UK politics: Employment rights bill set to become law after Lords backing – as it happened Legislation clears upper house after Tories and cross-benchers drop opposition to lifting compensation cap The Guardian - UK · Dec 16, 2025
Labour donor Dale Vince criticised for post following Bondi beach attack Tories accuse Vince of ‘morally repugnant statement’ after he says Israeli government is partly responsible for rising antisemitism The Guardian - UK · Dec 15, 2025
Welcome to the twilight zone where Nigel Farage can be accused of racism yet still lead the polls After weeks of allegations of schoolboy racism, the Reform leader is doubling down. And our political establishment is allowing it, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik The Guardian - UK · Dec 15, 2025
Conservatives would end 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars Party would also abolish zero-emission vehicle mandate, cutting legal requirement on carmakers to sell EVs The Guardian - UK · Dec 14, 2025
Wes Streeting calls for ‘cross-party consensus’ on gender identity ahead of puberty blocker trial Health secretary wrote to Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, urging her to ‘take heat and ideology’ out of debate The Guardian - UK · Dec 13, 2025
‘There’s been a Badenoch bounce’: is the Tory leader finally cutting through? Conservative insiders say the party and the public are warming to Kemi Badenoch after a difficult first year The Guardian - UK · Dec 12, 2025
Fact check: Teacher numbers and ‘Christmas decorations tax’ Round-up of fact checks from the last week compiled by Full Fact. Evening Standard · Dec 12, 2025
landmark inquiry into death of oil rig worker with Covid Donald Singer was removed from the platform by helicopter after his Covid symptoms worsened The Independent UK · Dec 12, 2025
Keir’s performance in PMQs panto sets bar low enough for Kemi to stay as Tory leader Meanwhile, the Lib Dems’ Gentleman Ed rips into Starmer for staying silent on The Donald’s US security strategy The Guardian - UK · Dec 10, 2025
Badenoch criticises Farage over refusal to apologise for alleged racist remarks Tory leader says head of Reform should ‘put on his big boy pants’ and apologise over allegations from ex-schoolmates The Guardian - UK · Dec 10, 2025
A braver Tory leader than Badenoch would dare to call out Farage’s bogus patriotism Across western democracies, established conservatives are yielding to radical nationalism. There’s no sign that Britain will be the exception, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr The Guardian - UK · Dec 10, 2025
People urged to wear masks when they are ill as UK faces ‘tidal wave’ of flu NHS Providers boss says those who are ‘coughing and sneezing’ should wear face coverings on public transport The Guardian - UK · Dec 9, 2025
Having nothing to say has never stopped Kemi holding a press conference Tory leader took on Brexit, benefits claimants and grooming gangs in a presser that probably should have been an email The Guardian - UK · Dec 9, 2025
Badenoch announces Tory review of which conditions qualify for benefits ‘Age of diagnosis’ of ‘low-level mental health issues’ such as ADHD making system too costly, Conservative leader says The Guardian - UK · Dec 9, 2025
Evening Standard · Dec 9, 2025 Badenoch pledges to ‘draw a line’ on which health issues get welfare support The Tory leader said the system was not designed to handle ‘the age of diagnosis which we now live in’.
Evening Standard · Dec 8, 2025 Aspects of Peggie tribunal findings ‘hugely problematic for women’ – solicitor An employment tribunal upheld Sandie Peggie’s claims she was harassed by NHS Fife but other claims were dismissed.
The Guardian - UK · Dec 8, 2025 For once, Nigel Farage is the dog that doesn’t bark Usually found at Monday press conferences, the Reform leader has taken a vow of silence in the face of mounting allegations
The Independent UK · Dec 8, 2025 Tory shadow minister praises Trump’s illegal immigration crackdown – and says it could work in UK Shadow home secretary Chris Philp says the British public expects immigration laws to be properly enforced
Evening Standard · Dec 8, 2025 OPINION - The grooming gang scandal needed a judge-led inquiry Anne Longfield is a decent woman, but that’s not enough for this challenge
The Guardian - UK · Dec 8, 2025 Grooming gangs inquiry ‘must consider ethnicity and religion’, Badenoch says Tory leader also wants time-limit for inquiry, as Labour criticised over delays and rows about investigation’s scope
Evening Standard · Dec 8, 2025 Grooming gangs inquiry must ‘leave no stone unturned’, Kemi Badenoch says Shadow home secretary Chris Philp meanwhile urged the Government to adopt inquiry rules which would examine the ethnicity of perpetrators.
Evening Standard · Dec 7, 2025 Kemi Badenoch presses Government to accelerate grooming inquiry progress The Tory leader is set to unveil draft terms of reference for the inquiry.
The Independent UK · Dec 6, 2025 Tories pledge to block Motability access for people with ADHD and anxiety The scheme is designed to help disabled benefit claimants get cars through the welfare system
Evening Standard · Dec 4, 2025 Mayoral elections delay confirmed by minister amid ‘affront to democracy’ claims Local Government Secretary Steve Reed said the Government is ‘minded’ to push mayoral elections in four areas planned for next year back to 2028.
The Guardian - UK · Dec 4, 2025 Thursday briefing: Will the ramped up rhetoric of Reform bring about the demise of the Conservatives? In today’s newsletter: Claims of the Tories’ ‘death’ are becoming a political tactic that risks galvanising supporters just as Westminster enters uncharted territory