19 Israeli public figures, including former ambassadors and a former attorney general, have penned an open letter urging the UK and EU to ban all trade with settlements in the occupied West Bank, citing their illegality under international law and alarming expansion.
A second UK parliamentary committee has called for the NHS to terminate its £330m contract with Palantir, citing public mistrust and inadequate privacy protections for sensitive health data. MPs want an alternative to Palantir's federated data platform, echoing concerns from the science and technology committee and NHS staff.
Labour leader Keir Starmer faces unprecedented opposition attacks on his climate and energy policies, a shift from past cross-party consensus. Kemi Badenoch and Reform party are challenging net zero targets, while internal Labour debates have watered down investment pledges. Experts argue this is a misreading of public support for climate action.
Andy Burnham's victory in the Makerfield byelection, a seat Reform was expected to win, is seen as a crucial lifeline for the Labour party. The win positions Burnham as the likely successor to Keir Starmer, offering a vision for progressive government.
Two private members' bills targeting Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) have been introduced in the UK Parliament. These bills aim to protect whistleblowers, journalists, and victims of sexual assault from costly legal actions intended to silence them, potentially gaining cross-party support.
Two private members' bills targeting SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) have been introduced in the UK Parliament by Conservative MPs. The bills aim to protect whistleblowers, journalists, and victims of sexual assault from financially crippling lawsuits designed to silence them, and are expected to gain cross-party support.
A cross-party Japanese parliamentary group, the Japan-Taiwan Friendship Parliamentarians' Union, will prioritize revising textbooks that group Taiwan with China, potentially misleading students. The union aims to ensure Japanese children understand Taiwan's distinct democratic values.
A Japanese cross-party parliamentary group, the Japan-Taiwan Friendship Parliamentarians' Union, will prioritize revising textbooks that group Taiwan with China, potentially misleading students about Taiwan's status.
A cross-party committee of MPs has warned that David Lammy's proposed criminal court reforms could increase mistrust in the justice system among the black community. The report highlights the underrepresentation of black judges and calls for a national target to achieve a representative judiciary by 2035.
Post-Brexit, 25% of British musicians lost all EU work, 45% saw tour earnings drop by 45%, and 59% find EU touring no longer viable due to new restrictions and costs.
UK MPs are demanding clarity over missing documents related to Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to Washington, with concerns raised about his vetting process and links to controversial figures.
MPs criticize NHS England for overloading GPs, leading to a failure to assess over-65s for fall risks. Only 17% of frail patients were assessed in 2024/25, despite falls being a major cause of death and costing the UK billions annually.
A UK cross-party parliamentary report urges a ban on sunbed advertising, cigarette-style warnings, and stricter regulations to combat rising skin cancer rates, citing a 60% increased risk of melanoma for under-35s using sunbeds.
Australia has deported American YouTuber Sneako. The government cancelled his visa and imposed a lifetime ban. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated the country is better without his divisive presence. This action follows legislative amendments allowing the government to protect the community from those spreading hatred. Sneako was ordered to leave immediately or face detention. The decision received cross-party support.
A cross-party group of MPs has expressed alarm over the closure of the Foreign Office's international humanitarian law unit, warning it will impair the UK's ability to monitor and respond to violations of international law.
Conservatives expected to push for privileges committee involvement in a Commons vote on MondayA series of senior Labour figures have dismissed calls for a new investigation into what Keir Starmer told MPs about the appointment of Peter Mandelson as political point scoring, before a possible Commons vote on the issue.The Conservatives have called for the cross-party privileges committee, the remit of which includes examining whether MPs broke rules, to look at whether the prime minister misled parliament when he said normal procedures were followed with Mandelson’s appointment. Continue reading...
YouGov polling for MSI Reproductive Choices finds 90% of UK adults support the right to access abortion, with support spanning political parties (94% Labour, 91% Conservative, 95% Green, 86% Reform). However, nearly one in five people believe abortion access could be reduced, rising to over a quarter of 18-25-year-olds, who cite US developments and rise of far right as concerns.
A record 135,000 families including nearly 176,000 children are living in temporary housing across England, the highest number on record. A cross-party parliamentary report has found many of these properties are 'unfit for human habitation', with mould and damp causing serious health problems including rashes, hearing loss, and respiratory issues. At least 104 children died in temporary accommodation between 2019 and 2025.
Executives from Meta, Roblox and TikTok denied their platforms are inherently addictive to children during a Westminster hearing, arguing there is no evidence platforms are 'addictive by nature'. The appearance followed a Los Angeles court case last month where Meta and YouTube were found liable for designing addictive products. The committee chair warned Snapchat, which cancelled, that they would be summoned. The UK government is consulting on whether to ban under-16s from social media, following Australia's example.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a 24-member advisory committee on US economic relations, featuring cross-party representation including former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole and cabinet minister Lisa Raitt, former provincial premiers PJ Akeeagok and Jean Charest, and industry executives. The committee forms as Canada braces for tense trade negotiations with the US, which has imposed tariffs last seen during the Great Depression. The council meets for the first time on April 27, with a NAFTA review scheduled for July.
