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Great Britain Prepares for 7 May Elections: Scottish, Welsh Parliaments, 136 Councils to Vote

Millions across Great Britain are eligible to vote on 7 May in elections for the Scottish and Welsh parliaments, alongside numerous council and mayoral contests in England. The deadline for voter registration is 23:59 on 20 April.

Politics·

Pope Leo Denounces Prisoner Conditions in Equatorial Guinea, Visits Bata Jail

World·

UK Government Proposes Legal Duty for Schools to Enforce Smartphone Bans

UK·

US Justice Department Charges Southern Poverty Law Center with Wire Fraud, Money Laundering

World·

Morgan McSweeney to Testify on Lord Mandelson Security Vetting to MPs Next Week

Politics·

Starmer Confirms Downing Street Discussed Diplomatic Role for Aide Matthew Doyle

Politics·

Supreme Court Upholds Adoption Permanence, Rejects Bid to Revoke Sisters' Status

UK·

Undercover Reporter Advised to Fabricate Domestic Abuse Claim for UK Asylum

An undercover investigation has revealed individuals in the UK are being counselled to invent domestic abuse allegations, specifically against partners, to strengthen their asylum applications and avoid deportation. The fabricated claims are presented as a pathway to secure leave to remain in the country.

politics

Ministers Confirm Sir Keir Starmer Would Have Blocked Lord Mandelson US Ambassadorship

Ministers have stated that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer would not have appointed Lord Mandelson as the UK's Ambassador to the United States had he been informed of Mandelson's failure to clear security vetting. This revelation comes amidst intense scrutiny of Downing Street and the Foreign Office regarding the appointment process.

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Sir Olly Robbins to Detail Mandelson Vetting Nondisclosure to Parliament Today

Former Foreign Office permanent under-secretary Sir Olly Robbins is scheduled to present his account to Parliament this morning, following his dismissal last week. Sir Olly's removal stemmed from his failure to inform the Prime Minister that Lord Peter Mandelson had not cleared his security vetting for the UK's ambassadorship in Washington. He is expected to assert his interpretation of the 2010 Constitutional Reform and Governance Act as justification for his decision.

world

Trump Insists US Maintains Iran Port Blockade Until Deal Reached Amidst Ceasefire Uncertainty

US President Donald Trump has declared that the US will not lift its blockade on Iranian ports until a comprehensive agreement is secured with Tehran, asserting the US is 'winning' the conflict. This announcement precedes the expiry of a temporary US-Iran ceasefire, with doubts surrounding a second round of peace talks in Pakistan.

politics

Foreign Office Top Civil Servant Exits After Lord Mandelson Vetting Failure Concealed From PM

Sir Olly Robbins, the Foreign Office's senior civil servant, has departed his role following revelations that the department withheld information about Lord Mandelson's failed security vetting for the US ambassador position from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The disclosure has prompted calls for Sir Keir's resignation, with opposition parties accusing him of misleading Parliament.

Government Proposes Electricity Price Shift; Fixed Contracts for Older Renewable Generators by 2025

The UK government is set to announce plans to decouple electricity prices from volatile gas markets, proposing that older renewable energy generators move to fixed-price contracts within the next year. This initiative, aimed at shielding consumers from energy price shocks, comes as the Middle East conflict continues to underscore global energy insecurity.

world

US Navy Seizes Iranian Vessel Entering Gulf, Tehran Condemns "Armed Piracy" on 16 December

The United States Navy intercepted and seized an Iranian vessel attempting to enter the Gulf, prompting Iran to denounce the action as a violation of the ceasefire and an act of "armed piracy". This incident marks the first seizure since the US initiated its blockade of Iranian ports.

politics

Starmer Blames Foreign Office Over Mandelson US Ambassador Vetting Failure

Sir Keir Starmer has publicly criticised the Foreign Office, asserting that officials deliberately withheld information regarding Lord Mandelson's security clearance for the US ambassadorial role in 2025. The Prime Minister stated that the department failed to inform him of negative vetting recommendations, leading to Mandelson's eventual removal over ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

politics

Sir Keir Starmer Alleges Foreign Office Withheld Lord Mandelson Vetting Failure Data

Sir Keir Starmer has accused Foreign Office officials of deliberately concealing Lord Mandelson's initial failure to pass security vetting for the US ambassador role. The Prime Minister stated he would not have proceeded with the appointment had he known this information.

England: Government Mandates Legal Smartphone Ban in All Schools, Citing Wellbeing

The UK government will introduce a legal ban on smartphones in schools across England, formalising existing guidance into statutory requirement. This follows encouragement from the Education Secretary for schools to adopt phone-free policies, with opposition parties claiming credit for pressuring the government into the move.

politics

May 2026 Elections: UK Citizens Must Register by April Deadline to Cast Ballot

To participate in the May 2026 local and mayoral elections, UK citizens, including those residing abroad, must complete voter registration by the April 2026 deadline. The process requires a National Insurance number and can be finalised online or via post.

Home Office Blocks US Anti-Islam Influencer Valentina Gomez From Entering UK for London Rally

The Home Office has barred US anti-Islam influencer Valentina Gomez from entering the UK, citing her presence as 'not conducive to the public good'. Gomez, who has previously burned the Quran publicly, had intended to speak at a Tommy Robinson-organised rally in London on 16 May.