News

Original reporting and the latest political headlines from across the UK.

Our Articles

Mainstream Headlines

Filtering by:Tag: defence×Source: The Guardian Politics×Clear all

187 headlines found — Page 9 of 16

The Guardian Politics8 Mar 2026

Two more US aircraft arrive at RAF Fairford

Aircraft touch down in Gloucestershire after Trump given use of British bases for defensive operations in Iran Middle East crisis – live updates Two more US air force planes have landed at RAF Fairford, after the UK allowed Washington to use its bases to take part in defensive operations in Iran. Footage broadcast on Sunday showed two Boeing C-17 Globemaster transportation planes landing at the airbase in Gloucestershire, days after B-1 Lancer bombers arrived. Continue reading...

Defence
The Guardian Politics8 Mar 2026

Starmer must learn the lessons of war, and defend Britain against Donald Trump | Simon Tisdall

As the Iran disaster escalates, Starmer should treat the US president as someone whose actions threaten the lawful, democratic way of life everywhere Nine days in, the conduct of the unjustified, illegal US-Israel war against Iran grows ever-more disproportionate, dishonourable and deranged. The torpedoing of an Iranian navy ship off Sri Lanka by a US submarine demonstrated that for reckless Donald Trump, the whole world is his battlefield. Diplomacy, treacherously sabotaged by Washington, has b

Defence
The Guardian Politics8 Mar 2026

Cooper rejects Blair’s call for UK to have backed Trump’s strikes on Iran

Foreign secretary hits back at former prime minister, saying Britain had to ‘learn the lessons’ of Iraq war Middle East crisis – live updates Yvette Cooper has rejected Tony Blair’s assertion that the UK should have supported Donald Trump’s initial airstrikes on Iran, saying Britain had to “learn the lessons” of mistakes made in Iraq. At a private lunch event on Friday, the former Labour prime minister said Keir Starmer “should have backed America from the very beginning” and let the Trump ad

Defence
The Guardian Politics7 Mar 2026

Trump tells Starmer help not needed even as US uses UK bases for Iran strikes

US president delivers stinging criticism of UK prime minister over delayed support for Iran war Donald Trump has renewed his stinging criticism of UK prime minister Keir Starmer over the lack of immediate UK support for the US-Israeli strikes on Iran. “The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, adding: “That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer,

Defence
The Guardian Politics7 Mar 2026

Labour accuse Badenoch of scoring ‘cheap political points’ over Iran strikes

Defence minister urges ‘serious politics’ after Tory leader criticises prime minister’s stance at spring conference Middle East crisis live: latest news updates Labour has accused Kemi Badenoch of scoring “cheap political points” after the Conservative party leader said Keir Starmer was “too scared” to join strikes on Iran. Al Carns, the defence minister, said “serious politics” was required in response to Badenoch’s speech at the party’s spring conference where she criticised the prime minist

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics7 Mar 2026

US bomber lands in UK after warning of surge in strikes on Iran

B-1 Lancer, which can carry 24 cruise missiles, arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening Middle East crisis – live updates A US bomber has landed at an RAF base in Britain after Washington warned that strikes on Iran would “surge dramatically”. The 146ft B-1 Lancer, which is capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles, arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening after Keir Starmer had granted permission for “defensive” US action against Iranian missile sites fro

Defence
The Guardian Politics7 Mar 2026

UK must stockpile food in readiness for climate shocks or war, expert warns

Prof Tim Lang says country produces far less food than it needs to feed population and is particularly vulnerable The British government should be stockpiling food, according to a leading expert on food policy, as it is not prepared for climate shocks or wars that could cause the population to starve. Prof Tim Lang of City St George’s, University of London said the UK produced far less food than it needed to feed itself, and as a small island that relied on a few large companies to feed its gia

DefenceEducationEnvironment
The Guardian Politics6 Mar 2026

Police search home of former Labour MP’s husband amid China spying investigation

James Robinson, husband of Gloria De Piero, says police visited their home with a warrant but he has not been detained or questioned The husband of former Labour MP Gloria De Piero has confirmed his home was searched on Wednesday as part of a police investigation into an alleged Chinese spying ring. James Robinson, a former aide to the ex-Labour deputy leader Tom Watson, issued a statement confirming the raid on the home he shares with his wife, but said he had not been detained or questioned by

DefenceCrime
The Guardian Politics6 Mar 2026

Keir Starmer accused of ‘mimicking Trump’ with Middle East crisis TikTok post

PM justifies position in social media post on US-Israel war on Iran using Dire Straits song Money for Nothing Keir Starmer has been accused of trying to mimic Donald Trump’s social media output after posting a TikTok about the crisis in the Middle East overlaid with the prime minister’s voice and the Dire Straits song Money for Nothing. The video opens with footage showing Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters flying over his head before cutting to British military jets in action and a drone being dest

Defence
The Guardian Politics6 Mar 2026

Labour urged to listen to progressive voters or face ‘political earthquake’ in London

Exclusive: Senior party figures share data suggesting Green surge could put Labour in fourth place in capital in May Senior Labour politicians across London have warned the government not to take progressive voters for granted, with concerns the party faces a “political earthquake” in the capital in May after a surge in support for the Greens. They have been privately circulating new data that suggests Labour could drop from first to fourth place in London in the May elections – losing control

PoliticsDefenceEnvironment
The Guardian Politics6 Mar 2026

Britain’s war hawks are very upset that Keir Starmer isn’t personally riding a bomb all the way to Tehran | Marina Hyde

Didn’t you know? True British patriots are the ones who want to join an obviously disastrous war on behalf of Israel and Donald Trump Have you heard enough pant-wetting about Britain’s “reputation” this week? Honestly, I don’t think any of us can bear the social embarrassment of not getting immediately involved in an obviously disastrous war in the Middle East. The awks of it. How will good old Britannia hold her head up high if she isn’t an instant ride-or-die for a US administration described

Defence
The Guardian Politics6 Mar 2026

Trump broke his promises to pursue this unwinnable war. Britain must not follow him into the abyss | Simon Jenkins

The bombing of Iran is deeply unpopular. Despite the Tories’ urgings, Keir Starmer must not further embroil the UK in this disaster Keir Starmer’s immediate response to the Israeli-US attack on Iran last weekend was sensible and correct. Donald Trump had lied that the US was at risk of imminent attack, and had presented no coherent reason for going to war. Even after Starmer weakened and allowed the US to use British bases, although it did not really need them, Trump was furious. He accused Star

DefenceHousing