Politics

John Swinney has pledged to carry out formal duties required by the ministerial code while refusing any informal collaboration or convention-based arrangements with Reform UK if they win seats at Holyrood

A 28-year-old was arrested in Peckham on suspicion of handling the phone stolen from Morgan McSweeney; the device has not been found and questions remain about the police log and political messages

A podcast clip and a Red Cross clarification have reopened debate over Zack Polanski’s past defence of the Liberal Democrats and the accuracy of parts of his biography

Millions in London are voting in a pivotal set of local contests that could dent Labour’s standing while boosting the Greens, Reform UK and Lib Dems

A former Labour MSP has been charged over an alleged early-morning drink-driving incident on Edinburgh’s High Street, with a scheduled hearing postponed amid separate ongoing legal matters

Green Party leader acknowledges a wording mistake about his involvement with British Red Cross fundraisers and clarifies he only spoke on stage about humanitarian issues

Glasgow’s political landscape has been shaken since 2026; the snp wants the city back, but Labour, Reform UK and others are fighting on issues from transport to migration

Sir Keir Starmer tells Labour MPs the referral is a political stunt as scrutiny mounts over Lord Mandelson’s Washington ambassadorship

A high-stakes House of Commons debate could trigger a formal inquiry into whether Keir Starmer misled MPs over the Mandelson appointment

Scottish Labour says it will act straight away on Equality Act changes, prioritising single-sex spaces, NHS wards and women’s health services

A short, sharp guide to the week’s campaign oddities, overheard remarks and public moments from Holyrood

Residents in Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr want relief on business rates, better NHS access and stronger flood defences as the Senedd election approaches

Trump signals tariffs to counter the UK levy on American tech revenues

An Aberdeen Question Time sparked a heated debate as energy workers accused the SNP of failing to defend North Sea jobs while ministers sought to balance energy security and climate compatibility

Argentine president Javier Milei took part in Israel’s 78th Independence Day by singing and lighting a ceremonial torch, reinforcing his government’s distinct diplomatic posture and drawing varied domestic and international reactions

Prime minister Keir Starmer is under pressure as questions mount over how Lord Peter Mandelson was cleared for the US ambassadorship despite a negative recommendation from the UK’s security vetting agency

A diplomatic standoff over the Strait of Hormuz and refusal of some allies to support US operations have revived debate about withdrawing from NATO and what that would mean for transatlantic security

A clear summary of the parties’ headline pledges, fiscal risks highlighted by the Institute for Fiscal Studies and what voters should watch

Revelations that Peter Mandelson did not pass security vetting before taking the US ambassador role, yet was cleared after an internal override, have prompted demands for transparency and explanations from ministers

A social media post from the former US president pushed for ramping up North Sea oil production and rejecting offshore wind, prompting responses from Scottish and UK ministers and renewed attention to licence numbers

Viktor Orbán’s long tenure ended in a decisive loss to Péter Magyar, setting up a coalition with a strong parliamentary majority and a complex roadmap for change

After a high-turnout vote, Viktor Orban has accepted defeat and the opposition under Péter Magyar prepares to lead from the parliament

Protests by hauliers and farmers have restricted access to major ports and the Whitegate refinery, prompting government action and concern about fuel and water treatment chemicals

a persuasive case that swapping one polished elite for another does not fix structural problems; genuine progress requires different backgrounds, priorities and accountability

The implications of Starmer’s appointment of Mandelson are escalating as political pressures increase.