The Standard Politics

Lammy and Nandy launch ‘soft power council’ to boost UK on global stage

Nina Lloyd — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 00:35:21 GMT

The Foreign Secretary and Culture Secretary will jointly chair the group.

Keir Starmer to hold talks on new security treaty during visit to Poland

Caitlin Doherty — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 22:30:00 GMT

The Prime Minister has said that it is ‘time to take our partnership to the next level’ with Poland.

Tories will consider means-testing triple-lock, Badenoch says

Nina Lloyd — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 22:25:52 GMT

The Conservative leader said that while in government the party had supported the system but that ‘we need to make sure we are growing’.

PM: UK will discuss peacekeeping troops in Ukraine with allies

Nina Lloyd — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 22:16:49 GMT

The Prime Minister indicated he was speaking to international partners about the prospect of western soldiers monitoring any ceasefire.

Former Bank boss Mark Carney announces bid to replace Canada’s Trudeau

Harry Stedman — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 22:07:25 GMT

Mr Carney headed up Britain’s central bank between 2013 and 2020 before being succeeded by Andrew Bailey.

UK will play its 'full part' in peacekeeping efforts in Ukraine, says Sir Keir Starmer

Josh Salisbury — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 21:55:43 GMT

Britain will discuss possible future deployment of peacekeeping forces with allies, Sir Keir Starmer said

Grooming inquiry timetable will bring ‘fundamental change’, say campaigners

Harry Stedman — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 21:26:11 GMT

Yvette Cooper said that the Government would lay out a clear timetable by Easter for implementing the recommendations in the IICSA’s final report.

Tory-Reform merger to beat Labour ruled out by Kemi Badenoch

David Lynch — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 20:14:30 GMT

Reform UK has overtaken the Tories in a series of opinion polls in recent weeks, and is within touching distance of Labour’s lead with the public.

New row erupts over China's plan for London super embassy as ministers intervene to force it through

Rachael Burford — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 19:49:19 GMT

Yvette Cooper and David Lammy were accused of attempting ‘to influence an independent inquiry’

Local reviews into grooming will get answers and bring change, says Cooper

Aine Fox — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 19:35:24 GMT

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said local reviews would provide more answers and change than a nationwide probe.

Keir Starmer tells school children Roy Of The Rovers is his favourite book

Caitlin Doherty — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 19:16:36 GMT

The Prime Minister also said his favourite football player is Arsenal star Martin Odegaard.

Reporting of vaccine side-effects should be mandatory – Tory former minister

Rhiannon James — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 19:10:22 GMT

Esther McVey said there was a ‘gross underreporting’ of unintended impacts of vaccines to the medicines regulator.

Cooper looking at ‘different ways’ to haul witnesses before grooming inquiries

Will Durrant — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 18:44:55 GMT

The Home Secretary said Government is working with the Cabinet Office to draw up new accountability arrangements.

Chancellor urges regulators to ‘tear down’ red tape in bid for growth

Henry Saker-Clark — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 17:41:46 GMT

It came after fresh data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that the UK economy grew by a weaker-than-expected 0.1% in November.

Labour MP calls for law change to protect children born from rape

Rhiannon James — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 17:35:42 GMT

Natalie Fleet, who previously disclosed she is a victim of grooming, pressed for further protection for those who have a child with their groomer.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announces local grooming gangs inquiries after mounting pressure

Rachael Burford — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 17:08:45 GMT

The reviews will focus on the ‘cultural drivers’ of child sexual exploitation gangs and police forces will be asked to reopen "cold cases"

Home Secretary announces local reviews into grooming gangs

Aine Fox — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 16:44:00 GMT

Yvette Cooper addressed the House of Commons on Thursday.

Starmer says UK prepared to play a role in guaranteeing Ukrainian security

David Hughes — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 16:39:04 GMT

But Sir Keir said the current focus was on ensuring Ukraine was in a position of strength rather than any future peacekeeping mission.

Ministers and emergency services to hold national test of pandemic preparedness

David Lynch — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 16:38:59 GMT

Blue light services will join senior ministers in the first test of pandemic preparedness in nearly a decade.

Lammy urged by MPs to say when Government will recognise Palestinian state

Harry Taylor — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 16:29:48 GMT

Foreign Secretary faces repeated questions from MPs on when the UK will officially recognise Palestine

UK should ‘only’ host Trump visit if he ‘delivers’ on Ukraine says Sir Ed Davey

Caitlin Doherty — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 16:24:40 GMT

The Liberal Democrat leader described the idea of a state visit as ‘leverage’ the UK would have over the president-elect.

‘Major issues’ with HS2, Holocaust memorial and nuclear subs, ministers warned

David Lynch — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 15:43:10 GMT

Some 27 of the 227 large-scale schemes the Government is overseeing appear to be unachievable, according to the Infrastructure and Projects Authority

London’s most controversial mayor? Inside the complex world of Lutfur Rahman: power struggles, corruption…and popularity

Rachael Burford — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 15:33:22 GMT

Struck off as a solicitor and once banned from standing in elections, Lutfur Rahman remains a divisive figure

Three London students in 'danger to health' cold and mouldy flat win £20,000 rent back from landlord

Nicholas Cecil — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 15:28:43 GMT

A residential property tribunal ruled in their favour after they sought a rent repayment order in the row over a £1.2 million flat near Hyde Park

Kemi Badenoch hits back at Nigel Farage and claims Rachel Reeves is 'woman problem' for Starmer

Nicholas Cecil — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 15:13:10 GMT

The Tory leader also admitted mistakes by the last Conservative governments over Brexit and immigration

Nearly 100 migrants rescued as more than 600 people cross Channel this year

Anahita Hossein-Pour — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 15:06:11 GMT

Some 215 people in four boats arrived in the UK on Wednesday, taking the total for the year so far to 603 people, according to Home Office data.

I can’t control defections to Reform, says Findlay after councillor’s switch

Craig Meighan — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 15:02:22 GMT

The Scottish Conservative leader was speaking after Thomas Kerr, the leader of the Tories at Glasgow City Council, defected to Nigel Farage’s party.

Home Secretary threatened with legal action over grooming scandal

Flora Thompson — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 14:37:58 GMT

Maggie Oliver, a former detective who resigned from Greater Manchester Police in 2012, said she issued a pre-action letter to Yvette Cooper.

Lammy: There must be no back-tracking over Gaza ceasefire deal

Richard Wheeler — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 13:56:54 GMT

The Foreign Secretary has urged both Israel and Hamas to deliver on their commitments to help end the conflict.

Minister defends dropping Troubles law appeal amid Gerry Adams payout fears

Abbie Llewelyn — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 13:42:02 GMT

Sir Keir Starmer said on Wednesday the Government would look at ‘every conceivable way’ to stop these claimants receiving damages.

Swinney in apology to patients who have ‘unsatisfactory experience’ in hospital

Katrine Bussey — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 13:40:16 GMT

It comes after a report from the Royal College of Nursing warned of a ‘corridor care crisis’ across the NHS.

First by-election threat for Keir Starmer as 'punching' suspended Labour MP Mike Amesbury faces jail

Nicholas Cecil — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 13:35:17 GMT

A judge warned the MP for Runcorn and Helsby that he was considering a prison sentence among the range of options for the assault offence

Church of England clear-out needed following Makin Review, says ex-minister

Richard Wheeler — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 13:31:20 GMT

The Church of England’s Commons representative also said ‘those responsible must be held to account’.

MP calls for Stuart Hogg to be stripped of MBE after admitting domestic abuse

Rhiannon James — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 13:25:26 GMT

Hogg was sentenced to a community payback order with one year of supervision after he admitted abusing his estranged wife.

Starmer: UK will ‘never let up’ on support for Ukraine

David Hughes — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 13:11:25 GMT

Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to Ukraine comes ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration and a potential push for a peace deal to end the war with Russia.

Unregulated botox becoming ‘health crisis’, MP warns as petition launched

Will Durrant — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 12:23:34 GMT

Botox demand is ‘partially fuelled by social media and societal pressures on young people’, Bradley Thomas told the Commons

Ex-Labour MP Mike Amesbury says sorry as he could be jailed for street punch

Eleanor Barlow — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 12:03:12 GMT

The Runcorn and Helsby MP pleaded guilty to assault on Thursday.

Tories accused of showing ‘collective amnesia’ over record in government

Harry Taylor — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 11:32:57 GMT

Commons leader Lucy Powell says she hoped the Tories might own up to economic results over last 14 years, including ‘low growth and low wages’.

Tories are amplifying conspiracy theories of foreign billionaires, says Nandy

Claudia Savage — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 11:23:35 GMT

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said while the Tories ‘amplify the noise and conspiracy theories we are cracking on with delivering for people’.

Putin army explosives factory attacked deep inside Russia, says Ukraine

Nicholas Cecil — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 09:57:45 GMT

The armament plant is in the Tambov region hundreds of miles from the border with Ukraine

Interest rates 'to be cut within weeks' as weak GDP figures deal new blow to Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves

Nicholas Cecil and Jonathan Prynn — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 09:50:56 GMT

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee is expected to cut interest rates in early February

Chicken poo a factor in housing moratoriums, MPs told

Will Durrant — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 09:46:24 GMT

Agricultural pollution in rivers has led to a halt on housing in areas along the border between England and Wales.

Tories will tell difficult truths, Badenoch to say in bid to regain voter trust

David Lynch — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 09:45:02 GMT

The Conservative leader is also expected to criticise the Labour Party for announcing ‘mad and bad ideas’ which the Tories rejected when in power.

British visa plea for wealthy US citizens desperate to flee Donald Trump's America

Nicholas Cecil and Rachael Burford — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 09:10:28 GMT

The Prime Minister was asked in Parliament to ensure there is a visa scheme for American business chiefs and other high-flyers to come to Britain

Keir Starmer arrives in Ukraine to sign 'landmark' 100-year pact as he brands Putin's invasion a 'monumental strategic failure'

Michael Howie — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 08:28:11 GMT

Sir Keir Starmer said the 100 Year Partnership would cement the friendship between the two countries for the next century