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#British government

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>British prime minister Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Micheál Martin taking part in a business roundtable at 1 Lapp’s Quay, Cork, ahead of the UK-Ireland summit in the city. <span class="contextmenu emphasis CaptionCredit"> Picture: Brian Lawless/PA</span>
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comment-analysis

Paul Hosford: Keir Starmer steers clear of controversy on Cork trip

British prime minister stayed on safe ground, highlighting his honeymoon in Ireland, his time spent pulling pints of Guinness — and his 'grá' for Declan Rice

<p>Green Party leader Zack Polanski. On paper, he isa bundle of contradictions that resolve into credibility. Picture: PA</p>

comment-analysis

Colin Sheridan: In an age of institutional distrust, legitimacy migrates to the personal

<p>British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Micheál Martin ahead of a business roundtable at the Albert Dock in Liverpool, after the first in a new series of annual UK-Ireland Summits last year. File picture</p>

comment-analysis

Louise Burne: Our 'do nothing Dáil' is much more appealing than Britain's omnishambles

Lord Peter Mandelson Epstein files scandal

world

Starmer to face PMQs after pledging to ‘never walk away’

Lord Peter Mandelson Epstein files scandal

world

Keir Starmer pledges to 'never walk away' after pressure to quit as PM

SFergus Finlay: Starmer has to survive the week, then throw caution to the wind

Peter Mandelson - Jeffrey Epstein comment

S Terry Prone: Epstein fallout exposes Starmer as the weak leader he has always been

When the Epstein files showed Petey for what he was, the dimwit in Downing Street complained bitterly that Petey had lied to him. Imagine. Shock, horror

Mon, 09 Feb, 2026

European Council meeting

Shona Murray: Keir Starmer’s Brexit dilemma as Brussels signals openness to UK return

As Brexit nears its tenth anniversary, Europe is open to Britain again — but London’s political fear is holding it back

Sat, 07 Feb, 2026

Prince Andrew relinquishes titles and honours

Royals acted swiftly to banish wayward Andrew — but is there more to come?

How many headlines can one man make? That is what Andrew has become — a human headline

Sun, 02 Nov, 2025

Jaguar Land Rover cyber attack

Jaguar Land Rover cyber attack cost UK €2.2bn

Around 5,000 businesses have been hit by the fallout of the attack

Wed, 22 Oct, 2025

Prime Minister's Questions

S Fergus Finlay: Presidential race highlights how leaders grow — or shrink — under pressure

The presidential race will not be decided by policy or ideology, but by whether candidates show true leadership under pressure

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

The Mick Clifford Podcast: A unique take on the divided isles of Ireland and Britain

The Mick Clifford Podcast: A unique take on the divided isles of Ireland and Britain

Philip Stephens, a long-standing commentator with the Financial Times, is this week’s guest on the podcast

Listen | Thu, 04 Sep, 2025

General Election 2017

S Colin Sheridan: Institutional racism wears a necktie

Diane Abbott has become Britain’s canary in a coal mine of racial hypocrisy. Colin Sheridan asks 'How many Diane Abbotts have we ignored in Ireland?

Sat, 19 Jul, 2025

UK-EU summit

EU and Britain to deepen cooperation on maritime security

Summit also committed to increasing cooperation on hostile cyberattacks, protecting democratic institutions from foreign interference and countering terrorism and extremism

Mon, 19 May, 2025

Immigration White Paper

Keir Starmer is wrong: You don’t beat the far right by becoming them

If the British prime minister's speech on immigration was a response to the rising threat of Reform, it is a strategy that will not work electorally and could actually boost the success of the far right

Thu, 15 May, 2025

Keir Starmer visit to West Yorkshire

S Fergus Finlay: Keir Starmer's plans risk losing the dressing room even before half-time

UK Labour has inherited a broken economy and global instability — can Keir Starmer avoid the fate that has plagued left-wing leaders before him?

Tue, 01 Apr, 2025

Derek Draper funeral

Terry Prone: Peter Mandelson abandons his principles for a magnificent Trump back-pedal

In politics, principles are often temporary. Mandelson, RFK Jr, and others show how back-pedalling is a survival strategy

Mon, 03 Feb, 2025

TOPSHOT-US-VOTE-POLITICS-TRUMP

S Fergus Finlay: Democracy is dying — a more autocratic world is only years away

Democracy is floundering and wringing its hands in the face of visible and growing threats and challenges

Tue, 07 Jan, 2025

Farage meets Musk

Nigel Farage says talks with Elon Musk amid speculation of donation to Reform UK

Mr Farage described his hour-long meeting with Mr Musk at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort on Monday as “great” and “historic”

Wed, 18 Dec, 2024

Man Having Backache While Sitting On Sofa

Natural Health: My sciatica flares up in my lower back — is there a natural remedy?

Topically, a capsaicin/cayenne-based product—particularly when combined with menthol — can really help to treat the pain and restricted movement you are experiencing. Usually, this is in the form of a balm or a salve, but it can also be found in gel form.

Fri, 13 Dec, 2024

Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg

UK economy sees slower than expected growth

GDP rose 0.1% compared to the previous three month period, below the 0.2% gain forecast by economists

Tue, 12 Nov, 2024

Irish Examiner view: Covid inquiry process not off to a great start

Irish Examiner view: Covid inquiry process not off to a great start

Questions need to be asked as to the purpose of this 'evaluation'

Fri, 01 Nov, 2024

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Reeves carries the red budget box at Downing Street, in London

Britain's chancellor Rachel Reeves reveals £40bn in tax rises as she promises to rebuild public services

Reeves said the 'difficult' tax-raising choices were required to stabilise the public finances after receiving a dire economic inheritance from the Conservatives

Wed, 30 Oct, 2024

Sir Keir Starmer visit to east London

UK prime minister insists Trump relationship not in jeopardy amid interference claims

The complaint follows reports of senior Labour officials meeting with Kamala Harris’ campaign, and Labour Party staffers volunteering on the ground for her campaign

Wed, 23 Oct, 2024

Morgan McSweeney, Campaign Director at The Labour Party, UK - 08 Jan 2023

S Fergus Finlay: The most powerful Corkman in Britain has his first big challenge

Morgan McSweeney, born and raised in Macroom, has just been appointed chief of staff to British prime minister Keir Starmer. Right now, he’s got a make-or-break challenge on his hands

Tue, 15 Oct, 2024

Labour Party Conference 2024

S Terry Prone: Well-off people get showered with freebies they could well afford

Keir Starmer, who leads a party which traditionally drew loyalty from underpaid people, should not have had his hand out like Oliver Twist asking for more

Mon, 30 Sep, 2024

Workers Ahead Of UK Labour Market Statistics

UK to follow Ireland's softer right-to-disconnect model

Labour government pushing for code of practice rather than legislation unions had demanded

Wed, 28 Aug, 2024

TOPSHOT-ITALY-EU-POLITICS-VOTE-FDI-RESULTS

No more fiscal favours? Calls to tax super-rich gain traction around world

Even rightwing governments are joining in with G20-led push to make wealthy pay, with Italy doubling flat tax on foreign income

Mon, 12 Aug, 2024

Southport incident

The violence was shocking but not surprising: Britain’s economy makes it ripe for far-right thuggery

Labour is right to get tough with rioters. But that won’t solve the deep-seated problems stoking the disorder

Thu, 08 Aug, 2024

Mick Clifford: How populism takes flight

S Mick Clifford: How populism takes flight

The divide between what might be described as a typical worker and those at the upper echelons of the corporate world has been widening over the last 20 years

Sat, 06 Jul, 2024

Joe Biden

S Fergus Finlay: It’s either Biden or Armageddon — the unthinkable is now possible

Over the next few days, there will be immense focus on the latest polls — it’s hard to see anything but impending disaster

Tue, 02 Jul, 2024

How Taylor Swift's Era's Tour makeup stays in place all night

Irish Examiner view: No shaking off seismic Taylor Swift production

The reception for the singer is reminiscent of the description of Xerxes’ Persian army, which made the earth shake on approach, and her influence on contemporary life is all-but gravitational in its power

Fri, 28 Jun, 2024

General election

British Labour says it has the backing of a number of firms ahead of election

Signatories included the boss of the supermarket chain Iceland, the chairman of the retailer JD Sports, and the head of the UK arm of advertising giant WPP

Tue, 28 May, 2024

Michael Gove in Downing Street

Veteran UK minister Michael Gove becomes latest high-profile Tory to stand down

The UK housing secretary cited the “toll” of public office as he said it was time to let “a new generation lead” following a political career spanning nearly 20 years

Fri, 24 May, 2024

Rishi Sunak visit to Austria

IMF warns UK about cutting taxes ahead of election

Furthermore, it said Britain should consider new revenue-raising measures such as higher carbon and road-usage taxation, a broadening of Vat and inheritance tax bases, and reforming capital gains and property taxation

Tue, 21 May, 2024

Keir Starmer visit to Dover

S Terry Prone: Keir Starmer’s problem is he can’t tell people what he really stands for

The British Labour leader is so values-free that accepting Natalie Elphicke into his party is OK on the basis that she might help his election chances

Mon, 13 May, 2024

Regional Mayoral elections

S Fergus Finlay: Social democracy aka Labour is inching its way into power in the UK

Change won’t happen because of an exciting campaign, awash with Labour promises and vision — it will happen because, after 14 years of incompetence, corruption, and betrayal, the people of Britain hate the Tories

Tue, 07 May, 2024

SNP leadership contest

John Swinney confirmed as new SNP leader and likely Scottish first minister

After nominations for the post closed, the former Scottish deputy first minister was confirmed as the only person to put themselves forward to succeed Humza Yousaf

Mon, 06 May, 2024

Prime Minister's Questions

S Jennifer Horgan: We must not become monsters to protect our own freedoms

Freedom is certainly not free if protecting one person’s freedom means destroying the freedom of another

Fri, 03 May, 2024

Sunak insists Britain has no legal obligation to accept migrant returns from Ireland

Sunak insists Britain has no legal obligation to accept migrant returns from Ireland

British Prime Minister also accused Ireland of 'cherry picking' international agreements with patrols of border

Wed, 01 May, 2024

Irish migration

Government approves emergency legislation to allow return of asylum seekers to UK

Justice Minister Helen McEntee brought the plan to Cabinet on Tuesday in a bid to once again certify that the UK is a safe country

Tue, 30 Apr, 2024

Keir Starmer visit to West Midlands

Britain's next government faces fiscal risks and credit rating challenge, S&P analyst warns

Whoever wins the election expected later this year will have to balance growing demands for more spending on services such as healthcare with the need to fix the public finances, analyst says

Thu, 04 Apr, 2024

Ireland In The Eighties English Republicans

S Mick Clifford: Rose Dugdale was a killer for a redundant revolution

Rose Dugdale was a genuine radical but instead of striving for equality within the parameters of democratic norms she opted for a life of excitement on the frontline of revolution

Sun, 24 Mar, 2024

17/11/2007. Labour Conferences

S Fergus Finlay: Keyboard 'heroes' have no understanding of good leadership

I imagine Leo Varadkar and Micheál Martin are under instructions never to look at X because it is so full of personal abuse

Tue, 19 Mar, 2024

Conservative Party Conference 2023

S Colin Sheridan: The British empire is dying a slow death

You’re probably not aware there is a university in London called SOAS, or the School of Oriental and African Studies.

Sat, 16 Mar, 2024

Bargain hunters hit the shops

British employment cools as companies let more staff go

What’s bad for prime minister Rishi Sunak will be greeted with relief at the Bank of England, which is seeking to slow demand in the economy

Tue, 12 Mar, 2024

Budget 2024

UK cuts personal taxes as Tories seek election year lift

The UK's Minister for Finance Jeremy Hunt cut personal taxes as the Conservative Party tries to win back voters ahead of a nationwide election expected later this year.

Wed, 06 Mar, 2024

Cabinet meeting

Britain posts record monthly surplus, but tough picture ahead of March budget

Britain chalked up its highest-ever monthly budget surplus in January due to record seasonal tax inflows, official figures showed, although the broader picture remains tough as chancellor of the exchequer Jeremy Hunt prepares his annual budget.

Wed, 21 Feb, 2024

Wellingborough by-election

‘People want change’ says Starmer as Sunak suffers double election blow

Rishi Sunak has suffered a double defeat at the Wellingborough and Kingswood by-elections, with Keir Starmer hailing the results as a sign the public wants change.

Fri, 16 Feb, 2024

Red Sea military operations

US and Britain strike Yemen in reprisal for Houthi attacks on shipping

Witnesses confirmed explosions at military bases near airports in the capital Sanaa and Yemen's third city Taiz

Fri, 12 Jan, 2024