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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

More than a fifth of UK’s ‘austerity children’ scarred by poverty, study says

Researchers say hardship is a direct legacy of welfare benefit cuts imposed by Tory governments in recent years More than a fifth of all “austerity generation” British children have been scarred by poverty for at least half their childhood, a direct legacy of the welfare benefit cuts imposed by Conservative governments in recent years, research reveals. The proportion of children born after 2013 who spent at least six of their first 11 years of life in hardship surged after ministers froze worki

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

Thousands of unpaid carers to face DWP repayment demands during overhaul

Ministers admit carer’s allowance penalties will continue while review of more than 200,000 cases is carried out Thousands of unpaid carers will continue to be hit with hefty and potentially unfair benefit repayment demands, it has emerged, as a government initiative gets under way to fix welfare injustices that have drawn comparison to the Post Office scandal. Ministers will on Monday launch an audit of more than 200,000 historical carer’s allowance benefit cases, with an estimated 25,000 carer

Reform
The Guardian Politics12 Apr 2026

Fried nuggets and steamed sponges off menu in school food overhaul in England

Campaigners welcome first update of school food standards in 13 years, which aims to help lower obesity rates The government is to announce an overhaul to school food standards in England that will lead to calorific classics such as fish and chips and steamed sponges being banned. The new rules of the first major update to school food standards in 13 years will apply from September. They are part of efforts to lower the rates of childhood obesity, with data for 2024 released by the NHS in Januar

Healthcare
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

Richard Tice’s firm alleged to have broken law by failing to pay tax

Report says company did not pay tens of thousands in tax on dividends given to Reform UK deputy leader and trust Richard Tice’s company has been accused of breaking the law by allegedly failing to pay tens of thousands of pounds in tax on dividends that were paid to him and his offshore trust. Reform UK’s multimillionaire deputy leader is alleged to have received at least £91,000 in excess payments as a result, the Sunday Times reported. Dan Neidle of Tax Policy Associates – whose analysis was c

EconomyReform
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

Wes Streeting attacks Trump’s ‘outrageous’ Iran war rhetoric

Health secretary says failure of peace talks ‘disappointing’ and that UK-US relations have undoubtedly been strained Middle East crisis – live updates Wes Streeting has criticised Donald Trump’s rhetoric on Iran as “incendiary, provocative and outrageous”, and called the failure of US-Iran peace talks “disappointing” but said the success of future negotiations was necessary “in all of our interests”. “As ever in diplomacy, you’re failing until you succeed,” the health secretary told Sunday Mor

Defence