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235 headlines found — Page 5 of 20

The Guardian Politics17 Mar 2026

In the midst of crisis, what should the PM do next? Be a statesman abroad and courageous at home | John McTernan

Starmer’s popular stance on Iran feels like a possible turning point – and could pave the way for a renewed unity within the Labour party John McTernan was Tony Blair’s political secretary at No 10 Dear prime minister, a word in your ear. It’s Groundhog Day. Again. Let’s start with the first tranche of Mandelson papers released last week. You should know this will go on and on: the beginning of a relentless media process of picking over the same mistake. And it needn’t have been so. It would,

Politics
The Guardian Politics17 Mar 2026

Pressure grows to postpone king’s state visit to US amid Iran war and Trump’s jibes at allies – UK politics live

Emily Thornberry is the latest figure to call on the king’s visit to the US to be delayed, citing the ongoing war against Iran Yesterday Donald Trump confirmed that he expects the king’s state visit to the US to go ahead at the end of April. As the Mail reports, speaking about his plan to build a new, mega ballroom on the east wing of the White House, Trump said he needed a facility like this because of the weather in Washington. He explained: And you know the land in Washington was built on a s

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics16 Mar 2026

EU calls for urgent reboot in talks with UK to stop reset deal failing

Time is running out to find agreement on areas such as tuition fees EU citizens would pay in Britain and rules for food safety The EU is hoping to urgently reboot talks on the “reset” of relations with the UK as negotiations are in danger of foundering before a planned July summit. At a public meeting of the EU-UK parliamentary partnership assembly in Brussels, the European Commission vice-president and trade commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, said both sides had to “change gears” now to ensure the d

Politics
The Guardian Politics16 Mar 2026

Starmer speech leaves Reform UK and the Tories playing catch-up | John Crace

The PM’s decision not to sign up the UK to the Middle East conflict reflects the public mood better than Badenoch and Farage’s former gung-ho support It was a message that could just as easily have been given via a ministerial statement in the Commons. But Keir Starmer needs every break he can get at the moment and he wasn’t going to pass up the chance to look like a world leader at a press conference in Downing Street. The advantages were obvious. No need to have to listen to Kemi Badenoch dron

PoliticsReform
The Guardian Politics16 Mar 2026

Trump’s war is bringing economic calamity to the UK – and another shock to our politics | Gaby Hinsliff

Hard choices lie ahead for Downing Street if higher fuel prices spark resentment and trigger a renewed cost of living crisis Seventy years ago this winter, the streets of Britain fell eerily quiet. After one last panic buying spree, many garages shut, and traffic even in the heart of London dwindled away. The formal introduction of petrol rationing had begun, limiting drivers to 200 miles’ worth a month – with exceptions for farmers, doctors and vicars – after the Suez crisis blocked fuel suppli

PoliticsEconomyDefenceHealthcare
The Guardian Politics16 Mar 2026

Labour MPs have no reason to oppose new welfare reforms, says minister

Pat McFadden unveils £1bn youth employment scheme and appeals for support from backbench MPs who rebelled over welfare last year Labour MPs have no reason to oppose a fresh government attempt to overhaul the welfare system, the work and pensions secretary has said as he unveiled a £1bn youth employment scheme. The announcement by Pat McFadden – who said the public wanted the system to promote work and “value for money” – is seen as a prelude to a renewed bid to reform the welfare system after

Politics
The Guardian Politics16 Mar 2026

UK will not be drawn into wider war in Middle East, says Keir Starmer

PM’s comments come as he announces support for households reliant on heating oil amid surging costs UK politics live – latest updates The UK will not be drawn into the wider war in the Middle East, Keir Starmer has said, as he announced that households reliant on heating oil to warm their homes would receive £53m of government support to help with their bills. After costs surged following the outbreak of the Iran conflict, lower-income households will get targeted support, while heating oil su

PoliticsDefenceHousing
The Guardian Politics16 Mar 2026

Minister plays down Trump’s Nato threat, arguing US alliance strong enough to ‘outlast’ current issues – UK politics live

Pat McFadden says Trump running a ‘transactional presidency’ and that ‘our job is to navigate this’ Good morning. Keir Starmer is holding a press conference in Downing Street this morning. As Kiran Stacey reports, the PM’s main intention will be to announce support for people most hit by rising energy prices, particularly householders reliant on heating oil. The measures are expected to be worth tens of millions of pounds. But, inevitably, most of the focus likely to be on how Starmer responds t

PoliticsDefenceHousing
The Guardian Politics16 Mar 2026

Plans to cut NHS international workforce appear overambitious, say MPs

Health service in England has saved more than £14bn hiring from overseas, report says, as doubt is cast on aim to reduce international recruitment to 10% Ministers’ plans to cut the international workforce within NHS England appear overambitious, MPs have said, as a report reveals the health service saved more than £14bn by recruiting doctors, nurses and midwives from overseas. Many of the countries recruited from were struggling with staff shortages, and the UK had a moral duty to offer support

PoliticsHealthcare
The Guardian Politics16 Mar 2026

More than 100 Labour MPs call on PM to stop assisted dying bill being blocked

Letter sent to Starmer claims ‘small number of peers have been using procedural tactics’ to stymie its progress More than 100 Labour MPs have called on Keir Starmer to stop the House of Lords from blocking the assisted dying bill and give it more time to return to the Commons, with the legislation now certain to fall owing to lack of time. The private member’s bill, sponsored by Labour’s Kim Leadbeater, will fall when the parliamentary session comes to an end in May because peers have used multi

Politics
The Guardian Politics15 Mar 2026

Decriminalising abortion: how could the House of Lords amend the legislation?

After MPs voted last year to change the law in England and Wales, members of the Lords will now put forward proposed amendments MPs voted last year to end the criminalisation of women who terminate pregnancies outside the legal framework. It was hailed as the biggest step forward for reproductive rights in England and Wales in six decades. On Wednesday evening, abortion law will again come under the parliamentary spotlight when members of the House of Lords put forward their proposed amendments

PoliticsDefenceCrime
The Guardian Politics15 Mar 2026

Vulnerable women in England still being arrested over suspected illegal abortions

Nottinghamshire and Met police made arrests in past year, despite MPs voting to decriminalise in England and Wales Vulnerable women in England are still being arrested and facing police investigations over suspected illegal pregnancy terminations, despite parliament backing changes to the law to decriminalise abortion. Responding to a freedom of information request, Nottinghamshire police and the Metropolitan police confirmed they had arrested women suspected of illegal terminations between June

PoliticsCrime