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187 headlines found — Page 8 of 16

The Guardian Politics9 Mar 2026

Ministers must act more quickly on deepfakes to protect women and girls, Kendall says

Exclusive: Technology secretary urges tech companies to do more to tackle online misogyny Ministers need to act more quickly to combat fast-changing threats from technology such as deepfakes, the technology secretary has said, as she warned about the risks women and girls face online. Liz Kendall said on Monday that technology was developing at such a pace that it was outstripping the government’s ability to regulate it, even suggesting there could be regular annual reviews of regulations as hap

Defence
The Guardian Politics9 Mar 2026

UK inflation likely to rise because of Middle East war, says Rachel Reeves

British chancellor says she will take steps to help families with cost of living as oil prices surge Middle East crisis – live updates Britain is likely to be hit by rising inflation because of the US war with Iran, the UK chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has said, as she suggested that a “rapid de-escalation” would be the best protection against a jump in energy prices. Both the chancellor and the prime minister, Keir Starmer, suggested the government would be prepared to intervene to protect UK h

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics9 Mar 2026

Britons don’t want any part of Trump’s war fixation – the sooner Labour realises that the better | Owen Jones

Kowtowing to US foreign policy in Iraq and Afghanistan had disastrous consequences. Why are leaders making the same mistake all over again? Here is the sort of analysis you’re being served up by our esteemed commentariat. Keir Starmer’s positioning on the Iran war, we are told, reveals a prime minister with no political compass. True, but talk about burying the lede. The story here is not Starmer’s lack of political acumen. British involvement in the Iran war is not a policy question on which re

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics9 Mar 2026

Is the UK government prepared for oil price hikes? – podcast

Oil prices have already shot up thanks to the US-Israeli war in Iran. But what is the economic fallout likely to be? Will interest rates rise? What about inflation? Could the cost of borrowing increase – and by how much? Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss how the cost of living might be hit and the political implications of that Continue reading...

PoliticsEconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics9 Mar 2026

Nigel Farage invests £215,000 in Kwasi Kwarteng’s bitcoin firm

Reform UK leader strengthens ties with crypto sector with stake in former Tory chancellor’s company Stack BTC Business live – latest updates Nigel Farage has invested in Kwasi Kwarteng’s bitcoin reserves company, as the leader of Reform UK aligns himself closer with the cryptocurrency industry. The MP has invested £215,000 in Stack BTC, the crypto business that is chaired by the former Conservative chancellor. Continue reading...

DefenceReform
The Guardian Politics9 Mar 2026

UK interest rate cuts unlikely this year amid Iran war – and a rise could be ahead

Markets predict Bank of England will hold rates in 2026 as bond yields soar on forecasts of prolonged conflict Iran war drives oil prices above $100 a barrel Business live – latest updates UK interest rates are not expected to be cut this year and could even rise next summer, according to financial markets, in a dramatic reversal of forecasts before the US-Israel war on Iran. Markets data on Monday showed that investors predict the Bank of England will most likely keep its base rate on hold a

Defence
The Guardian Politics9 Mar 2026

Starmer seeks to reassure public over cost of living as oil surges above $100 a barrel - UK politics live

The prime minister is facing pressure from unions and some backbenchers to prepare a support package as oil and gas prices threaten to push up inflation Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics as governments around the world brace for major disruption to energy supplies as a result of the escalating US-Israeli war with Iran. Keir Starmer is expected to promise to protect the British public from the economic impact of the war after oil prices surged past $100 a barrel for the

PoliticsEconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics9 Mar 2026

Labour in ‘deep trouble’ with Black voters, Operation Black Vote chair warns

David Weaver says proposed jury reforms and slow progress on equality risk eroding support in marginal seats Labour is in “deep trouble” with Black voters, a former government adviser has warned, saying the party is at risk of being seen as “accepting the normalisation of racism”. David Weaver, who is the chair of Operation Black Vote (OBV), said the government’s plans to restrict juries would “heighten, normalise and embed” racial disproportionality in the justice system and that Black voters w

DefenceReform
The Guardian Politics8 Mar 2026

War in the Middle East: Britain’s involvement so far, from sea to sky

Starmer has allowed the US to use British bases for ‘defensive operations’ in Iran. What other actions has he taken? To Donald Trump, the UK’s involvement in the US assault on Iran – letting American bombers use RAF bases for “defensive operations” – amounts to joining the war after “we’ve already won”. Even so, the first US B-1 Lancer planes began to land at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire at the weekend before joining the bombing campaign. Boeing C17 Globemaster transport planes have also land

Defence
The Guardian Politics8 Mar 2026

Private jet used for Nigel Farage Chagos stunt linked to Reform mega-donor

Exclusive: Plane that flew Reform leader to Maldives appears to be linked to billionaire Christopher Harborne Nigel Farage’s attempt to reach the Chagos Islands military base was made on a private jet that appears to be linked to Reform UK’s mega-donor Christopher Harborne, it has emerged. Harborne, who has donated £12m to Reform UK, has links to two charter planes that flew Farage to the Maldives and, separately, a group of Chagossian campaigners to Sri Lanka, before they attempted to reach th

DefenceReform
The Guardian Politics8 Mar 2026

Starmer speaks with Trump after president criticises lack of UK support for Iran strikes

Leaders discuss military cooperation day after Trump hit out at PM over lack of immediate backing for attacks Middle East crisis – live updates Sir Keir Starmer has spoken to Donald Trump and discussed their military co-operation through the US use of RAF bases “in support of the collective self-defence of partners” in the Middle East, Downing Street has said. The call comes after Trump intensified his criticism of Starmer over the lack of immediate UK support for the US-Israeli strikes on Ira

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics8 Mar 2026

Opportunities, perils and pitfalls: how UK parties have responded to war in Iran

Starmer’s ‘purely defensive’ stance has won support among voters, but what challenges lie ahead for each party when it comes to their base’s view of war? Facing one of the most challenging moments of his premiership, Keir Starmer may at least draw comfort from polling showing that the British public broadly support his position on the conflict in Iran. Nearly half (46%) believe the UK military position should be purely defensive, tasked with shooting down drones and defending civilian areas and

Defence