Guardian UK Politics
‘Toxic’ views of Reform UK candidates raise questions about party’s vetting
Reform UK's candidate vetting process is under renewed scrutiny after Hope Not Hate uncovered a series of inflammatory social media posts from election hopefuls, including one calling for a "white Britain" and suggesting Keir Starmer should be shot. The findings undermine the party's claims to have tightened its screening procedures ahead of the 7 May elections. For a party already sensitive to accusations of extremism, the revelations pose a significant reputational challenge at a critical electoral moment.
Read article →Guardian UK Politics
Trump says he will ‘probably put a big tariff on the UK’ if it doesn’t drop digital services tax
Trade tensions between Washington and London are escalating, with Trump threatening sweeping tariffs unless the UK scraps its 2% digital services tax on US tech giants like Google and Meta. The ultimatum comes weeks after Trump warned that any existing UK-US trade arrangements remain subject to revision. The move puts the UK government in a difficult position, caught between protecting domestic tax policy and maintaining crucial transatlantic trade relations.
Read article →Guardian UK Politics
Downing Street says sovereignty of Falkland Islands ‘rests with the UK’ after leaked Pentagon report – UK politics live
British officials are drawing a firm line on Falklands sovereignty after a leaked Pentagon report suggested Washington could revisit its support for the UK's territorial claim as payback for Britain's limited involvement in US strikes on Iran. Downing Street described its position as "clear, longstanding, and unchanged." The episode signals growing friction in the transatlantic relationship, with the US appearing willing to use decades-old allied commitments as diplomatic leverage.
Read article →BBC Politics
No 10 say Falkland sovereignty rests with UK after report of US 'review'
Britain's hold on the Falkland Islands is not up for negotiation, Downing Street has asserted, after reports emerged of a Pentagon document floating a potential U.S. policy shift on sovereignty as leverage over the UK. The alleged internal review suggested Washington could alter its longstanding neutral-to-supportive stance in retaliation for Britain declining to join military action against Iran. The development will sharpen concerns in London about the reliability of the transatlantic alliance under the current U.S. administration.
Read article →BBC Politics
No 10 says Falklands sovereignty rests with UK after report of US 'review'
Britain's Downing Street has moved to firmly reassert UK sovereignty over the Falkland Islands following reports of a Pentagon document floating the prospect of a US policy shift on the territory. The reported review appears tied to Washington's frustration over Britain's refusal to join military action against Iran. The episode underscores how transatlantic tensions are increasingly spilling into territory once considered settled diplomatic ground.
Read article →Get this delivered every morning
Join thousands of readers who get the world's most important stories, curated daily.
Start reading free →