Politics
Elections, government, and policy—from multiple perspectives. Ordered by original publication date from each source.
2026 elections mapped: how Labour lost ground in different directions
Keir Starmer’s party lost out to Reform and the Greens, with no respite in Scotland, Wales or England. These maps show the scale of the historic resultsFull results from England, Scotland and WalesLabour has suffered heavy losses across England, Scotland and Wales, losing ground to opponents on the ...
Who are the main threats to Keir Starmer’s Labour leadership?
PM is determined to fight on in No 10 but various contenders to replace him have been organising for some timeKeir Starmer has long been dogged by leadership rivals – despite only having won a huge majority two years ago. He insists there is no vacancy, and that he will fight on in No 10, seeking a ...
In India, heat-triggered insurance offers 'some relief'
Clothes seller Lata Solanki used to face a devastating choice when India’s summer heat hit dangerous levels: risk her health going door-to-door for sales, or lose her income? But now the 42-year-old is part of an insurance scheme that pays out when temperatures hit a threshold, so she can stay home ...
Trump rejects ‘unacceptable’ Iranian terms for ending war
• Iran conveyed response via Pakistani mediators• Officials say Tehran wants to focus on ending hostilities, leaving ‘contentious’ matters like sanctions relief, N-issues for later• Pezeshkian says dialogue ‘does not mean surrender or retreat’; Khamenei meets military commander• After Washington mee...
Wales has been hit by a political earthquake – and the UK government is in a very tricky position | Will Hayward
If Starmer’s Labour refuses to concede more powers to Plaid Cymru, the triumphant independence party, it will only accelerate its own declineOn Saturday, I stood on the steps outside the Senedd, listening to the leader of Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth, take questions from the media. It was one of th...
Minority groups brace for surge in racism after Reform UK election gains
Members of minority communities in Birmingham and elsewhere fear results could lead to rise in hostile rhetoricConceding defeat at the election count at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on Friday, the outgoing Labour leader of the city council, John Cotton, made a plea. “What I would encourage the next ad...
‘London is a case study in hope’: Sadiq Khan on 10 years as mayor
London mayor talks up coalition-building, highlights his environmental record, and worries national Labour party is on the wrong trackWhen Sadiq Khan was first elected as mayor of London 10 years ago, Barack Obama was US president, the UK was still in the European Union and Leicester City had just b...
Japan develops easy-to-install prayer room for Muslims
OKAYAMA: A company in Soja, Okayama Prefecture, has developed a compact, easy-to-install prayer room designed to help tourist sites and businesses accommodate Muslim visitors. The product, called “Prayer Space,” was developed by a staff member of OM Kiki Co., which produces welfare and other equipme...
US widens drive to revoke citizenship of foreign-born Americans
• Indian businessman among a dozen facing denaturalisation • Justice Dept targets naturalised citizens over fraud, terror links • Civil liberties groups warn of uncertainty, fear in immigrant communities WASHINGTON: The Trump administration is widening its drive to revoke the citizenship of foreign-...
Budget may include income tax relief amid salary, pension freeze
ISLAMABAD: The government is considering reducing the income tax burden on salaried individuals while refraining from increasing salaries and pensions in the upcoming budget, aiming to provide equitable fiscal relief to both public and private sector employees. Informed sources told Dawn that Financ...
Hegseth says Pentagon will review Mark Kelly's public statements about classified briefing amid ongoing feud
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth suggested Sen. Mark Kelly may have violated his oath by discussing a classified Pentagon briefing on weapons stockpiles.
Union-funded anti-Spencer Pratt ad sparks backlash as critics say it could help him
LA unions spent $221,000 on a political ad attacking Republican Spencer Pratt's mayoral campaign, but critics say the messaging could backfire.
Chris Mason: Another crunch moment for Starmer as he pleads with Labour MPs not to topple him
The prime minister will seek to reset his premiership in a speech on Monday.
How many Labour MPs are calling on PM to go - and who are they?
After Labour lost almost 1,500 councillors in England - as well as control of the Welsh Senedd for the first time - Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure.
Trump says US helped secure release of 5 prisoners in Belarus deal, thanks Lukashenko
President Trump says five Polish and Moldovan prisoners have been released from detention in Belarus and Russia through U.S. diplomatic efforts.
Biden seeks to block DOJ release of 2017 audio, court filing says
Joe Biden's lawyers are expected to intervene against the DOJ's release of redacted transcripts and audio from his ghostwriter conversations.
Rayner issues 'last chance' warning to Starmer and backs Burnham to return
In her first comments since Labour's election defeats, the ex-deputy PM calls for bolder action from the prime minister.
'Free beer' for Trump death Dem activist running for Wisconsin gov: 'I will win' if they silence me
Democrat Kirk Bangstad, who posted about "free beer day" tied to Trump's death, now seeks Wisconsin governor's race signatures and warns his party.
Councillor under investigation over racism allegations
Reform UK investigate Glenn Gibbins after his Sunderland election win on Thursday.
The Tories are still on life support – so why is Badenoch in celebratory mood?
Party leader has been vocal about its gains in London and there is a feeling that its losses could have been worseBy any sane person’s reckoning, the Conservative party had a night to forget in Thursday’s local, mayoral and devolved elections. It lost about 500 councillors in England and ceded contr...
Virginia Democrats’ $70M redistricting gamble backfires after court defeat, ignites blame game
Virginia Democrats' redistricting strategy backfired after a court struck down new maps, triggering infighting and costing roughly $70 million in losses.
Angela Rayner calls blocking Andy Burnham’s return to parliament a mistake as pressure mounts on Keir Starmer – as it happened
Catherine West issues ultimatum for PM as ex-minister Josh Simons joins calls for prime minister to quitAt the start of her programme Laura Kuenssberg addressed Catherine West and Bridget Phillipson who were sitting waiting for the main interviews.Kuenssberg told West she wanted a cabinet minister t...
The Guardian view on the Welsh and Scottish elections: Plaid’s triumph heralds a new era in devolved politics | Editorial
Progressive nationalist parties now hold power in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. That will be a challenge for the United Kingdom’s overcentralised stateWhen the Scottish and Welsh parliaments were created on the eve of the millennium, the then Labour government in Westminster believed that it had e...
Trump-backed Board of Peace, Israel 'will take action' if Hamas remains out of compliance: Netanyahu advisor
Netanyahu advisor Michael Eisenberg says Israel will act against Hamas for noncompliance with peace terms, crediting Trump's team for the deal.