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The Guardian Politics9 Mar 2026

Nigel Farage invests £215,000 in Kwasi Kwarteng’s bitcoin firm

Reform UK leader strengthens ties with crypto sector with stake in former Tory chancellor’s company Stack BTC Business live – latest updates Nigel Farage has invested in Kwasi Kwarteng’s bitcoin reserves company, as the leader of Reform UK aligns himself closer with the cryptocurrency industry. The MP has invested £215,000 in Stack BTC, the crypto business that is chaired by the former Conservative chancellor. Continue reading...

DefenceReform
The Guardian Politics9 Mar 2026

UK interest rate cuts unlikely this year amid Iran war – and a rise could be ahead

Markets predict Bank of England will hold rates in 2026 as bond yields soar on forecasts of prolonged conflict Iran war drives oil prices above $100 a barrel Business live – latest updates UK interest rates are not expected to be cut this year and could even rise next summer, according to financial markets, in a dramatic reversal of forecasts before the US-Israel war on Iran. Markets data on Monday showed that investors predict the Bank of England will most likely keep its base rate on hold a

Defence
The Guardian Politics9 Mar 2026

Starmer seeks to reassure public over cost of living as oil surges above $100 a barrel - UK politics live

The prime minister is facing pressure from unions and some backbenchers to prepare a support package as oil and gas prices threaten to push up inflation Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics as governments around the world brace for major disruption to energy supplies as a result of the escalating US-Israeli war with Iran. Keir Starmer is expected to promise to protect the British public from the economic impact of the war after oil prices surged past $100 a barrel for the

PoliticsEconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics9 Mar 2026

Labour in ‘deep trouble’ with Black voters, Operation Black Vote chair warns

David Weaver says proposed jury reforms and slow progress on equality risk eroding support in marginal seats Labour is in “deep trouble” with Black voters, a former government adviser has warned, saying the party is at risk of being seen as “accepting the normalisation of racism”. David Weaver, who is the chair of Operation Black Vote (OBV), said the government’s plans to restrict juries would “heighten, normalise and embed” racial disproportionality in the justice system and that Black voters w

DefenceReform
The Guardian Politics8 Mar 2026

War in the Middle East: Britain’s involvement so far, from sea to sky

Starmer has allowed the US to use British bases for ‘defensive operations’ in Iran. What other actions has he taken? To Donald Trump, the UK’s involvement in the US assault on Iran – letting American bombers use RAF bases for “defensive operations” – amounts to joining the war after “we’ve already won”. Even so, the first US B-1 Lancer planes began to land at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire at the weekend before joining the bombing campaign. Boeing C17 Globemaster transport planes have also land

Defence
The Guardian Politics8 Mar 2026

Private jet used for Nigel Farage Chagos stunt linked to Reform mega-donor

Exclusive: Plane that flew Reform leader to Maldives appears to be linked to billionaire Christopher Harborne Nigel Farage’s attempt to reach the Chagos Islands military base was made on a private jet that appears to be linked to Reform UK’s mega-donor Christopher Harborne, it has emerged. Harborne, who has donated £12m to Reform UK, has links to two charter planes that flew Farage to the Maldives and, separately, a group of Chagossian campaigners to Sri Lanka, before they attempted to reach th

DefenceReform
The Guardian Politics8 Mar 2026

Starmer speaks with Trump after president criticises lack of UK support for Iran strikes

Leaders discuss military cooperation day after Trump hit out at PM over lack of immediate backing for attacks Middle East crisis – live updates Sir Keir Starmer has spoken to Donald Trump and discussed their military co-operation through the US use of RAF bases “in support of the collective self-defence of partners” in the Middle East, Downing Street has said. The call comes after Trump intensified his criticism of Starmer over the lack of immediate UK support for the US-Israeli strikes on Ira

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics8 Mar 2026

Opportunities, perils and pitfalls: how UK parties have responded to war in Iran

Starmer’s ‘purely defensive’ stance has won support among voters, but what challenges lie ahead for each party when it comes to their base’s view of war? Facing one of the most challenging moments of his premiership, Keir Starmer may at least draw comfort from polling showing that the British public broadly support his position on the conflict in Iran. Nearly half (46%) believe the UK military position should be purely defensive, tasked with shooting down drones and defending civilian areas and

Defence
The Guardian Politics8 Mar 2026

Two more US aircraft arrive at RAF Fairford

Aircraft touch down in Gloucestershire after Trump given use of British bases for defensive operations in Iran Middle East crisis – live updates Two more US air force planes have landed at RAF Fairford, after the UK allowed Washington to use its bases to take part in defensive operations in Iran. Footage broadcast on Sunday showed two Boeing C-17 Globemaster transportation planes landing at the airbase in Gloucestershire, days after B-1 Lancer bombers arrived. Continue reading...

Defence
The Guardian Politics8 Mar 2026

Starmer must learn the lessons of war, and defend Britain against Donald Trump | Simon Tisdall

As the Iran disaster escalates, Starmer should treat the US president as someone whose actions threaten the lawful, democratic way of life everywhere Nine days in, the conduct of the unjustified, illegal US-Israel war against Iran grows ever-more disproportionate, dishonourable and deranged. The torpedoing of an Iranian navy ship off Sri Lanka by a US submarine demonstrated that for reckless Donald Trump, the whole world is his battlefield. Diplomacy, treacherously sabotaged by Washington, has b

Defence
The Guardian Politics8 Mar 2026

Cooper rejects Blair’s call for UK to have backed Trump’s strikes on Iran

Foreign secretary hits back at former prime minister, saying Britain had to ‘learn the lessons’ of Iraq war Middle East crisis – live updates Yvette Cooper has rejected Tony Blair’s assertion that the UK should have supported Donald Trump’s initial airstrikes on Iran, saying Britain had to “learn the lessons” of mistakes made in Iraq. At a private lunch event on Friday, the former Labour prime minister said Keir Starmer “should have backed America from the very beginning” and let the Trump ad

Defence
The Guardian Politics7 Mar 2026

Trump tells Starmer help not needed even as US uses UK bases for Iran strikes

US president delivers stinging criticism of UK prime minister over delayed support for Iran war Donald Trump has renewed his stinging criticism of UK prime minister Keir Starmer over the lack of immediate UK support for the US-Israeli strikes on Iran. “The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, adding: “That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer,

Defence