Politics

A cabinet minister has criticised chants at Glastonbury calling for “death to the IDF” – but has also told the Israeli embassy to “get your own house in order”. Health Secretary Wes Streeting condemned the chants against the Israel Defence Forces – calling them “appalling” – but notably also criticised the embassy over the conduct…

Sir Keir Starmer has said he was “heavily focused” on world affairs before he was forced to U-turn on his welfare bill after rebellion by MPs. In a piece in The Sunday Times, Sir Keir said he was occupied with the G7 and NATO summits and the escalating tensions in the Middle East for much…

Carrie Johnson – the wife of former prime minister Boris Johnson – has revealed she was admitted to hospital with severe dehydration, as she offered advice to other breastfeeding mothers in the hot weather. Mrs Johnson, 37, posted a picture of herself and her newborn daughter Poppy Eliza Josephine on Friday in a hospital bed….

Sir Keir Starmer has said fixing the UK’s welfare system is a “moral imperative” after the government’s U-turn. The prime minister faced a significant rebellion over plans to cut sickness and disability benefits as part of a package he said would shave £5bn off the welfare bill and get more people into work. The government…

NHS funding could be linked to patient feedback under new plans, with poorly performing services that “don’t listen” penalised with less money. As part of the “10 Year Health Plan” to be unveiled next week, a new scheme will be trialled that will see patients asked to rate the service they received – and if…

The prime minister is set to warn of a “backroom stitch up” between the Conservatives, Reform UK and Plaid Cymru ahead of next year’s Senedd elections. Sir Keir Starmer will address Welsh Labour’s annual conference in Llandudno, North Wales, on Saturday. Voters will head to the polls next May to choose their representatives in Cardiff…

It has been a painful week to watch. A U-turn in slow motion, culminating in a midnight climbdown as Number 10 agreed to concede to defiant MPs on Thursday night. The concessions are considerable. They mean, among other compromises, that existing claimants of personal independence payments (PIP) and the health aspect of Universal Credit will…

More than 130 MPs have urged Sir Keir Starmer to deliver the Hillsborough Law as promised – amid claims it is being watered-down with a “toothless” replacement. Ian Byrne, the Labour MP for Liverpool West Derby, has written to the prime minister over concerns that officials have “carved out” key elements of the long-awaited legislation….

Sir Keir Starmer said changes to his welfare bill “strike the right balance” after making concessions to his backbench MPs. The prime minister described the U-turn as “common sense” and said it means “we can now get on with the job”. Politics Live: Starmer defends U-turn Sir Keir faced a significant rebellion over plans to…

Liz Kendall has defended the government’s welfare U-turn saying: “Sometimes there is strength in listening.” The embattled work and pensions secretary said “positive changes” have come about as a result of crisis talks with senior Labour backbenchers, who were poised to vote against planned cuts to disability benefits next week. Politics latest: Welfare changes ‘could…