Guardian UK Politics
Hard-right figures take aim at Ed Miliband and UK net zero policies at ‘anti-woke Davos’
Prominent hard-right figures, including US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, used the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship conference to attack Britain's net zero agenda and label Ed Miliband a "villain." The gathering, dubbed the "anti-woke Davos," brought together European far-right parties, US anti-abortion activists, and Trump-aligned donors in a coordinated assault on progressive energy policy. Wright called Britain's green transition a "tragic mistake," signaling the extent to which transatlantic right-wing networks are aligning against Labour's climate agenda.
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Keir Starmer couldn’t beat the curse of Brexit – a politics poisoned by nationalism | Rafael Behr
Brexit's toxic legacy has claimed another prime minister, with Keir Starmer's attempt to forge a unifying, optimistic patriotism failing to cut through a political culture still warped by the referendum's nationalist aftermath. Six leaders have now cycled through Downing Street in a decade, averaging less than two years each — a pace that speaks less to individual failure than to a system under structural strain. Rafael Behr argues that Andy Burnham, with his regional identity and working-class credibility, may be better positioned to neutralise the poison where Starmer could not.
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UK defence secretary promises delayed investment plan before Nato summit
Britain's new defence secretary Dan Jarvis has pledged to release the long-delayed defence investment plan ahead of the NATO summit in two weeks. Jarvis is reported to have already wrestled roughly £1 billion more from the Treasury than his predecessor John Healey managed to secure. Negotiations between the Ministry of Defence and Treasury are ongoing as the government faces pressure to demonstrate credible defence spending commitments ahead of the summit.
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Andy Burnham picks former Blair minister James Purnell as chief of staff
James Purnell, a former Blair-era cabinet minister, has been selected by Andy Burnham as his chief of staff should Burnham reach Downing Street. The appointment signals Burnham's intent to draw on New Labour experience as he builds out his prospective government team. It marks one of the most consequential personnel decisions the Makerfield MP has made since returning to Westminster.
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Burnham and Starmer hold ‘frosty’ meeting to thrash out transition of power
Andy Burnham has secured civil service access following a tense first meeting with Keir Starmer since the Makerfield by-election effectively ended the prime minister's leadership. Starmer has agreed to facilitate a formal transition process, though sources describe significant bitterness within his inner circle over Burnham's ascent. With Burnham potentially weeks away from entering Downing Street, the groundwork for a handover is already underway despite the political friction.
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