UK politics

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#reform-uk
fromwww.bbc.com
13 minutes ago
UK politics

Reform UK welcomes defectors among 20 new councillors

Reform UK gained 20 councillors in England, including 14 former Conservatives, strengthening its local representation ahead of major upcoming elections.
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago
UK politics

Show some gratitude, people Nadhim Zahawi has joined Reform for our benefit, apparently | Marina Hyde

Wealthy, self-styled politicians join Reform UK claiming they don't need power, presenting themselves as 'pre-loved' political brands rather than driven public servants.
#digital-id
UK politics
fromBusiness Matters
10 hours ago

Starmer drops compulsory digital ID plan in 13th major U-turn

Keir Starmer has abandoned plans to make digital IDs mandatory for workers; the scheme will be optional when introduced in 2029.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
8 hours ago

Digital ID latest: Starmer under fire from Blair ally after yet another U-turn

Keir Starmer scrapped mandatory digital ID for right-to-work checks, prompting political backlash and accusations of a government U-turn.
#northern-powerhouse-rail
#digital-identity
fromwww.theguardian.com
4 hours ago

Keir Starmer promises action over cancellation of Jewish MP's school visit

Can I start by thanking you for raising this case, because it is very serious, very concerning, and all members of parliament should be able to visit anywhere in their constituency, schools or other places without any fear of antisemitism. We do take this seriously. We are providing more funding for security and support we're putting in across the country, and we will be holding to account those who prevented this visit to this school.
UK politics
UK politics
fromArs Technica
1 hour ago

Deny, deny, admit: UK police used Copilot AI "hallucination" when banning football fans

Police used Microsoft CoPilot-generated intelligence that produced erroneous conclusions leading to a wrongful ban, prompting criticism, calls for accountability, and demands for Guildford's resignation.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
2 hours ago

Larry the cat trips up Polish president's photographer

Larry, the Downing Street cat, blocked a photographer when Karol Nawrocki left after meeting Sir Keir Starmer; UK and Poland agreed helicopter training in UK.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 hour ago

Mahmood wins vote to ban animal testing lab protests

A government change criminalises non-violent protests at animal-testing facilities, exposing activists to prison and fines and raising concerns about the right to peaceful protest.
#west-midlands-police
fromESPN.com
16 hours ago
UK politics

Police chief apologises for AI error that helped form Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban decision

fromESPN.com
16 hours ago
UK politics

Police chief apologises for AI error that helped form Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban decision

fromwww.bbc.com
1 hour ago

Certainty needed over Ajax Army vehicles, say MPs

Shelley PhelpsWales Westminster correspondent PA Media MPs have called for certainty and swift decision-making on the paused Ajax armoured vehicles project to protect jobs in south Wales. Testing of the vehicles was paused and several investigations are being conducted after around 30 soldiers became ill from noise and vibration during a training exercise last year. The multi-million pound Ajax vehicles are made in Merthyr Tydfil by General Dynamics, which employs around 700 people.
UK politics
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
3 hours ago

Starmer won't back down' in fight with Musk's X over Grok AI sexualised images

Sir Keir Starmer demanded Elon Musk stop X's Grok AI creating sexualised deepfakes, triggering Ofcom investigation and prompting reported removal of the image-generation function.
UK politics
fromwww.standard.co.uk
3 hours ago

Met Police apologise for not investigating Chinese officials 'spying on protesters' outside planned London mega-embassy

Police initially told a victim to report alleged Chinese state-linked intimidation to Hong Kong’s embassy, later apologising for failing to investigate national security concerns.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
3 hours ago

X to comply with UK law over Grok deepfakes, Starmer says

X's AI tool Grok produced sexualised non-consensual deepfakes prompting an Ofcom investigation, government threats of new legislation, and X saying it will comply with UK law.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
3 hours ago

X is acting to comply with UK law, Keir Starmer tells MPs amid Grok row

UK government demands Elon Musk's X comply with UK law over Grok's sexualised images, backing Ofcom investigation and preparing to strengthen legislation if needed.
UK politics
fromTheregister
5 hours ago

MPs slam UK delay on banning AI nudification apps

UK government criticized for slow action on banning AI nudification tools and for narrow expedited legislation that misses multi-purpose platforms.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
45 minutes ago

Liz Kendall's response to X nudification' is good but not enough to solve the problem | Nana Nwachukwu

AI image-generation tools enable rapid mass creation of nonconsensual intimate images, facilitating sexual harassment and allowing platforms to profit unless criminalised and tightly regulated.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
11 hours ago

Labour and the Tories are banking on a return to the old normal'. That's not what voters want | Rafael Behr

Electoral outcomes hinge on whether voters trust the opposition to govern; incumbents hope economic performance and fear of Reform UK will sway sufficient voters to retain power.
#labour-party
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
18 hours ago

List of government U-turns as digital ID plans set to be scrapped

The government appears to have abandoned plans for a mandatory digital ID, reflecting multiple recent policy U-turns driven by political pressure and lobbying.
#journalism-funding
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 day ago
UK politics

MPs clash over childish' petition calling for snap general election

The Independent funds on-the-ground journalism and keeps reporting free, while MPs debate a petition calling an immediate UK general election.
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 day ago
UK politics

We can't keep getting it wrong first time, Streeting admits after series of U-turns

The Independent asks for donations to fund open-access journalism; Wes Streeting defends responsive policy U-turns and promotes 'get it right first time'.
#social-media-ban
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
9 hours ago

Police called as councillors vote to shelve elections

Redditch Borough Council voted to request postponement of May local elections to support local government reorganisation, citing £192,000 savings.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
6 hours ago

Victims' commissioner for England and Wales warns against U-turn on limiting jury trials

A government U-turn on reducing jury trials would collapse a fragile justice system and leave victims facing severe delays and massive backlogs.
#business-rates
fromwww.theguardian.com
11 hours ago

Palestinian citizen of Israel wins UK asylum over well-founded fear of persecution'

A Palestinian citizen of Israel has been granted asylum in the UK on the basis of a well-founded fear of persecution despite a former home secretary's attempt to block the claim. Hasan (not his real name) is believed to be the first Palestinian with an Israeli passport to be given refugee status in the UK. But the decision came only after two about-turns by the Home Office and a protracted legal battle.
UK politics
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 day ago

Tax and spending plans to be revealed in Scottish Budget

Scotland's 2026-27 Budget requires tough choices to balance funding, prioritize NHS and public services, and address cost of living, economy, and climate within limited resources.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

Home Office says illegal-working raids and arrests at record level UK politics live

Home Office reports record-high raids and arrests for illegal working in 2025 and launches a Secure Borders TikTok account to deter small-boat migration.
#welsh-politics
fromwww.bbc.com
23 hours ago
UK politics

Starting gun fired on crucial election as Wales' parliament returns

Welsh Labour, Plaid Cymru and Conservatives opened the 2026 campaign with heated Senedd clashes over independence, electoral positioning, bus-fare caps and scrapping stamp duty.
fromwww.bbc.com
1 day ago
UK politics

Lying ban for politicians in Wales prompts free speech fears

A proposed Welsh law would criminalise false or misleading election statements but contains broad powers risking free speech and lacks clear definitions and support.
fromwww.independent.co.uk
23 hours ago

Full list of former Tories who have defected to Nigel Farage's Reform

Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
UK politics
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
22 hours ago

Scottish budget: SNP government cuts taxes for lowest earners

Scottish government raised income-tax thresholds modestly, cutting taxes mainly for low earners while using reserves, spending cuts, and borrowing to fund election pledges.
UK politics
fromLondon Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
1 day ago

Business confidence at record low for Starmer's government - London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

London business confidence and hiring intentions have fallen to their weakest levels under the Labour government amid tighter employment regulations and rising business costs.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
22 hours ago

Dealing with post-Brexit paperwork pure hell', shipping head tells MPs

Post-Brexit veterinary paperwork and customs bureaucracy have imposed severe delays and costs on British exporters, detaining meat shipments and increasing logistics expenses.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
23 hours ago

Wes breaks cover to challenge Keir without even mentioning him | John Crace

Wes Streeting is an ambitious, confident Labour frontbencher who outperforms Keir Starmer in media moments and appears prime minister material.
#chinauk-relations
fromwww.bbc.com
1 day ago

Lib Dems set out plan to end 12-hour A&E waits

There were an estimated 16,644 excess deaths associated with long A&E waits before admission in England in 2024, according to analysis by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine. Sir Ed said: "This deadly corridor crisis isn't befitting of the heroic doctors, nurses and other health professionals who work in our NHS. "It's not what we expect from our NHS, and it's not what we pay our hard-earned money in taxes to fund our NHS for."
UK politics
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

Wes Streeting attacks centre-left for excuses culture' of blaming civil service

Centre-left must abandon an excuses culture that blames Whitehall and stakeholders, take responsibility to steer and reform public services to retain public confidence.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 day ago

Labour MPs call for planned Chinese mega-embassy' in London to be axed

Nine Labour MPs urged the government to reject China's proposed London mega-embassy citing espionage, interference, intimidation risks and its placement above critical infrastructure.
#jeffrey-epstein
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 day ago

Cover-up law delayed after concerns it will not apply fully to MI5

A bill imposing a duty of candour has been delayed amid concern it may not fully apply to MI5, MI6 and GCHQ.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

Labour MPs plan to oppose move to restrict protest at animal testing sites

Ministers propose reclassifying life-science facilities as key infrastructure to criminalize disruptive protests, prompting cross-party opposition over civil liberties and limited parliamentary scrutiny.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

When crowds direct offensive chants at Keir Starmer, who's to blame? I'm afraid he is | Jonathan Liew

Widespread public hostility toward Keir Starmer has become a unifying, apolitical chant reflecting deep, ambiguous grievances and collapsing traditional political alignments.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 day ago

MP's school visit cancelled over pro-Palestine protests

A Jewish Labour MP's school visit was canceled after local pro-Palestine campaigners opposed it because of his support for Israel.
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

Hillsborough law to be delayed over security services concerns

The bill will enforce a duty of candour on public officials and contractors to tell the truth in the aftermath of disasters. But concerns were raised by campaigners that it went too far in protecting individual employees of the intelligence agencies who might have misled public inquiries or investigations. The government made a series of amendments to the bill on Friday to try to allay concerns, but is understood to be considering further changes after MPs said they could lose the support of victims.
UK politics
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

HMRC admits 71% wrongly targeted in child benefit fraud crackdown

HMRC suspended child benefit for many parents in error, with 71% wrongly targeted and only about 5% found to be fraudulent.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 day ago

I'm not racist, says Reform MS who used Chinese slur

Laura Anne Jones used a racial slur about Chinese people, apologized, undertook language training, and was suspended and pay-docked by the Senedd.
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 day ago

Watch live: Ministers questioned over Grok AI row as government vows to end abuse

Watch live as technology secretary Liz Kendall and culture secretary Lisa Nandy are questioned over AI and copyright on Tuesday (13 January). It comes after media watchdog Ofcom launched an investigation into Mr Musk's social media platform X after its AI tool Grok was used to generate sexualised images of women and children. If found to have breached the law, Ofcom can fine X up to 10 per cent of its global revenue or 18m, whichever is higher.
UK politics
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

Home Office TikTok account posting deportation footage accused of turning brutality into clickbait'

Home Office TikTok account posts footage of deportations and arrests set to dramatic music, criticized for turning enforcement into clickbait and fueling fear.
fromwww.bbc.com
1 day ago

Midnight gym workouts may boost council's income

Tower Hamlets said extending opening hours at the Whitechapel and Mile End centres could meet "rising demand from shift workers and younger adults". They also say it could allow badminton and other late-night bookings in the hall and more access to the fitness studio. The proposal is included in the council's draft budget plans for the 2026-27 financial year, which starts in April.
UK politics
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 day ago

Peter Mandelson apologises for Epstein association in sudden U-turn

Peter Mandelson apologised unequivocally for associating with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after previously declining to apologise in a BBC interview.
#ukip
fromLondon Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
1 day ago

Net zero could cost Britain billions more than officials estimate, warns new IEA paper - London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

He finds that headline figures have fallen dramatically not because net zero has become cheaper, but because public bodies have changed methodologies and relied on increasingly unrealistic assumptions. The CCC now claims that achieving net zero between 2025 and 2050 will cost just £108 billion - down from earlier estimates of over £1 trillion. Turver shows this is done by moving the goalposts from measuring gross costs to comparing against a notional baseline scenario.
UK politics
UK politics
fromTheregister
1 day ago

Affordable housing site goes live with meme-laden test data

A public London affordable-housing site exposed user-acceptance test data and memes, revealing accidental publication of placeholder content including images of Boris Johnson.
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 day ago

DWP reveals TWO new payments to support cost of living in 2026

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground.
UK politics
UK politics
fromLondon Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
1 day ago

MP claims 100,000 a bed a year at a detention centre is 'great value' - London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

The government plans a 1,000-bed Heathrow-area immigration detention centre at roughly £100,000 per bed annually, arguing detention enables removals and deters irregular migration.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 day ago

'Ski jump' path to be fixed after year-long row

A steep, hazardous pavement on West End Lane will be levelled after a year-long dispute between Camden Council and developers over responsibility.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 day ago

Record 2m workers to fall into 100,000 tax trap - here's what it means

Frozen tax thresholds push two million UK workers into high effective tax rates, while donations fund independent journalism that supports on-the-ground reporting.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
23 hours ago

It's a shambles': Anger grows as thousands still without water in mass shortage

Calls for South East Water chief executive David Hinton's resignation escalate after prolonged water outages leave tens of thousands in Kent and Sussex without supply.
UK politics
fromwww.standard.co.uk
1 day ago

Homeless families accuse London council of harrassment and initimidation

Lambeth Council's temporary-accommodation policies and unannounced visits have left homeless families intimidated, fearing eviction amid poor communication and a costly placement crisis.
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 day ago

Send army into Tunbridge Wells to fix water crisis, Starmer told

Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
UK politics
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 day ago

Hundreds from Met Police declare Freemasons links

More than 300 Metropolitan Police officers and staff declared membership of Freemasons or similar hierarchical associations after the Met required declarations.
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