The Labour Party’s deputy leadership contest is narrowing to a likely two-horse race between Bridget Phillipson and Lucy Powell. Education secretary Phillipson became the first candidate to secure the required 80 nominations, with 116 backers including three cabinet ministers. She has emphasised immigration and border security as key concerns for voters, particularly in constituencies vulnerable to Reform UK advances. She highlighted her record of defeating populist opponents and promised to 'give hope' by tackling small boat crossings and improving public services. Powell, with 77 nominations, has drawn support from left-leaning MPs, presenting herself as more available for campaigning than a serving minister. Other contenders failed to gain sufficient momentum. While critics fear Phillipson may be seen as a Downing Street-backed 'coronation' candidate, her supporters argue she represents unity and strength. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer faces further scrutiny over his political judgment after he sacked Lord Mandelson as British ambassador to the USA, following the publication of email messages to Jeffrey Epstein. See

Public support for the monarchy has dropped to its lowest level since records began in 1983, according to the British Social Attitudes survey. The share of people saying the monarchy is important has fallen from 86% in 1983 to just 51% in 2024. While more than half (58%) still prefer retaining the monarchy over replacing it with an elected head of state, the gap is narrowing, with 38% now favouring abolition. Younger and left-leaning people are most likely to support change, while older, right-leaning voters remain the strongest backers. Among party supporters, Conservatives (82%) and Reform UK (77%) show the highest loyalty to the crown, while Labour members are almost evenly split. In Scotland and Wales, most respondents favour an elected head of state. The findings, released ahead of Donald Trump’s state visit to Windsor Castle in September, underline a shifting national mood.

The Trussell Trust is calling for urgent government action in the autumn budget to tackle soaring hunger across the UK. Its landmark study, Hunger in the UK, reveals that 14.1 million people, including 3.8 million children, faced hunger in 2024 due to insufficient income. This represents one in six households, and is a rise from 11.6 million in 2022. Foodbank reliance is growing, but many go without help, believing others are in greater need. The crisis hits children under five and disabled people hardest, with nearly three quarters of foodbank users living with disabilities. Alarmingly, 30% of those referred are from working households, showing that employment is no safeguard against hardship. Universal Credit is failing to protect families: over half of recipients experienced hunger last year. With households left with only £104 a week after housing, Trussell says poverty is about income, not food supply. They urge scrapping the two-child limit, reforming Universal Credit, and uprating Local Housing Allowance to prevent hunger from becoming routine.

France faces a huge political crisis after lawmakers voted to oust prime minister François Bayrou’s minority government over his controversial austerity measures. His plan to cut €43.8 billion from the budget, including the elimination of public holidays, proved too bitter for lawmakers to swallow, leading to his removal by a wide margin. Emmanuel Macron must now name a fifth prime minister in less than two years, but his options are fraught. Any new premier will confront the same fractured parliament, where ideological divides between socialists and conservatives leave little space for compromise. A snap election would most likely lead to another hung parliament, while a technical caretaker government risks political paralysis. Though Macron’s resignation as president is highly improbable, his authority appears diminished. Financial markets are watching nervously as doubts grow over France’s ability to curb its soaring debt and deficits. Latest update: a new prime minister has been sworn in, but a grassroots group ‘Let’s block everything’ organised widespread protests, some violent, on 10 September. See

The Philippines once again finds itself grappling with the enduring scourge of corruption, an issue that has haunted the last three presidents: Ferdinand Marcos Sr, Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III, and now Ferdinand Marcos Jr. He is now trying to assume the mantle of anti-corruption reform, despite his own family name being historically associated with cronyism and ill-gotten wealth. Unlike Aquino, who launched his integrity drive at the height of his popularity, Marcos Jr faces diminishing political capital, factional rifts within congress, and a resurgent Duterte camp weaponising public anger. The stakes are high: scandals such as the multibillion-peso flood control controversy threaten to erode governance credibility at a time when systemic accountability is urgently needed. The president must move beyond rhetoric, pursuing transparency and reform even within his own circles. Without decisive action, the Philippines risks sliding into deeper political instability, echoing past failures to tackle entrenched corruption and injustice.

Scottish first minister John Swinney has announced a series of measures in response to the crisis in Gaza, declaring that Israel’s actions 'constitute genocide'. The Scottish government has paused new awards of public money to arms companies supplying the Israeli military; Swinney also confirmed that Palestinian flags are now flying at government buildings. He urged the UK government to recognise the state of Palestine and withdraw from its free trade agreement with Israel immediately. Scottish Conservatives called the Gaza conflict a 'blight on humanity'; Scottish Labour’s Anas Sarwar condemned Benjamin Netanyahu as a 'war criminal'; Greens welcomed the action but sought a broader boycott; and Liberal Democrats pressed both governments to help more injured children from Gaza receive treatment in Scotland. Swinney insisted Scotland will continue offering practical humanitarian support within its devolved powers. See https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/crown-prosecution-service-london-southwark-palestinian-cardiff-b2819723.html

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has admitted underpaying stamp duty on her £800,000 flat in Hove, blaming reliance on flawed legal advice. The property purchase in May was part-funded by selling her stake in a Greater Manchester family home, which had been placed in trust to support her disabled son. Fresh advice later revealed that complexities in the trust meant she should have paid the higher rate reserved for second homes. Rayner has now alerted HMRC, pledged to pay the outstanding tax, and referred herself to the prime minister’s standards adviser for investigation. Sir Keir Starmer defended his deputy, praising her transparency and family priorities, while critics - led by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch - argued her position was untenable. The case presents political difficulties for Labour, as Rayner previously criticised Conservative ministers over integrity issues. While some voiced sympathy for her circumstances, many continue to press for her removal. Downing Street has confirmed that an independent inquiry will now examine the matter.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has defended his hardline immigration plan, ‘Operation Restoring Justice’, which would see all illegal Channel crossings - including those by women and children - met with deportation if his party won power. He argued that the proposals align with Britain’s Judeo-Christian heritage, despite opposition from Church leaders, whom he accused of being 'out of touch' with ordinary believers. Farage suggested that criticism from bishops and 'The Establishment' was inevitable, but insisted meaningful change often comes through struggle. His plan includes withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights, scrapping the Human Rights Act, and suspending treaties used by courts to block deportations. Labour dismissed the proposals as an 'unworkable gimmick,' while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Reform of copying Tory policies. The announcement follows rising protests near asylum seeker accommodation and record asylum claims in 2024. Reform UK claims it could deport up to 600,000 people in its first term. See

Opposition leader Julius Malema has been found guilty of hate speech by the country’s equality court after inflammatory remarks he made at a 2022 rally. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) chief, known for provocative statements, said that ‘a revolution demands that at some point there must be killing’, following an incident where a white man allegedly assaulted a party member. The court ruled that while condemning racism is acceptable, these words amounted to incitement to violence. Malema and his party rejected the judgment, saying the words had been taken out of context. The conviction adds to Malema’s history of controversy, including a ban from entering the UK and criticism from Donald Trump for incendiary remarks and songs. His case underscores the continuing struggle with racial tensions in South Africa more than three decades after apartheid ended.

A record eight million people are now claiming Universal Credit (UC), the highest since its 2013 introduction, and a sharp increase from 6.9 million in July 2024. This has largely been driven by a surge in those not expected to work due to long-term illness, caring responsibilities, or being over pension age. This category grew by 39% in a year, now totalling 3.7 million. UC supports both unemployed individuals and low-income workers, with 2.2 million claimants currently in work. London has one of the highest claimant numbers, with over 364,000 people receiving benefits. A new breakdown by immigration status reveals that 83.8% of claimants are British or Irish nationals, 9.6% hold EU settled status, and smaller proportions are refugees or humanitarian arrivals. The Government has pledged welfare reforms, citing an ‘unsustainable benefits bill’. The figures highlight ongoing challenges with health, employment, and cost-of-living pressures affecting millions across the UK.