British politician, socialist, long-time MP for Islington North and co-founder of Your Party
Children’s laureates Chris Haughton and Nicola Davies have said they will donate forthcoming UK royalties to Sally Rooney after her UK publisher stopped supplying her books. Rooney has said she will give proceeds to Palestine Action, a group proscribed under UK terrorism law; Faber and Rooney agreed to halt UK sales because the publisher cannot pass on UK earnings.
New prime minister Andy Burnham has vowed to end rough sleeping in the UK, backed by 340m in new funding to create 1,200 homes and provide intensive support for at least 3,000 rough sleepers over five years. The programme builds on Covid-era measures and Manchester’s Bed Every Night, as rough sleeping numbers remain at record levels in 2025, with 4,793 people sleeping rough on a single autumn night.
Nigel Farage has unveiled "Operation Fortress": a Reform UK plan to use the Royal Navy to intercept small boats in the English Channel, detain those on board, and return them to France or Belgium. The proposal has drawn legal, military and diplomatic scepticism, French officials have condemned it, and rivals say it aims to distract from party financial scandals.
Reform UK’s Operation Fortress proposes deploying the Royal Navy to return small boats crossing the Channel. France calls the plan a violation of sovereignty and maritime law, while UK officials defend it as a humanitarian-focused effort. The policy faces scrutiny amid ongoing political scandals within Reform and ongoing migrant crossings.
New episodes and updates across Northstar Politics and Manifesto examine accountability in politics, the role of wealth taxes, religion in leftist discourse, and a mass-shooter manifesto turned documentary project. Independent pieces highlight how platforms shape political imagination and how a true-crime format reframes public understanding of violence.
The new government has announced measures to relieve cost-of living pressures, including energy VAT cuts, bus-fare caps, and business-rate relief for pubs, while warning that relief will require careful budgeting. Ministers are also preparing for the next budget, with a focus on fiscal discipline and potential funding shifts.
Nigel Farage has triggered a by-election in Clacton after stepping down. Major parties are not fielding candidates amid questions over a £5m gift and possible standards investigations. Count Binface is a notable independent contender as voter turnout and polling shape the race.
Jason Arday, Cambridge’s youngest Black professor, has died in Battersea after resigning amid plagiarism allegations. A university probe continues into his appointment and tenure, while publishers and family condemn intensified scrutiny. The case has intensified questions about academic standards and anti-racism debates surrounding his career.
News analysis tracks the new prime minister’s approach, reflecting Compass proposals for the first 100 days and comments from senior Labour figures on leadership style and policy delivery.
The Scottish Labour leadership contest is intensifying as candidates lay out policy directions and leadership styles. Joe Fagan is seen as challenging the frontrunner with a focus on unity, governance, and new ideas for Holyrood, while Michael Marra’s longer track record signals a readiness to interrogate party strategy.
The Guardian and Independent report that Rupert Lowe, leader of Restore Britain, has earned substantial hourly rates from X’s creator revenue programme, potentially approaching his MP salary if current rates persist. The payments have drawn scrutiny over platform incentives and political influence.
A by‑election has opened in Camden after Sir Keir Starmer resigned. The Green leader, Zack Polanski, has been campaigning locally and is considering standing for the seat; local members are reported to be supportive. Labour has shortlisted candidates and is expected to select Camden council leader Sagal Abdi‑Wali as its nominee by next Wednesday.
Undercover footage broadcast by Channel 4 has shown two senior Reform UK aides discussing ways to channel foreign money into the party. Dan Jukes and James Orr have stepped down pending an internal inquiry. Police and the Electoral Commission are assessing complaints. Nigel Farage has denied illegal activity and said he was not listening during the meeting.
Geese’s Getting Killed signals a robust, contemporary rock moment. The band’s new work reflects global tensions and is doing so with force, while the political scene around Reform UK persists in a wary climate.
MPs are back in the House of Commons facing the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. Supporters argue it offers dying adults a choice with safeguards, while opponents warn of risks to vulnerable people. The government remains neutral. A pivotal vote is expected this Friday, with the outcome likely to hinge on turnout and the Lords’ future role.
Israel has closed the British consulate in East Jerusalem as part of retaliatory moves after the UK announced a trade ban with settlements in the West Bank. The dispute also involves discussions over a Gaza ceasefire and British officials barred from entering Israel. Several former diplomats warn the move risks harming Palestinians and destabilising regional relations.
Israeli hard-liner Itamar Ben-Gvir has urged publicly recognizing Argentina’s sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, triggering UK pushback and a flurry of diplomatic reactions. Britain rebuffs the claim and reaffirms Falkland islanders’ self-determination, while lawmakers scrutinize sanctions and trade implications tied to the dispute.
Protests at Dover and surrounding towns were coordinated by far-right figures, with hundreds of masked demonstrators blocking a major port. Kent police say information was not fully assessed, prompting calls for independent reviews. Protests spread to Portsmouth; authorities are reviewing triage and response. No arrests were made on the day.
The UK has announced a ban on imports and services linked to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and has coordinated measures with several allies. Israel has closed the British consulate in East Jerusalem and imposed retaliatory diplomatic steps. British Jewish leaders are split and ministers are defending the move as necessary to protect the two‑state prospect.
Prime Minister Burnham has pledged to fully fund the Defence Investment Plan and to meet NATO commitments by 2035, while promising stronger public control over energy and water utilities as the cost-of-living crisis intensifies. He also unveils a 10-year plan to boost living standards and address energy costs.
Britain has imposed its broadest measures yet against Israel’s settlements in the occupied West Bank, banning imports from settlements, expanding sanctions on financing and construction, and tightening arms controls. Israel has responded by closing the British consulate in East Jerusalem and banning UK officials from entering the country. The moves mark a significant shift in European stance, though London maintains ties with Israel within the Green Line.
Donors Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne have pledged record sums to Reform UK, aiming to level the playing field ahead of the next general election. The support follows investigations into Reform’s finances and questions about foreign donations, with the party insisting donations are for a party ready for government.
Mega-donations to Reform UK have reshaped its campaign capabilities, fueling a nationwide push while triggering fresh questions over donor transparency and rules. The party argues the funds will build a robust ground operation; critics warn of sleaze and potential regulatory changes ahead.
The UK debates overseas and domestic political donations after crypto billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne each donate 27m to Reform UK. Government plans to cap donations by Britons living abroad backdated to March 25 and to tighten rules on foreign influence are being scrutinised as MPs warn of a potential Americanisation of UK politics.
Pro-Palestinian activism has entered the spotlight on Ed Sheeran’s US tour after Macklemore used the stage to speak for Gaza and Palestine. The fallout has seen sponsors and venue owners pressure promoters to drop him, while Sheeran seeks to keep the peace amid a growing cultural backlash.
Ireland has requested that UEFA separate it from Israel in future Nations League draws. UEFA has said requests are evaluated case by case and this is unlikely to be approved given no direct conflict. The Republic of Ireland and Israel are scheduled to meet in September fixtures, with one match to be played behind closed doors in Serbia.
Protests have intensified as Labour leader Andy Burnham is urged to lift the ban on Palestine Action after the group was proscribed in 2025. Silent vigils near the Labour conference in Liverpool see hundreds arrested under terrorism offences while activists call for de-proscription and for a shift in UK policy on Israel and Gaza.
The Green Party has faced international condemnation after a policy motion declaring Zionism as racism was passed at a Brighton conference. Four of five Green MPs opposed the motion, which endorses a single Palestinian state and calls Zionism an ideology of racism. The party’s leadership and membership are under intense scrutiny as by-elections approach, with discussions about governance and inclusivity intensifying.
Labour has won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election. Sagal Abdi‑Wali has taken 45% (12,292 votes) to Green leader Zack Polanski’s 33% (8,928). The result has intensified scrutiny of Polanski after the Green conference motion equating Zionism with racism and his absence from that vote; he has said he will remain party leader.
As Labour’s conference speech reframes the party’s moral purpose, Keir Starmer’s government faces the pressure of delivering on a new social agenda while navigating energy and pension policy shifts. Burnham presents a clear, emotive vision for a more socially coherent Britain, even as critics warn of the political and fiscal hurdles ahead.
Britain’s consulate in East Jerusalem has been renamed the UK Mission, Jerusalem, with a skeleton staff remaining after a last‑minute agreement with Israel. London says East Jerusalem remains occupied; Israel says the move is a response to sanctions on West Bank settlements. A wider standoff between the allies continues as talks proceed.
The Green Party has adopted a motion declaring Zionism a form of racism and has made it party policy. Leader Zack Polanski has said he will not overturn the motion but wants to amend it at the next allowable opportunity in 2028. The vote has prompted internal splits, an equality watchdog inquiry and condemnation from other parties and Jewish groups.
Prime minister has flagged Russian attempts to influence democratic processes, with Burnham saying Russia interfered in the Brexit referendum. Officials caution on evidence, while UK, EU ties are framed against a backdrop of disinformation and a new information-defence push.
The question of whether Russia interfered in the 2016 referendum has resurfaced as Prime Minister and MI5 warn of ongoing influence operations. Burnham has claimed a clear answer exists, sparking backlash and a renewed focus on online disinformation in the UK political process.
Sally Rooney has agreed with publisher Faber that her books will no longer be supplied in the UK because current UK terrorism legislation has made it impossible for the publisher to pass UK earnings to her after she pledged to fund Palestine Action. E‑books have been removed; some physical stock remains. The Supreme Court will hear an appeal next month.
The UK government’s proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation has been upheld, leading Faber to halt supply of Sally Rooney’s novels in Britain. Authors and publishers are weighing free-speech concerns against security measures, while stores adjust stock amid confusion over law. Britain is pursuing a balance between protest rights and security.
A coalition of charities in Scotland and wider UK calls to end the Local Housing Allowance freeze, arguing it worsens homelessness and leaves low-income renters unable to meet housing costs. Politicians in England and Wales are urged to scrap or reassess related measures as homelessness rises and discretionary payments are debated ahead of Budget announcements.