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The Guardian Politics7 Mar 2026

Labour accuse Badenoch of scoring ‘cheap political points’ over Iran strikes

Defence minister urges ‘serious politics’ after Tory leader criticises prime minister’s stance at spring conference Middle East crisis live: latest news updates Labour has accused Kemi Badenoch of scoring “cheap political points” after the Conservative party leader said Keir Starmer was “too scared” to join strikes on Iran. Al Carns, the defence minister, said “serious politics” was required in response to Badenoch’s speech at the party’s spring conference where she criticised the prime minist

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics7 Mar 2026

US bomber lands in UK after warning of surge in strikes on Iran

B-1 Lancer, which can carry 24 cruise missiles, arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening Middle East crisis – live updates A US bomber has landed at an RAF base in Britain after Washington warned that strikes on Iran would “surge dramatically”. The 146ft B-1 Lancer, which is capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles, arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening after Keir Starmer had granted permission for “defensive” US action against Iranian missile sites fro

Defence
The Guardian Politics7 Mar 2026

UK must stockpile food in readiness for climate shocks or war, expert warns

Prof Tim Lang says country produces far less food than it needs to feed population and is particularly vulnerable The British government should be stockpiling food, according to a leading expert on food policy, as it is not prepared for climate shocks or wars that could cause the population to starve. Prof Tim Lang of City St George’s, University of London said the UK produced far less food than it needed to feed itself, and as a small island that relied on a few large companies to feed its gia

DefenceEducationEnvironment
The Guardian Politics6 Mar 2026

Police search home of former Labour MP’s husband amid China spying investigation

James Robinson, husband of Gloria De Piero, says police visited their home with a warrant but he has not been detained or questioned The husband of former Labour MP Gloria De Piero has confirmed his home was searched on Wednesday as part of a police investigation into an alleged Chinese spying ring. James Robinson, a former aide to the ex-Labour deputy leader Tom Watson, issued a statement confirming the raid on the home he shares with his wife, but said he had not been detained or questioned by

DefenceCrime
The Guardian Politics6 Mar 2026

Keir Starmer accused of ‘mimicking Trump’ with Middle East crisis TikTok post

PM justifies position in social media post on US-Israel war on Iran using Dire Straits song Money for Nothing Keir Starmer has been accused of trying to mimic Donald Trump’s social media output after posting a TikTok about the crisis in the Middle East overlaid with the prime minister’s voice and the Dire Straits song Money for Nothing. The video opens with footage showing Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters flying over his head before cutting to British military jets in action and a drone being dest

Defence
The Guardian Politics6 Mar 2026

Labour urged to listen to progressive voters or face ‘political earthquake’ in London

Exclusive: Senior party figures share data suggesting Green surge could put Labour in fourth place in capital in May Senior Labour politicians across London have warned the government not to take progressive voters for granted, with concerns the party faces a “political earthquake” in the capital in May after a surge in support for the Greens. They have been privately circulating new data that suggests Labour could drop from first to fourth place in London in the May elections – losing control

PoliticsDefenceEnvironment
The Guardian Politics6 Mar 2026

Britain’s war hawks are very upset that Keir Starmer isn’t personally riding a bomb all the way to Tehran | Marina Hyde

Didn’t you know? True British patriots are the ones who want to join an obviously disastrous war on behalf of Israel and Donald Trump Have you heard enough pant-wetting about Britain’s “reputation” this week? Honestly, I don’t think any of us can bear the social embarrassment of not getting immediately involved in an obviously disastrous war in the Middle East. The awks of it. How will good old Britannia hold her head up high if she isn’t an instant ride-or-die for a US administration described

Defence
The Guardian Politics6 Mar 2026

Trump broke his promises to pursue this unwinnable war. Britain must not follow him into the abyss | Simon Jenkins

The bombing of Iran is deeply unpopular. Despite the Tories’ urgings, Keir Starmer must not further embroil the UK in this disaster Keir Starmer’s immediate response to the Israeli-US attack on Iran last weekend was sensible and correct. Donald Trump had lied that the US was at risk of imminent attack, and had presented no coherent reason for going to war. Even after Starmer weakened and allowed the US to use British bases, although it did not really need them, Trump was furious. He accused Star

DefenceHousing
The Guardian Politics6 Mar 2026

Digested week: it’s been a rough year – so thank you to our politicians for giving me plenty to write about

I’ve lost count of the number of sketches I wrote from the chemo ward as Jill went through the hell of cancer treatment It’s been a while since I last wrote the digested week. Last May, my wife was diagnosed with cancer and life has been a struggle ever since. Jill’s story is hers to tell, but here are some of my initial thoughts on finding myself a primary carer on the cancer frontline (it’s always been me who’s needed looking after up till now). From that first consultation, when the doctor to

Defence
The Guardian Politics6 Mar 2026

RAF jets could legally strike Iran’s missile bases, says David Lammy - UK politics live

Deputy prime minister says while jets currently only shooting down missiles, there is legal basis for them to do more Middle East crisis – live updates Hello and welcome to the UK politics blog. Royal Air Force jets could legally strike Iranian missile sites being used to attack British interests in the Middle East, David Lammy has said this morning. It is entirely legal to protect our people and protect our staff, and therefore all operational capability is available to us in those circumstan

PoliticsDefenceHousing
The Guardian Politics5 Mar 2026

Has Starmer been too weak on Iran? – podcast

The UK prime minister has defended his stance on the war in the Middle East amid growing pressure from Cyprus, Bahrain and the UAE. John Harris, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss whether he has shown strength or weakness. Plus: the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has announced her controversial asylum plans Continue reading...

ImmigrationDefence
The Guardian Politics5 Mar 2026

Defence secretary accuses MPs of deliberately undermining UK’s relationship with Trump

John Healey says its ‘unpatriotic’ for opposition politicians to turn the US against Starmer US-Israel war on Iran – live updates The defence secretary John Healey accused opposition politicians of deliberately undermining the UK’s relationship with Donald Trump, saying it was “unpatriotic” for MPs to seek to turn the US against Keir Starmer. Healey, speaking to the Guardian at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, which was hit by a drone strike over the weekend, said he had been shocked at the way politi

PoliticsDefence