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The Guardian Politics5 Aug 2026

Justice minister defends early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers amid possible legal challenge – UK politics live

Jake Richard acknowledges ‘unimaginable pain’ of Harper’s family but says government faces an ‘unenviable position’ The Thames Valley chief constable has said he is “receiving legal advice” and would “certainly consider” joining the Police Federation’s legal action over the possible release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers. Asked if he would join the case, Jason Hogg told the BBC’s Today programme on Wednesday: This is something I certainly would consider. But like I said, I urge the government now

PoliticsReformCrime
The Guardian Politics5 Aug 2026

Right turn on green: is the Telegraph changing its tune on the climate?

Flurry of articles has raised eyebrows and drawn response from Kemi Badenoch defending stance on net zero “Nobody can deny that the UK is getting warmer and high temperatures are becoming a clear threat to homes, nature and food security,” read the lengthy news report, which explored the devastating effect of British wildfires on families in recent years. The article’s conclusions, written after the wildfires in Suffolk last week, were no surprise given the UK’s changing climate. However, the fa

DefenceEnvironmentHousing
The Guardian Politics5 Aug 2026

Women must not feel pressure to have ‘ideal birth’, says Yvette Cooper

Exclusive: New health secretary promises root-and-branch reform after damning maternity scandals Women should not feel pressurised into experiencing an “ideal birth”, the new health secretary, Yvette Cooper, has said, promising a root-and-branch reform of standards after several damning maternity scandals. Cooper, who returns to the department 27 years after she was the minister for public health under Tony Blair, said maternity and child health would be a major focus in the role, where she will

The Guardian Politics5 Aug 2026

Bank battle: history suggests Burnham faces fight if he opts for windfall tax

As lenders’ profits soar, calls grow for a levy to help new PM ease cost of living pressures on households It has been a stellar week for UK banks. Fuelled by high interest rates and market turbulence rippling out from the US war on Iran, major lenders have revealed soaring half-year profits that allowed bosses to boost bonus pots and give billions of pounds to shareholders. Collectively, the UK’s four largest lenders – HSBC, NatWest, Barclays and Lloyds – reported £29.2bn in profits over the fi

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics4 Aug 2026

Charity Commission to investigate donations to illegal Israeli settlements

Official action by regulator for England and Wales comes after formal complaint made by Labour MP about the funds An official investigation has been launched into charities in England and Wales donating funds to illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine. The Charity Commission will aim to establish the amount of charitable funds going to illegal settlements, whether the spending was in furtherance of their purposes and any regulatory action that may be necessary. Continue reading...

The Guardian Politics4 Aug 2026

Government contracts to require job creation instead of green targets under new rules

Louise Haigh says taxpayer money must benefit local communities amid backlash from environmental groups Ministers will scrap the requirement for companies to prove their green and progressive values before they are awarded government contracts, and instead ask firms to prove they will help young people back into work. As part of a government push to reduce the number of people not in education, employment or training (Neets) in the UK and boost regional growth, public sector buyers will double t

EconomyDefenceEducationEnvironment
The Guardian Politics4 Aug 2026

BP boss urges Burnham to prioritise UK oil and gas even as firm exits North Sea

Meg O’Neill says ‘where we generate jobs, we generate tax revenue’, as company’s profits more than double Revealed: major oil firms make $93bn profits amid war and climate crisis Nils Pratley: BP boss is unsentimental in pruning portfolio and clear on North Sea advice to Burnham BP’s chief executive has urged Andy Burnham to make use of the UK’s oil and gas resources even as the oil company prepares to sell its North Sea business after 60 years in the ageing basin. In a conversation with th

EconomyDefenceEnvironment
The Guardian Politics4 Aug 2026

The Guardian view on Burnham and the devolved nations: a test for the new politics in Westminster | Editorial

The prime minister has unveiled his plans for English devolution. The picture in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is much less clear After early statements of intent on homelessness and social care, Andy Burnham capped his opening two weeks in office by addressing what one might call the English question. Plans for greater fiscal devolution to England’s mayoral authorities, unveiled last week, are part of what is perhaps the primary raison d’etre of Mr Burnham’s government: the need to reba

PoliticsEconomy
The Guardian Politics4 Aug 2026

Labour members ‘have tougher view on welfare than you might think’, poll suggests

Survey finds party members see health, the economy, cost of living and climate crisis among biggest challenges Andy Burnham has inherited a Labour membership that is sceptical about increased welfare spending, supportive of higher defence spending, and ranks the climate crisis as one of the country’s biggest challenges, according to new polling. The survey of 788 members between the end of June and the end of July shows them ranking health (43%), the economy (42%), cost of living (39%) and clima

EconomyDefenceEnvironment
The Guardian Politics4 Aug 2026

‘We fought for a tougher sentence’: Victims’ families share their outrage at early release schemes

The family of PC Andrew Harper are among those who say they are devastated by killers getting out of jail early When Calvin Buckley, whose pregnant partner was killed by a dangerous driver in 2023, successfully secured a tougher sentence for the man who took her life, he felt some justice had been served. Now, under plans to release prisoners early to ease overcrowding, Adil Iqbal, who filmed himself speeding at 123mph before he crashed into 38-year-old Frankie Jules-Hough, may serve less time i

ReformCrime
The Guardian Politics4 Aug 2026

Ex-MP urges Tories to drop candidate jailed for campaign of antisemitic abuse against her

Luciana Berger says Joshua Bonehill-Paine should have no role in public life because of ‘his racism and his view of women’ A former MP has urged the Tory leader to drop an election candidate who was previously jailed for a campaign of antisemitic abuse against her. Kemi Badenoch on Tuesday defended the Conservative party’s selection of Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a former neo-Nazi, insisting she believes in “second chances”. Continue reading...

Politics
The Guardian Politics4 Aug 2026

Prisoner early release scheme gives Burnham his first taste of unpopularity

After a blitz of small wins, PM is finding that like Keir Starmer there is only so much he can control on the big calls UK politics live – latest updates If Andy Burnham wanted to demonstrate he was the anti-Keir Starmer, the first fortnight could not have gone better. Instead of painting a gloomy picture of tough times and an economic black hole that would only improve with sacrifices such as cutting winter fuel allowance, Burnham’s first week was a blitz of small wins including cutting bus

PoliticsEconomyCrime