UK Politics

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorIt’s now been two months since Labour won their landslide victory at the 2024 general election, bringing to an end 14 years of Conservative rule.Running on a central message of change, Sir Keir has looked to set his party apart from the previous Conservative administration. Standing on the steps of Downing Street on 5 July, the new prime minister said people had voted “for national renewal” and “a return of politics to public service.”“You have given us a clear mandate,” he added, “and we will use it to deliver change, to restore service and respect to politics, end the era of noisy performance, tread more lightly on your lives, and unite our country.”As the new Labour government begins to roll out some of it’s promised reforms, the new leader now warns that things may get worse before they get better. Sir Keir has made no secret of the challenges to come during his sixty days in power, as his first two months have seens controversial policy decisions, political disagreements, and civil disorder.Sir Keir Starmer makes his first speech as prime minister outside No 10, July 5 More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorNadhim Zahawi is facing a growing backlash after sharing a photograph on X of a homeless person sleeping on the pavement in Mayfair.The former Tory chairman, who was sacked over an HMRC probe into his tax affairs, posted the picture alongside the caption: “This is now in Mayfair, just walked passed [sic]. what is going on?“Mayor of London, this can’t be right.”Mr Zahawi, who stood down as a Conservative MP at the general election, also shared a broken heart emoji alongside the post.But his decision to share the picture sparked a backlash on the social media platform, with users pointing out that rough sleeping rose significantly after the Conservatives came to power in 2010.The estimated number of people sleeping rough on a single night in autumn rose from 1,768 in 2010 to 3,896 under the Tories in 2023, government figures show.Nadhim Zahawi said he would have tweeted the same picture if he was walking through Victoria More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorTheresa May, who was prime minister at the time of the Grenfell Tower fire, has warned that all those in authority needed to accept their responsibility for the tragedy.With prime minister Sir Keir Starmer apologising on behalf of the British state for the events which led to the deaths of 54 adults and 18 children, Baroness May added her voice to those calling for justice.She said: “Government, national and local, regulators and the corporate industry must all acknowledge their part in the history and series of events that led to this tragedy – a tragedy that, in the words of Sir Martin Moore-Bick, did not ‘come out of the blue’.” Rishi Sunak added that the report was “a damning indictment” of 30 years of failure.The review was commissioned by former prime minister Theresa May (Hannah McKay/PA) More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorSir Keir Starmer has repeatedly referred to Rishi Sunak as prime minister at PMQs, in a sign the Labour leader is yet to fully embrace life on the other side of the Commons.In a sombre session of prime minister’s questions, following the publication of the damning Grenfell report, Sir Keir appeared to forget on multiple occasions that the tables were turned in July’s general election.Pressed by leader of the opposition Mr Sunak over the government’s decision to suspend some arms export licences to Israel, Sir Keir called his opposite number “prime minister” three times.( More

Support trulyindependent journalismFind out moreCloseOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.Louise ThomasEditorWatch as Sir Keir Starmer faces Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) on Wednesday 4 September, before delivering a statement on the damning Grenfell report.The devastating blaze which killed 72 people was the result of “decades of failure” by government and the construction industry to act on the dangers of flammable materials on high-rise buildings, the long-awaited report has found.The west London tower block was covered in combustible products because of the “systematic dishonesty” of firms who made and sold the cladding and insulation, inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick said.He called out “deliberate and sustained” manipulation of fire-safety testing, misrepresentation of test data and misleading of the market.The prime minister said the report identified “substantial and widespread failings”, adding that the government will carefully consider its recommendations “to ensure that such a tragedy cannot occur again”.Sir Keir delivered his statement in the House of Commons following the publication of the report. More