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• Grangemouth closure 'not comparable' to British Steel, MPs told

  12-04-2025 15:13 via bbc.com
  
  SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn challenged the UK government over similarities to the closure of the Scottish oil refinery
  
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• The right must fight before it can unite

  24-04-2025 13:28
  An alliance between Reform UK and the Tories may be the final outcome but they must try to smash each other first
  
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• Dropping UK fantasy of managing Trump could spark smarter policy

  24-04-2025 10:30
  Labour should think about seizing opportunities from the mess such as attracting US academics and wealthy people
  
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• Energy, defence and fish on the menu for von der Leyen in London

  24-04-2025 07:00
  Also in this newsletter: Portugal triggers defence spending escape clause
  
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• Will rising child poverty be Labour’s legacy? – Politics Weekly UK

  24-04-2025 06:00 via theguardian.com
  
  The government began to roll out its free breakfast club scheme this week as part of plans to help struggling families. But with predictions that child poverty could increase by the end of this parliament, how serious is Labour about tackling the problem? John Harris hears from a headteacher, and speaks to our political editor, Pippa Crerar Continue reading...
  
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• UK and EU to finalise plans for defence pact

  24-04-2025 06:00
  Prime minister and European Commission president expected to hold talks on sidelines of an energy summit in London
  
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• Scottish nuclear plant emptied of fuel as UK winds down ageing gas-cooled reactors

  24-04-2025 06:00
  First of seven plants to be decommissioned took just three years but it will take almost a century to eradicate radiation from land and buildings
  
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• Making plans for Nigel: tense Tories wonder whether Badenoch has what it takes to see off Reform | Pippa Crerar

  24-04-2025 06:00 via theguardian.com
  
  With local election punishment looming, Conservative stress bubbled over after Jenrick’s remarks about FarageSome veteran Conservatives are so convinced that Robert Jenrick, the ambitious shadow justice secretary, is intent on striking an election pact with Reform UK that they have nicknamed him “Nigel’s chancellor”.The joke, however, gets to the heart of what many of them fear most: that the Tory party is in such a parlous state that their only hope of survival will be t
  
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• A year of hate: what I learned when I went undercover with the far right

  24-04-2025 06:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Working for Hope Not Hate, I infiltrated an extremist organisation, befriended its members and got to work investigating their political connectionsCharlie, the leader of a white nationalist group, leaned over the sticky pub table. He pointed a big finger at me and locked eyes. “You better not turn out to be an infiltrator for Hope Not Hate,” he said. I froze. Flanked by several of his lieutenants, Charlie watched, waiting for my response. His face softened into a smile. He started l
  
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• UK seeks global green investors with windfarm cash and planning policies

  24-04-2025 01:06 via theguardian.com
  
  Government is ‘setting up conversations’ as companies arrive in London for clean energy summit The UK is to woo global green investors, including those scared away from the US by the actions of Donald Trump, by offering cash and infrastructure improvements to encourage companies to set up manufacturing plants and supply chains.The government will bring forward £300m for offshore windfarms, an area in which the UK retains a lead, and has invited banks and major international com
  
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• Rachel Reeves dashes hopes of early breakthrough in UK-US trade deal

  24-04-2025 00:41 via theguardian.com
  
  Chancellor says UK is ‘not going to rush a deal’ and rejects new US demands on agricultural productsMarkets rise as Trump backtracks on China tariffs Reeves looks at ending zero tax regime for cheap importsRachel Reeves has dashed hopes of an early breakthrough in trade talks with the Trump administration, stressing that the UK is “not going to rush” into a deal.Speaking before her first face-to-face meeting with the US Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, in which she was
  
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• Lib Dems back ban on playing music and videos on public transport in England

  23-04-2025 23:30 via theguardian.com
  
  Under the plan, those who flout the prohibition could face a maximum fine of £1,000A party of party poopers? Or defenders of the “quiet majority”? Either way, the Liberal Democrats are redefining “political battlebus” by proposing a ban on people playing music and videos out loud on their phones on public transport.Under the plan, those who blast out songs and TV shows from their phone on public transport, or while at stations or bus stops, could face a maximum fine
  
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• Labour MPs urge Starmer to back youth mobility scheme amid EU trade reset

  23-04-2025 20:54 via theguardian.com
  
  More than 60 MPs sign letter calling for time-limited visas for 18- to 30-year-olds to travel freelyStarmer’s realignment with Europe will be a low-key oneKeir Starmer is under pressure from more than 60 Labour MPs to allow thousands of young Europeans to live and work in the UK, a move seen as key to unlocking a more ambitious trade reset with Brussels.The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said discussions on a potential scheme were ongoing, in the clearest hint yet that the government is prepar
  
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• Keir Starmer’s realignment with Europe will be a low-key one

  23-04-2025 20:54 via theguardian.com
  
  The aim in No 10 is to Make Brussels Boring Again and never say the words ‘single market’ or ‘freedom of movement’Labour MPs urge Starmer to back youth mobility scheme amid EU trade resetTalk of veterinary agreements, “Canada-plus” and rules of origin are likely to give even the most hardened Westminster veteran terrifying flashbacks. There was once a time when a word from Tory Eurosceptic Bill Cash on dynamic alignment could splash national newspapers.Now the
  
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• Ella Baron on repercussions of the UK supreme court’s gender ruling – cartoon

  23-04-2025 20:21 via theguardian.com
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• Rachel Reeves looks at ending zero tax regime for low-value imports

  23-04-2025 19:14 via theguardian.com
  Chancellor reviewing rule that lets foreign retailers such as Amazon and Shein pay no duty on items costing under £135Markets rise as Trump backtracks on China tariffs and firing Fed chairRachel Reeves dashes hopes of early breakthrough in UK-US trade dealRachel Reeves is to review the tax regime for imports of low-value goods in an effort to prevent Chinese companies undercutting British retailers by dumping cheap items on online marketplaces.The chancellor is considering changes to rules
  
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• Culture warrior Kemi and defiant Keir slog it out over sex and gender at PMQs | John Crace

  23-04-2025 19:12 via theguardian.com
  The opposition leader was adamant the PM should eat humble pie but he wasn’t having it. Cue a slanging matchYou could see this one coming from a long way off. On the day after the International Monetary Fund lowered its growth forecast for the UK by 0.5%. On the day when it was announced that UK government borrowing was £15bn more than expected. On the day when the US wandered out of the latest efforts to end the war in Ukraine.Yup, you’ve guessed it. Kemi Badenoch wasn’t
  
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• Reeves opens door to cutting US car import tariffs in UK trade talks

  23-04-2025 19:11
  
  Chancellor says a deal ‘can be done’ with Washington but insists Britain will not lower food or auto standards
  
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• UK toys with ending low value import scheme over ‘dumping’ of goods

  23-04-2025 19:00
  
  Review part of package of measures aimed at guarding against Chinese products being diverted to Britain
  
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• UK examines ending low value import scheme over ‘dumping’ of goods

  23-04-2025 19:00
  
  Review part of package of measures aimed at guarding against Chinese products being diverted to Britain
  
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• MPs should not do media work that ‘monetises’ their role, says government

  23-04-2025 18:56 via theguardian.com
  Labour sets out preferences as Commons standards committee looks at tightening rules on second jobsThe government has backed proposals to stop MPs taking second jobs they have been offered because of their role in parliament, and expressed concern that some paid media roles allow them to “monetise” their privileged positions.It set out its detailed thinking on how the rules could be tightened on MPs’ outside interests in evidence to the House of Commons standards committee. Con
  
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• Badenoch declines to criticise Jenrick over Reform coalition comments – as it happened

  23-04-2025 18:45 via theguardian.com
  Spokesperson for Tory leader says she agrees with colleague that ‘we need to bring centre-right voters together’. This blog is closedRosie Duffield, the independent MP who left Labour after the election in part because she felt her gender critical views made her unwelcome in the party (although her resignation letter focused on welfare issues), has claimed that Keir Starmer no longer arguing a trans woman is a woman shows he is a “manager rather than a leader”.Speaking on
  
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• Russia imposes sanctions on 15 UK MPs over ‘hostile statements’

  23-04-2025 18:31 via theguardian.com
  Six members of House of Lords also targeted as Moscow accuses UK of trying to ‘demonise’ it amid Ukraine warRussia has imposed sanctions on 15 UK MPs and six members of the House of Lords, banning them from the country over what it called “hostile statements and unfounded accusations” about Moscow.The Russian foreign affairs ministry published a statement on Wednesday accusing the UK of “fabricating anti-Russian narratives” and attempting to “demonise&rd
  
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• Scottish Greens table amendment to scrap king’s stamp duty exemption

  23-04-2025 16:45 via theguardian.com
  Changes to housing bill would require Charles to pay same tax as everyone else on property he buys in Scotland Opposition politicians in Scotland have called for King Charles to lose his unique exemption from paying stamp duty on his property transactions.The Scottish Green party has tabled changes to a housing bill which would require the king to pay tax on any new property he buys in Scotland in the same way as all other property buyers would. Continue reading...
  
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• Robert Jenrick vows to ‘bring coalition together’ to prevent Tory-Reform fight

  23-04-2025 15:49 via theguardian.com
  Shadow justice secretary says he wants parties to avoid competing against each other, but sources deny pactUK politics live – latest updatesRobert Jenrick has told a private meeting he will try to ensure that the Tories and Reform do not compete against each other at the next election, saying to do so would hand a second term to Keir Starmer.In leaked comments obtained by Sky News, the shadow justice secretary said he would “bring this coalition together … one way or another&r
  
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• UK borrowing soars as business activity contracts at fastest rate for 2 years

  23-04-2025 12:44
  
  Overshoot of £15bn puts pressure on Reeves to raise taxes as PMI figures indicate falling private sector confidence
  
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• UK government borrowing soars as private sector activity contracts at fastest rate for 2 years

  23-04-2025 11:14
  Overshoot of £15bn in public sector borrowing puts pressure on Reeves to raise taxes as PMI figures indicate falling business confidence
  
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• UK government borrows £15bn more than expected

  23-04-2025 10:54
  
  Figures for last fiscal year deal setback to chancellor as economy faces impact of Trump’s tariffs
  
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• What to watch in the 2025 local elections

  23-04-2025 10:35
  
  Expect some three-way messy outcomes and finger-pointing, with the Runcorn by-election setting the day’s tone
  
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• UK government borrowing exceeds expectations in last fiscal year

  23-04-2025 09:09
  
  Figures deal blow to chancellor as economy faces impact of Trump’s tariffs
  
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