The Guardian Politics

Here in Liverpool, buses are back under public control – and that’s great for the only people who really matter | Steve Rotheram

For decades we were told that privatisation would deliver better services. The experience of millions of passengers tells a different storySteve Rotheram is mayor of the Liverpool city regionOne of the best-known scenes from the TV series The Inbetweeners is the four angst-ridden teenage characters shouting abuse at people queueing at a bus stop. Only losers take the bus, is the point – except they use a much ruder word. There’s also a statement, misattributed to Margaret Thatcher, that any man

politics  1h ago

BBC Politics

Some veterans to be called up to test UK's war resilience

An exercise next year on a scale not seen for a "very long time" will test the UK's preparedness, a minister says.

politics  2h ago

The Guardian Politics

I am sending the assisted dying bill back to the Lords – and this time, peers must do the right thing | Lauren Edwards

The will of the elected chamber – and a popular, compassionate piece of legislation – must not be frustrated again by a small minority of peersLauren Edwards is the Labour MP for Rochester and StroodI was elected to Westminster two years ago, when the country was crying out for change and looking to parliament to tackle the big issues that had been forgotten for too long. When that change didn’t come fast enough, trust in politics once again started to ebb away. We have one last chance to prove

politics  4h ago

The Guardian Politics

The byelection here in Holborn and St Pancras is Labour’s to lose. But lose it might | Polly Toynbee

The Greens appeal to young and progressive voters here on defence, rent controls and North Sea oil. The Burnham bounce may be about to hit an obstacleYou might think a byelection showdown between two progressive parties is unimportant when the deep struggle for the national heart is between the right bloc and the left – but the result in Holborn and St Pancras matters. It matters for Andy Burnham and Labour because this is a test of the Burnham bounce: he saw off the right in Makerfield – can he

politics  8h ago

BBC Politics

Minister condemns disorder at Portsmouth anti-migrant protest after police officers hurt

Sarah Jones told MPs the violence sparked by the arrival of 120 migrants in a single dinghy was "intimidating and thuggish".

politics  18h ago

The Guardian Politics

Farage still Reform’s best hope as rivals struggle to match appeal to party faithful

Despite series of scandals, members remain loyal to their leader as questions over his successor growFew British politicians unleash the kind of evangelical zeal among their party faithful as Nigel Farage. Despite being weighed down by weeks of scandal, last weekend’s Reform UK conference showed that – as far as the membership is concerned – the lustre has not come off their man.So it was notable that Farage felt compelled to reassure his disciples that he wasn’t going anywhere. “I’m only here b

politics  20h ago

The Guardian Politics

The Guardian view on the far right’s real weapon: it is the politics of powerlessness | Editorial

From Dover to Saxony-Anhalt, extremists thrive when voters believe established parties can no longer deliver security, prosperity or meaningful changeWhat links the thuggish masked agitation in southern England this weekend and the far-right Alternative für Deutschland’s (AfD) best-ever result in a German state – where it more than doubled the 21% vote it received five years ago? Several hundred men in balaclavas blocking an A road are not the same as a party winning a landslide election. B

politics  20h ago

The Guardian Politics

A Reform UK without Nigel Farage used to be unthinkable. Not any more | Gaby Hinsliff

The scandals are building, his touch perhaps not quite what it was. And, most of all, his party rivals are beginning to sense an opportunityNigel Farage didn’t know. He wasn’t told.Sure, he was right there at the table when the undercover reporter he believed to be a rich American’s son spelled out very clearly how he hoped to channel his father’s money to Reform, in ways that certainly don’t sound too lawful.Gaby Hinsliff is a Guardian columnistDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in thi

politics  20h ago

BBC Politics

UK begins talks to rejoin EU security missions

The deal could see British officials take part in crisis management operations for the first time since Brexit.

politics  21h ago

The Guardian Politics

‘Thuggish’ far-right protesters descend on Dover and Portsmouth – The Latest

Far-right activists gathered in two disruptive demonstrations in Dover and Portsmouth over the weekend, attempting to obstruct asylum seekers arriving on small boats from France. Many wore all black and balaclavas. The action was seemingly organised by Daniel Thomas, an agitator better known as Danny Tommo, who has close ties with the far-right extremist Tommy Robinson. Thomas was recorded on the ground saying Portsmouth was now ‘ground zero’ for small boat crossings, and has threatened further

politics  21h ago

The Guardian Politics

Painful, unconvincing and boring: welcome to John Healey’s late show | John Crace

Chancellor has the look of a man born to announce the UK is under nuclear attackMeet the new chancellor. Same as the old chancellor. Though, on reflection, that might be a little hard on Rachel Reeves. At least Rachel had given the job some thought before she got it. She had had some experience working at the Bank of England and, whether you liked it or not, she had some kind of plan. John Healey? Not so much. No one can remember him ever having given the economy much thought until Andy Burnham

politics  21h ago

The Guardian Politics

Why does the hard right have such a high tolerance for domestic abusers in their midst?

The ‘stop the boats’ narrative is increasingly presented as if it stems from a concern for women’s safety. This is just the laundering of thuggeryIt was a busy weekend for the insurgent and hard right, as Reform party delegates redoubled their commitment to women’s safety by physically attacking a female protester and Patriot Platform, a new group established by Danny Tommo, real name Daniel Thomas, arrived in Dover on Saturday, then Portsmouth on Sunday, dressed in balaclavas. No arrests were m

politics  21h ago

The Guardian Politics

Is the UK about to see the rise of the far right? – podcast

Alternative für Deutschland has claimed a historic win in Germany, continuing the pattern of populist far-right parties gaining power across Europe.In the UK, balaclava-clad far-right protesters have marched on Dover, and then Portsmouth, trying to intimidate asylum seekers.Meanwhile, Reform UK’s conference ended with a beleaguered Nigel Farage dealing with protesters and allegations following an undercover investigation into party donors. Will far-right sentiment in Europe and the UK be a boost

politics  22h ago

BBC Politics

Faisal Islam: Chancellor's attempts to boost vibes may limit tax rises

The new leadership is trying to maintain both confidence and the promotion of economic animal spirits.

politics  22h ago

BBC Politics

Plans for major overhaul councils halted

Proposals to merge smaller councils to form larger authorities have been paused or withdrawn in a number of areas.

politics  1d ago

The Guardian Politics

I had an amazing experience as a disabled person at school in the 70s. Since then, discrimination has got far worse | Mik Scarlet

Toxic narratives around ‘benefit scrounging’, fed by successive governments, have become embedded in the national psycheAs a disabled person, you’re forced to repeatedly explain your medical history – but for this article, I think it’s important. I was born with a very rare type of cancer called a neuroblastoma. In 1965, it was pretty much a death sentence. Luckily, I took part in a clinical trial and, with only days to live, I had major surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy with a new drug. De

politics  1d ago

The Guardian Politics

Labour’s new powers for water customers are a ‘stitch-up’, say campaigners

Exclusive: Documents reveal water firms have been allowed to advise on how they wish to be held to accountLabour’s new powers for customers to hold water companies to account are a “stitch-up”, campaigners have said, as utilities firms have been advising on how to implement it.The Consumer Council for Water (CCW) is creating what the government referred to as “powerful consumer panels” so the public can question the executives of their local water company and get redress for problems they face f

politics  1d ago

The Guardian Politics

Ministers condemn ‘thuggish’ far-right activists after Portsmouth unrest

Hundreds of men, some wearing balaclavas, attempted to prevent asylum seekers being transported for processingThe government has condemned the “thuggish and intimidating behaviour” of far-right activists who blocked roads in Portsmouth after a boat carrying asylum seekers arrived in the city, two days after similar scenes in Dover.Hundreds of men, some dressed in black and wearing balaclavas, tried to stop the arrivals from being transported for processing until 3am, when police removed them wit

politics  1d ago

BBC Politics

Chancellor to say UK economy 'turning a corner' despite debt concerns

John Healey will detail plans to spread growth more widely across the UK, ahead of his first Budget.

politics  1d ago

The Guardian Politics

‘We can win here’: Zack Polanski presses the flesh in Holborn and St Pancras

Polanski is confident of taking seat vacated by Keir Starmer, but says he will stay on as Green party leader even if he losesZack Polanski has said he will remain as Green party leader even if he loses the Holborn and St Pancras byelection in a high-stakes contest for the left of British politics.Speaking to the Guardian while door knocking in the north London constituency, Polanski calls the Greens underdogs in the race but says he is confident he could beat Labour, which won the seat with a ma

politics  1d ago