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The Guardian Politics14 Mar 2026

Trump calls on UK to send warships to keep strait of Hormuz open

US president urges nations to deploy vessels to keep key oil shipping route open amid conflict with Iran Donald Trump has said the UK should send warships to help keep the strait of Hormuz open. In a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, the US president urged the UK and other countries to deploy vessels to the strait amid the conflict with Iran. Continue reading...

Defence
The Guardian Politics13 Mar 2026

UK signs ‘rebooted’ defence agreement to protect Irish waters

Most transatlantic cables go through or close to Ireland, making its waters particularly vulnerable to attack The UK has signed a “rebooted” defence agreement with Dublin that could mean the Royal Navy responding to hostile ships and other issues in Irish waters. The deal, announced at the second post-Brexit Ireland-UK summit, held in Cork on Friday, updates a 2016 agreement to include cyber-threats and the sabotage of critical internet and electricity undersea cables. Continue reading...

Defence
The Guardian Politics13 Mar 2026

UK petrol retailers claim ‘inflammatory language’ of ministers led to staff abuse

Trade body to attend Reeves meeting hours after saying it was pulling out over suggestions of ‘price gouging’ • Watchdog puts UK fuel retailers ‘on notice’ over profiteering from Iran war • Business live – latest updates • UK politics live – latest updates The trade body for the UK’s petrol station industry has fuelled a row with the government after claiming that the “inflammatory language” used by ministers to describe rising pump prices may have incited abuse against forecourt staff. The Petr

PoliticsDefenceReformCrime
The Guardian Politics13 Mar 2026

Give mayors more powers to tackle youth unemployment crisis, says Alan Milburn

Exclusive: Government’s work tsar warns that having young people not in work will create ‘long-term scarring effect’ Mayors across England should be given greater powers to tackle the youth unemployment crisis and avoid the “long-term scarring” of regions outside London, the government’s work tsar has said. Alan Milburn, who is leading a major review into increasing inactivity among Britain’s young people, said the issue could not be solved by Whitehall alone. Continue reading...

Defence
The Guardian Politics13 Mar 2026

Reeves vows to ‘crack down’ on energy and fuel bosses exploiting Britons through ‘rip-off’ prices – UK politics live

The chancellor is set to meet with energy bosses over concerns that companies are profiteering from oil and gas prices Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has asked the competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), to “crack down” on “rip off” fuel prices as she prepares to meet energy bosses amid concerns companies are profiteering off the US and Israel’s war with Iran. The Conservative party continue to accuse the governme

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics13 Mar 2026

UK economy unexpectedly flatlined in January, official figures show

Monthly GDP figure comes as higher energy prices look likely to drive up inflation, dashing hopes of interest rate cut Business live – latest updates The UK economy entered the Middle East crisis after a weak start to the year, according to official figures showing flatlining January output before the US-Israel war on Iran hit global energy prices. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed zero growth in gross domestic product (GDP), down from an increase of 0.1% in December,

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics12 Mar 2026

In linking Iran to Russia, Healey could be laying ground for hard choices ahead

Defence secretary connects Middle East conflict to plight of Ukraine, sympathy for which remains relatively high After a week or so of wearing media coverage about the deterioration of the Anglo-American relationship and the belated decision to deploy Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon to Cyprus, it was time to move the conversation on. On a visit to the UK’s permanent military headquarters in Northwood, north-west London, the defence secretary, John Healey, asked two senior British military office

Defence
The Guardian Politics12 Mar 2026

The Mandelson papers reveal a prime minister who would rather not hear from dissenting voices | Gaby Hinsliff

Warnings were ignored and processes rushed because No 10 had already made up its mind to let Peter Mandelson sail through The arrogance takes your breath away, even to the end. Sacked in disgrace for bringing shame upon those who trusted him, Peter Mandelson’s response, we now know, was to unsuccessfully demand half a million pounds of public money to go quietly, all while haughtily insisting upon his dignity as a servant of the crown. In other words, this week’s disclosures suggest Mandelson be

Defence
The Guardian Politics12 Mar 2026

Threats against female MPs having ‘chilling effect’ on women in public life, minister says

Security minister Dan Jarvis has announced new security measures ahead of May’s local elections Threats against female MPs are having a “chilling effect” on talented women thinking of going into public life but deciding not to, security minister Dan Jarvis has said. Warning that there was an “unprecedented” volume of threats against elected representatives – including assaults, vandalism, stalking and a “blizzard of online abuse” – Jarvis announced new security measures ahead of the local electi

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics12 Mar 2026

Gerry Adams was leader of IRA, ex-police officers tell high court

Two former members of Royal Ulster Constabulary testify at civil trial that Adams led proscribed organisation Gerry Adams was the leader of the Irish Republican Army, two former police officers have told the high court. The former Sinn Féin leader is being sued for symbolic “vindicatory” damages of £1 each by John Clark, Jonathan Ganesh and Barry Laycock, who allege he was culpable for three separate IRA bombings in which they were injured. Continue reading...

DefenceCrime
The Guardian Politics12 Mar 2026

Mandelson files: Starmer admits ‘I made a mistake’ – The Latest

Keir Starmer was warned of ‘reputational risk’ in making Peter Mandelson ambassador to the US due to his links with the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to newly released files. The first batch of files raises new questions about the prime minister’s judgment, as well as the vetting process at the highest level of government. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s head of national news, Archie Bland – watch on YouTube Continue reading...

Defence
The Guardian Politics12 Mar 2026

Putin’s ‘hidden hand’ lies behind Iran’s drone tactics, UK defence secretary says

Top British army officer tells John Healey Iranian pilots are flying Shaheds much lower, making them more effective Middle East crisis – live updates Vladimir Putin’s “hidden hand” lies behind Iran’s military methods, the UK defence secretary, John Healey, has said, after a night in which drones struck a camp used by western forces in Erbil, northern Iraq. Healy was speaking after British officers at the UK’s military headquarters in north-west London had told him that Iranian and Iranian prox

Defence