captain in charge of one of Britain’s nuclear-armed submarines stepped back from his duties over his relationship with the MP Joani Reid, whose husband faces allegations of spying for China. The married senior officer was investigated by the navy last year over his contact with Reid after the messages, described as inappropriate, prompted an assessment of a potential blackm

Defence
The Guardian Politics1 Apr 2026

Would more North Sea drilling mean lower energy prices for UK consumers?

Kemi Badenoch claims increased UK oil and gas production would cut bills by £200, but critics say plan won’t work Oil prices hit $100 a barrel soon after the US and Israel launched their attack on Iran, and though prices have wobbled since, ongoing supply issues from the partial closure of the strait of Hormuz mean they could leap higher, to $150 a barrel or more, by some estimates. The impacts could be severe – not just increases in the price of petrol, and oil for home heating, but also in the

The Guardian Politics1 Apr 2026

US jibes at Royal Navy are uncomfortable because they have substance | Jamie Grierson

While Pete Hegseth has mocked the ‘big, bad Royal Navy’, the First Sea Lord has sounded the alarm about its readiness Middle East crisis – live updates The US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, had his tongue firmly in his cheek when he singled out the “big, bad Royal Navy” in a recent press update on the US-Israeli war against Iran. Hegseth’s sarcastic comment was the latest in a long line of jibes against the capabilities and readiness of the British Royal Navy. Continue reading...

Defence
The Guardian Politics1 Apr 2026

UK needs ‘ambitious’ new EU ties amid Iran war, Starmer says

PM to focus on European defence and economic partnership for ‘dangerous world’ in pivot away from US Britain’s long-term national interest requires closer partnership with the EU, Keir Starmer has said, citing the war in the Gulf and the increasingly “volatile” international situation. The prime minister indicated that the conflict had re-focused the government on “ambitious” new ties with Europe, economically and in defence, and said that how Britain emerged from the crisis “would define us for

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics1 Apr 2026

Tony Blair says the left is in ‘unholy alliance’ with Islamists. It’s a desperate last ploy to quell the anger over Gaza | Owen Jones

The former PM has no valid response when progressives raise a voice over war crimes, so he seeks to mute them. But we’ll take no moral lectures from him The left, claims Tony Blair, has forged an “alliance with Islamists”. He goes further: this is simply the latest mutation of antisemitism. Extraordinary accusations require extraordinary evidence. Yet unlike with his illegal war on Iraq, our former prime minister has not even troubled himself to assemble a dodgy dossier. This latest tirade was p

DefenceCrime
The Guardian Politics1 Apr 2026

Rachel Reeves signals that support package for household energy bills won’t kick in until autumn – UK politics live

Chancellor says the government is looking at ways they can support people based on household income Good morning. Keir Starmer is giving a press conference this morning where, according to No 10, he will discuss the Iran war, and how the government is supporting people at home. Now we are in April, the new financial year is starting, and the government is highlighting measures it has introduced that will help people with the cost of living. The Conservatives have an alternative list, and they a

PoliticsEconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics1 Apr 2026

Police chiefs failed to tackle racism due to lack of leadership, watchdog finds

Review finds no ‘meaningful impact’ five years after race action plan launched, amid calls for government to step in Promises by police chiefs to tackle racial bias failed owing to “a lack of clear national leadership”, an independent police report has found. The promises were made five years ago in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and led police bosses in England and Wales to launch a race action plan promising to tackle the “stigmatising and humiliating” experiences of Black people

Crime
The Guardian Politics1 Apr 2026

Energy crisis: why ‘keep calm but cut down’ may be a better message for Labour

Government keen to avoid panic as oil price surges, but perhaps households need advice on reducing consumption Labour ministers sent out in recent days to respond to the looming energy crisis sparked by the Iran war have essentially stuck to that reassuring wartime slogan: keep calm and carry on. “I think people should go about their lives as normal, knowing that the government is taking action to bring energy bills down,” James Murray, the chief secretary to the Treasury, told BBC Radio 4’s Tod

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics31 Mar 2026

Two-thirds of UK hospitality businesses plan to cut jobs and one in seven will close, survey finds

Sector cites ‘billions of pounds in additional costs’ from new business rates and increase in minimum wage thresholds Two-thirds of hospitality businesses are planning to cut jobs as a result of “suffocating” costs imposed by government, as new business rates and higher wage bills come into force. Many pubs, restaurants and hotel companies will see their costs increase significantly from 1 April after Rachel Reeves’s changes to business rates and an increase in minimum wage thresholds announced

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