Guardian UK Politics
UK pitched single market for goods with EU in pursuit of deeper trade ties
A senior UK official floated the idea of a goods-only single market with the EU during recent talks in Brussels, marking one of the most ambitious post-Brexit overtures toward economic reintegration to date. The proposal, put forward by Cabinet Office EU relations chief Michael Ellam, was rebuffed by European counterparts. The pitch signals the UK government's growing appetite to reset trade ties with the bloc, even if Brussels remains skeptical of selective integration outside full membership terms.
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GLA considering investigation into Zack Polanski over houseboat council tax
London Assembly officials are weighing a formal investigation into Green Party leader Zack Polanski over allegations he failed to pay the correct council tax on his east London houseboat. The complaint centers on whether the vessel was his primary residence — a designation that carries significant tax implications. For a politician whose party champions fairness and public accountability, the timing is particularly damaging.
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UK officials suggested single market for goods with Europe
The UK government floated a proposal to establish a single market for goods with Europe, signaling a potential shift toward closer post-Brexit trade ties. The plan stalled after meeting resistance from the EU, with Brussels apparently unenthusiastic about the arrangement. For now, the idea remains shelved, though its emergence suggests ongoing pressure from industry to reduce friction at the border.
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Sky News UK
UK faces 'economic catastrophe' unless it adapts to young people rewired by smartphones
A former minister is sounding the alarm that Britain's economic future is at serious risk if institutions fail to meet the expectations of digitally native younger generations. The warning centers on a fundamental mismatch between how young people — shaped entirely by smartphones and instant connectivity — think, work, and engage, and the outdated systems they're being asked to operate within. Adapt or face the consequences: that is the stark message to policymakers and employers alike.
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Politics of potholes: why Bristol can’t fix its broken roads overnight
Bristol's Marsh Street has earned the grim distinction of being named the city's worst road for potholes, its 200-metre stretch riddled with cracks, divots, and crumbling tarmac. The problem is far from local — councils across Britain are grappling with mounting repair backlogs and chronic underfunding that make a swift fix unlikely. Until the funding gap closes, roads like Marsh Street remain a symbol of infrastructure decline playing out on streets nationwide.
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