Blair was urged not to let in new EU workers too quickly, files reveal

Newly-released files show ministers had concerns about more workers coming to the UK when the EU expanded.

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Why 2025 promises plenty of political fireworks

We head into 2025 with quite the assembly of cocktail ingredients - a flatlining economy, an impatient electorate and a volatile world.

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Who's dropped in on No 10? Visitors' books made public for first time

Only very special guests were invited to sign - some left detailed and personal messages.

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Sadiq Khan and Emily Thornberry among politicians on honours list

The senior Labour figures are among a number of politicians who have received honours in the latest list.

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UK and EU look to 2025 for reset, but with little room for trade-offs

Sir Keir Starmer is invited to an EU summit in February - the first of its type since the Brexit negotiations.

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Starmer asks UK regulators for ideas to boost growth

The prime minister writes to regulators including Ofgem and Ofwat for ideas to boost economic growth.

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Starmer pays tribute to brother after death aged 60

Nick Starmer has died after being diagnosed with cancer.

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Charities to get £15m to save surplus farm food

Cash could be used for new technology or to provide training to more staff, the government says.

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Reform UK has more members than Tories, Farage says

Reform UK leader Farage says his party has made history and is now the "real opposition".

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Deadline to record forgotten footpaths to be scrapped

Walking campaigners welcome the move, which the government says will help prevent paths from being lost.

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Sex message complaint about council boss last year

A constituent accused former Edinburgh council leader Cammy Day of sending unsolicited nude pictures in March 2023.

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Consultation launched over petrol car phase-out

The government says it will "restore clarity" for vehicle manufacturers and the charging industry.

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Mauritius hints Chagos talks stuck over money

The deputy PM said the UK was "quibbling" over the sum to be handed over to Mauritius.

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UK economy had zero growth between July and September

It comes as one of the UK's leading business groups said "the economy is headed for the worst".

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No 'quick fix' for Tories, says Kemi Badenoch

The party leader defends not outlining specific policy positions so far in an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

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'Worst place I've lived': Vulnerable left in unsafe homes

Vulnerable people have been left living in homes which have been deemed unsafe, the BBC has discovered.

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Bee-harming pesticides' emergency approvals to end

Planned legal changes will see three neonicotinoid pesticides completely banned from any future use.

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Waspi women refused payouts - but what other compensation bills are looming?

Billions have been earmarked for victims of the Post Office and infected blood scandals.

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Has Swinney got the SNP 'back on the front foot'?

From fears of an election wipeout to bouncing back with the budget, John Swinney reflects on a chaotic 2024.

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Roadmap to fix England's potholes revealed

Local authorities across England will be given a share of £1.6bn to fix potholes and maintain roads.

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Lord Mandelson expected to be named as UK ambassador to US

The former minister and life peer will replace Dame Karen Pierce in early 2025.

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Water bills to rise by £86 on average next year

The higher than proposed average bill rise in England and Wales comes amid public anger over sewage discharges.

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Harland & Wolff set to be saved in deal with Spanish firm

Spain's state-owned shipbuilder is expected to confirm on Thursday that it is buying Harland and Wolff.

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UK considers sending troops to train Ukrainians

Defence Secretary John Healey visits Kyiv to discuss plans to provide more support to Ukraine.

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Chris Mason: Starmer stung by Waspi women but it's least of his worries

Women affected by state pension changes believed Labour was on their side, feeding cynicism about politics.

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Minister tested Ask for Angela scheme undercover

The Labour MP says she conducted her own undercover tests before she became "too well known".

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Tens of thousands of pensioners might not get Winter Fuel Payment by Christmas

Tens of thousands of pensioners might not get their Winter Fuel Payments this year because of a backlog in processing claims.

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Starmer set to nominate Sue Gray for peerage

The PM's former chief of staff is expected to be among a raft of new peers announced on Thursday.

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Humza Yousaf to step down as MSP at next election

The former SNP leader says it will be the "right time" to leave the Scottish Parliament.

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Plan to register children not in school takes shape

The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill is expected to come into force in 2025.

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Government has broken the law on sewage - watchdog

The OEP has ruled that it allowed excessive sewage into England's rivers and seas.

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Alleged Chinese spy linked to Prince Andrew named as Yang Tengbo

The businessman said the description of him as a spy was "entirely untrue".

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China spy efforts happening in plain view, says ex-Tory leader

Sir Iain says there are "many more involved in exactly this kind of espionage" in the UK.

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Woman sentenced for hurling milkshake at Farage

The Reform UK party leader was drenched in liquid when he started his constituency campaign in June.

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'No nice or easy way of doing it': Labour's small boats dilemma

The PM and his colleagues agree the illegal people smuggling trade in Britain must end - but there's huge disagreement over what should be done.

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Councils to be merged in major local government shake-up

Ministers plan to combine smaller councils across England, prompting warnings of "turmoil" over mergers.

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UK in 'diplomatic contact' with Syrian rebels, says Lammy

The foreign secretary's remarks come as the government announced £50m of humanitarian aid for Syria.

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UK joins Asia's trade club - but what is CPTPP?

It may look like an official has leant on their keyboard - but it's an acronym we'll hear more often.

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Cooper won't set timetable to cut 'dangerous' boat crossings

The UK home secretary's remarks come after 13,500 people with failed asylum claims were returned to their home country since July.

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Court delays unacceptable for victims and defendants, says ex-judge

Sir Brian Leveson told the BBC radical steps would need to be taken to tackle the growing "crisis".

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UK 'doesn't have enough builders' for Starmer's 1.5m homes

Builders and developers say reforms are needed to recruit more tradespeople to build the homes being promised.

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UK government to review internal market act

The legislation has been long opposed by Holyrood ministers, who branded it a Westminster "power grab".

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UK economy shrinks for second month in a row

The economy had been expected to return to growth but data shows it contracted by 0.1%.

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Miliband unveils new powers to approve large wind farms

The change is part of the government's new action plan for meeting its 2030 clean power target.

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Police chiefs call on ministers to guarantee funding

Police chiefs have warned the government that without further funding neighbourhood police officers - a government priority - could be cut.

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Currys says price rises 'inevitable' after Budget

The retailer says it had not planned for the full impact of recent changes to tax and other government policy.

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Banned LGBT veterans to get up to £70,000 in compensation

Ministers will announce that veterans can apply to have their rank restored and discharge reason amended.

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Rural Kent on the frontline of PM's battle to build

Keir Starmer has vowed to beat building "blockers" but can he override stiff local resistance?

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Savings targets could cost 10,000 civil service jobs

A government source tells the BBC the increasing size of the civil service cannot continue.

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Damp and mouldy housing could see personnel leave military

MPs want to see military housing improved but say they are "not confident" funds will be available.

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Nurseries warn of rising fees ahead of childcare expansion

Bosses in the early years sector say the government's uplift in funding will not cover rising costs.

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Government recommends 2.8% pay rise for public sector

Teachers, NHS staff and senior civil servants are among those covered by the proposals.

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Farage recruits tycoon Nick Candy as Reform UK treasurer

Billionaire former Tory donor is aiming to raise big money to help put Nigel Farage in No 10.

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Birmingham City Council agrees huge equal pay deal

Settling the thousands of long-running claims is a "good day for low-paid women", Unison says.

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Stop non-priority spending, Treasury warns ministers

Rachel Reeves promises to take an "iron fist" to waste, but the Tories say her sums do not add up.

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Germany to tighten people-smuggling law in UK deal

The Joint Action Plan sees Germany commit to making it easier to prosecute those facilitating people-smuggling to the UK.

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Assad's fall leaves UK with political dilemma

The overthrow of the Assad regime leaves the UK needing to make some difficult decisions.

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Labour council leader quits over alleged messages

Police are investigating Edinburgh councillor Cammy Day following an allegation of inappropriate behaviour.

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UK could remove Syrian rebel group from terror list

Pat McFadden says any decision should be "swift" after the group led the overthrow of al-Assad rule.

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Government wants state to be more 'like a start-up'

As well as urging a "test and learn" mindset in government, ministers want to bring in tech workers on secondment.

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Council committees to be bypassed in bid to build more homes

The move is part of what ministers say will be a "sweeping overhaul" of England's local planning system.

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Musk risks being 'political puppet master', says Clegg

The former deputy PM turned top Meta boss tells Nick Robinson that Musk is playing an "outsized" role in US politics.

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Unions pressure ministers to raise worker sick pay

A number of union leaders have written to the PM, concerned that Labour's commitment to strengthen sick pay isn't being honoured.

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Home Office to give refugees more time to find housing

The period for refugees to move out of supported housing will increase from 28 to 56 days.

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Councils call for cash to cover homeless bill shortfall

The Local Government Association says a freeze on central funding has cost councils nearly £740m since 2019.

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Five key takeaways from the Scottish Budget

Scrapping the two-child cap and changes to tax thresholds are among plans for the next financial year.

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Chris Mason: Is Starmer speech a ‘plan for change’ or ‘emergency relaunch’?

The prime minister is to set out targets in areas including policing, housebuilding the NHS and pre-school education.

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Call to exempt 'working farms' from inheritance tax

Changes announced to inheritance tax rules could see family farms targeted warn the Lib Dems.

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Three rail firms to be renationalised next year

The rail operators will be renationalised in May, as part of the government's manifesto promise.

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Future tax rises won't be needed, insists Reeves

The chancellor has faced pressure to spell out her future tax plans after a pledge made last week.

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Massive Elon Musk donation news to me, says Farage

Claims the X mogul is planning to donate $100m to Reform UK are dismissed by party leader Nigel Farage.

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Stalking victims to get right to know abuser's identity

Victims will be told the identity of online perpetrators at the earliest opportunity, under the new reforms.

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Covid corruption commissioner starts fraud probe

Tom Hayhoe's first task will be reviewing the £8.7bn of pandemic PPE that had to be written off.

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WW2 veteran urges PM to end 'brutal' frozen pension policy

Anne Puckridge is calling on the new government to unfreeze the pensions of some Britons who live abroad.

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Starmer: UK does not need to choose between US and EU

The PM says he will follow Attlee and Churchill in supporting allies, including Ukraine.

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Chris Mason: Ministers know they have to tackle migrant crossings

Immigration, both legal and illegal, via small boat crossings in the Channel, has ballooned in recent years.

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Small boat crossings hit 20,000 under Labour

The Conservatives argue the figures show the need to reinstate their Rwanda deportation scheme.

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New deadlines set for fixing dangerous cladding

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner says the pace of remediation had been "far too slow for far too long".

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Backlash from councils over Rayner housing targets

The vast majority of councils in England and Wales believe housing targets are unrealistic, the BBC can reveal.

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