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Politics
Policy, power, and the news of the day.
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Labour ‘could lose up to 50 seats’ to Greens if new drilling in North Sea approved
Greens say analysis shows government failure to take bold climate action could lead to big gains for party at election UK politics live – latest updates Labour could lose dozens of seats to the Green party if the government allows new drilling in the North Sea, according to internal research shared with the Guardian. Green party analysis suggests up to 50 Labour MPs – including key Andy Burnham ally Louise Haigh – could lose their seats at the next election if the government fails to make urgent climate action a priority or allows new drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea. Continue reading...
‘Jim Crow must go’: the artists and everyday heroes who fought injustice – in pictures
Turn the Volume Up! at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University highlights the activism of everyday people who have confronted injustice. New York’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, quoting the Bronx rapper KRS-One’s song Turn The Volume Up during his election-day victory speech inspired the name of the exhibit. Featuring work by artists such as Kara Walker, Carrie Mae Weems and the Guerrilla Girls, the show examines how protests and collective action can create and inspire social change Turn the Volume Up! opens on 27 August and runs through 11 July 2027 Continue reading...
Who is Natalie Harp? Trump’s closest and most devoted aide is in the spotlight
Speculation about US president’s executive assistant sparks furious backlash from White House Wearing shoulder-length blonde hair, gold earrings and a red dress, cancer survivor Natalie Harp introduced herself to the 2020 Republican national convention as “a formerly forgotten American from California” and compared Donald Trump with George Bailey, the everyman hero played by James Stewart in the classic film It’s a Wonderful Life. “George Bailey’s father was right,” smiled Harp, her voice echoing in the Andrew W Mellon auditorium in pandemic-hit Washington. “All you can take with you is that which you’ve given away. Mr President, that makes you the richest man in the world.” Continue reading...
Activist forced out of US after criticising Trump-aligned Colombian politician
Beto Coral held up banners in Florida warning fellow Colombians to not vote for Abelardo de la Espriella In the week before Colombia’s presidential election, Beto Coral, a well-known activist living in the United States, travelled to Florida to persuade fellow Colombians not to vote for the far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella. Coral held banners outside polling stations in Miami warning that the millionaire lawyer, whose candidacy was endorsed by Donald Trump, would “help deport all of you”. Continue reading...
‘I felt like Babe Ruth’: baseball’s 3ft 7in pinch-hitter, 75 years on
Baseball showman Bill Veeck’s most audacious stunt sent Eddie Gaedel to bat for the lowly St Louis Browns in 1951 – and created an unforgettable diamond spectacle Bill Veeck had a track record for designing some of the most elaborate marketing promotions during his four stints as a Major League Baseball owner, including an exploding scoreboard in 1960. But his most outlandish publicity stunt was sending 3ft 7in inch pinch-hitter Eddie Gaedel to the plate at a game 75 years ago Wednesday. Sporting uniform number 1/8, Gaedel was greeted with a standing ovation at Sportsman’s Park in St Louis as he came to bat in the second game of a doubleheader on 19 August 1951 for the St Louis Browns. A famous AP photo shows Detroit Tigers catcher Bob Swift sitting on his knees with a ball in his glove, towering over Gaedel and his tiny strike zone. Not surprisingly, he walked on four pitches, and was immediately lifted for a pinch-runner. Continue reading...
Trainline, Virgin Atlantic and Red Driving School investigated over hidden ticket fees
UK competition watchdog investigation is part of broader clampdown on illegal ‘drip pricing’ Business live – latest updates The UK’s competition watchdog has launched investigations into Trainline, Virgin Atlantic and Red Driving School over concerns that all three companies displayed misleadingly low prices to their customers. The Competition and Markets Authority’s investigations are part of a broader clampdown on “drip pricing”, an illegal practice that makes a product appear cheaper by not including all mandatory fees. Continue reading...
Rising inflation underlines scale of Andy Burnham’s cost of living challenge
PM’s plan to shield households from more pressure risks being overwhelmed by wider price rises UK inflation rises to 2.9% Business live – latest updates July’s increase in inflation, to 2.9% , is likely to be the first of several, underlining the challenge facing Andy Burnham in shielding consumers from a fresh cost of living squeeze this autumn. Rising energy bills, as an increase in Ofgem’s quarterly price cap came into force, were the main driver of the jump in inflation, from 2.6% in June. Continue reading...
Virgin Australia apologises to disability advocate removed from flight over wheelchair motor
Shane Hryhorec’s viral video showing the interaction with flight staff has already garnered 16 million views Virgin Australia has apologised to a disability advocate who said he was “humiliated” by his removal from a flight over his wheelchair motor. The airline called Shane Hryhorec on Wednesday afternoon to offer an apology, two days after the Adelaide-based man published a viral video showing the incident on board a flight from Sydney. Continue reading...
Burnham pledges to get thousands of rough sleepers off streets for Christmas – UK politics live
PM promises to mount ‘Covid-style campaign’ to get homeless people off streets in winter Hello and welcome to the UK politics live blog. Andy Burnham has pledged to work to “get everyone in for Christmas” as he continues to build on his policy to end rough sleeping. We see people bedded down in doorways and sat outside stations, carrying their lives in rucksacks and sleeping bags on their backs. And I think most people have the same reaction: this isn’t right. It shouldn’t be happening here. But we’ve lived with it for so long that something that used to shock us now feels like part of the scenery. We did it in the pandemic. We got people out of the cold because, as a country, we decided it had to be done. We can do it again. That’s why the first thing I announced when I became prime minister was a commitment to end rough sleeping. Not to manage it, not to reduce it – but to end it. And today, we’re taking the first step in getting it done. Burnham confirmed a new partnership between the government and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to take local control of bus services in the region. Burnham said the “absolutely massive” move would protect thousands of jobs, which were threatened after the parent company behind local operator National Express indicated it was leaving the market. Burnham said “nothing of consequence” was exchanged when he was text messaging somebody impersonating Donald Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles. “All politicians are receiving these pressures and these challenges, but I did everything right. There was a minimal exchange of information of zero consequence, and it was quickly reported,” he told reporters. Burnham said he will present findings on a review of the early release scheme in England and Wales when parliament returns in two weeks’ time. Justice secretary Alex Norris is drawing up plans to “maximise public safety and minimise the early release of prisoners”, the prime minister said. The green energy entrepreneur and Labour donor Dale Vince has urged the prime minister to allow more drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea, in a reversal of his previous position. Vince, who has given more than £5m to Labour over several years, said he had told Andy Burnham that the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects should be approved as long as the oil and gas produced were subject to price controls to make them cheaper than energy imported from overseas. Continue reading...
Fresh Ukraine corruption probe adds to pressure on Zelenskyy ahead of key vote – Europe live
Investigation into unnamed lawmakers comes hours before parliament is due to to vote on successor to Mykhailo Fedorov as he calls for elections Defence and security editor Artem Bronzhukov, a Ukrainian political analyst, questioned whether it would be practical to hold elections given that Russian bombing was continuing. “Today there is no clear understanding of how to ensure people’s safety in the context of a full-scale war.” Continue reading...
David Shrigley London exhibition will find the funny side of old masters
Dulwich Picture Gallery show to feature British artist’s work hung next to paintings by Dutch and Flemish greats The contemporary UK artist David Shrigley will apply his trademark arch humour and distinctive artistic practice “in dialogue” with old masters of Dutch and Flemish painting in a major new solo exhibition in London. The celebrated visual artist will explore the 17th-century paintings with his own new works “responding to” and hung alongside original masterpieces by artists including Jan Steen, Adriaen Brouwer, David Teniers the Younger, Adriaen van Ostade, Pieter Brueghel the Younger and Rembrandt van Rijn. Continue reading...
Democrat Mary Peltola and Republican Dan Sullivan lead in Alaska primary for US Senate – US politics live
Incumbent Sullivan is running for third term while Peltola is fighting to flip seat and aid Democrats retake control of Congress The Guardian’s Sam Levin and Richard Luscombe have more on Angie Nixon and her surprise primary win in Florida for US Senate . Nixon, a state representative and member of the Democratic Socialists of America , beat former army intelligence officer Alexander Vindman , despite having significantly less funding going into the primary – $975,000 to Vindman’s $16.3m at the end of July, according to Florida Politics . Democrats have their sights set on upsetting Republican Ashley Moody in the US Senate general election. Moody, picked by DeSantis to replace Marco Rubio when he became secretary of state last year, won what was almost a token primary election to run in November to serve the remaining two years of Rubio’s term. Nixon, who was born in Jacksonville, has aggressively opposed DeSantis’s policies, including with a sit-in at the governor’s office this spring to protest Republican redistricting, the Miami Herald reported . That demonstration resulted in her facing misdemeanor charges of trespassing and resisting , which she is fighting in court. Dan J Sullivan is a retired schoolteacher and US Forest Service employee living in the town of Petersburg in south-eastern Alaska, who is running as a Republican for the US Senate. Dan S Sullivan is a Republican US senator, who has represented Alaska since 2015. Both candidates will appear on the ballot, one name after the other, when Alaskans vote in primary elections this week – a complicated quirk of the contest that has drawn howls from Republicans. Continue reading...
Peta Murphy called for gambling reform three years ago. Her husband says Labor’s changes fall ‘well short’
The government’s gambling ad changes are expected to pass the Senate on Wednesday night or Thursday morning with the Coalition’s support The husband of late Labor MP, Peta Murphy, said the government’s gambling reform “falls well short” of what she called for in 2023, lamenting that its shortcomings were due to the “considerable lobbying power” of the wagering, sporting and media industries. Rod Glover said he had “mixed emotions” about Labor’s reforms which are expected to pass parliament by Thursday, praising Anthony Albanese and minister Anika Wells for changes he said would reduce harms. But he said reform had taken too long and could have gone even further in meeting Murphy’s recommendations, which called for a full ban on gambling ads and inducements. Continue reading...
Labor thinks it can win elections defending super. For Hanson, it’s just another way to deprive Taylor of political oxygen
Despite leading in the polls, Hanson is allowed to offer thought bubbles instead of actual policy Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast All sides of politics are feeling the heat from Pauline Hanson. On Tuesday, the One Nation leader pulled the rug out from under the Coalition by announcing a policy to slash tobacco excise by 75%, to deal with surging illegal sales. The policy was remarkably similar to one Liberals and Nationals have been discussing for months. Continue reading...
UK inflation rises to 2.9% as Iran war fuels living costs squeeze
Higher energy costs push up CPI but jobs slowdown could deter Bank of England from raising interest rates UK inflation rose to 2.9% in July as the impact of the Iran war on energy prices triggered a renewed cost of living squeeze for British households. Underscoring the challenge for Andy Burnham’s government to give “breathing space” to hard-pressed consumers, the Office for National Statistics said inflation rose from 2.6% in June. Continue reading...
SpaceX Starship the talk of remote Australian island as Elon Musk’s engineers sent to retrieve it
Christmas Island locals who woke to see the spacecraft floating off the coast hope global attention will encourage tourists Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Engineers from Elon Musk’s SpaceX are on their way to a remote Australian island to retrieve part of a Starship that dived into the Indian Ocean. The spacecraft – now floating off the coast of Christmas Island – was launched in Texas on 24 July, in the 13th test of the technology. After reaching orbit and releasing 20 non-functioning satellites, the upper stage of the rocket re-entered the atmosphere, landing in the ocean. Continue reading...
In cutting joint drills, Trump has given South Korea’s president what he wants. So why does Seoul look so uneasy?
President Lee Jae Myung has long pushed for stronger homegrown defences, yet Donald Trump’s move has sparked alarm in some quarters At their first summit , in August last year, South Korean president Lee Jae Myung told Donald Trump: “If you, Mr President, become the peacemaker, then I will assist you as the pacemaker.” The remark at the Oval Office captured the thrust of Lee’s approach to the North: dial down the military posturing and make repeated peace overtures to revive dialogue, even if they have been consistently rejected by Pyongyang largely over Seoul’s insistence on denuclearisation. Continue reading...
Catholic schools chief denies wiping critical evidence after performing factory reset on phone, Icac hears
Dallas McInerney tells inquiry he wiped data from his devices over the weekend after receiving a security warning from his bank Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The chief executive of Catholic Schools NSW has denied he performed a factory reset on a work phone and iPad to wipe critical evidence for an investigation into allegations of corruption in the New South Wales Liberals, an inquiry has heard. On Wednesday, Dallas McInerney revealed he had performed the factory reset over the weekend after giving evidence to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) last week. Continue reading...
UK relies on heat-stressed countries for fruit and veg it could grow itself – report
Food Foundation sounds alarm over supply risks and price shocks as about 40% of Britain’s food is imported The UK is vulnerable to food price shocks because of its dependence on imports of fruit and vegetable from countries even more exposed to the climate crisis, researchers say. Much of Britain has sweltered under a record five heatwaves this year and endured drought and wildfires, with the hot, dry conditions damaging crops and reducing yields of domestic produce . Continue reading...
NSW judge says anti-Israel graffiti case went ‘haywire’ when vandalism was labelled antisemitic
Mohommed Farhat spray-painted slogans and torched a car in Woollahra. He pleaded guilty but supreme court judge says case appears to be a ‘miscarriage of justice’ Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast For almost two years, Mohommed Farhat has been in prison after he pleaded guilty to 15 offences in connection with property damage, including spray-painting “Fuk Israel” on cars in Sydney’s east and setting another vehicle alight in late 2024. This week, the New South Wales supreme court justice Desmond Fagan ruled that police, lower courts and various state agencies all incorrectly labelled Farhat’s actions antisemitic, meaning he was treated more harshly. Continue reading...
John Irvin, British film-maker who directed Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, dies aged 86
The director’s BBC hit opened the door to Hollywood action films including Hamburger Hill, The Dogs of War and Raw Deal John Irvin, the British film-maker who directed the Bafta-winning BBC miniseries Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy , as well as films including Hamburger Hill, The Dogs of War and Raw Deal, has died aged 86. Irvin died “peacefully at home” on 11 August, surrounded by his family, his producer Claire Evans confirmed to the Guardian. Continue reading...
Camilla found it ‘difficult’ keeping king’s cancer diagnosis private before announcement
In video celebrating Maggie’s cancer charity, queen recalls ‘longing to let it out’ on visit to centre in 2024 The queen has spoken for the first time of how difficult she found it to keep King Charles’s cancer a secret before it was announced publicly. Camilla found herself “longing to let it out” during an official visit to a Maggie’s cancer support centre in 2024 , after Charles had received his diagnosis but before the news was released. Continue reading...
Tourists on pastry quest overrun scenic spot in Italian mountains
Alpine communities hit out after influencer videos draw huge queues to Friedrich August refuge in Dolomites Hundreds of people overwhelmed a mountain hut in the Italian Dolomites, not for the panoramic views but in search of a creamy pastry, reigniting the debate about social-media-driven tourism. The visitors ventured en masse to the Friedrich August refuge – perched at 2,300 metres (7,500ft) above sea level, between Col Rodella and Passo Sella in Val di Fassa – some reportedly waking up at dawn or camping overnight, just to ensure they could buy a freshly baked krapfen , a traditional German pastry similar to a doughnut, before they ran out. Continue reading...
Erin Patterson argues mushroom murder convictions should be quashed due to ‘catastrophic’ failure of justice
Allowing jurors to stay in same hotel as police and prosecution denied Patterson a fair trial, lawyers tell Victorian court of appeal Lawyers for Erin Patterson argue that allowing jurors to stay in the same hotel as police and the prosecution while they deliberated over their verdicts in the triple murder trial represented a “catastrophic” failure of the justice system. On Wednesday, three judges of Victoria’s highest court started hearing two appeals – by Patterson herself and the state’s director of public prosecutions (DPP) – into the conviction and sentence in the case. Continue reading...