Guardian UK Politics
UK may send ships and mine-hunting drones to strait of Hormuz, says Miliband
The UK is weighing military options, including warships and mine-hunting drones, to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz after the waterway was closed amid escalating Middle East tensions. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed the government is in active talks with allies about Britain's potential role in securing the passage. The strait is one of the world's most critical shipping lanes, carrying roughly a fifth of global oil supply, making its closure a direct threat to energy markets and prices.
Read article →Guardian UK Politics
Reform UK government would replace top civil servants with those ‘more like to implement party’s priorities’
Reform UK has drawn up plans to purge the senior civil service if it comes to power, replacing permanent secretaries across every government department with figures considered more sympathetic to the party's agenda. Senior party figures have concluded that existing top officials are unlikely to implement Reform's priorities and would need to be replaced with outsiders or more compliant internal candidates. The move would represent one of the most aggressive overhauls of the British civil service in modern political history.
Read article →Guardian UK Politics
UK needs nuclear deterrent independent from US, Ed Davey to say
The Liberal Democrats are set to call for a fully independent British nuclear deterrent, arguing the UK can no longer depend on American security guarantees under Donald Trump. Ed Davey will use his party's spring conference to push for domestic manufacturing and maintenance of nuclear weapons, despite acknowledging the eye-watering cost. The move signals a significant shift in Lib Dem defence thinking as transatlantic trust reaches a new low.
Read article →Guardian UK Politics
Row over tuition fees cut for European students threatens Starmer’s EU reset
The UK and EU are locked in a dispute over university tuition fees, with Brussels demanding European students pay domestic rates of around £9,500 rather than international fees that can exceed £60,000 — a concession that could cost British universities £140 million annually. British negotiators were reportedly caught off guard by the demand, which has emerged as a sticking point in talks over a youth mobility scheme. The standoff poses a serious threat to Keir Starmer's broader ambition to reset relations with the EU.
Read article →BBC Politics
Officials could gain police-style powers to tackle fly-tippers
Enforcement officers tackling fly-tipping may soon wield powers previously reserved for police, including warrantless searches, asset seizure, and arrests. The proposal signals a significant escalation in how authorities plan to combat illegal dumping, which costs councils millions annually. If passed, it would mark one of the most aggressive regulatory shifts in waste enforcement in years.
Read article →Get this delivered every morning
Join thousands of readers who get the world's most important stories, curated daily.
Start reading free →