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Key Starmer adviser held 16 undisclosed meetings with top US tech bosses

Exclusive: Varun Chandra’s talks with Google, Meta, Apple and others raise fears of ‘lobbying behind closed doors’ An influential government adviser close to Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves held 16 undisclosed meetings with top US tech executives, the Guardian can reveal. The No 10 business aide Varun Chandra discussed regulatory changes, AI and Donald Trump’s second administration with tech corporations during confidential meetings between October 2024 and October 2025. In one meeting he offered

Jewish Londoners deserve to live without fear – we are taking action to ensure their safety | Sadiq Khan

During dark times, we must stand by our Jewish neighbours as generations of Londoners have done before us Sadiq Khan is the mayor of London Jewish people are living in fear – a fear that has been building for years but has become acute in recent weeks. It now seeps into every part of daily life: the school run, a walk down the high street, a meal in a restaurant, attending synagogue on Shabbat. Jewish friends and colleagues have spoken to me about how they now find themselves looking over thei

Polanski says police 'should not be above scrutiny' over Golders Green response

The Green Party leader says he apologised for reposting a tweet criticising the officers' response because it was "not the appropriate forum".

Lucy Powell says Labour has ‘no magic bullet’ as MPs brace for heavy losses in local elections

Deputy leader plays down leadership talk and says party must focus on long-term challenges rather than personnel Labour’s deputy leader has warned there will be “no magic bullet” to solve Labour’s problems – or major challenges facing the country – as its MPs grapple with how to navigate the fallout out from the local elections. Lucy Powell told the Guardian she understood there was “huge anger and despondency” from Labour MPs in the aftermath of the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal, but said the

‘We have let them come on to our ground’: Labour fights off Green gains in Leeds

In Roundhay, one of its safest wards, activists say the party must win back progressive voters as support drifts to the Greens On the wide streets around Leeds’ Roundhay Park, Labour canvassers have built up a considerable step count just to walk between each of the stone-built mansions in one of the city’s most affluent suburbs. Lucy Powell, Labour’s deputy leader, is with activists in the sunshine admiring the manicured lawns and window-box pansies. This is one of the safest wards for Labour i

Investment or waste? How the M4 relief road plan for Newport sums up Wales’s economic quandary

As potentially seismic Senedd elections loom, competing parties have differing visions of how to reinvigorate the economy It is afternoon rush hour on the M4 and drivers are yet again making slow progress around the city of Newport, often seen as the gateway to south Wales given its location between Cardiff and Bristol. Cars and lorries are stuck in gridlocked traffic in both directions on the approach to the Brynglas tunnels, where the road narrows to two lanes in each direction, while flashing

Scotland to be hit by massive political earthquake - who will be the biggest winners?

Labour is tumbling in the polls as anger over Sir Keir Starmer boils over north of the border

Wales' revolt against Labour could doom Keir Starmer and shake the UK

Decisions taken by Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves in their first days in power sent shockwaves through Wales and Labour now faces an electoral reckoning

More farming co-operatives could ‘unleash growth’ in UK, finds report

Greater agricultural collaboration can improve food security and resilience to global crises, says policy paper Agricultural co-operatives could “unleash growth” in the UK and improve national food security in the face of crises such as the Middle East conflict by “improving the resilience of UK farms”, according to a report. The policy paper produced by the Co-operative party, which backs influential Labour MPs including Steve Reed and Jonathan Reynolds, calls for “a shift in perspective, not a

Reform UK council backs release of beavers amid party row over rewilding

Councillors in Leicestershire support move in efforts to reduce flooding as Reform faces divisions on nature policy A Reform UK council has backed the release of wild beavers into the countryside, despite the party’s opposition to rewilding. The Reform-led Leicestershire county council has backed the release of the rodents as part of efforts to reduce flooding. Continue reading...

Zack Polanski warns against banning London pro-Palestine protest

Green leader also says he would discourage ‘globalise the intifada’ chant but outlawing it would restrict free speech UK politics live – latest updates Zack Polanski has said he would discourage pro-Palestine protesters from using the chant “globalise the intifada”, but the Green party leader warned against specifically outlawing the phrase or banning a protest planned in London later this month. Speaking earlier in the weekend, Keir Starmer called for “tougher action” against marchers using t

Badenoch Backs Moratorium on Pro-Palestine Marches