The Guardian Politics

Minister condemns riot but urges review of police anti-racism guidance following Henry Nowak death – UK politics live

Sarah Jones appeals for calm after rioting over the death of Nowak, who was handcuffed while dying from stab woundLast night Abimbola Johnson, a barrister who chairs the independent scrutiny and oversight board for the police Race Action Plan, told Radio 4’s the World Tonight that he thought Chris Philp’s criticism of the police anti-racism commitment (see 8.19am) was “disingenuous”. He claimed that when Philp was policing ministerThe chair of the oversight board that scrutinised the Police Race

politics  Jun 3, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Britain is in a doom loop: people mistrust democracy and politicians. I say a hope loop is possible too | Polly Curtis

There are ways to address the lack of faith. And unless Starmer, Burnham or Streeting do that, the issue of who is PM is mootWhat happens next? Will Andy Burnham win the Makerfield byelection? Will Keir Starmer fight on? Will Wes Streeting run? After that, can Reform win the next general election? Is the Green bounce real? The politics-as-sports predictions rumble on. One newspaper editor texted me the other day asking who would be prime minister come Christmas, apparently because I was on his “

politics  Jun 3, 2026

BBC Politics

We now know how Peter Murrell embezzled from the SNP - but not why

Details revealed in court show the persistence, cynicism and devious tactics used by the former chief executive.

politics  Jun 3, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Mandelson messages could form a manual in the dark arts of wielding power and keeping it

Files shed light on how the Labour grandee juggled patrons and supplicants using flattery, fury and contempt for three decadesPolitical analysts have been frustrated by the mass redactions in the Mandelson files published on Monday: with so much obscured, many serious questions remain unanswered.But step aside from the vetting debate, and the files do shed light on another matter: how Peter Mandelson wields power, and how effectively he uses communication as a tool for maintaining it. Over the m

politics  Jun 3, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Andy Burnham offers Labour a refreshing new voice to reach lost voters – but with what message? | Rafael Behr

It will take more than blokeish affability to reach across the Brexit faultline that scars British politicsAndy Burnham’s stint as health secretary in the final year of Gordon Brown’s government was not especially memorable, although one observation from a senior civil servant in the department at the time has stuck in my mind. Working for Burnham, I was told, felt like “revising for exams with a mate who might turn to you and say: ‘shall we sack this off for a bit and play football instead?’”It

politics  Jun 3, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Nicola Sturgeon’s ex and his £400,000 shopping spree

Fast cars, luxury watches – and, of course, that motorhome: the list of what former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell bought with embezzled funds is dizzying. Severin Carrell reports.As chief executive of the SNP Peter Murrell was an extraordinarily influential politician. Along with former SNP leader Alex Salmond he helped turn the party into an election-winning machine. And he married the woman who would increase its popularity even further – Nicola Sturgeon. Then came the news he had admitted

politics  Jun 3, 2026

BBC Politics

Henry Nowak arrest footage raises 'serious questions for police', PM says

Sir Keir Starmer says the question of "how accusations of racism informed decision making" must be addressed.

politics  Jun 2, 2026

BBC Politics

Starmer uses disappearing messages on his phone, No 10 confirms

A batch of messages between ministers and Lord Mandelson were published on Monday - but there were only a few from the prime minister.

politics  Jun 2, 2026

BBC Politics

Reform Makerfield candidate admits making 'crass' comments in past

Robert Kenyon says he was not involved in politics when he made remarks unearthed during the campaign.

politics  Jun 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Ella Baron on the fallout from the latest Mandelson revelations – cartoon

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politics  Jun 2, 2026

BBC Politics

Henry Nowak case reignites claims of unfair policing

The 18-year-old's murder has sparked debate among politicians over attitudes in policing.

politics  Jun 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

What’s missing from ‘embarrassing’ Mandelson files? – The Latest

The second tranche of documents related to the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador have been released. The documents, running at more than 1,000 pages, were supposed to reveal what ministers knew about Mandelson’s links to Epstein and the security process to approve his appointment, but instead have revealed government infighting and early doubts about Keir Starmer’s premiership. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s head of national news, Archie Bland – watch on YouTube Continue readi

politics  Jun 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Losing votes to Restore, Farage seizes a golden opportunity to bring racists back into the fold

Mark Nowak had asked for his son’s murder not to be used to spread division. But Nige is just not the kind of guy to miss outThe email invitation arrived shortly after 7am. Nigel Farage would be making an “address to the nation” an hour later. The grandiosity. The self-importance. An address to the nation is something usually delivered by the monarch or the prime minister during an emergency. Not from a leader of a political party with just eight MPs.There again, pomposity is now Nige’s last res

politics  Jun 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

No 10 confirms Starmer’s WhatsApp messages automatically delete

Spokesperson says function is in line with official guidance as scrutiny of papers relating to Peter Mandelson continuesUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer’s WhatsApp messages automatically delete from his smartphone, Downing Street has confirmed, calling into question how full a picture emerged of his role in the appointment of Peter Mandelson from a recently released tranche of government documents.Asked at a briefing whether Starmer uses the function on his WhatsApp messages, the pr

politics  Jun 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Debt-ridden graduates seen as ‘cash cows’ to fund older people’s lifestyles, MPs told

Student groups tell inquiry about ballooning debt and ‘sneaky changes’ to loan terms while likening system to finance scandalsGraduates saddled with ballooning student loan debts feel they are being unfairly used as “cash cows” to finance measures benefiting older people such as the state pension triple lock, MPs have been told.Student representatives told an official inquiry about the “harrowing” plight of many young people, while the man who led the 2019 government review into post-18 educatio

politics  Jun 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

An horrific murder – and a civil war threatening to tear apart the British right | Joe Mulhall

After the conviction of Henry Nowak’s killer, the right is embracing racialised language. This tragedy is now just part of a political tussleJoe Mulhall is director of research at the anti-fascism organisation Hope Not HateThe video of the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak at the hands of Vickrum Digwa in Southampton is horrifying. But Nigel Farage’s decision to respond to these events by calling for “pure cold rage” and insisting we recognise that “white lives matter” is a worrying sign of an i

politics  Jun 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

A red box for Donald Trump, and eight weeks to make it. Now I really am outraged by the Mandy files | Marina Hyde

I’m not sure any other first world nation would have this problem. Keir Starmer’s promise of growth, growth, growth appears to have shrivelledWe are in the TL;DR days of Keir Starmer’s government. The latest Mandelson files stimulate nothing so much as an old and now immortally memed response to an online screed: “I ain’t reading all that. I’m happy for u tho. Or sorry that happened.” In any case, to save you the bother, I can report that there are only two hideously iconic moments in the lates

politics  Jun 2, 2026

BBC Politics

Five questions left unanswered by the Mandelson files

A second batch of files relating to Lord Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador has been released.

politics  Jun 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

UK government has failed Palestinian people, says senior Labour MP

Emily Thornberry criticises Israel’s ‘staggering’ sense of impunity and rebukes Donald Trump for abandoning GazaThe UK government has let the Palestinian people down and failed to make it economically impossible for Israel to continue to act with impunity in the West Bank and Gaza, the Labour chair of the foreign affairs select committee, Emily Thornberry, has said.She accused her own government of lacking ambition and wringing its hands on the Palestinian crisis, and she also chastised Donald T

politics  Jun 2, 2026

The Guardian Politics

British politics is fractured and chaotic – but at last it’s brimming with ideas for the future | Polly Toynbee

Finally, Labour is talking policy, thanks to the leadership contest and Tony Blair’s intervention – and the centre-right is making a much-needed fightback too“Wouldn’t it be great if Tony Blair kept his mouth shut about the Labour party?” Readers may have cheered that Guardian letter-writer’s response to yet another infuriating assault by Blair from the outer-stratosphere of nowhere. Isn’t Labour in enough trouble with a life-or-death byelection against the forces of darkness without incoming fi

politics  Jun 2, 2026