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The Guardian Politics20 Aug 2026

Reform UK hates ‘Mickey Mouse’ degrees – apprenticeships in dodgy crypto, anyone?

Dicky Tice recalls digging trenches with a JCB as a young man, omitting to say the firm he went on to run was founded by his grandfather You have to hand it to them. Most political parties would have chosen to go quiet, what with it being the middle of August and having next to nothing to say. But Reform are made of stronger stuff. They aren’t bothered that the only interesting thing about them at the moment is that they are fighting like rats in a sack. They seem to wear that as a badge of hono

PoliticsReformHousing
The Guardian Politics20 Aug 2026

The Guardian view on GCSE results: much to celebrate, much to reform | Editorial

Another post-pandemic cohort has shown its resilience and talent. But growing inequalities of outcome must be addressed Most pupils who received their GCSE results this week were in the penultimate year of primary school when Covid struck, disrupting their preparation for secondary education. As with other post-pandemic cohorts, their achievements are therefore a testament to their ability, resilience and determination. A strong set of results, particularly in the core subjects of English and ma

Education
The Guardian Politics20 Aug 2026

Reform’s new economic adviser has called for end of pensioners’ triple lock

Exclusive: Mitchell Palmer has also argued for privatising the NHS and immigration as way of cutting poverty Reform UK’s new economic adviser has previously called the pensions triple lock unsustainable, advocated privatising the NHS and welcomed migration as a poverty alleviation tool, the Guardian can reveal. Robert Jenrick, Reform’s economic spokesperson, has appointed Mitchell Palmer, a rightwing economist at the free-market Adam Smith Institute, as one of his key aides. Continue reading..

EconomyImmigrationReformHealthcare
The Guardian Politics20 Aug 2026

‘I worry about our daughters’: Bridget Phillipson on online misogyny – podcast

Racism and misogyny are becoming normalised as a result of rightwing politics and the ‘cesspit’ of social media, says Labour’s Bridget Phillipson. In an extended interview, the minister for women and equalities and new party chair sits down with Kiran Stacey to talk about her fears for British society, the climate crisis, what Burnham is really doing differently from Starmer, and whether her party can beat Reform Please keep sending your comments and questions to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com

PoliticsEnvironmentHousing
The Guardian Politics20 Aug 2026

Racism and sexism have become normalised in Britain, says equalities minister

Exclusive: Bridget Phillipson says politicians have helped fuel hatred and that police are not taking violence against women and girls seriously enough UK politics live – latest updates Racism and sexism have become normalised in Britain, the equalities minister has said, as she warned that young men were being sucked into violent misogyny by the “cesspit” of social media. Bridget Phillipson said she was increasingly worried about how commonplace misogyny and racism had become, fuelled by onli

PoliticsDefenceCrime
The Guardian Politics20 Aug 2026

Tice defends suspension of Reform UK activist over Farage criticism

Party’s deputy leader makes comments as he unveils new policy to subsidise more apprenticeships UK politics live – latest updates Reform UK’s deputy leader has defended the party’s suspension of a senior activist who criticised Nigel Farage, saying internal disagreements should be kept “behind closed doors”. Richard Tice, who is also the party’s business spokesperson, made the comments as he unveiled a new policy of subsidising more apprenticeships, paid for by cutting student loans for foreig

PoliticsReformHousing
The Guardian Politics20 Aug 2026

Harry and Meghan’s security funding on UK return is private matter, Burnham says

Prime minister wishes couple well in their move back from the US to a non-royal residence outside London • Harry and Meghan: key moments and controversies since US move Security funding for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex when they return to live in the UK this month is a “private matter”, Andy Burnham has said. News of Harry and Meghan’s planned return to Britain from the US came as a surprise to many on Wednesday night; King Charles was only informed three days earlier. Continue reading...

The Guardian Politics20 Aug 2026

Burnham announces plans to clean up illegal waste dumps – UK politics live

The prime minister has promised a crackdown on criminal gangs making money from dumping waste Hello and welcome to the UK politics live blog. The days of criminal gangs making easy money from dumping waste are “over”, the prime minister will say on a visit to a waste site in Yorkshire later today. These toxic dumps have blighted communities for too long. I said we would clean them up – and that’s exactly what we’re announcing today. These mountains of rubbish have been a clear sign to communiti

PoliticsCrime
The Guardian Politics20 Aug 2026

Farage using Christianity ‘to stir anti-Muslim feeling’, says Rowan Williams

Former archbishop of Canterbury also has ‘awkward questions’ for activist Tommy Robinson on his claimed faith A former archbishop of Canterbury has accused Nigel Farage of misusing the UK’s Christianity “to channel anti-Muslim feeling” and said he also had “some awkward questions” for the far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Dr Rowan Williams, who was the archbishop of Canterbury for 10 years until 2012, said there was an “inevitable scepticism these days about some claims to religious conviction”

DefenceReform
The Guardian Politics20 Aug 2026

Working in Keir Starmer’s No 10 ‘unbearable’, says Sue Gray

Former chief of staff tells of fears her conversations were being recorded and leaked to media by colleagues Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff has lifted the lid on how “unbearable” it was working in No 10, revealing she feared her conversations were being recorded by colleagues seeking to leak her remarks to the media. Sue Gray, who was the most powerful adviser in Downing Street before her resignation in 2024, was highly critical of the working environment under Starmer, saying she was “dis

PoliticsEnvironment
The Guardian Politics20 Aug 2026

From bone-dry to soaked to the bone, welcome to the age of climate whiplash | Aditya Chakrabortty

This punishingly hot and dry summer will probably be followed by another wet winter. But it’s nothing compared with what Britain will endure in years to come This summer could be the hottest, driest and deadliest in English history. Successive heatwaves have so far claimed almost 3,000 lives. Nearly three-quarters of England and all of Wales is in drought, while key reservoirs are parched. Across this brown and stickily unpleasant land, from Grimsby down to St Ives, hosepipe bans are in force, w

Environment
The Guardian Politics20 Aug 2026

Drill Andy drill? Burnham’s North Sea dilemma – podcast

Helena Horton on why the government may decide to allow more oil and gas drilling in the North Sea The government is considering whether to allow new oil and gas drilling at two sites in the North Sea, a move environmental activists warn will accelerate climate chaos. Helen Pidd speaks to reporter Helena Horton about the government’s dilemma – and what it tells us about Andy Burnham’s approach to the green energy transition Continue reading...

DefenceEnvironment