🚨 Our special bonus episode with Scotland’s former first minister Nicola Sturgeon - on leadership, scandal and trolling the trolls. Nothing was off the table. Do listen 👇 www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

If Keir Starmer’s election campaign was carrying a ming vase across an ice rink, then this budget – according to one minister – is like “wrestling a squirrel across a minefield”. The squirrel is not the markets, but the PLP. Our weekend read www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

NEW: Israel and Hamas have agreed to initial phase of ”peace plan” in Gaza, pausing hostilities in devastated territory and bringing the best hope yet of definitive end to bloody two-year conflict… www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Keir Starmer has attacked Reform UK’s plan to deport thousands of people already legally living in the UK as “racist” and “immoral”, as he said that Labour had a generational struggle ahead with the populist right 👇🏼 www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

A special Guardian Podcast Live with @andyburnham.bsky.social. Hosted by @pippacrerar.bsky.social and @kiranstacey.bsky.social. In partnership with @moreincommonuk.bsky.social.

Hello Liverpool! A beautiful morning for an early run 🏃🏻‍♀️ @uklabour.bsky.social

"There is not a free speech crisis in the UK. Keir Starmer has not shut down GB News," Ruskin says. Farage seems "most at home with the autocrats and dictators of this world", he adds. If he's serious about the Online Safety Act, he should be in parliament, he says, not here.

EXCLUSIVE Angela Rayner admits she underpaid stamp duty on her seaside flat - refers herself to the standards commissions Story by @pippacrerar.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Very thoughtful analysis on Keir Starmer's response to - and subsequent U-turn on - calls for a national grooming gangs inquiry - by @peterwalker99.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

UK places sanctions on two far-right Israeli government ministers over “monstrous” comments about destroying Gaza and using violence to gain control of West Bank settlements. Full story by Patrick Wintour www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Downing Street says the Spending Review is now settled, with the last to hold out - the home office - agreeing its settlement today despite concerns over police funding.

🚨New podcast! Rachel Reeves’s U-turn on winter fuel payments: will it be enough to undo the damage done? Plus, spending review as negotiations & what’s going on with Reform UK? Join me & @kiranstacey.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

BREAKING: All pensioners with income of £35,000 or less will have winter fuel payment restored in full. New threshold means 7.5m pensioners who didn't get it last year now will. Paid to all and then clawed back from wealthiest via HMRC as revealed by @theguardian.com

Trump suggest that Elon has "Trump derangement syndrome"

Worth rereading this excellent profile of Zia Yusuf from @ecourea.bsky.social last year 👇 www.theguardian.com/politics/art...

Thursday’s @theguardian.com front page: Chaos fears over return of winter fuel payments www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Rachel Reeves confirms that adjustments to winter fuel payments will come in time for *this* winter. "People should be in no doubt that the means test will increase and more people will get a winter fuel payment this winter."

White House announces overnight that UK to get reprieve from 50% tariffs slapped on steel & aluminium imports into US, and will remain at 25% for now. But could yet increase to 50% in July if Trump feels UK has not adhered to parts of yet to be implemented US/ UK trade deal.

🚨 And we're back! Join me and @kiranstacey.bsky.social as we discuss whether the UK really is "battle ready", how extra defence spending will be paid for, and the thorny issue of next week's spending review 👇 www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

Keir Starmer defends decision to cut winter fuel payment - but hints u-turn could come as soon as next week’s spending review. “If we want to look again at which pensioners are eligible, then the sooner we have clarity on that, the better,” PM tells #Today.

If you read one thing today, please read this. Heart-breaking but beautifully written, deeply moving and - ultimately - full of hope. ‘The boy who came back: the near-death, and changed life, of my son Max’ www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

EXCL: Hundreds of thousands of children with special needs could lose their legal entitlement to extra support in schools in England under plans being considered by ministers - @alethaadu.bsky.social reports www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Saturday’s @theguardian.com front page: Thousands could suffer as child poverty plan delayed www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

What is Angela Rayner up to? Great read fr @jessicaelgot.bsky.social & @kiranstacey.bsky.social who reveal her supporters conducting focus groups to see how she'd perform in a leadership campaign. Meanwhile, Wes Streeting has been courting new backbenchers. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

EXCL: Nigel Farage claimed with great fanfare last year to have “bought a house” in Clacton – but it turns out the property is owned in the name of his girlfriend @rowenamason.bsky.social reports 👇 www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

EXCL: Labour’s flagship child poverty strategy has been delayed until at least autumn amid concerns at top of government the financial cost of key proposals outweighs political benefit. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

NEW: No 10 indicates it's ready to impose sanctions on senior members of Israeli govt over military expansion into Gaza. “We are clear, if Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions onto humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.”

BREAKING: Keir Starmer finally announces u-turn on winter fuel first revealed in @theguardian.com more than two weeks ago. You read it here first! www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Inflation in UK jumped by more than expected last month to 3.5% after dramatic increases in water bills, energy costs and council tax. Rise in employer NICS & boost to nat minimum wage also put pressure on companies to raise prices by more than forecast. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

UK-Israeli relations plunge to worst state for decades after foreign secretary David Lammy suspends trade talks, criticising Israeli calls to “purify Gaza” by expelling Palestinians 👇🏼 www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

NEW: Nigel Farage admits he is on holiday, missing Keir Starmer’s Commons statement on the EU reset. “There seems to be great consternation in the press that they have not seen me for 48 hours. Well, they will have to wait some time. “After months of touring the UK in the run up to… 1/2

‘There is a risk that voters already inclined to feel angry towards the government will see headlines about a “Brexit betrayal” and assume the worst, without reading the details.’ V good analysis of Keir Starmer’s EU deal by @jessicaelgot.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

UK joins France and Canada to attack Israel’s expansion of war in Gaza as disproportionate, describing conditions as “intolerable” & threatening “concrete” response if campaign continues www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

Ghosts of Brexit past haunt new UK-EU reset deal - our latest @theguardian.com #politicsweekly podcast. Do listen! Me & @kiranstacey.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

Confirmed: EU-reset deal now done. Key block was fishing rights. They’ve agreed: 🐟EU access to UK fishing grounds extended until 2038 w/ UK arguing annual renegotiations didn’t suit anybody 🐟 no link between fishing & SPS meaning no time limit on duration of checks on food, animal & agric products

🇪🇺🇬🇧EU reset update: understand there was a late night breakthrough in talks between two sides to secure landmark deal, but that there are still some steps to take.

Monday’s @theguardian.com front page: Talks on reset of UK-EU relations go ‘down to wire’ before summit www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

Sir Elton John describes govt as "absolute losers" and says he feels "incredibly betrayed" over plans to exempt technology firms from copyright laws - telling @bbclaurak.bsky.social if plans go ahead to allow AI firms to use artists' content without paying they would be committing theft.

EU relations minister Nick Thomas Symonds indicates Brits will be able to use e-passport gates to speed up travelling to EU - saying "we would all agree" on benefit. As revealed by @ecourea.bsky.social & @lisaocarroll.bsky.social last night www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

‘We’re in the last, hard yards’: quiet hopes for UK-EU reset at crucial summit - @theguardian.com's weekend read on the government's tentative revisit of Brexit www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

Keir Starmer says immigration system is “almost designed to permit abuse” and that it risks “pulling the country apart”. PM says UK needs tougher rules to reduce immigration significantly or it risks becoming “an island of strangers”.

🆕 Our Polling in @theguardian.com by @pippacrerar.bsky.social finds 6 in 10 would think better of government if they reversed winter fuel allowance means test. Rather than a sign of weakness Brits twice as likely to say u-turn would make them see govt as stronger. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

EXCL: No 10 rethinking its controversial winter fuel payment cut amid growing anxiety at top of government that policy could wreak serious electoral damage. Keir Starmer’s senior team has been discussing for several weeks how to handle public anger over policy which bubbled over at local elections.

Many politicians - Tony Blair just the latest - appear more sceptical about public support for net zero agenda than evidence suggests is warranted. Most recent YouGov poll found 61% of UK voters support govt plans on this, with just 24% opposed… www.theguardian.com/environment/...

EXCL: Big US tech firms offered significant tax cut in return for lower tariffs from Trump administration as UK braces for global trade war. Govt willing to reduce headline rate of digital services tax in attempt to placate US president, while also applying levy to firms fr other nations…

Donald Trump's trade tariffs and cost of living pressures at home: will Keir Starmer's approach pay off? Do listen as @kiranstacey.bsky.social and I chew over what is shaping up to be another tricky week for the government... www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

NEW: Ministers expect Sentencing Council to suspend plans for new guidelines that could've led to criminals getting different sentences depending on age, sex and ethnicity @jessicaelgot.bsky.social reports.

Thursday’s @theguardian.com front page: Reeves accused of balancing books at expense of the poor www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

NEW: Nigel Farage is once again in America to fundraise for Donald Trump’s Republican party, with latest data showing he’s spent more than 800 hours - the equivalent of 2.5 days a week - on outside employment since election.