Earlier this week, Shamima Begum lost her challenge over the decision to deprive her of British citizenship. The ruling means the 23-year-old remains barred from returning to the UK and stuck in a camp in northern Syria. She was 15 years old when she travelled to join the self-styled Islamic State group in 2015. » Read
If you like your political leaders technocratic and their pledges vague and bullet-pointed, then the first two months of 2023 will have been truly gripping. The latest batch of bromides came courtesy of Sir Keir Starmer on Thursday, as the Labour leader outlined his “five national missions” in a speech in Manchester. » Read More
The health service is living through one of the worst winters in its history. Patients are sicker, there are more of them and the ability of doctors and other health professionals to treat them is under severe strain. At the heart of the challenge is the vexed issue of workforce – ensuring the number of
Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, has argued that the Russian army’s tactical changes in Ukraine show Vladimir Putin has “failed” to secure his original objectives. On the one year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the ministry of defence tweeted this morning that Russia has “likely changed its approach” in its military offensive, » Read More
Sir Keir Starmer is preparing to deliver a big speech on his vision for fixing the UK’s problems. The Labour leader will use an address in Manchester this morning to launch a series of five national “missions” setting out his objectives for a Labour government. The five missions are expected to be based around the economy
It was 2003 when New Labour spinner Alastair Campbell apprised an interviewer “I’m sorry, We don’t do God”, stepping in before prime minister Tony Blair’s religiosity could be probed. The poignant intervention, as Blair readied to answer a question on whether his Christianity created common ground with US President George Bush, » Read More
This week, by fully mitigating the benefit cap, the Scottish government has taken a hugely significant step forward in its efforts to reduce child poverty. Its clear statement that families should get the support they need through our social security system, rather than be penalised by an arbitrary limit, is laudable. » Read More
A minster has urged Conservative MPs to back Rishi Sunak on Brexit and accept the deal the prime minister brings back from Brussels on improving the Northern Ireland Protocol. Minister for veterans affairs Johnny Mercer said critics need to “operate in the real world” on Brexit and that “we need to resolve this issue” to
Kate Forbes has insisted she is a “servant of democracy” after a backlash over her views on same-sex marriage dogged her leadership launch on Monday. Ms Forbes, who has served as the SNP’s finance and economy secretary since February 2020, caused controversy on Monday after she said she would have voted against the landmark equalities
