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688 headlines found — Page 28 of 58

The Guardian Politics13 Apr 2026

Keir Starmer defends plan for closer alignment with EU rules

PM rejects claim plan is integration with EU ‘by stealth’, saying changes will happen only if parliament passes law UK politics live – latest updates Keir Starmer has defended plans for the UK to align more closely with some EU rules without parliamentary votes, saying a closer relationship with Europe “is in the UK’s best interest”, particularly given the international turmoil over the Iran war. Speaking to the BBC after the Guardian revealed that ministers were planning to use so-called Henr

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics13 Apr 2026

Starmer confirms UK will not support US blockade of strait of Hormuz – UK politics live

PM says opening waterway is ‘vital’ as he rules out any UK involvement in US moves to blockade strait Good morning. The parliamentary recess is over, the Iran war disaster isn’t, campaigning is ramping up because the May elections are less than four weeks to go, and there will be plenty for MPs to discuss as they meet in the Commons this afternoon. The full timetable, as usual, is down below. Keir Starmer is in Greater Manchester this morning, on a visit linked to the English local elections. Bu

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics13 Apr 2026

Private firms providing services to NHS made £1.6bn profit in two years, research finds

Exclusive: MPs say profit-making levels in England are ‘scandalous’ and call for cap on amount private companies can make from NHS Private firms providing services to the NHS including healthcare and consultancy have made £1.6bn in profits over the last two years, research reveals. The findings – on the basis of contracts worth £12bn – have prompted claims of “scandalous” profiteering, concern that the health service is being “taken for a ride” and calls for ministers to impose a cap on maximum

PoliticsHealthcare
The Guardian Politics13 Apr 2026

In the UK, Keir Starmer has few fans. I learned that in China it’s a very different story | Martin Rowson

The prime minister’s meal in a Yunnan restaurant in Beijing has spawned a national menu. The man has, bizarrely, become a phenomenon It’s always heartening when people agree with you. I had Keir Starmer down as a non-ideological technocratic centrist dad the moment I first clocked him, with a tin ear for both simple human interaction and the darker subtleties of the political arts. So despite carrying his famous “Ming vase” over the line in the 2024 election, I’ve been wholly unsurprised by him

PoliticsHousing
The Guardian Politics12 Apr 2026

Mauritius vows to ‘decolonise’ Chagos Islands after Starmer shelves handover

Mauritian foreign minister pledges to ‘spare no effort’ to regain control of islands, as US fails to give approval of deal A senior official in Mauritius’ government has vowed that the Chagos Islands will be “decolonised” after Keir Starmer was forced to shelve legislation to hand the islands back to Mauritius. On Friday, UK government officials acknowledged that they had run out of time to pass legislation within the current parliamentary session, which ends in the coming weeks, after a lack o

PoliticsHousing
The Guardian Politics12 Apr 2026

Britain could adopt single market rules without MPs’ vote as part of UK-EU reset

Exclusive: Ministers planning new legislation for alignment without full parliamentary scrutiny if in national interest Ministers are planning to fundamentally reshape Britain’s relationship with the European Union, with new legislation that could result in the UK signing up to EU single market rules without a normal parliamentary vote. In a major development in the prime minister’s push for closer ties with the continent in after the Iran war, the Guardian understands ministers are bracing to f

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics12 Apr 2026

Voting for populist parties in local polls will put NHS at risk, says Streeting

Exclusive: Health secretary warns of dangers of protest vote as he pitches NHS as key battleground in May elections Voters in May’s local and devolved elections risk putting the NHS in jeopardy if they vote for populist parties, Wes Streeting has said, as he sought to make the health service a key battleground. “The founding principles of the NHS are at greater threat than at any time since the NHS was founded in 1948,” the health secretary said. Continue reading...

PoliticsDefenceReformHealthcare
The Guardian Politics12 Apr 2026

Home Office to announce closure of 11 asylum hotels in next week

Exclusive: closures are part of pledge by Labour to end all use of hotels for asylum seekers by end of this parliament The Home Office is to announce the closure of 11 asylum hotels this week as part of its pledge to close all hotels by the end of this parliament. The use of hotels to house asylum seekers has been controversial since it became widespread at the start of the Covid pandemic. Anti-migrant protesters have staged demonstrations outside the hotels, claiming asylum seekers are living a

PoliticsImmigration
The Guardian Politics12 Apr 2026

Shoplifting rife, police overwhelmed, an angry public … the trail leads back to one person: Theresa May | Dal Babu

I have seen up close the fallout of the disastrous policing decisions May made as home secretary. We urgently need to restore the force to what it once was Dal Babu is a former chief superintendent in the Metropolitan police No, the world isn’t going to hell in a handcart. But yes, a good many items are being stolen – in plain view, with apparent impunity – from the shelves at Tesco, M&S and all the major high-street stores. It’s a huge loss for the shops, and as political types discuss whethe

PoliticsHousingCrime
The Guardian Politics11 Apr 2026

UK forced to shelve legislation to return Chagos Islands to Mauritius

Officials accept that time has run out to pass law after US dropped its support for plan The UK government has been forced to shelve its legislation to hand the Chagos Islands back to Mauritius, after the US dropped its support for the agreement. On Friday, UK government officials acknowledged that they had run out of time to pass legislation within the current parliamentary session, which ends in the coming weeks. Continue reading...

PoliticsHousing
The Guardian Politics10 Apr 2026

Reform UK local election candidate was twice disciplined by Tories over ‘racist comments’

Conservatives disowned Derek Bullock in 2023 after he allegedly used racial slur to call for people of Pakistani heritage to be shot A Reform UK candidate for next month’s council elections was twice disciplined by the Conservatives over allegedly offensive or racist comments, while another shared conspiracy theories about Covid, it has emerged, as the full slate of candidates was confirmed. More than 5,000 council places in England are being contested on 7 May, along with several mayoralties, a

PoliticsReform
The Guardian Politics10 Apr 2026

Reform’s temper tantrum about slavery reparations shows it doesn’t understand Britain’s place in the modern world | Kojo Koram

The party’s talk of visa bans for countries seeking reparative justice is not just undemocratic – it displays staggering ignorance about geopolitics On 29 November 1781, Capt Luke Collingwood faced a decision. He was in command of a ship called the Zong, which departed Accra with 442 Africans to be sold into slavery. However, the crew of the Zong kept getting lost on the way to Jamaica. Now their overcrowded “cargo” was ridden with disease and dehydration. Closing in on their destination, they r

PoliticsImmigrationReform