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Bizarre Rachel Reeves sculpture mocked online - 'infinitely more useful'

A plasticine bust of the Chancellor led one critic to suggest the work was much more use.

Awful blunders in Epping sex attack migrant's prison release revealed in scathing review

Reeves steps up criticism of Trump’s Iran war, branding it a ‘mistake’

UK chancellor tells US audience she is ‘not convinced that this conflict has made the world a safer place’ Middle East crisis – live updates Business live – latest updates Rachel Reeves has stepped up her criticism of Donald Trump’s war on Iran, describing it as a “mistake” that has destabilised the global economy and damaged living standards around the world. In a marked fraying of the transatlantic relationship, the UK chancellor said Trump breaking off from diplomatic talks with Iran and l

Biometric checks to be rolled out in prisons after mistaken releases

New data shows 179 prisoners were set free in error from prisons in the year to March.

Biometric checks after 179 prisoners released in error in year to March

New data shows 179 prisoners were set free in error from prisons in the year to March.

NATO 'exasperated' by UK military decline under Labour - 'an utter humiliation!'

EXCLUSIVE: A source said allies are 'exasperated by the utter paralysis and humiliation of a once proud nation and leader in NATO'.

Government’s 1.5m housebuilding target in England is suffering subsidence | Nils Pratley

As the country’s biggest housebuilder cuts land buying and the Iran war pushes up costs, setting an ambitious figure appears even more foolish This is what the government didn’t want to hear when its target to build 1.5m new homes in England during this parliament already looked out of reach. The country’s biggest housebuilder is trimming its purchases of new land because the Iran war has created “a less certain backdrop”. Barratt Redrow’s “disciplined approach” isn’t a downing of tools, it shou

Ex-Tory and Labour councillor Richard Bingley joins Reform for May elections

The much-travelled politician, who has also been a member of Ukip, will stand for election to Thurrock council At first he was a Tory councillor, before switching to Labour. Then came a stint in Ukip, followed by a return to the Conservatives that ended in ignominy amid a row over trees. And now, the much-travelled Richard Bingley is representing Reform. If Bingley is elected to Thurrock council in Essex on 7 May, it will represent something of a resurrection for the man with a case for being Br

MPs to launch national ad campaign to highlight extent UK military is unprepared for war

A cross-party group of MPs is set to launch a national advertising campaign that will highlight their view that the UK's military is underfunded - amid calls for increased defence spending.

We must ban social media for children – but Starmer is dithering as usual

Conservatives are prepared to act, but how long will it take PM to do what's necessary? asks Kemi Badenoch

Questions asked and answers given – up to a point. Welcome to lo-fi PMQs | John Crace

Weirdly, Keir and Kemi looked more secure in their jobs as a modicum of coherence entered their exchanges Credit where credit is due. The last few prime minister’s questions have been an exercise in nihilism. The embodiment of existential futility. Questions asked by Kemi Badenoch but not even a pretence by Keir Starmer of answering them. It was like the worst days of Boris Johnson’s time in No 10. We’d have learned more if both leaders had chosen to read out some names from an old 1980s phonebo

'Reckless!' Rachel Reeves is raising taxes faster than anywhere in the world

Labour breaks promise as Britons clobbered with more levy rises