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 ThomasEditorPrime minister Keir Starmer’s review of Britain’s defences comes as the West faces a “dangerous quartet” of Russia, China, North Korea and Iran, according to Nato chief Lord Robertson.Russia remains the key threat, as it is continuing to wage war in Ukraine, including a deadly missile strike on a children’s hospital in Kyiv last week. Relations with Russia are at their worst since the Cold War period, and military experts believe that European countries need to be prepared for conflict.But how do Britain’s armed forces compare now to 40 years ago, in 1984, when the UK was engaged in a stand-off with Russia?In terms of personnel and vessels, the UK’s capacity is substantially lower than in 1984, primarily because the UK is in peacetime.Sources: IISS Military Balance 1984, ‘World’s Air Forces 1989’, Flight International, Ministry of Defence 2023 official figures More

WelshMinisterQuits.mp4Support 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 ThomasEditorVaughan Gething has dramatically resigned as the first minister of Wales following mounting pressure to stand down after four of his ministers quit his government in protest.In a statement announcing his resignation, Gething said he recognised that “rebuilding and renewal” was “not possible” under his leadership, but said allegations of wrongdoing on his part were “pernicious, politically motivated and patently untrue”.In the wake of Vaughan Gething’s resignation, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has called for a snap Senedd election, claiming “people of Wales have lost faith in the first minister”. Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance sparked crossparty outrage among politicians after describing the UK as an “Islamist country” with nuclear weapons during a speech at a right-wing conference.Angela Rayner claimed the would-be deputy US president was wrong about the UK but that she “looked forward” to meeting him and Mr Trump if he gets elected in November.The shocking comments also caused anger among prominent Muslim political figures, with baroness Sayeeda Warsi accusing JD Vance of “Islamophobia” and the Muslim Council of Britain branding the remarks “divisive and dangerous”.Show latest update 1721141325Woman denies assault after milkshake thrown over Nigel FarageA young woman accused of throwing a milkshake over Nigel Farage has denied assault by beating and criminal damage.The Reform UK leader was doused with what appeared to be a McDonald’s banana drink as he left the Moon and Starfish Wetherspoon pub in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex on June 4.Mr Farage, who is now Clacton MP, had earlier addressed supporters at a rally in the seaside town during the general election campaign.The veteran Eurosceptic, 60, was left with the yellow liquid splattered across his dark blue suit.Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, of St Osyth Road in the seaside town, pleaded not guilty to both charges at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.Prosecutors say £30 of criminal damage was caused to a jacket belonging to James Woolfenden.Caroline Liggins, partner at Hodge Jones & Allen, the law firm representing Bowen, said: “My client strongly protests her innocence and looks forward to fighting these unjust charges in court.”Bowen was released on unconditional bail to appear before the same court for trial on October 21.( 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 ThomasEditorRishi Sunak was warned he was losing his grip on his own MPs after he was hit by a mass strike in the last days of his premiership.In a sign of the pressure Mr Sunak was under before he shocked Westminster by calling a snap general election, the then prime minister was told the situation was unsustainable.On a single day Conservative whips received a request from around 200 Tory MPs – well over half of the parliamentary party – to be slipped, or excused from voting, a former senior Downing Street insider said.The phrase refers to allowing MPs to miss a whipped vote, often by “pairing” them with an opposition MP also away from Westminster that day. Rishi Sunak announced his intention to quit as Tory leader in his farewell Downing Street address (James Manning/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 ThomasEditor The leader of Wales’ government, First Minister Vaughan Gething, said Tuesday he will resign after several members of his government quit over a campaign donation scandal.Gething said that “I have this morning taken the difficult decision to begin the process of stepping down as leader of the Welsh Labour Party and, as a result, First Minister.”The announcement came after four members of Gething’s semiautonomous government quit, demanding he resign.Gething, the son of a Welsh father and a Zambian mother, made history in March when he was elected to head the Cardiff-based administration, becoming the first Black leader of a government in the U.K.He has faced criticism for accepting 200,000 pounds ($255,000) in donations during his leadership campaign from a recycling company whose owner had been found guilty of environmental offenses and breaching health and safety regulations.His leadership has crumbled since the Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru ended a cooperation arrangement with Gething’s minority Labour government in April. Yhe following month Gething lost a nonbinding no-confidence vote in Wales’ parliament, the Senedd.In a resignation statement, Gething said he had “hoped that over the summer a period of reflection, rebuilding and renewal could take place under my leadership.“I recognize that this is not possible,” he added.Wales, which has a population of about 3 million, is one of four parts of the United Kingdom, along with England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The British government in London is responsible for defense, foreign affairs and other U.K.-wide issues, while administrations in Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast control areas such as education and health. 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 ThomasEditorThe first minister of Wales Vaughan Gething is facing mounting pressure to resign after four of his ministers dramatically quit his government. In a parting shot, the group told him they could not do their jobs “without you standing down”.It is the latest crisis to hit his leadership in its short tenure. He lost a non-binding no confidence motion only a few weeks ago and was seen in tears in the Senedd chamber before the vote. He has come under fire since he sacked former minister Hannah Blythyn after a government leak. Last week, in a highly unusual move the publication which received the leak went public to state that she was not its source. Screengrab taken from Senedd TV of First Minister of Wales Vaughan Gething becoming tearful during a Senedd committee hearing ahead of a vote of no confidence in him (Senedd TV/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 ThomasEditorThe UK’s Labour government is taking its first steps to building greater trading links with EU members as new business secretary Jonathan Reynolds meets international counterparts in Italy.In his first international visit since the party’s electoral landslide, Mr Reynolds will tell a G7 meeting of trade ministers that the UK wants “a closer, more mature, more level-headed relationship with our friends in the European Union”.“In the UK, we now have a strong government with an even stronger mandate from the British people. One that respects, wants to partner with and is open for business,” Mr Reynolds will say. “My message to you today is simple – Britain is back. A confident, outward-looking, future-facing UK is ready and willing to play our part on the international stage.“We are seeking a closer, more mature, more level-headed relationship with our friends in the European Union – our nearest and largest trading partner, and we also intend to forge better trading relationships with countries around the world.The business secretary’s trip will also see him meet Vice-President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis and German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck. It comes as prime minister Keir Starmer hosts EU leaders at Oxford’s Blenheim Palace in the same week.The moves mark a clear departure from previous Conservative government’s hardline approach to the EU since the 2016 Brexit referendum. Trade agreements with the continental bloc since have been marred by border checks and higher costs for consumers – issues Labour has pledged to tackle.Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will meet his G7 counterparts in Italy (Lucy North/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 ThomasEditorKeir Starmer has asked for a thorough “root and branch” assessment of the state of Britain’s military capabilities, left “hollowed out” during 14 years of Tory rule, as the country faces a dangerous and uncertain world, the government has announced. A new strategic defence review, launched by Labour in its second week of power, will be a radical departure from the ones which have taken place before by bringing in senior public figures from outside Whitehall to shape defence and geopolitical strategies in the coming years.Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, the former defence secretary and Nato secretary general, will lead a team with General Sir Richard Barrons, former head of Joint Forces Command and deputy chief of the Defence Staff, and Fiona Hill, a foreign policy specialist and former advisor to a US President.Announcing the review, Starmer is due to say in the Commons on Tuesday: “ We live in a more dangerous and volatile world…. I promised the British people I would deliver the change needed to take our country forward, and I promised action not words. “That’s why one of my first acts since taking office is to launch our strategic defence review. We will make sure our hollowed out armed forces are bolstered and respected, that defence spending is responsibly increased, and that our country has the capabilities needed to ensure the UK’s resilience for the long term.”Lord Robertson of Port Ellen (PA) More