Politics

US Department of State stated it supports the UK’s agreement with Mauritius regarding the Chagos archipelago. Donald Trump said on Truth Social that Keir Starmer is making an “extraordinary mistake” by entering a 99-year lease. The agreement involves a 99-year lease of the military base on Diego Garcia. Donald Trump stated leases are not appropriate for countries. He questioned claims of entities asserting rights over Diego Garcia. He said the US may need to use Diego Garcia

Restore Britain was founded by Rupert Lowe, the MP for Great Yarmouth. Lowe recently formally launched the party, proposing policies including: Banning the burqa Mass deportations Lowe described the defections as a “very important day” for the party and said more defections are expected. The defecting councillors will now form an official group on the local authority, which is currently run by Reform UK. Lowe was elected in 2024 but was later expelled from Reform UK following

newly formed Shadow Cabinet, describing it as the party entering a “new phase.” Robert Jenrick  has been appointed Shadow Chancellor after recently defecting from the Conservatives. Suella Braverman  will oversee education and equalities in the shadow team. Deputy leader Richard Tice  has been handed a broad “super ministry” brief covering business, trade and energy. Policy chief Zia Yusuf  has been named Shadow Home Secretary. Farage rejected claims that Reform UK revolves s

UK unemployment rate rose to 5.2%  in the three months to December, up from 5.1%  in November — the highest level in the post-Covid period. Number of UK payrolled employees fell by 121,000 (0.4%)  over the past year. Provisional January data shows a further 11,000  fall in payrolled employees. Payroll employment is 134,000 lower  than a year earlier. Regular pay growth slowed to 4.2%  in the three months to December. Real pay growth (after CPI inflation) was 0.8% . Private se

this week (week of 16–22 February 2026)  — focusing on national-level developments and key political news (not local or entertainment events): 📅 Political Calendar & Key Events Annual National Governors Association (NGA) gathering  — 19–21 Feb :• Traditionally a bipartisan meeting of governors and the White House, but this year has become politically contentious due to disputes over invitations. • President Trump is hosting a meeting with governors on 20 Feb  at the White Ho

Here’s a summary of this week’s major UK political events  that have happened and ones coming up 📌 Summary of This Week’s UK Political Events Government U-Turn on Council Elections The UK government under Keir Starmer  dropped its plan to delay local council elections slated for May 2026  following legal advice  that postponing them could be unlawful and after a legal challenge by Nigel Farage  and Reform UK . The reversal is being framed by opponents as a victory for democr

Donald Trump criticised a clean energy agreement between California and the UK. Trump warned British leaders against partnering with Gavin Newsom. Trump made comments about Newsom in an interview with Politico. Newsom signed a memorandum of understanding in London with Ed Miliband. The memorandum pledges cooperation on clean energy technologies, including offshore wind. The pact is not legally binding. Trump has previously criticised restrictions on drilling for North Sea oil

Nearly 15,000 public sector workers received paid leave for union activities last year. More than 1,000 spent almost all their working time on union causes. Around £90 million of taxpayer money funded facility time last year. Facility time was funded across councils, schools, Whitehall departments and the NHS. There were more than 20,000 union representatives embedded in public bodies. 14,976 (74%) of union representatives received paid leave. Around 3,000 of those were NHS w

Keir Starmer has suggested reassessing the UK’s relationship with the EU. Rachel Reeves called stronger EU ties the UK’s “biggest prize.” The Prosperity Institute estimates: 0.5% GDP reduction in the first year of rejoining. 1.35% GDP reduction within five years. Equivalent to £30–£40 billion annual lost output.

He said forming alliances would be a “big if.” He suggested parties might need to act out of “patriotic duty.” The comments followed the launch of Restore Britain by Rupert Lowe. Camilla Tominey questioned Yusuf on GB News. Reform UK claims to have led more than 200 consecutive opinion polls. Yusuf said Reform’s average poll lead is nine to 10 points. He said the party’s focus is on winning an outright majority. Yusuf criticised the Conservative Party’s record in government.

Iran is willing to consider compromises if the US discusses lifting sanctions. Majid Takht-Ravanchi made the comments in an interview with the BBC in Tehran. He said the “ball is in America’s court.” US officials say Iran is holding up negotiations. Marco Rubio said Donald Trump prefers a deal but it is difficult to achieve. Trump has threatened strikes if no agreement is reached. The US has increased its military presence in the region. Iran suppressed nationwide anti-govern

US President Donald Trump announced the reversal of the 2009 “endangerment finding,” an Obama-era scientific ruling. The endangerment finding concluded that six greenhouse gases, including carbon monoxide and methane, endanger public health and welfare. The ruling followed a 2007 US Supreme Court decision stating that greenhouse gases qualify as air pollutants under the Clean Air Act and must be regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The reversal removes much

Rupert Lowe, former Reform UK MP, has launched a new political party called Restore Britain . Lowe currently represents Great Yarmouth  in Norfolk as an independent  MP, after leaving Reform UK. Lowe initially set up Restore Britain as a political movement  after being suspended from Reform UK in March 2024. The party is now expected to act as an umbrella political party  with locally based political parties as partners. Lowe was suspended from Reform UK following allegations