Politics - Daily Politics

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz has strongly criticised his country's historic and final exit from nuclear power, labelling it a "serious strategic mistake." In a public statement, the head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) argued that the decision to shut down the last reactors and phase out nuclear energy has weakened Germany's position, making it less competitive and more dependent on energy imports, especially natural gas. This, he contends, was a key lesson from recent energy crises, where the absence of nuclear power as a stable baseload source left the nation more vulnerable to price volatility and supply disruptions.

Merz's ...

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has opted not to join US President Donald Trump's newly launched "Board of Peace," a decision that signals diplomatic distance and underscores transatlantic tensions over the initiative's scope. While the UK government has expressed support for the US-backed 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated the UK would not be a signatory to the board's founding charter in Davos. The primary reasons cited were concerns about the board's potential to evolve into a broad "legal treaty" and the involvement of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose inclusion was seen as incompatible with efforts to ...

In an extraordinary public rebuke, a federal judge has delivered a scathing criticism of Trump-appointed US Attorney Lindsey Halligan, directly condemning her conduct in a Virginia criminal case. In a written opinion and from the bench, the judge used unusually sharp language, describing her legal filings as a "vitriol-filled charade" and criticising the legal arguments presented by her office. This judicial condemnation raises significant questions about prosecutorial conduct, the proper administration of justice, and the potential misuse of the legal system by political appointees.

The judge's ruling expressed deep concern that Halligan's approach was not only inappropriate but also had the ...

Congressional leaders have unveiled a final, massive $1.4 trillion spending package intended to fund the federal government for the remainder of fiscal year 2026 and avert a partial government shutdown. The legislation, the product of bipartisan negotiations under severe deadline pressure, sets discretionary spending levels and resolves contentious policy disputes that had stalled the process for months. Lawmakers now face a tight timeline to pass the bill before temporary funding expires.

A key breakthrough in the negotiations was the resolution of a major impasse over funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The dispute, which centred on immigration detention and ...

Democratic lawmakers in the United States have initiated a new push to evaluate former President Donald Trump's fitness for office, publicly calling for an invocation of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution. This effort, led by Senator Ed Markey, cites Trump's recent public statements regarding the potential acquisition of Greenland as evidence of a destabilising mental state that raises serious questions about his capacity to serve. The political move frames the Greenland remarks as part of a pattern of foreign policy rhetoric that some deem erratic and dangerous, warranting formal review.

The 25th Amendment, specifically Section 4, provides a constitutional mechanism ...

California Governor Gavin Newsom has delivered a sharp, public rebuke of President Donald Trump's foreign policy, specifically targeting his recent remarks about Greenland. In blunt language, Newsom criticised the international response from some allied leaders as "pathetic" and explicitly urged European nations to "grow a backbone" and "punch back" against policies they oppose. He framed the current diplomatic climate as a critical test for the transatlantic alliance and Western unity.

The governor's comments directly address the significant diplomatic strain caused by Trump's renewed statements about the United States needing to acquire Greenland for national security reasons, paired with threats of tariffs ...

Former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney is increasingly seen as a leading voice for a new era of economic and political realism, articulating a worldview that directly challenges the complacency of the post-Cold War period. His central argument is that the long-standing promise of stable, market-led globalisation has failed, ushering in an age of profound instability marked by volatile prices, supply chain fragility, and geopolitical competition. He asserts that “nostalgia is not a strategy” and that leaders must respond to this new reality with clear-eyed pragmatism rather than ideological adherence to past models.

Carney’s philosophy advocates for a recalibrated role ...

The United Kingdom has given formal approval for China to construct a significant new embassy complex in central London, a decision that has concluded a lengthy and contentious planning process. The new facility, which will be the largest Chinese embassy in Europe, will be located at the Royal Mint Court site, close to the City of London's financial district.

The approval was granted by the Housing Secretary after the government took over the decision-making process from the local Tower Hamlets Council. In making the decision, ministers stated they had relied on assessments and a "proportionate" package of security measures developed with ...

The UK government is actively considering proposals to ban children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms. This significant potential policy shift follows mounting pressure to enhance children’s online safety and address the mental health risks associated with platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. The discussion is partly driven by high-profile advocacy, including from the mother of Brianna Ghey, who has called for stronger action to protect young people from online harms, violence, and harmful algorithm-driven content.

Central to the debate is the enforcement of the Online Safety Act and the role of the regulator, Ofcom. Proposals being ...

Portugal’s presidential election has been forced into a second-round runoff after a far-right candidate secured a historic first-place finish in the initial round of voting, reflecting a dramatic realignment of the country's political landscape. The populist contender, running on a platform of nationalist rhetoric and anti-establishment sentiment, achieved unprecedented support, indicating deep-seated voter discontent with traditional parties. While the leading candidates are separated by a narrow margin, the result signifies a clear breakthrough for a political movement that has reshaped the electoral map of a nation once considered a stronghold of centrist politics.

The outcome is viewed by analysts as part ...