Articles by Andrew Sparrow

Failed asylum seekers could be given ‘big increase’ in payments to leave voluntarily, home secretary says – UK politics live

Shabana Mahmood says scheme could increase the £3,000 cap currently in place and that payments are ‘good value for money’

1 days ago

Politics

Andy Burnham calls on Labour to rethink plans to make it tougher for asylum seekers to settle permanently – UK politics live

The home secretary’s plans ‘may leave people in a sense of limbo and unable to integrate’, Burnham said

1 days ago

Politics

Streeting defends asylum policy, but says he’s not ‘comfortable’ with forced removal of children – UK politics live

Health secretary still maintains that forced removals are ‘right thing to do for the country’

1 days ago

Politics

Starmer refuses to rule out freezing tax thresholds as Badenoch criticises budget plans – UK politics live

Tory leader says Reeves will be breaking Labour’s manifesto if she freezes income tax thresholds

2 days ago

World

UK lacks defence strategy, MPs say, as plan unveiled for more weapons factories – UK politics live

In a speech this morning, defence secretary will commit to ‘building the factories of the future in Britain’

2 days ago

Politics

Chinese spying amounts to interference in UK democracy, minister says, after MI5 warns MPs – politics live

Dan Jarvis, the security minister, says China is trying to contact MPs and peers to get sensitive information about parliament

3 days ago

Politics

Home Office says past ‘hesitancy’ over removal of families and children of failed asylum seekers was wrong – live

Labour MP calls government’s asylum plans ‘dystopian’ amid backlash over ‘cruel’ policy

3 days ago

Politics

Starmer facing growing backlash from Labour MPs as Mahmood sets out asylum plans – UK politics live

Home secretary to announce a drastic tightening of rules, including requiring asylum seekers to wait 20 years before getting the right to permanently settle in UK

4 days ago

Politics

Starmer braced for backlash from Labour MPs as Mahmood sets out asylum plans – UK politics live

Home secretary to announce a drastic tightening of rules, including requiring asylum seekers to wait 20 years before getting the right to permanently settle in UK

4 days ago

Politics

Treasury won’t cut threshold for higher rate income tax, say sources – UK politics live

Fallout continues over budget income tax U-turn, with Treasury saying expected fiscal gap has dropped to £20bn

Nov 14, 2025

Business

Reeves accused of ‘rattling the markets’ after income tax U-turn pushes up borrowing costs – UK politics live

A source told the Guardian that plans to break the manifesto pledge on income tax had been ditched by the chancellor

Nov 14, 2025

Politics

Minister says police and crime commissioners will be abolished in 2028 because system has failed – UK politics live

Elected policing roles will be phased out and their powers transferred to mayors in England in move that could save £100m

Nov 13, 2025

Politics

Ed Miliband urges Labour to move on after Starmer apologises to Streeting for hostile briefings from No 10 – UK politics live

Fallout from extraordinary briefing operation against Wes Streeting continues as calls grow for Starmer to sack his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney

Nov 13, 2025

Politics

No 10 says Starmer has confidence in Morgan McSweeney after PM condemns attacks on cabinet members – UK politics live

PM’s spokesperson says he has confidence in his chief of staff after Starmer challenged over ‘toxic culture’ at Downing Street

Nov 12, 2025

Politics

Starmer says any attack on his cabinet is ‘completely unacceptable’ and adds Streeting is doing a great job – UK politics live

Kemi Badenoch probes Starmer over ‘toxic culture’ at Downing Street as PM denies authorising briefings against potential challengers

Nov 12, 2025

Politics

Wes Streeting denies plotting against PM and condemns No 10 bid to ‘kneecap’ him – UK politics live

Starmer’s allies are saying getting rid of the PM would be would be a ‘reckless’ and ‘dangerous’ move

Nov 12, 2025

Politics

Nandy rules out taking action to remove Robbie Gibb from BBC board – as it happened

Culture secretary also condemns MPs who dismiss BBC as ‘institutionally biased’ in swipe at Badenoch and Farage

Nov 11, 2025

World

Lammy says at least three, and potentially four, prisoners released in error are still at large – UK politics live

Deputy PM says none of those still at large are sex offenders as he apologises to victims affected by prison release mistakes

Nov 11, 2025

Politics

Tim Davie tells BBC staff ‘we have to fight for our journalism’ as Trump threatens $1bn lawsuit – UK politics live

Outgoing director general says freedom of press under pressure and that he sees ‘weaponisation’

Nov 11, 2025

Politics

Reeves suggests two-child benefit cap will fully go, saying childen in big families should not be ‘penalised’ – UK politics live

Chancellor interviewed on Radio 5 Live and says it’s unfair to penalise children in bigger families

Nov 10, 2025