A parliamentary committee has criticised the process for appointing political ambassadors, citing the Lord Mandelson case as an example of an opaque and improvised approach. The Foreign Affairs Committee argues that Westminster must exert greater control over these significant diplomatic posts.
Early results from English council elections show Reform UK making considerable inroads, particularly in former Labour heartlands and at the expense of Conservative incumbents. The shift points to a more fragmented political landscape across England, with further results from Wales and Scotland anticipated later today.
The US State Department will begin revoking the passports of American citizens with child support debts over $2,500, a move previously reserved for renewal applications. This policy, utilising a 1996 federal law, aims to enforce parental financial obligations.
