UK politics

UK wasted €11bn on defective or unused PPE during pandemic, Covid inquiry finds

Report criticises Tory government’s fast-tracked assessment of supplier offers made by contacts of ministers

Hillsborough law on transparency in public office unanimously backed by UK MPs

Andy Burnham, Britain’s PM-in-waiting, thanks his ‘friend’ Keir Starmer for work on legislation

Ann Widdecombe was killed in a ‘targeted attack’, police investigating her death say

White British man (28) arrested in Yorkshire on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism

Andy Burnham secures Labour leadership with landslide support, paving way to becoming UK PM

Former Manchester mayor expected to formally take over as head of party on July 17th at special conference

British counter-terrorism police leading investigation into Ann Widdecombe’s death

Former Conservative minister was found dead at her home in England last week after sustaining ‘serious injuries’

Weary Clacton repels media hordes as Jaywick shines on in Farage’s byelection stronghold

Shirt and trouser-wearing army from the city heads for England’s North Sea coast

Man arrested on suspicion of murder of former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe

Body of former MP found with serious injuries at her home on Thursday

Count Binface: The ‘independent space warrior’ hoping to take Farage’s seat in Clacton

Alter ego of comedian Jon Harvey has become familiar sight on British election nights in recent years

Assisted dying close to becoming law in Jersey

Informed wish to end life required and terminally ill with an expectancy of six months, or 12 if a neurodegenerative disease

Farage faces Count Binface in Clacton byelection after main parties rule out running candidates

Undisguised glee among Farage’s opponents over what they regard as a major tactical mistake over byelection

Farage political rivals say they will boycott ‘fake’ byelection after his resignation

Reform UK leader accused of having ‘hissy fit’ to distract from ongoing investigation in to undeclared £5m ‘gift’ he received

Who could be the main players on Team Burnham?

Former Greater Manchester mayor, who could become UK’s next PM by mid-July, is not short on options

No free lunch for Burnham if he is at the table for UK-EU reset talks

Europe letter: Starmer’s departure offers UK government a chance to ‘reset the reset’ in autumn EU deal

Brussels open to 150,000 cap on post-Brexit ‘youth mobility’ scheme

Concession to stop UK universities charging EU students international tuition fees could be ‘decoupled’ from reset deal

Badenoch eschews niceties and takes lumps out of Starmer’s cabinet in first PMQs after quitting

Presumed incoming prime minister Andy Burnham should get ready for a weekly battle with the rambunctious Tory leader

Keir Starmer holds ‘frosty’ talks with Andy Burnham to thrash out transition of power

Burnham had initially hoped to take over in September but could become next UK prime minister within weeks

Andy Burnham could still face challenge in race to become UK prime minister

A handful of outside-bet candidates have not ruled themselves out of the leadership competition

Andy Burnham sworn in as new MP after ‘broken’ Starmer holds back tears as he resigns

As it happened: Keir Starmer stands down

Wins, losses and U-turns: Keir Starmer’s successes and failures in No 10

Where did it go wrong for the outgoing prime minister? And how much – if at all – was positive?

British political stability a thing of the past as Keir Starmer says he will step down

More rumblings in Fianna Fáil over triple lock, and more work for civil servants when Ireland takes up EU presidency

Keir Starmer expected to announce departure as British prime minister on Monday

Starmer, who has faced ‘political realities’ of his situation, set to be replaced by newly-elected MP Andy Burnham

Ireland gears up for EU presidency and Andy Burnham sweeps Makerfield byelection

Inside Politics podcast with Hugh Linehan

Andy Burnham: How quickly could he become the UK’s prime minister?

Keir Starmer could reflect on the scale of Burnham’s win and step down immediately. He could also put up a fight

Keir Starmer signals openness to Burnham cabinet role amid leadership tensions

British prime minister seeks to head off internal Labour challenge ahead of key byelection

Andy Burnham eyes byelection finishing line while for Starmer it might truly be the end

Greater Manchester mayor is favourite to win on Thursday but the spectre of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK isn’t banished yet

In praise of the Wigan kebab: ‘Want Irish curry sauce with it?’

Locals are surely the carbohydrate kings and queens of England

Labour hoping Nigel Farage will lose some of his flock to right-wing Rebecca Shepherd

Rebecca Shepherd running in the Makerfield byelection could help Andy Burnham realise his dream of leading Britain

Palestine Action: UK government’s ban is lawful, court of appeal rules

London’s high court ruled ⁠in February that ​the ban interfered with freedom of expression

Nigel Farage vows to ban foreign nationals from social housing

Reform UK leader hardens anti-immigration rhetoric before crucial byelection involving Labour’s Andy Burnham

Jeremy Corbyn: ‘The disillusionment with Labour is huge’

Former UK Labour leader tells The Irish Times Keir Starmer’s 2024 election victory was ‘loveless landslide’

Prominent MP tells Dublin event UK Labour Party faces ‘chaos’ if Andy Burnham fails to win byelection

John McDonnell says Keir Starmer has lost public confidence and no other candidate has the support to replace him

Tinderbox Britain: violence over Henry Nowak case stirs fears of another summer of disorder

Two years after Britain was consumed by riots led by white nationalists, authorities are trying to prevent a repeat

Elon Musk accused of ‘interfering’ in British politics with posts on Henry Nowak death

Billionaire owner of social media platform X ‘trying to whip up division’, says Keir Starmer, following riots in Southampton

Crypto billionaires donate £7 million to Reform UK in the first quarter of 2026

Nigel Farage’s party significantly outstrips the fundraising efforts of Labour and the Conservative Party

Starmer condemns ‘disgraceful’ attacks on police after Henry Nowak murder case

Eleven officers injured in Southampton during unrest over police response to student’s death

Former SNP chief Peter Murrell used false invoice to buy motorhome with party funds

Ex-husband of Nicola Sturgeon has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000

Latest Mandelson files show what former ambassador really thought of Keir Starmer’s government

Tranche of 1,500 pages of emails and WhatsApps released on Monday

Irish GP in England: My husband recognises very rocky times are on the horizon in the UK

As our children became enmeshed in their lives, coming back to Ireland became harder

What would a radical alternative look like for this island?

A reconnected Ireland could meet the challenges of the future and materially improve the lives of ordinary people

Ghost of Tony Blair continues to haunt Labour

Intervention by former prime minister almost feels designed to inflict maximum annoyance on his party

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