Chris Mason: Colossal stakes for Starmer's summit on Ukraine

Sunday's summit of European leaders in London, to be attended by Ukraine's leader, is shaping up to be crucial, the BBC's political editor writes.

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Starmer speaks to Trump and Zelensky following White House row

A statement from No 10 confirms he spoke with both and "retains unwavering support for Ukraine".

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Watch: Decoding the PM's meeting with Donald Trump

Watch: Decoding the PM's meeting with Donald Trump

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UK-US trade deal could mean tariffs 'not necessary' - Trump

The US president says a trade deal could happen very quickly and avoid taxes on UK imports.

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Key takeaways from Starmer's talks with Trump

A surprise letter from King Charles III to a possible trade deal - the key moments from Starmer's visit to the White House.

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Trump 'inclined' to back UK's Chagos Islands deal

The UK has offered Trump an effective veto on the deal because of its implications for US security.

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Growth plan will make Londoners richer - mayor

Sir Sadiq Khan launches a growth plan to increase productivity and create jobs in London.

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Ban misogynistic online porn, review to say

A government-commissioned review is expected to call for content showing women being choked during sex to be illegal.

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Ukraine needs US security guarantee to deter Putin - PM

The PM stresses the importance of US help but Trump suggests responsibility lies with Europe.

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Chagos deal will not go ahead if Trump rejects it - Lammy

David Lammy says the UK "a shared military and intelligence interest" with the US in the territory.

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Chris Mason: Starmer upends Labour manifesto to confront Europe's new reality

Sir Keir Starmer's meeting with the US president comes at a pivotal moment for Europe, our political editor writes.

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Minister backs expansion of airports as Gatwick decision looms

A decision is expected later this week on whether Gatwick airport has won permission to expand its operations.

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Will Starmer's defence hike win over Trump?

The prime minister has set out plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% of national income by 2027.

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Farmers face 'bullying behaviour' by supermarkets

An MP says farmers face "ongoing mistreatment" including being dropped by retailers.

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First cross-party talks on social care reform postponed

The five largest parties in England were due to meet this week - but the BBC has learned the talks have been cancelled.

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UK fooled by faith in international law, says Badenoch

The Conservative leader says "the world has changed" and the UK needs a realistic response.

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Conservative councillor defects to Reform

Kevin Towill has become the party's sole representative in the council chamber.

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'Gruesome sell-out or a chance to lead': What will happen when Starmer visits Trump?

What could happen when Sir Keir Starmer visits the White House next Thursday?

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Trump right to engage Putin on peace talks, says minister

Bridget Phillipson says the US thawing diplomatic ties with Putin "brought Russians to the table".

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I'll back Ukraine in talks with Trump, Starmer says

The prime minister called Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky for the second time in four days.

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Child exploitation and cuckooing to be made criminal offences

New legislation being introduced to Parliament next week seeks to criminalise the practices.

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Trump says Starmer and Macron 'haven't done anything' to end Ukraine war

Trump's criticisms come as the UK and French leaders prepare to visit the White House next week.

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Sarwar calls for clear guidance on single-sex rule

The Scottish Labour leader refused to say if transwomen should be automatically excluded from female-only spaces.

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Israeli family mourns 'man of peace' as body returned from Gaza

Oded Lifschitz, whose body was returned from Gaza on Thursday, was a campaigner for peace and had many Palestinian friends.

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UK and Europe must step up over Ukraine, says ex-Army boss

Sir Nick Carter says "others are going to have to step up to the plate" if the US does not want to.

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The worrying pitfalls ahead of Starmer's US trip

When Sir Keir Starmer touches down in Washington next week, he will be treading a fine diplomatic line.

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Struggling English museums get rescue funds

Some venues said they were at risk of "imminent threat of sale of collections or closure".

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Consultation opens on joint mayor for two counties

Consultation seeks views on an elected mayor to lead a combined Norfolk and Suffolk authority.

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Starmer backs Zelensky after Trump 'dictator' claim

The prime minister spoke to Zelensky on the phone and expressed support for "Ukraine's democratically elected leader".

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Retailers selling knives online face stricter laws

Retailers must report suspicious purchases and there will be tougher sentences for selling to under-18s.

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British Army 'absolutely ready' if ordered to deploy to Ukraine

It comes as 2,500 UK troops take part in Nato's largest exercise this year near Ukraine's border.

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Protesters demand grooming gang talks with Burnham

A march in Manchester sees calls for mayor Andy Burnham to back a statutory child abuse inquiry.

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'Tough on crime' policies behind prison crisis, says review

The independent review says successive governments made "knee jerk" decisions to issue longer prison sentences.

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UK wages continue to outpace inflation

Pay outstripped price rises by 3.4% between October and December while the unemployment rate remains unchanged.

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Thames Water secures £3bn lifeline after court ruling

The UK's largest water and waste company was set to run out of money by the end of March.

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Special Forces blocked 2,000 credible asylum claims from Afghan commandos, MoD confirms

Officers appear to have rejected every application from former Afghan commandos who fought alongside them.

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Union and bishops criticise small boat refugee citizenship ban

Some 147 signatories of a letter say the recently-implemented rule will "breed division and distrust".

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PM 'ready' to put troops on ground in Ukraine to protect peace

Sir Keir Starmer said securing a lasting peace in Ukraine was "essential" to deter Vladimir Putin from future aggression.

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Pledge of 2m extra NHS appointments met, PM says

Sir Keir Starmer says the figure is a "shot in the arm", but "the job isn't done" to bring down waiting lists.

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UK military too 'run down' to lead Ukraine peace mission - ex-Army chief

Lord Dannatt says up to 40,000 UK troops would be needed for such a mission and "we just haven't got that number available".

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Plans to protect UK steel industry as tariff threat looms

US President Donald Trump is set to impose 25% taxes on steel entering America "without exceptions".

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NHS to expand opt-out HIV and hepatitis testing

The NHS will automatically test patients for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C unless they opt out at 90 hospitals.

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What we've learned about Rachel Reeves's expenses - and the Labour response

Senior figures defended the chancellor after we revealed her expenses were investigated before she was an MP.

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Who is Rachel Reeves?

The chancellor has faced a bumpy first few months, from a sluggish economy to questions over her CV.

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US politicians furious at UK demand for encrypted Apple data

They say the US should re-evaluate its cyber-security partnership with the UK unless the "dangerous" request is withdrawn.

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Rachel Reeves can be trusted, says minister

A BBC investigation found the now chancellor was subject to an expenses complaint when working at HBOS.

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Starmer backs Ukraine's Nato bid despite US view

The PM reaffirms the UK will back Ukraine's "irreversible path" to joining NATO in a call with Volodymyr Zelensky.

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The Chancellor and her expenses before she became an MP

BBC News has learnt that there was an expenses investigation into Rachel Reeves, and two other senior managers, when she worked at HBOS.

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Ukraine must be at heart of talks, says Healey

UK Defence Secretary John Healey says there can be no negotiation on Ukraine without Ukraine.

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Reform UK sets out plan to tax renewable energy

Deputy leader Richard Tice argues net-zero policies are to blame for higher energy bills in the UK.

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Sir David Amess killer 'left Prevent too quickly'

The programme's handling of Sir David Amess's killer was “sub-optimal”, a review says.

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PM pledges to close loophole which let Gazans settle in UK

The family won an appeal to come to the UK, after originally applying through a scheme for Ukrainians.

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Government plans to stop 'housing benefit going to rogue landlords'

The Housing Ministry says £350m will unlock an extra 2,800 affordable homes across England.

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Mother on hunger strike asks PM for help to free her son

Laila Soueif has not eaten for 134 days as she campaigns for the release of her pro-democracy activist son from jail in Egypt.

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MP behind assisted dying bill suggests scrapping High Court approval

It comes after concerns were raised over the court's capacity to hear each individual case.

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UK must respect Trump's mandate, new US ambassador tells BBC

In his first day on the job, Lord Peter Mandelson says "we have to respect and understand what drives" the US president.

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Smuggling gangs have taken hold, Cooper says during border debate

MPs are holding a debate in the House of Commons on Labour's plans to overhaul border measures.

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MPs' pay set to increase 2.8% to £93,904 in April

Parliament's expenses watchdog says the rise is in line with pay rises in the broader public sector.

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New subsidies deal for Drax wood-burning power station

The government has agreed a new subsidy arrangement with the controversial wood-burning Drax power station in north Yorkshire.

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Hundreds arrested in New Year illegal worker blitz

It comes ahead of the second reading of the Government's Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.

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Second Labour MP apologises over WhatsApp comments

Burnley MP Oliver Ryan says his comments in the group were "completely unacceptable".

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Ex-mineworkers 'dying while waiting for pension cash'

Former coal workers say many are dying of old age and respiratory illness as they wait for payments.

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Rayner defends handling of Grenfell Tower meeting

The deputy PM tells the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg that she doesn't feel she was "aggressive" during the meeting.

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Power station's further reporting failure exposed by BBC

Drax, which burns wood pellets, is required to report where it sources its wood from.

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Health Minister Andrew Gwynne sacked over messages

Gwynne apologises for the "badly misjudged" messages and is suspended as a Labour party member.

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What is Mandelson's strategy for charming Trumpworld?

As Peter Mandelson takes up the role of ambassador to the US, No 10 is determined the UK builds a strong relationship with Donald Trump.

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Concern UK's AI ambitions could lead to water shortages

Data centres can use vast quantities of water to cool them - but it's not clear where it will come from.

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Johnson UK's most damaging PM, says Reform UK chief

Zia Yusuf tells the BBC's Political Thinking podcast Johnson would not be welcome to join Reform UK.

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£22bn for 'unproven' green tech could raise bills, MPs warn

The Public Accounts Committee warns the government of gambling public money on carbon capture.

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Chris Mason: Starmer goes nuclear in hunt for long-term growth

Ministers hope new nuclear power stations will be keeping lights on by 2032.

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UK to make it easier to build nuclear reactors

The process of loosening rules on where reactors could be built began under the previous government.

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Badenoch says leadership involves 'tough words' too

The Conservative leader speaks to the BBC after she told party staff they needed to do better.

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I'd make it harder to get British citizenship, says Badenoch

The Conservative leader says people shouldn't be able to apply for citizenship for at least 15 years.

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Grenfell to be demolished, bereaved families told

Grenfell Tower is to be demolished, Angela Rayner tells a meeting with bereaved relatives and survivors.

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Spending on flood defences set to rise to record levels

The money will be spent on projects ranging from tidal barriers and flood walls to nature-based solutions.

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Ticketmaster UK boss tells MPs prices are very fair

Andrew Parsons appears before MPs, after fans slammed his company's "dynamic pricing" of Oasis tickets.

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Speaker says later father was 'everything' to him

Labour politician Lord Doug Hoyle died surrounded by his family in April, aged 98.

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Ex-Tory MP joins Ukraine military to support war effort

He was an MP until the 2024 general election when Labour's candidate secured victory.

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Starmer denies breaking Covid rules with voice coach

Leonie Miller was invited to coach the then-opposition leader on his response to Johnson's Brexit deal.

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Millions face council tax rise of more than 5%

The government has allowed six areas to bypass the usual 5% cap on council tax increases.

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How could Trump's tariffs affect the UK?

How might the UK be affected by Trump's tariffs, even if they are not imposed on the UK?

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I let child abuse survivors down - Welsh Lib Dem leader

Jane Dodds says she will continue as leader despite criticism of her time in the Church of England.

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Positive start for Stormont but more to do after first year - NI leaders

NI leaders give their verdict on progress one year after the restoration of devolution at Stormont.

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Pylons v people - battle lines drawn over UK's green energy plans

Are solar panel fields and giant pylons the price of energy decarbonisation by 2030? - Panorama investigates.

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Starmer first PM to join EU leaders' meeting since Brexit

The trip is part of what the PM calls a "reset" between the UK and the European Union.

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Fears council shake-up could spell end of independent-run areas

Critics say merging smaller councils will make it harder for independents to be elected.

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Farage hails Trump 'inspiration' at Reform UK rally

Nigel Farage holds a rally in North West Essex as his party targets Kemi Badenoch's seat.

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Davey urges Starmer to start EU customs union talks

Sir Ed Davey calls for PM to use meeting with EU leaders to "fire the starting gun" on new trade deal.

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