Guardian UK Politics
Small boats deal between France and UK is on verge of collapse
The £480 million UK-France agreement to fund beach patrols aimed at curbing small boat crossings in the Channel is on the brink of collapse as negotiations stall ahead of Tuesday's deadline. Downing Street is pushing for more aggressive interceptions, while France has raised objections over the safety of asylum seekers in its waters. The breakdown would represent a significant blow to Britain's border control strategy and could see Channel crossings go effectively unchecked.
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Palantir’s UK boss criticises ‘ideological’ groups as ministers move to scrap NHS contract
Palantir's UK chief Louis Mosley is pushing back against mounting pressure on the government to exit a £330m NHS data contract, dismissing critics as "ideologically motivated campaigners." Ministers are actively seeking legal advice on triggering a break clause in the deal, which tasks Palantir with delivering the NHS Federated Data Platform. The standoff highlights deepening tensions between the government and US tech firms over sensitive public sector data contracts.
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King’s state visit to US will take place in April despite calls to delay amid Iran war – UK politics live
King Charles will proceed with a state visit to the United States in April, where he will address Congress as part of commemorations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence. The visit goes ahead despite calls for a delay amid ongoing conflict with Iran. Nigel Farage, meanwhile, urged caution in interpreting Donald Trump's statements on ending the Iran war, suggesting the White House's ultimate intentions remain unclear.
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Government to overhaul non-crime hate incident rules
The UK government is set to overhaul the rules governing non-crime hate incidents, with the Home Office promising updated guidance that will stop police from recording and investigating routine online disputes. The move is framed as a civil liberties reset, drawing a clearer line between genuine hate incidents and ordinary disagreement. Critics of the current framework have long argued it gives authorities excessive reach into legal speech.
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UK and France in last-minute talks to renew small boats deal
A funding agreement that has underpinned joint UK-France efforts to crack down on small boat crossings in the Channel is set to expire at midnight, triggering urgent last-minute negotiations between the two governments. The deal has financed increased French patrols targeting people-smuggling networks along the northern French coastline. Failure to renew it would mark a significant setback for border security cooperation at a time when Channel crossings remain a politically charged issue on both sides.
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