Browsing: UK Politics

Sir Keir Starmer insists on pursuing controversial benefit cuts despite backlash from over 100 Labour MPs, including Sir Sadiq Khan, who warns of detrimental impacts on vulnerable individuals.

Labour MPs have launched a significant rebellion against the government’s welfare reform plans, with over 100 MPs backing an amendment that could effectively kill off the flagship welfare bill.

Tuesday’s front-page headlines feature various reports on the latest from the Middle East. Several newspapers report on the ceasefire agreed between Iran and Israel, brokered by the United States, whilst others focus on Iran’s retaliatory strikes on US bases after the United States decided to enter the Israeli war against Iran over the weekend. A handful of papers weigh up the UK’s role if the war were to escalate, it comes after criticism that the UK has been slow to back the United States’ attack on Iran.

For a second day running, the Israel-Iran conflict leads the way as Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between the two nations. It comes after the US joined Israel in bombing Iran over the weekend, claiming to have wiped out Iran’s nuclear sites. Iran has returned retaliatory strikes on US bases in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Despite the US President announcing a ceasefire and Israel confirming it, it’s unclear how accurate this is. Iran has denied a ceasefire and has continued striking Israel.

It’s set to be a difficult week for the prime minister as Labour backbenchers mount a rebellion over cuts to welfare.

Ahead of the NATO summit this week, the UK is amongst the countries agreeing to up defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035.

The home secretary has moved quickly to proscribe Palestine Action under anti-terror law. It comes just a day after activists broke into an RAF base and vandalised two military planes.

The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has announced her intention to ban the direct-action group Palestine Action under anti‑terrorism laws, placing it alongside organisations like Hamas and ISIS, after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton and vandalised two military aircraft with red paint.

Over 100 Labour MPs have launched a significant rebellion against the government’s welfare reform bill, supporting a formal amendment to block its progress until further consultation and comprehensive impact assessments, especially regarding disabled people, are carried out.

The week so far has been dominated by the Middle East crisis as news of an Israel-Iran ceasefire broke early on Tuesday, only to come to an end a few hours later. It’s unclear if Iran ever agreed to the short-lived ceasefire, and now the world waits anxiously to see what happens next.

Away from the Middle East, there has been a handful of domestic news stories worth taking a glance at. GPs in England can start prescribing weight loss drugs on the NHS, Palestine Action is to be prescribed as a terrorist organisation after two members vandalised two RAF planes – a move dubbed extreme by many and has seen significant backlash for the Labour government. It has not been an easy week for the prime minister or his government so far, with a major rebellion on the way over Labour’s welfare bill cuts. It could end up doing permanent damage to the PM and his government. With the Nato summit around the corner, the prime minister will be focusing on international affairs, but what’s happening at home may cost him come election time.

The head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, emphasised that armed attacks on nuclear facilities pose severe risks of radioactive releases and must not occur.

There will be little surprise that Monday’s UK headlines are dominated by the latest from the Middle East after Donald Trump took everyone by surprise over the weekend and bombed Iran. It comes after Trump signalled he would give Iran two weeks to discuss ending their nuclear weapons programme. The decision to take the USA into Israel’s war is proving unpopular in the US, even amongst his supporters. There’s little support for the move this side of the pond as well, with many looking at how Prime Minister Keir Starmer will react to the bombing and whether the UK could be dragged into the war.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed support today for the US airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, seen as a coordinated effort with Israel to halt Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, but simultaneously warned of the high risk of broader Middle East escalation.

The threat to the UK from Iran is already at a “significant level” and could increase following the US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, a cabinet minister has told Sky News.

Most of Friday’s front pages lead on the assisted dying bill, set for a last debate in the Commons ahead of a crucial vote on Friday afternoon. If passed, it will head to the House of Lords for scrutiny. The majority of the newspapers are in support of legalising assisted dying, several papers discuss the late U-turn from some Labour MPs, and the Daily Mail makes a case against legalising the bill.

The debate will be followed by a crucial vote, expected before 14:30 BST. If the vote passes, the bill progresses to the House of Lords; otherwise, it fails, and that’s the end of the process. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill would allow terminally ill adults with six months or less to live to get medical assistance to end their own lives.

Several of Friday’s UK front pages lead with Donald Trump’s announcement that he will wait two weeks before deciding on whether the United States military will enter the Israeli war in Iran. It allows room for discussions between the West and Iran as European leaders met with their Iranian counterparts to discuss nuclear weapons.

Trump wants Iran to get back to the negotiating table regarding their nuclear weapons programme, with the ultimatum that Iran needs to completely abandon its nuclear programme or face the might of the US military.

Friday’s newspaper front pages report on today’s assisted dying vote in the House of Commons. The vote will take place this afternoon after one more debate in the Commons. If passed, it will head to the House of Lords for scrutiny. Most of the papers are in support of the bill. 

Friday’s UK headlines are dominated by the upcoming vote in the House of Commons on assisted dying. The End of Life Bill would allow terminally ill adults with six months or less to live to get medical assistance to end their own lives. MPs will have one final debate before the vote takes place this afternoon. If approved, it will go to the House of Lords for scrutiny, but if MPs do not support it, it will fail.

UK, French and German foreign ministers will hold talks with their Iranian counterparts in Geneva today as part of efforts to ease the Israel-Iran conflict. Ahead of the meeting, David Lammy says “a window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution”.

The UK’s ongoing heatwave is a hot topic today, with temperatures set to rise above 30C for a second day running. Heat alerts have been issued as the heat gripping the nation is set to last until Sunday.

The UK Parliament is set to vote today on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, commonly known as the assisted dying bill.

The assisted dying bill is facing a critical Commons vote, with a narrow previous majority of 330 to 275 in its favour, making every vote crucial today.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater expressed confidence that the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will pass its crucial Commons stage on Friday, moving on to the House of Lords.

Baroness Harriet Harman cautioned that Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose political identity was shaped by opposition to Iraq, might ultimately permit U.S. use of UK-controlled bases, such as Diego Garcia or RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, for strikes on Iran if President Trump requested it.

Matt Clifford, Sir Keir Starmer’s AI opportunities adviser, is stepping down for family reasons after six months in the role, having advised on the AI opportunities action plan.

Kim Leadbeater is optimistic about its passage to the House of Lords, citing strong support from previous votes and polls indicating 72% of Britons back the legislation.

The extension of the £150 Warm Home Discount will now support an additional 2.7 million households, bringing the total to over 6 million, including 900,000 families with children.

In a landmark free vote, the House of Commons passed an amendment to the Crime & Policing Bill by 379 to 137, removing criminal penalties for women who end their own pregnancies outside the legal framework.

Wednesday’s headlines continue to be dominated by the latest from the Middle East as Donald Trump appears to signal US troops could be entering the war. The potential arrival of the Americans comes as Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear energy sites.

The G7 summit has ended, with Donald Trump leaving early and skipping the arrival of Ukraine’s Zelenskyy – commentators suggest a calculated move from the US president, who continues to cosy up to Russia’s Putin. Much of the summit’s key talking points were sidelined due to the Israel-Iran war.

A little closer to home, MPs have overwhelmingly voted to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales, a milestone moment, that marks the biggest change to abortion laws for nearly 60 years.

The UK is set to enjoy a heatwave this week, with temperatures reportedly hitting 33C in England. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning, telling the public to make sure they remain safe.

The HS2 railway project is set to be delayed beyond the target date of 2033, according to a report from the BBC. The transport secretary is expected to tell Parliament on Wednesday that there is no way to deliver the railway line on schedule and within budget.

New stats show that UK inflation has held at 3.4% in the year to May. It’s come as a bit of a surprise, as many analysts expected to see a bit of a dip, owing to the impact of the timing of Easter on transport costs.

MPs have voted 379 to 137 to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales, marking significant changes in reproductive rights after nearly 60 years.