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1708 headlines found — Page 24 of 143

The Guardian Politics15 Jul 2026

Bristol declared ‘city of harm reduction’ as Greens seek less punitive drug policy

Councillors pass motion that paves way to setting up drugs-consumption facility where users can be helped and treated UK politics live – latest updates Bristol has been formally declared a “city of harm reduction”, with local politicians pledging to focus on helping and treating users of illegal drugs rather than punishing them. Green councillors, who lead the city council, said the declaration was a clear signal that public health rather than criminal justice solutions were needed to tackle t

PoliticsEnvironmentReformCrime
The Guardian Politics15 Jul 2026

‘We did pull the levers’: emotional Starmer defends his record

In his final PMQs the prime minister offers Andy Burnham – and the England team – his full support Politics live – latest updates Keir Starmer has defended his record as prime minister in an often emotional final outing at prime minister’s questions, which largely avoided political jibes in favour of tributes and questions, many about the World Cup. Answering the very last question, his voice breaking at times, Starmer paid tribute to those he had worked with over his two years in office, whic

Politics
The Guardian Politics15 Jul 2026

Starmer faces final Cabinet and PMQs as Burnham nears Labour leadership finish line – UK politics live

The outgoing Labour leader will have final talks with his senior ministers in No 10 before taking his last PMQs Good morning. Everyone likes a leaving do and today it’s Keir Starmer’s, or at least his parliamentary one. If the colleague who is going is someone you like and admire, then the chance to see them thanked and celebrated is welcome. And if the colleague who is going is someone that you don’t like, or who has stayed too long, then that’s even better. At a good leaving do, there are also

Politics
The Guardian Politics15 Jul 2026

Andy Burnham urged to overhaul ‘timid and limited’ elections bill

Ex-minister who helped write draft calls for bolder action on voting reform, crypto donations and social media The government was “timid” and “incremental” when deciding what to include in its elections bill, a former minister who helped write it has said, as she urged the incoming prime minister, Andy Burnham, to go further. Rushanara Ali, who resigned as democracy minister last August, said the draft legislation still contained big gaps when it came to voting reform, cryptocurrency donations a

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics14 Jul 2026

Hillsborough law symbolises new era as power passes from Starmer to Burnham

Bill marks a full-circle moment for the PM-in-waiting and encapsulates what he says his government will be about Andy Burnham has always said he took his first steps out of Westminster in 2009, when he walked out to address furious Liverpool fans at the Kop on the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. They chanted “Justice for the 96” for a full two minutes before the then culture secretary was able to continue, demonstrating their anger that nobody in public office had been convicted o

PoliticsReform
The Guardian Politics14 Jul 2026

Burnham hails Hillsborough law as ‘rewiring of the state’ as MPs approve bill

PM-in-waiting says bill is major step towards securing accountability families had fought for, in rare moment of Labour unity Andy Burnham has hailed a power shift from the state to the people as MPs finally passed the stalled Hillsborough law, a rare moment of Labour unity with the bill set to be a key legacy of Keir Starmer’s government. In his first intervention in the Commons since returning as an MP, Burnham said the bill was a significant step towards securing the accountability the Hills

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics14 Jul 2026

MPs say death threats a daily reality in ‘increasing climate of abuse’

As Ann Widdecombe’s death raises concerns over security, politicians reveal extent of problem Jess Phillips has received so many death threats she has to remind herself not to be blase. One night she received more than 600 rape threats. In 2019, a man forced his way into her office. The same year a white supremacist sent her a picture of Jo Cox, her friend and fellow Labour MP who was murdered in 2016, accompanied with the message: “I will have you dealt with.” “This is not academic to me; it is

PoliticsEnvironmentCrime
The Guardian Politics14 Jul 2026

Britons urged to take ‘small steps’ to prepare for potential national crises

Government to launch campaign to help people cope with events such as weather emergencies or cyber-attacks The British public should begin taking “small but important steps” to secure and protect water, power supplies and basic phone signal in case of further severe weather emergencies, national crises or cyber-attacks, Downing Street has said. Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, told MPs “the risks we face from climate change cannot be underestimated”, and warned of the “si

PoliticsDefenceEnvironment
The Guardian Politics14 Jul 2026

Andy Burnham must act fast on the climate – or risk getting stuck in a ‘derailment’ doom loop | Laurie Laybourn

Around the world, climate-sceptic parties are exploiting floods and fires to make political capital. Without urgent changes, this deadly spiral will continue Recent unprecedented heatwaves in the UK may have killed thousands of people. Children are suffering in overheating schools. NHS trusts are straining under record-breaking demand. This all comes after climate extremes have even affected national security, with three of Britain’s five worst harvests coming since 2020, impairing food security

PoliticsEducationEnvironmentHealthcare
The Guardian Politics14 Jul 2026

Kemi Badenoch zeros in on Tory MPs who believe in climate crisis – and those who don’t

Despite the party polling at 19%, Conservative leader only wants ideologically sound on board – or rather, those who think the same as her You have to hand it to Kemi Badenoch. She doesn’t take any prisoners. While the rest of us have been trying to survive a heatwave and are wondering if air-con may be needed for future summers, the Tory leader has taken a more hardline approach to climate change. Call it Schrödinger’s climate change. It’s both happening and not happening at the same time. Kemi

PoliticsEnvironmentCrime
The Guardian Politics14 Jul 2026

Tell us: what do you want from the next Labour leader and UK prime minister?

Ahead of Andy Burnham taking over from Keir Starmer, we’d like to hear what qualities, values and priorities people want to see in the next prime minister Andy Burnham is to become the next prime minister after winning the backing of 349 of the party’s MPs to replace Keir Starmer. In a recent op-ed in The Times, Burnham wrote: “Doing politics differently means levelling with the public, engaging them in decisions and ensuring more social value in return for increased government spending.” Conti

PoliticsHousing
The Guardian Politics14 Jul 2026

Johnson government wasted ‘vast’ sums on PPE, Covid inquiry finds

Chair criticises use of ‘VIP lane’ to prioritise PPE contracts for companies with Tory connections in damning report Boris Johnson’s Conservative government wasted public money on a “vast” scale with flawed buying of personal protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic, an official inquiry has concluded. The Covid-19 inquiry chair, Heather Hallett, also criticised the then government’s controversial “VIP lane”, which gave high priority for PPE contracts to companies with political conne

Politics