The Latest Breaking News from Whitehall

Post-cold war peace ‘well and truly over’, warns David Lammy

Foreign secretary says keeping the British people safe means standing up to Russia

The Guardian - UK · Jan 8, 2025

Brexiteer meltdown as Starmer makes May’s chief EU negotiator Foreign Office chief mandarin

Sir Oliver Robbins’ appointment is being seen as a signal of intent for Starmer’s plans to reset relations with the EU

The Independent UK · Jan 8, 2025

UK considering frontloading payments to Mauritius over Chagos deal

Downing Street would not be drawn on financial arrangements, but it is thought Whitehall could stump up a number of years’ payments

Evening Standard · Jan 8, 2025

Sue Gray: Partygate sleuth who became Starmer’s embattled chief of staff

She continued to feature in the headlines after taking on the party political job and eventually quit over fears she was ‘becoming a distraction’.

Evening Standard · Dec 20, 2024

Have faith in Labour’s grownup government

Letters: Sarah Davidson says the government has a shot at solving profound generational challenges and Bryan Merton welcomes Polly Toynbee’s positive perspective. But Bernie Evans wants to see more action right now, and Philip Oliver urges Labour to keep voters engaged

The Guardian - UK · Dec 19, 2024

We now have a plan to make England’s local government work – but I fear party politics will trash it

Angela Rayner’s white paper on reform in this vital area is well-intentioned. The problems will be funding and sabotage, says Guardian columnist Martin Kettle

The Guardian - UK · Dec 19, 2024

Starmer grilled by senior MPs amid growing Labour rebellion over Waspi women - live updates

The prime minister is facing MPs on the Liaison Committee following over the government’s decision to not pay compensation to 3.8 million Waspi women

The Independent UK · Dec 18, 2024

New cabinet secretary vows to implement PM’s Whitehall ‘rewiring’

Chris Wormald emails civil servants saying he will back Keir Starmer, who wants them to ‘do things differently’

The Guardian - UK · Dec 16, 2024

Devolution will be the default for local government, Angela Rayner claims

Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rayner said the Government was ‘taking a step towards relighting the fire in our great regions’.

The Independent UK · Dec 16, 2024

Devolution plans ‘about giving power from Westminster to local leaders’ – No 10

Downing Street said the redesign was also about tackling the ‘waste’ from multiple layers of government.

Evening Standard · Dec 16, 2024