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206 headlines found — Page 5 of 18

The Guardian Politics27 May 2026

Calls for Barnsley Reform councillor to resign over apparent swastika tattoo

Publicly accessible Facebook images dating back to 2018 appear to show the symbol on Andy Arnold’s arm A newly elected Reform UK councillor in Barnsley has come under pressure to resign after photographs emerged appearing to show him with a swastika tattoo. Andy Arnold, who was elected to Barnsley council earlier this month to represent Wombwell, can be seen with what appears to be the symbol tattooed on his arm in a series of publicly accessible Facebook images dating back to 2018. Continue re

ReformHousing
The Guardian Politics27 May 2026

Tony Blair is strong on diagnosis, deluded on prescription: Britain’s ills can’t be fixed by him | Larry Elliott

The former PM’s essay rightly calls for a coherent economic plan, but then sets too much store by AI – and a worldview stuck in the past Tony Blair is right. Labour has made some big and avoidable mistakes since it came to power nearly two years ago. Keir Starmer had a strategy for winning the election but lacked a coherent plan for what his government would do next. Fair cop. Blair is also correct when he says that unless Britain tackles some long-term structural issues, it is in danger of bein

PoliticsEconomyHousing
The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

Nurseries in England charging extra fees to cover funding gap, campaigners say

Head of Early Years Alliance says additional charges paid by parents represent ‘cross-subsidy’ Parents of nursery children in England are being charged extra fees to cover for government underfunding of free childcare hours, with some paying thousands of pounds a year for consumables such as food, wipes and nappies, campaigners have said. The comments came as the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, asked the competition watchdog to investigate hidden extra charges that parents have encounte

EducationHousing
The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

Here is Andy Burnham’s route to save Labour: a new manifesto, a new election and electoral reform | Polly Toynbee

Proportional representation can rescue Britain’s warped politics. It could stop Nigel Farage arriving at No 10 with less than 30% of the vote Here comes the prospect of redemption, a second chance for Labour to start over. A victory for Andy Burnham in the Makerfield byelection not only opens the door to No 10; a leadership contest also allows him and Wes Streeting to finally stretch their wings. Ideas currently firmly chained up in a Downing Street dungeon could be freed. Land value tax? Wealth

PoliticsEconomyDefenceReformHousing
The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

Labour needs ‘system reset’ to tackle youth unemployment, report to say

Alan Milburn, who is leading review commissioned by government, says current strategy ‘going in wrong direction’ Labour has failed to tackle soaring youth unemployment and must launch a “system reset” involving a fresh attempt to overhaul health and disability benefits, a report commissioned by the government is to warn. Alan Milburn, who is leading a review into why almost a million young people are not in education or work, said ministers had so far responded with a series of disjointed jobs p

DefenceEducationHousing
The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

A Britain where people cannot afford to raise children? We see that risk, and won’t let it happen | Bridget Phillipson

We are spending billions to help families with childcare, but I fear profiteers are denying them the full benefit. I’ll put a stop to that Bridget Phillipson orders review of hidden childcare charges hitting parents Britain is facing a family crisis that politicians do not talk about nearly enough. Birthrates are now the lowest since records began. More and more young people are delaying having children – or deciding they simply cannot afford to have a family at all. When you look at the cost

Housing
The Guardian Politics24 May 2026

Bridget Phillipson orders review of hidden childcare charges hitting parents

Education secretary asks UK watchdog to look into nursery practices, including non-refundable deposits Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, is ordering a competition review of hidden childcare charges amid concerns parents are being hit with extra charges, despite the government’s flagship expansion of funded childcare hours. Phillipson has written to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) asking it to examine practices including non-refundable deposits, compulsory add-ons and restr

EducationReformHousing
The Guardian Politics22 May 2026

What can Arsenal teach Keir Starmer about politics? You need a clear vision, a tight grip – and hope | Jonathan Freedland

The sensational title win didn’t happen by accident, it took years of dedication and planning, something the PM should note Obviously, I know that politics and football are different. One is a high-stakes endeavour that affects the lives of hundreds of millions of people, with an impact felt around the globe and down the generations – and the other is politics. I know too that there will be plenty of readers who will be like I was until nearly a couple of decades ago: cheerfully indifferent to t

PoliticsHousing
The Guardian Politics22 May 2026

Primary schools lose out as Labour slashes sport funding

New scheme will be worth 40% less than current government grants and will be shared with secondaries Funding for primary school sport in England is to be slashed by Labour, including the abolition of a grant designed to cement the 2012 Olympic legacy, to the dismay of school leaders. The Department for Education said that the £320m fund paid directly to primary schools each year through its PE and sports premium will be scrapped and replaced by a “sport partnerships network” worth £193m a year t

EducationHousing
The Guardian Politics21 May 2026

Prospect of Labour leadership race brings out different sides of rivals

Burnham and Streeting’s latest stances confound caricatures of left and right as party faces electoral bind The Labour party has seemed to inhabit three parallel worlds over the past fortnight. There is a prime minister celebrating good news on the economy and lower migration figures and breezily insisting he will fight the next election, but with his party intent on deposing him. Continue reading...

PoliticsEconomyImmigrationHousing
The Guardian Politics21 May 2026

Streeting calls for equal tax on income and capital gains in Labour leadership pitch

MP says current system is unfair and his idea would result in a ‘wealth tax that works’ UK politics live – latest updates Former health secretary Wes Streeting has set out plans for a “wealth tax that works”, by equalising tax on assets and income. Streeting said the current system – in which capital gains tax is generally much lower than income tax – was not fair and penalised work, arguing the taxes should be equalised. Continue reading...

PoliticsEconomyHousing
The Guardian Politics20 May 2026

UK strikes £3.7bn trade deal with six Gulf states

Keir Starmer describes the agreement, worth double original estimates, as a ‘huge win’ for British businesses Keir Starmer has struck a trade deal with six Gulf states in what he described as a huge win for British business, ending four years of talks led by four different prime ministers. The deal will offer £3.7bn worth of opportunities for exporters – double the original estimates – particularly in the food and luxury car sectors but also defence, aerospace, hospitality and other services, th

DefenceHousingHealthcare