Guardian UK Politics
UK politics: Starmer issues government apology over forced adoption scandal – as it happened
Britain's government has formally apologized for the forced adoption of an estimated 185,000 babies from unmarried mothers between 1949 and 1976, with Prime Minister Starmer calling it "a stain on our history." The scandal saw young and vulnerable women coerced, bullied, or misled into relinquishing their children, often without meaningful consent. The apology marks long-overdue official recognition of one of postwar Britain's most damaging social policy failures.
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US-UK drug deal could result in 229,000 excess deaths in England, analysis suggests
A landmark US-UK trade deal struck last December could cost the NHS £45 billion in additional medicine costs, according to new analysis — funding that would otherwise go toward core health services. Researchers project the financial strain would result in over 229,000 avoidable deaths in England as the health service is forced to deprioritize existing care. The findings raise serious questions about the true cost of shielding British pharmaceutical exports from American tariffs.
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Andy Burnham urged to be radical on economy to help Labour win next election
Bold economic policies could be Labour's lifeline. A new seat-by-seat poll shows measures like rent control and higher wealth taxes could help the party fend off Reform UK in marginal constituencies, preserving its parliamentary majority. Senior figures around Andy Burnham are pushing an "economic populist" agenda as the most viable path to electoral survival.
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Whistleblower ‘terrified’ as Rochdale grooming gang leader released
Sara Rowbotham, the whistleblower whose evidence helped imprison the Rochdale grooming gang, has spoken out against the release of ringleader Shabir Ahmed, warning that a "weak" probation service leaves women and girls dangerously exposed. Local politicians described themselves as "collectively chilled" by the prospect of his return to the community. The case reignites longstanding concerns about whether the justice system is equipped to manage high-risk offenders after release.
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Starmer’s goodbye gift to Britain: a US pharma deal that could be more lethal than Covid | Aditya Chakrabortty
Keir Starmer's government is quietly pursuing a US pharmaceutical trade deal that critics warn could cost the NHS billions, diverting funds away from frontline services like cancer screening, doctors, and nurses. The agreement, largely negotiated out of public view, would tie Britain into medicine import terms heavily favoring American drug companies. If the warnings prove correct, the long-term damage to public health funding could rival — or exceed — the toll of the pandemic itself.
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