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The Guardian Politics26 Feb 2026

Why have efforts to bring in assisted dying law been thwarted?

How has legislation backed by MPs failed to clear the House of Lords? And what will happen now? The attempt to bring in new laws allowing assisted dying for terminally ill people with less than six months to live looks likely to fail. The legislation passed the House of Commons but it has struggled in the House of Lords, and campaigners in favour of the new law have accused peers of “sabotage”. Here is what has happened: Continue reading...

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics26 Feb 2026

UK social media ban for under-16s edges closer with Starmer expected to back it

Liz Kendall to launch consultation next week that will explore alternatives such as curbs on infinite scrolling Ministers will take another step towards banning social media for under-16s next week as they launch a consultation on the policy, with government insiders increasingly certain that Keir Starmer will back the idea. Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, will publish the terms of reference for the consultation, which is expected to explore options including an age limit and less hardlin

Defence
The Guardian Politics26 Feb 2026

Subsidies for Rolls-Royce might seem a bit rich, but they are inevitable

Every country supports its aerospace business, while keeping the production at home is vital. At least with Rolls, the UK is backing a winner Rolls-Royce, the engine-maker and defence firm that is spitting out so much cash it can shove £7bn to £9bn towards buying back shares over the next three years, would like UK taxpayers to find a few quid – reportedly up to £200m as a first slug – to help fund one its big bets. The company would “appreciate” financial support from the government to smooth w

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics26 Feb 2026

Sarwar gambles on break with Starmer as Holyrood race tightens

Scottish Labour leader hopes distancing himself from PM will shift focus to SNP’s record, but voters remain unconvinced UK politics live – latest updates “People look at Holyrood and think: ‘Lets give them all a bloody nose’,” says Alex, a betting shop manager. Speaking in a focus group of people who voted Labour at the 2024 general election, Alex captured the downbeat mood of a cohort bitterly disappointed with the Labour government’s early performance, frustrated by the record of the Scottis

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics25 Feb 2026

Trump administration meets with UK far-right activist Tommy Robinson

Agitator whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon was hosted by senior adviser at US state department The far-right activist Tommy Robinson has been hosted by the Trump administration for a meeting at the state department in Washington. Robinson, 43, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was hosted by Joe Rittenhouse, a senior adviser at the state department. Rittenhouse wrote on X: “Honoured to have free speech warrior @TRobinsonNewEra at Department of State today. “The world and

Defence
The Guardian Politics25 Feb 2026

Reeves must back defence investment plan or be sacked, says Unite union boss

Sharon Graham tells chancellor she should ‘back British industry’ by increasing military spending The head of Britain’s largest trade union has demanded that Rachel Reeves be sacked as chancellor if the Treasury continues to hold up a multibillion-pound defence investment plan. Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, said tens of thousands of jobs were at risk from political dithering and called on ministers to “back British industry” by signing off on future defence contracts. Continue

PoliticsEconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics25 Feb 2026

British public want deeper economic ties with EU, business secretary says

Peter Kyle signs cooperation deal on competition and says there is little nostalgia for pre-Brexit past Europe live – latest updates The British public are “not nostalgic” for the pre-Brexit past but are pragmatic and want to move forward and “deepen” ties with the EU on trade and the economy, the business secretary, Peter Kyle, has said. Signing an agreement in Brussels to cooperate closely on competition issues, Kyle said he thought the deal was “a real vindication of the reset and the relat

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics25 Feb 2026

The hard right has high hopes in Gorton and Denton – but a grassroots fightback is under way

As ordinary people feel the effects of divisive rhetoric, a local group is taking action to empower the community “I don’t want to talk about him,” Selina Ullah said, when asked what she thought of Matt Goodwin, the GB News presenter running for Reform in the Gorton and Denton parliamentary byelection. She would rather talk about the hope she took from the national reaction to the murder of her brother, Ahmed Iqbal Ullah – and the memorial campaign afterwards – in the same Greater Manchester con

PoliticsDefenceCrime
The Guardian Politics25 Feb 2026

The PM who turned PI: why is Gordon Brown delving so deep into the Epstein files?

Brown is said to be driven by moral anger but insiders suggest he may feel guilty for bringing Peter Mandelson back into government Before Gordon Brown sent a draft of his 6 February comment piece on the Jeffrey Epstein scandal to the Guardian for publication, he asked friends whether he had gone too far. The former prime minister had written that he found it “hard to find words to express my revulsion at what has been uncovered about Epstein and his impact on our politics” and the “time is over

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics25 Feb 2026

From Trump’s Maga to Farage’s Reform, they’re all following Putin’s nationalism playbook | Rafael Behr

Reform is promising a ‘patriotic school curriculum’ – but what does that mean? In the end it comes down to submission to the leader In September 2022, seven months into an all-out war in Ukraine that was only supposed to last a few weeks, Russian schoolchildren started compulsory patriotism lessons. Since then, Monday mornings have been set aside for “conversations about what is important” – a class on the glories of national history; western perfidy; the virtue of self-sacrifice for the Motherl

DefenceReform
The Guardian Politics23 Feb 2026

Peter Mandelson timeline: what have been his key jobs and past scandals?

The former ambassador, now under arrest, has had plenty of ups and downs in his career of more than 40 years in the Labour party Peter Mandelson arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office After a four-decade career that included some of the top jobs in politics, Peter Mandelson has undergone a spectacular fall from grace. The New Labour stalwart, who prominently re-entered the public eye in December 2024 after being appointed US ambassador by Keir Starmer, saw his already shaky reput

PoliticsDefence