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 British Army soldier died in a training accident in northern Iraq on Sunday. Defence Secretary John Healey announced the death in the House of Commons on Monday, expressing deep regret and stating the family has been informed.
UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) faces pressure to ensure its AI deal with Palantir doesn't grant the Trump administration backdoor access to sensitive data, amid concerns over US data laws like the Cloud Act.
The UK Cabinet Office is set to release over 1,000 pages of documents related to Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to Washington. The release, triggered by a humble address process, could raise awkward questions for Keir Starmer's government.
Andy Burnham's political philosophy, 'Manchesterism,' emphasizes deindustrialization, social housing, and public control of essential services. This approach, drawing parallels to The Smiths' song 'London,' contrasts with past Labour leadership bids and positions him as an outsider with concrete ideas.
The UK Parliament held its ceremonial opening in London, featuring the traditional summons of lawmakers by Black Rod and a speech by King Charles III outlining the government's legislative agenda.
A recent study showed millions are put off by early experiences of physical education. But sport can bring camaraderie and joyThere is a disconnect between the proliferation of reports recommending we should be more active and actual levels of activity, that are scarcely budging. Sports councils, health bodies, charities and thinktanks are piling up the evidence that sport and physical activity help us live healthier, happier lives, improve academic attainment at school and productivity at work, connect our communities and help prevent crime and reoffending. Why can’t we turn this into reality?Reports often call for better coordination, including the recent House of Commons inquiry Game On: Community and School Sport. But sport and physical activity remains poorly linked among schools, sports clubs, community organisations, parks and playgrounds. In an era of superintelligence and rockets flying around the moon, surely we could do better? Continue reading...
Canada's Bill C-22, also called the Lawful Access Act, 2026, is a proposed law that would give law enforcement and spy agency CSIS sweeping powers to access private digital data. Apple and Meta say it could force companies to break encryption and build government backdoors—making Canadians less safe. The bill is currently being debated in the House of Commons, and its vague language around "systemic vulnerabilities" is what's got the tech industry worried.
The House of Commons Defence Committee releases the findings of its year-long review into the trilateral defence partnership.
The House of Commons Defence Committee releases the findings of its yearlong review into the trilateral defence partnership.
The House of Commons Defence Committee releases the findings of its year-long review into the trilateral defence partnership.
Britain’s parliament will vote on Tuesday on a possible inquiry into Prime Minister Keir Starmer, looking at whether he misled the House of Commons over the appointment of former US ambassador Peter Mandelson. Any such inquiry could have serious implications for Starmer’s future. He has so far resisted pressure to quit over his decision to hire Mandelson, but if found to have knowingly misled parliament his position would likely become untenable. House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said he...
Thirty-one MPs have launched a parliamentary challenge against new powers granted to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, allowing him to dictate NHS drug spending thresholds. Critics argue the move undermines the independence of Nice and favors US pharmaceutical interests.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill failed on Friday as parliamentary time ran out, nearly a year after the House of Commons passed it. The House of Lords blocked the bill by filing a record 1,200+ amendments, preventing debate. Campaigners blame unelected lords for overriding the elected chamber's will and vow to bring the bill back after King Charles's speech on May 13.
MPs from the House of Commons environmental audit committee visited Bentham, North Yorkshire – the UK town with highest PFAS contamination – and called for urgent restrictions on 'forever chemicals' in consumer goods including school uniforms, cookware and food packaging, with bans to begin next year. The committee described the government's existing plan as 'short on decisive actions'.
Keir Starmer faces political crisis after it emerged Peter Mandelson failed UK security vetting before becoming US ambassador, yet the Foreign Office overruled the decision. Jonathan Freedland suggests the saga may ultimately cost Starmer his job, as he addressed MPs about the extraordinary powers used by officials.
Keir Starmer has updated the House of Commons on what he knew, and when, in regard to Peter Mandelson’s vetting for the post of UK ambassador to the US. Was what the PM said enough to convince his party and the public that he should not resign? Continue reading...
Peter Mandelson, Britain's appointed ambassador to Washington, failed his developed vetting (DV) security clearance, with officials choosing to deny clearance. The Cabinet Office learned of the failure in March 2026 but Keir Starmer was not informed for several weeks. A humble address motion forced government to publish papers related to Mandelson's appointment, with vetting documents to be referred to the Intelligence and Security Committee.
PM tells MPs he was wrong to appoint Peter Mandelson ambassador to US in his update to parliament Judgment day for PM over Mandelson scandalAt his press conference Nigel Farage was asked about reports saying that Keir Starmer knew about the security concerns about Peter Mandelson that led to him failing his security vetting interview. That was a reference to the Telegraph splash, which says:Senior Whitehall sources told The Telegraph that the UKSV [UK Security Vetting] findings largely restated security risks that had already been drawn to Sir Keir’s attention.One senior source with knowledge of the process said: “The reality is that Starmer had already been warned about the major risks and he had waved them away.”Sources have told The Independent that MI6 failed to clear the Labour peer largely because of concerns over his business links to China.However, there were also worries that his past links to the disgraced financier and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein “would compromise him”.It’s impossible for the prime minister to say the warning lights weren’t flashing.And if you were prime minister and there were news reports last September that your ambassadorial choice had failed vetting, you would have thought perhaps he might have had some curiosity to try to find out whether this had really happened or not. I just find the whole thing totally incredible. Incredible. There is no way the prime minister couldn’t have known.The Labour backbenchers are not yet of a mood to get rid of their prime minister, although after 7 May they just might be. Continue reading...
Peter Mandelson, appointed as Britain's ambassador to Washington, failed his security vetting (developed vetting/DV) check, with officials choosing to deny clearance. The Cabinet Office learned of this in March 2026 but delayed informing Prime Minister Keir Starmer for several weeks while seeking legal advice. The revelation followed the release of Epstein Files documents which prompted Parliament to pass a rare 'humble address' motion forcing government to publish all papers related to Mandelson's appointment. Documents regarding Mandelson's vetting are set to be handed to the Intelligence and Security Committee, which will decide what can be made public.
PM to give Commons statement on Monday, a day before sacked civil servant Olly Robbins tells his side of the storyThe next 48 hours will be crucial for Keir Starmer’s troubled premiership as he faces continuing calls to resign over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. On Monday, Starmer will give a statement to the House of Commons on the Guardian’s revelation that Mandelson was allowed to serve as US ambassador despite failing a vetting process run by security officials. On Tuesday, Olly Robbins, the top civil servant at the Foreign Office, who Starmer sacked on Thursday and is trying to blame for the row, will give his side of the story. Here are the key questions Starmer must answer. Continue reading...
