https://www.theguardian.com/politics/eu-referendum Latest news and features from theguardian.com, the world's leading liberal voice en-gb Guardian News &amp; Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2026 Fri, 23 Oct 2026 04:00:26 GMT 2026-10-23T04:00:26Z en-gb Guardian News &amp; Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2026 https://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.png https://www.theguardian.com https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/21/does-a-trump-press-aide-have-a-half-life <p>Katie Zacharia | From Aberfan to Jackdaw | EU re-referendum | Other lives and Wikipedia</p><p>As a trained physicist, I am delighted that we have a new unit of time. A “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/12/anthony-scaramucci-11-days-white-house-fired-donald-trump-book">Scaramucci</a>” was the unit of time derived from the 11-day career of the White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci. But we now have an even shorter career unit of five days, the “Zacharia”, for Donald Trump’s press secretary Katie Zacharia (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/16/katie-zacharia-fired-press-secretary">Report, 16 October</a>). In the final stages of Trump’s presidency, we may find that members of his media team come and go at ever shorter intervals, possibly asymptotically approaching the sub-zeptosecond lifetime of a Higgs boson. <br> <strong>Dr Martin Treacy</strong> <br> <em>Cardigan, Ceredigion</em></p><p>• On the 60th anniversary of one man-made fossil-fuel catastrophe (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/20/telling-our-story-means-it-matters-60-years-after-aberfan-disaster-survivors-fight-to-keep-memory-alive">‘I survived for a reason’: Aberfan fights to preserve memory of disaster 60 years on, 20 October</a>), we are subjected to another – the approval of the Jackdaw gasfield in the North Sea (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/oct/21/jackdaw-gasfield-in-north-sea-approved">Report, 21 October</a>). Do our&nbsp;leaders never learn? <br> <strong>Douglas Currie</strong> <br> <em>Edinburgh</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/21/does-a-trump-press-aide-have-a-half-life">Continue reading...</a> Trump administration Anthony Scaramucci Media US politics Aberfan disaster Fossil fuels Brexit European Union Wikipedia UK news US news Politics Wed, 21 Oct 2026 16:32:03 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/21/does-a-trump-press-aide-have-a-half-life Photograph: Matt Kaminsky/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock Photograph: Matt Kaminsky/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock Photograph: Matt Kaminsky/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock Guardian Staff 2026-10-21T16:32:03Z https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/19/we-need-to-stop-disinformation-in-uk-political-adverts-heres-a-chance-to-do-so <p><strong>Alex Tait </strong>on a proposed amendment to the representation of the people bill, and <strong>Dr Joseph Mullen</strong> on Russian interference in the Brexit referendum</p><p>Andy Burnham’s comments about Russian interference in Brexit (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/11/andy-burnham-russia-interfered-brexit-vote">Report, 11 October</a>) and the warning by the MI5 chief, Ken McCallum, against exaggerating its impact (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/13/russia-brexit-eu-referendum-interference-mi5">Report, 13 October</a>) risk overlooking another serious threat to electoral integrity: disinformation from our own political parties and campaigners.</p><p>Foreign interference deserves scrutiny, but misleading factual claims in electoral advertising are unregulated, unlike in commercial advertising. We have four sets of rules to ensure an advert for a packet of sausages is accurate, but none for the most important advertising of all – ads that influence how we vote.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/19/we-need-to-stop-disinformation-in-uk-political-adverts-heres-a-chance-to-do-so">Continue reading...</a> Brexit European Union Europe Andy Burnham MI5 Politics Advertising Russia House of Lords AI (artificial intelligence) UK news Electoral reform Mon, 19 Oct 2026 17:17:33 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/19/we-need-to-stop-disinformation-in-uk-political-adverts-heres-a-chance-to-do-so Photograph: Tuomas A Lehtinen/Getty Images Photograph: Tuomas A Lehtinen/Getty Images Photograph: Tuomas A Lehtinen/Getty Images Guardian Staff 2026-10-19T17:17:33Z https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/19/eu-referendum-rejoin-campaign <p>We saw last time what reckless reliance on close polling led to. The omertà on rejoining has now been broken, but it would be folly to move too soon</p><p>When I hear that word again, a shudder runs down my spine. I want to groan, hold my head in my hands and wail. The horror! No, never again, not another referendum. But the idea is back in play as Andy Burnham looks for ways to reverse a decade of economic stagnation.</p><p>As the prime minister dared to unlock the door to a Brussels reunion, you could hear Ode to Joy burst out from all remainers. But the prospect of a re-run of the most self-destructive vote in our history is dismaying.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/19/eu-referendum-rejoin-campaign">Continue reading...</a> Brexit European Union Europe Andy Burnham UK news Politics Foreign policy World news Mon, 19 Oct 2026 15:17:55 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/19/eu-referendum-rejoin-campaign Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images Polly Toynbee 2026-10-19T15:17:55Z https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/19/britain-geopolitical-crises-rejoin-eu-thinktank <p>‘Sovereignty without the ability to act on it is not autonomy,’ paper by Institute for Public Policy Research says</p><p>Britain cannot deal effectively with geopolitical crises such as Russian aggression and political turmoil in the US without rejoining the EU, according to an influential thinktank.</p><p>The Institute for Public Policy Research has become the latest organisation close to the Labour party to call for the UK to re-enter the bloc, after Andy Burnham <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/12/andy-burnham-britain-eu-brexit-reset">said he wanted to examine</a> all possible options.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/19/britain-geopolitical-crises-rejoin-eu-thinktank">Continue reading...</a> European Union Europe Brexit Labour Politics UK news Mon, 19 Oct 2026 04:00:18 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/19/britain-geopolitical-crises-rejoin-eu-thinktank Photograph: Vuk Valcic/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock Photograph: Vuk Valcic/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock Photograph: Vuk Valcic/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock Kiran Stacey 2026-10-19T04:00:18Z https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/18/shabana-mahmood-talks-eu-law-enforcement-cooperation-magnus-brunner <p>UK home secretary’s meeting comes after PM said he wanted to rejoin European law enforcement databases</p><p>The UK home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, will meet the EU’s home affairs commissioner on Monday for further talks just days after Andy Burnham said he wanted to rejoin European law enforcement databases from which the UK has been locked out of since Brexit.</p><p>According to the European Commission, they will discuss “migration, border management, law enforcement cooperation and counter-terrorism”, with the latest Frontex data published on Monday showing a 43% decline in small boats crossing the Channel.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/18/shabana-mahmood-talks-eu-law-enforcement-cooperation-magnus-brunner">Continue reading...</a> European Union Shabana Mahmood Brexit UK security and counter-terrorism Counter-terrorism policy Immigration and asylum European Commission UK news Europe Politics Foreign policy Sun, 18 Oct 2026 18:13:11 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/18/shabana-mahmood-talks-eu-law-enforcement-cooperation-magnus-brunner Photograph: Marcin Nowak/Anadolu/Getty Images Photograph: Marcin Nowak/Anadolu/Getty Images Photograph: Marcin Nowak/Anadolu/Getty Images Lisa O’Carroll senior correspondent 2026-10-18T18:13:11Z https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2026/oct/18/michael-gove-justifies-his-politics-radical-thinking-with-aditya-chakrabortty <p>For more than three decades, <strong>Michael Gove</strong> has been a leading figure in British Conservatism. As a journalist, government minister and now editor of the Tory bible the Spectator, he has helped shape the right even as it has moved further rightwards. In the latest episode of Radical Thinking, Gove joins <strong>Aditya Chakrabortty</strong> to discuss the future of the right, his record on Brexit and austerity, and the Spectator’s position on Islam</p><p>Watch the full episode with Michael Gove <a href="https://youtu.be/cIGXagkUFr8">here</a>. <br> <br> Aditya’s suggested reading:</p><p>To read the fruits of Michael Gove’s dalliance with the Marxism Today<em> </em>gang, look up his essay in a 1998 collection called The Moderniser’s Dilemma: Radical Politics in the Age of Blair</p><p>For a slalom ride through Michael Gove’s years in power, read <a href="https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v41/n17/richard-j.-evans/the-demented-dalek">The Demented Dalek</a> by the historian Richard J Evans in the London Review of Books</p><p>To learn more on what’s become of the British right, there’s a Guardian <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/sep/12/tory-leadership-jenrick-tugendhat-cleverly-badenoch">column by Aditya </a></p><p>Phil Burton-Cartledge analyses in depth why the most successful political party is now failing in his book <a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/the-partys-over-9781839760372/">The Party’s Over: The Rise and Fall of the Conservatives from Thatcher to Sunak</a></p><p>Phil also writes a very good blog on British politics, which keeps a close eye on how each party is trying to marshall a coalition of voters. <a href="https://averypublicsociologist.blogspot.com/2026/10/the-clear-blue-water-strategy.html">Here</a> he is on Kemi Badenoch</p><p>Geoffrey Wheatcroft does an entertaining short narrative in <a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/bloody-panico-9781804295755/">Bloody Panico!:</a></p><p><a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/bloody-panico-9781804295755/">or, Whatever Happened to The Tory Party</a></p><p>For more on the economics of the Cameron years, <a href="https://foundationaleconomy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/wp87.pdf">this paper</a> is acute on how the Tories failed to move the UK away from being a country of renters towards a country of makers. Two of its authors will join us for a podcast later in the series.</p><p>And if you want to read how Brexit may have cost the UK 8% of GDP, there’s <a href="https://www.nber.org/papers/w34459?st_source=ai_overview">this paper</a> based on data from the Bank of England</p><p>Finally, on the Spectator, read Nesrine Malik’s recent Guardian column</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jul/20/islamophobia-spectator-britain-oldest-political-magazine">Why has Britain’s oldest political magazine become such a rabid cheerleader for Islamophobia?</a></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2026/oct/18/michael-gove-justifies-his-politics-radical-thinking-with-aditya-chakrabortty">Continue reading...</a> Politics UK news Michael Gove Brexit Conservatives Austerity European Union Media The Spectator Business Economics Europe Foreign policy Magazines Newspapers & magazines World news Sun, 18 Oct 2026 07:00:53 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2026/oct/18/michael-gove-justifies-his-politics-radical-thinking-with-aditya-chakrabortty Photograph: James Tindale/The Guardian Photograph: James Tindale/The Guardian Photograph: James Tindale/The Guardian Presented by Aditya Chakrabortty with Michael Gove, produced by Frankie Tobi and Luke John Smith; the executive producers are Maz Ebtehaj and Kirsty Major 2026-10-18T07:00:53Z https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/17/we-are-in-hiding-briton-severe-health-issues-fears-deportation-sweden <p>Mark Smith, who has severe health issues, says he was told three times he needed to do nothing in order to remain after Brexit</p><p>A seriously ill British man living in Sweden has been forced into hiding amid fears he will be deported as a result of what he says is a government Brexit residency error.</p><p>Mark Smith, 60, who has had heart attacks, strokes, severe headaches and chronically high blood pressure that has been difficult to treat, was told on the phone he should leave Sweden by 17 October as he was an “alien” without permission to stay.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/17/we-are-in-hiding-briton-severe-health-issues-fears-deportation-sweden">Continue reading...</a> UK news Brexit Sweden European Union Europe World news Politics Sat, 17 Oct 2026 11:00:30 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/17/we-are-in-hiding-briton-severe-health-issues-fears-deportation-sweden Photograph: Annika Karlbom/Hallands Nyheter Photograph: Annika Karlbom/Hallands Nyheter Photograph: Annika Karlbom/Hallands Nyheter Lisa O’Carroll Senior correspondent 2026-10-17T11:00:30Z https://www.theguardian.com/politics/commentisfree/audio/2026/oct/17/austerity-is-inevitably-painful-how-michael-gove-justifies-his-politics-radical-thinking-with-aditya-chakrabortty-podcast <p>For more than three decades, Michael Gove has been a leading figure in British Conservatism. As a journalist, government minister and now editor of the Tory bible, the Spectator, he has helped shape the right even as it has moved further rightwards. In the latest episode of Radical Thinking, Gove joins Aditya Chakrabortty to discuss the future of the right, his record on Brexit and austerity, and the Spectator’s position on Islam</p><p>Watch the full episode with Michael Gove <a href="https://youtu.be/cIGXagkUFr8">here</a>. <br> <br> Aditya’s suggested reading:</p><p>To read the fruits of Michael Gove’s dalliance with the Marxism Today gang, look up his essay in a 1998 collection called The Moderniser’s Dilemma: Radical Politics in the Age of Blair</p><p>For slalom ride through Michael Gove’s years in power, read <a href="https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v41/n17/richard-j.-evans/the-demented-dalek">The Demented Dalek</a> by the historian Richard J Evans in the London Review of Books</p><p>To learn more on what’s become of the British right, there’s a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/sep/12/tory-leadership-jenrick-tugendhat-cleverly-badenoch">column by me </a>for the Guardian</p><p>Just why the most successful political party is now failing is analysed in-depth by Phil Burton-Cartledge in his book <a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/the-partys-over-9781839760372/">The Party’s Over: The Rise and Fall of the Conservatives from Thatcher to Sunak</a></p><p>Phil also writes a very good blog on British politics, which keeps a close eye on how each party is trying to marshall a coalition of voters. <a href="https://averypublicsociologist.blogspot.com/2026/10/the-clear-blue-water-strategy.html">Here</a> he is on Kemi Badenoch</p><p>Geoffrey Wheatcroft does an entertaining short narrative in <a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/bloody-panico-9781804295755/">Bloody Panico!:</a></p><p><a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/bloody-panico-9781804295755/">or, Whatever Happened to The Tory Party</a></p><p>For more on the economics of the Cameron years, <a href="https://foundationaleconomy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/wp87.pdf">this paper</a> is acute on how the Tories failed to move the UK away from being a country of renters towards a country of makers. Two of its authors will join us for a podcast later in the series.</p><p>And if you want to read how Brexit may have cost the UK 8% of GDP, there’s <a href="https://www.nber.org/papers/w34459?st_source=ai_overview">this paper</a> based on data from the Bank of England</p><p>Finally, on the Spectator read Nesrine Malik’s recent column in The Guardian</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jul/20/islamophobia-spectator-britain-oldest-political-magazine">Why has Britain’s oldest political magazine become such a rabid cheerleader for Islamophobia?</a></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/commentisfree/audio/2026/oct/17/austerity-is-inevitably-painful-how-michael-gove-justifies-his-politics-radical-thinking-with-aditya-chakrabortty-podcast">Continue reading...</a> Politics UK news Michael Gove Conservatives Brexit Austerity Economics Business European Union World news Europe Foreign policy The Spectator Newspapers & magazines Media Magazines Sat, 17 Oct 2026 06:45:23 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/politics/commentisfree/audio/2026/oct/17/austerity-is-inevitably-painful-how-michael-gove-justifies-his-politics-radical-thinking-with-aditya-chakrabortty-podcast Photograph: James Tindale/The Guardian Photograph: James Tindale/The Guardian Photograph: James Tindale/The Guardian Presented by Aditya Chakrabortty with Michael Gove, produced by Frankie Tobi and Luke John Smith; the executive producers are Maz Ebtehaj, Kirsty Major and James Tindale 2026-10-17T06:45:23Z https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/17/brexit-back-british-voters-ready-contemplate-reversal <p>As Andy Burnham talks up closer alignment with the EU and a poll suggests half in UK would rejoin, the B-word is back on the agenda</p><p>In February 2016, days after David Cameron announced the UK would hold a referendum on leaving the EU, he told workers in Slough not to imagine they could change their minds a few years down the line if they did not like how things panned out. Voting to stay in or leave was a once in a generation thing, <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/uk-s-brexit-vote-a-once-in-a-generation-decision-1.2545827">he said</a>. “This is a decision that lasts for life.”</p><p>Well times change, as the last prime minister but five <a href="https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16200485/David-Cameron-swim-weekend-60th-birthday.html">could testify</a>. A decade after Britain told Brussels where to go, Brexit is back on the political agenda. After years in which many politicians avoided any mention of the B-word, Andy Burnham broke the omertà in his <a href="https://labour.org.uk/updates/stories/andy-burnhams-speech-to-labour-party-conference-2026/">party conference speech</a> last month, saying he would look again at Britain’s relationship with Europe.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/17/brexit-back-british-voters-ready-contemplate-reversal">Continue reading...</a> Brexit UK news European Union Andy Burnham Politics Labour Europe Foreign policy Opinion polls Sat, 17 Oct 2026 05:00:23 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/17/brexit-back-british-voters-ready-contemplate-reversal Photograph: Toby Melville/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Toby Melville/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Toby Melville/AFP/Getty Images Esther Addley 2026-10-17T05:00:23Z https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/16/british-food-drink-exports-to-eu-collapse-brexit <p>NFU analysis of official data shows falls in exports to UK’s largest trading partner since 2019 include 70% for sugar and 74% for egg products</p><p>Exports of British food and drink to the EU have collapsed by more than a third since Brexit with eggs, chicken and potato producers badly hit, new figures show.</p><p>Analysis by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) of HMRC data shows a sharp fall in exports in the year to July compared with the same period in 2019, with sugar dropping the most, down 70%.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/16/british-food-drink-exports-to-eu-collapse-brexit">Continue reading...</a> Food & drink industry Rural affairs Business Farming UK news Brexit European Union Trade policy Politics Fri, 16 Oct 2026 12:34:37 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/16/british-food-drink-exports-to-eu-collapse-brexit Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian Lisa O’Carroll 2026-10-16T12:34:37Z https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/16/uk-eu-europe-switzerland-plus-bernd-lange-brexit <p>Bernd Lange, who was involved in Brexit talks, says deal could be negotiated within months of any decision to deepen ties</p><p>The UK could re-enter the EU in a “Switzerland plus” package that could be negotiated within months of any decision to deepen ties with the bloc, the head of a European parliament committee has said.</p><p>Bernd Lange, who was heavily involved in Brexit negotiations, said: “I would love to see the UK back.” He said the EU missed the UK in decision-making because of its strong history of promoting open markets and democracy.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/16/uk-eu-europe-switzerland-plus-bernd-lange-brexit">Continue reading...</a> Brexit Foreign policy European Union Europe World news Politics UK news Fri, 16 Oct 2026 07:00:55 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/16/uk-eu-europe-switzerland-plus-bernd-lange-brexit Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA Lisa O’Carroll Senior correspondent 2026-10-16T07:00:55Z https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/16/brexit-economic-damage-andy-burnham-uk-business-eu-trading-relationship <p>Shevaun Haviland argues PM is right to revisit Labour’s EU red lines as current trading relationship is bad for business</p><p>Repairing the economic damage of Brexit should be the top priority for Andy Burnham as he reconsiders Labour’s red lines on EU membership, the head of one of Britain’s leading business groups has said.</p><p>Shevaun Haviland, the director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said she welcomed the prime minister <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/sep/30/andy-burnham-uk-could-go-all-the-way-rejoining-eu">reopening the Brexit battle lines</a> despite the uncertainty it could create, arguing that the UK’s current trading relationship with the EU was bad for business.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/16/brexit-economic-damage-andy-burnham-uk-business-eu-trading-relationship">Continue reading...</a> Economics International trade Economic growth (GDP) Brexit Foreign policy Andy Burnham Labour Politics Business UK news Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:00:51 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/16/brexit-economic-damage-andy-burnham-uk-business-eu-trading-relationship Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters Richard Partington Senior economics correspondent 2026-10-16T05:00:51Z https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/15/france-drops-opposition-to-uk-being-included-in-made-in-europe-legislation <p>British government must however align with the European Union’s position over tariffs on Chinese EVs</p><p>France has dropped its opposition to the UK being included in the EU’s “Made in Europe” legislation as long as the British government aligns with the bloc’s position over tariffs on Chinese EVs.</p><p>In a breakthrough for Andy Burnham, France on Thursday came round to backing Germany, which has always supported the UK’s calls to be designated European for the purposes of the Industrial Accelerator Act. The legislation, which is in its draft stage, is designed to protect domestic manufacturing from cheap Chinese competition.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/15/france-drops-opposition-to-uk-being-included-in-made-in-europe-legislation">Continue reading...</a> European Union Trade policy Automotive industry Manufacturing sector Electric, hybrid and low-emission cars Politics UK news Business Brexit China Thu, 15 Oct 2026 19:28:34 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/15/france-drops-opposition-to-uk-being-included-in-made-in-europe-legislation Photograph: Florence Lo/Reuters Photograph: Florence Lo/Reuters Photograph: Florence Lo/Reuters Lisa O’Carroll Senior correspondent 2026-10-15T19:28:34Z https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/15/andy-burnham-scotland-visit-snp-conference <p>Prime minister presents new kind of challenge for SNP, and his Scottish visit will loom large over its big event</p><p>This year, even Andy Burnham is invited to the Scottish National party conference. But by the time John Swinney stands up to address members on Saturday afternoon in Aberdeen to reinvigorate the case for a second independence referendum, his party may regret giving the UK prime minister so much prominence in the conference buildup.</p><p>Burnham is expected to visit Scotland on Friday – the middle of the event – in a thinly veiled attempt to overshadow the SNP gathering. While he will be in a different venue, the former Manchester mayor’s presence in Scotland will loom large over the event. Since taking over at No 10 in July, Burnham has largely avoided direct confrontations with his political rivals, rarely attacking Nigel Farage or Kemi Badenoch. But he has taken a different approach with the Scottish first minister.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/15/andy-burnham-scotland-visit-snp-conference">Continue reading...</a> Scottish National party (SNP) Andy Burnham Politics Scotland UK news Brexit European Union John Swinney Scottish independence Scottish politics Thu, 15 Oct 2026 06:00:23 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/15/andy-burnham-scotland-visit-snp-conference Photograph: PA Images/Alamy Photograph: PA Images/Alamy Photograph: PA Images/Alamy Patrick Greenfield and Eve Livingston 2026-10-15T06:00:23Z https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/14/kemi-badenoch-andy-burnham-pmqs <p>One good poll has convinced the Tory leader she is invincible. She was back in her happy place with a scattergun PMQs</p><p>Little things please little minds. And minds don’t come much smaller than some of those in Westminster. If a researcher had come up with a study that showed one element two points higher in value than countless other experiments, it would almost certainly be marked down either as an outlier or “within the margin of error”. At the very least, no conclusions would be drawn until many other experiments had been conducted which had produced similar results. Serious scientific journals would just laugh at you if you asked them to publish your findings.</p><p>And yet. In one – just one out of many – recent opinion poll, the Tories have increased their ratings by a couple of points and are now for the first time in years in second place, ahead of Reform. And all of a sudden, Kemi Badenoch is insisting this is incontrovertible proof that the Tories are back in business. All the sins of its 14 years in government have been wiped clean. All hail to Kemi, the new chief. She is the chosen one. And the Conservatives are a government-in-waiting.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/14/kemi-badenoch-andy-burnham-pmqs">Continue reading...</a> PMQs Kemi Badenoch Politics House of Commons UK news Conservatives Andy Burnham Labour Brexit Foreign policy Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:18:54 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/14/kemi-badenoch-andy-burnham-pmqs Photograph: House of Commons Photograph: House of Commons Photograph: House of Commons John Crace 2026-10-14T16:18:54Z https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/14/closer-eu-trade-ties-uk-europe-douglas-alexander <p>Exclusive: Douglas Alexander, on trade delegation to India, talks up economic benefits of joint trading arrangements with Europe</p><p>Britain will benefit from much closer trading relations with the EU even if that means giving up its ability to negotiate free trade agreements, the Scotland secretary has said.</p><p>Douglas Alexander helped negotiate deals with India and the US when he was a trade minister under Keir Starmer.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/14/closer-eu-trade-ties-uk-europe-douglas-alexander">Continue reading...</a> Trade policy Brexit Douglas Alexander Labour Foreign policy Politics UK news European Union International trade Business Economics Europe World news Economic policy India Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:58:39 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/14/closer-eu-trade-ties-uk-europe-douglas-alexander Photograph: X/Douglas Alexander Photograph: X/Douglas Alexander Photograph: X/Douglas Alexander Kiran Stacey in Mumbai 2026-10-14T13:58:39Z https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/14/uk-made-in-europe-law-hurt-carmaking-eu-mercedes-benz-boss-ola-kallenius <p>Ola Källenius says it will ‘weaken the industry on both sides’ ahead of act intended to counter non-EU competition </p><p>Locking the UK out of the EU’s flagship industrial “Made in Europe” legislation would amount to a “deliberate choice” by EU leaders to “hurt” the car industry across the bloc, the head of Mercedes-Benz has said.</p><p>Speaking in his capacity as president of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), Ola Källenius said such a move would “weaken the industry on both sides”.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/14/uk-made-in-europe-law-hurt-carmaking-eu-mercedes-benz-boss-ola-kallenius">Continue reading...</a> European Union Automotive industry Manufacturing sector Brexit Andy Burnham UK news Europe Business International trade Foreign policy Economics Global economy World news Tariffs Trade policy China Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:57:03 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/14/uk-made-in-europe-law-hurt-carmaking-eu-mercedes-benz-boss-ola-kallenius Photograph: Christoph Steitz/Reuters Photograph: Christoph Steitz/Reuters Photograph: Christoph Steitz/Reuters Lisa O’Carroll in Brussels 2026-10-14T13:57:03Z https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/13/the-guardian-view-on-burnhams-brexit-reset-an-overdue-show-of-ambition <p>The prime minister is correct to judge the time is right to push for closer links with the EU. The political risk is far outweighed by the potential rewards</p><p>The German philosopher GWF Hegel famously <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/ancient-quarrel-between-philosophy-and-poetry/hegel-and-the-owl-of-minerva/7999FCA93F65F0A7098AC838BDA1CA34">evoked</a> the owl of Minerva when discussing the historical wisdom that comes through hindsight. This autumn, she has flown tirelessly over the landscape of British politics. Party conference season was dominated by conflicting Labour and Conservative accounts of the 1970s and 80s. And a decade after the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, Andy&nbsp;Burnham this&nbsp;week abandoned all equivocation over the damage&nbsp;–&nbsp;economic but also strategic – that resulted&nbsp;from that decision.</p><p>Having <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cxvgdql2y7zqo">declared</a> that it is time to “face up to the reality that Brexit has done more harm than good”, Mr Burnham <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/12/andy-burnham-britain-eu-brexit-reset">told</a> the House of Commons on Monday that it would be a “dereliction of duty” not to explore all options for closer relations with Brussels. Though he confirmed that in this parliament he will honour the <a href="https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10207/">red lines</a> in Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour manifesto, all bets will subsequently be off.</p><p><em><strong>Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tone/letters"> letters</a> section, please <a href="mailto:guardian.letters@theguardian.com?body=Please%20include%20your%20name,%20full%20postal%20address%20and%20phone%20number%20with%20your%20letter%20below.%20Letters%20are%20usually%20published%20with%20the%20author%27s%20name%20and%20city/town/village.%20The%20rest%20of%20the%20information%20is%20for%20verification%20only%20and%20to%20contact%20you%20where%20necessary.">click here</a>.</strong></em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/13/the-guardian-view-on-burnhams-brexit-reset-an-overdue-show-of-ambition">Continue reading...</a> Brexit Andy Burnham Labour Politics European Union Keir Starmer Neil Kinnock Europe Conservatives UK news Foreign policy Tue, 13 Oct 2026 17:30:25 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/13/the-guardian-view-on-burnhams-brexit-reset-an-overdue-show-of-ambition Photograph: Tobias Schwarz/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Tobias Schwarz/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Tobias Schwarz/AFP/Getty Images Editorial 2026-10-13T17:30:25Z https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/oct/13/andy-burnham-brexit-eu-europe-neil-kinnock-lobby-wes-streeting-labour-prisoner-early-release-uk-politics-latest-news-updates <p>He argued there was no evidence to suggest the result of the Brexit vote had been swayed as a result of the effort</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/12/andy-burnham-britain-eu-brexit-reset">Andy Burnham promises ‘serious dialogue’ over UK’s relationship with EU</a></p></li></ul><p><strong>Zia Yusuf</strong>, Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson, has said he does not agree with his colleague Suella Braverman’s assertion that black people cannot be English.</p><p>Asked about her views in an interview <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/politics-latest-burnham-labour-man-city-badenoch-farage-polanski-12593360?postid=12627275#liveblog-body">on Sky News</a>, Yusuf said:</p><p>In my view Ashley Cole is the best English fullback in history, and I won’t take any other position. So in my view, Ashley Cole is English. I think the argument that he’s not English doesn’t hold water with me.</p><p>Nasser Hussain, who I grew up watching when I went to the cricket, the idea that those people aren’t English is an alien concept to me.</p><p>I would respectfully disagree with people, who make the opposite argument.</p><p>To say I’m English is to take a ‘laissez-faire, anything-goes’ attitude to ethnicity, citizenship and identity. It also denies me my Asian heritage. The liberals (many of them in today’s Conservative party) take this cosmopolitan approach to Englishness. They’re terrified of being called racist so they say that anyone, as long as they’re born here, can be English.</p><p>I take the conservative approach. Englishness is an ethnicity. There have been English people for centuries and we need to recognise this more if we are to start taking a more muscular approach to citizenship and nationality. And no, it’s not racist to say this.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/oct/13/andy-burnham-brexit-eu-europe-neil-kinnock-lobby-wes-streeting-labour-prisoner-early-release-uk-politics-latest-news-updates">Continue reading...</a> Politics UK news Andy Burnham Labour Brexit European Union Europe Neil Kinnock Scottish independence Scotland Scottish National party (SNP) Scottish politics Race Suella Braverman Reform UK Northern Ireland Law Northern Irish politics Military Iran Pat McFadden Pensions State pensions Ed Davey Liberal Democrats Wes Streeting Defence policy Sinn Féin Tue, 13 Oct 2026 16:23:21 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/oct/13/andy-burnham-brexit-eu-europe-neil-kinnock-lobby-wes-streeting-labour-prisoner-early-release-uk-politics-latest-news-updates Photograph: Jonathan Brady/Reuters Photograph: Jonathan Brady/Reuters Photograph: Jonathan Brady/Reuters Andrew Sparrow 2026-10-13T16:23:21Z https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/13/brexit-vladimir-putin-russia-referendum-result-eu <p>Russian meddling probably didn’t affect the referendum result – but the Kremlin’s motives for wanting to undermine the EU still matter</p><p>Russian territorial aggression against Ukraine didn’t feature much in the Brexit referendum campaign. It made headlines briefly when Boris Johnson blamed Moscow’s 2014 annexation of Crimea <a href="https://archive.khpg.org/en/1462833443">on the European Union</a>.</p><p>According to the Vote Leave frontman, Vladimir Putin’s land grab was a consequence of Brussels making foreign policy “on the hoof” and having “pretensions to running a defence policy”.</p><p>Rafael Behr is a Guardian columnist</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/13/brexit-vladimir-putin-russia-referendum-result-eu">Continue reading...</a> Brexit Vladimir Putin European Union Europe Boris Johnson Foreign policy Ukraine Donald Trump Nigel Farage Russia Andy Burnham Tue, 13 Oct 2026 15:21:02 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/13/brexit-vladimir-putin-russia-referendum-result-eu Composite: Guardian Design/Getty Images/Reuters/EPA Composite: Guardian Design/Getty Images/Reuters/EPA Composite: Guardian Design/Getty Images/Reuters/EPA Rafael Behr 2026-10-13T15:21:02Z