British politician, Speaker of the House of Commons since 2019
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has acknowledged he was wrong to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington after learning this week that Mandelson had failed security vetting and that Foreign Office officials had overruled that recommendation without informing ministers. Starmer has sacked top official Olly Robbins, will brief Parliament, and is facing calls for inquiry and possible Privileges scrutiny.
Sir Alex Younger, who led MI6 from 2014 to 2020, has died at 62 after a cancer diagnosis. Colleagues and politicians have paid tribute, highlighting his openness and efforts to broaden recruitment beyond traditional norms.
The King’s Birthday Honours recognise Sir Kevin Sinfield for his MND fundraising, alongside six Lionesses MBEs and other figures, as part of a broader push to reflect community contributions in honours lists.
Kemi Badenoch has clashed with Labour MPs during Prime Minister’s Questions as Sir Keir Starmer announces his resignation, with Andy Burnham emerging as the favourite to lead Labour. The exchange saw accusations across the aisle and threats of ongoing political battle.
In a heated PMQs, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch trade barbs over Labour’s plan to tax private school fees to fund teachers in state schools. Badenoch labels Phillipson a “spiteful class warrior” as the exchange spills into social media and prompts a call for decorum from the speaker.