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The Guardian Politics12 Jun 2026

Starmer’s leadership under further pressure after defence ministers quit – UK politics live

Both John Healey and Al Cairns resigned from their ministerial positions on Thursday over the government’s defence investment plan Good morning. This time yesterday Keir Starmer’s leadership was already in peril, with many in his party assuming that he will be replaced by Andy Burnham at some point later this year, but there was a consensus that, on defence and international security, his record was impressive. John Healey’s surprise resignation as defence secretary blew that apart. Later, after

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics12 Jun 2026

Left, right and centre – I see all strands of the Labour tribe pulling together in Makerfield. This is bigger than Burnham | Polly Toynbee

Everyone here knows this is a sliding doors moment. A win could be a new beginning for the party, a loss an unimaginable calamity They flock to Makerfield from everywhere: canvassers and camera crews, MPs, peers and volunteers, from Swansea to Gateshead, 700 a day to help the Labour campaign. Every door has already been knocked four times, boasts the Burnham team. How does it feel for voters to be the most important constituency in living memory? Most are quite pleased, bar the usual “we only

Politics
The Guardian Politics12 Jun 2026

UK economy shrank by 0.1% in April as Iran war held back growth

GDP hit by higher energy prices caused by Middle East conflict, after 3% rise in March The UK economy contracted by 0.1% in April as the Iran war began to take its toll on growth, official figures show. As energy prices have risen as a result of the conflict, after Iran closed off the strait of Hormuz – a key shipping route for global trade – the UK’s strong expansion in the first quarter had been expected to slide into reverse. Continue reading...

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics12 Jun 2026

Pro-Palestine activists believe ‘sea change’ coming in Labour’s approach to Middle East

Green surge in local elections and recent polling of Labour members may cause government to toughen stance on Israel UK politics live – latest updates Middle East crisis – live updates Pro-Palestine activists believe there could be a “sea change” in the Labour party’s approach to the crisis in the Middle East which could result in the government taking a tougher stance on Israel. Campaigners have pointed to the threat posed to Labour by the Green surge in the local elections, the likely depar

PoliticsEnvironment
The Guardian Politics12 Jun 2026

Up to 90% of Ireland’s asylum seekers may have entered from Northern Ireland, data shows

Figures suggest common travel area being exploited in both directions, but particularly UK to Ireland Up to 90% of asylum seekers in Ireland may have entered the country via the Northern Ireland land border in the last three years, figures suggest. Irish government data shows the common travel area (CTA) is being exploited in both directions but suggests it may be more popular for those seeking asylum in Ireland than in the UK. Continue reading...

Immigration
The Guardian Politics12 Jun 2026

Can politicians bring calm to Belfast? – podcast

After nights of violence across Belfast this week, politicians continue to call for calm, but what else can be done to stop the violence spreading? Plus, Jessica Elgot has been to Makerfield and spoken to undecided voters on the doorstep The full list of candidates for the Makerfield byelection: Continue reading...

Politics
The Guardian Politics11 Jun 2026

Record number of young people fear long-term unemployment

Report says confidence among 16- to 21-year-olds has fallen sharply as they doubt hard work will be rewarded Young people in England are increasingly “losing faith in their futures” according to a report, as record numbers fear long-term unemployment. Analysing survey data, including from the Office for National Statistics, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) said 16- to 21-year-olds were less confident about being successful than a decade ago. Continue reading...

Defence
The Guardian Politics11 Jun 2026

UK defence funding crisis has been a long time coming

John Healey’s complaint is that Starmer sat on this problem for months before making a derisory offer UK politics live – latest updates John Healey’s resignation as defence secretary on Thursday was a long time brewing, though in the end the denouement was swift. It leaves an already weak Keir Starmer without a defence strategy less than a month before a Nato summit and an unresolved row about spending as Donald Trump threatens to restart the bombing of Iran. On Monday, No 10 finally told Heal

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics11 Jun 2026

The UK defence minister's shock resignation is a warning for all of Europe | Paul Taylor

John Healey is right about the risk of wars. But it has become politically treacherous for Nato leaders to borrow for defence Since the historic Nato summit in The Hague one year ago this month, European leaders have pledged massive increases in defence spending in the face of increasingly acute threats of Russian aggression. Yet the reality is that key west European governments – especially the UK, France and Italy – are not putting their money where their mouth is for fear of undermining lende

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics11 Jun 2026

Burnham’s momentum builds in Makerfield as byelection nears

Hundreds of Labour activists and MPs have ‘made the pilgrimage’ to the seat, where they are pounding the streets For a few short weeks, the centre of political gravity in Britain has shifted from the Palace of Westminster to the bar of a former Labour club in Wigan. In London, even as Keir Starmer insists he will fight to stay in No 10, the walls seem to be crumbling around him, especially with Thursday’s resignation of the defence secretary, John Healey. Continue reading...

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics11 Jun 2026

Global wars, a depleted military and stubborn Labour MPs: Healey exposes Starmer’s perfect storm

There is no narrative to convince the British public that difficult economic decisions on defence will be worth it UK politics live – latest updates As Labour MPs set out the case for change in the tea rooms and bars of Westminster, there is usually one caveat. They believed the prime minister was an asset when it came to national security and had performed beyond expectations on the world stage. Now that reputation too lies in tatters, after the resignation of John Healey with one of the most

PoliticsEconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics11 Jun 2026

John Healey quitting defence puts a time bomb under No 10. He is a loyalist: this is no ordinary departure

He served through the eras of Blair, Brown, Miliband and Corbyn in a party that knows and respects him. It will matter that even his patience has run out John Healey is not a rash man. Slow to anger, calm in a crisis, loyal and yet beneath it all, formidably determined. He stuck at it through the Jeremy Corbyn years, much as he privately despaired of where the party was heading, keeping his thoughts to himself because all he wanted was for Labour to win again. When it did, under Keir Starmer,

Defence