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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
The Guardian Politics11 Jun 2026

The defence secretary quits with ‘blistering’ criticism of Starmer – podcast

The defence secretary has resigned over the government’s military spending plans, in another major blow for Keir Starmer. In a scathing letter to the prime minister, John Healey said the long-awaited defence investment plan ‘falls well short of what is required for defence’ and that he would have to take decisions that ‘could make Britain less safe’. Nosheen Iqbal speaks to policy editor Kiran Stacey Continue reading...

Defence
The Guardian Politics11 Jun 2026

More than one in five pupils in England have special educational needs, figures show

Data shows sharp rise in number of children getting extra support and highlights pressure on schools, families and councils More than one in five pupils in England now have special educational needs, as the latest official figures show a sharp increase in the numbers of children receiving extra support in school. The annual data from the Department for Education (DfE) confirms predictions of an increase in families seeking education, health and care plans (EHCPs) – the individual agreements deta

Education
The Guardian Politics11 Jun 2026

Defence secretary quits with ‘blistering’ swipe at Starmer - The Latest

John Healey has resigned as defence secretary over the government’s military spending plans, in another significant blow for Keir Starmer. In a scathing letter to the prime minister, Healey said the long-awaited defence investment plan “falls well short of what is required for defence” and that he would have had to take decisions that “could make Britain less safe”. Nosheen Iqbal speaks to the Guardian’s policy editor, Kiran Stacey Healey quits in row with Starmer over military spending Conti

Defence
The Guardian Politics11 Jun 2026

Polite but deadly: John Healey skewers Keir Starmer as he heads for the door | John Crace

The defence secretary’s departure was the wrong resignation at the worst possible time for the prime minister UK politics live – latest updates During Wednesday’s prime minister’s questions, the defence secretary was standing at the other end of the Commons, away from other cabinet members on the government frontbench. His expression gave nothing away as Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch blamed one another for spending too much on welfare and not enough on defence. In hindsight, he was possibly t

PoliticsDefence