Politics

Published: 24 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Gibraltar’s political landscape was carved into sharp relief this week as a long‑awaited public inquiry delivered devastating scrutiny of the Chief Minister’s conduct during a live criminal investigation. In a detailed report published Tuesday, retired high court judge Sir Peter Openshaw Q.C. concluded that Fabian Picardo engaged in a series of interventions that crossed fundamental boundaries between government...

Published: 23 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has issued a formal apology for past police discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, acknowledging the profound pain and suffering caused. The apology comes amid ongoing calls for accountability, highlighting the city’s historically fraught relationship between law enforcement and LGBTQ+ communities. Campaigners have noted that Burnham’s stance contrasts sharply with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Chief...

Published: 23 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The UK government has warned councils that introducing a four-day week may signal failing performance. Local government secretary Steve Reed sent letters to all councils cautioning that staff working part-time hours while receiving full-time pay could indicate a failing authority. Twenty-five councils are currently considering a four-day week, with South Cambridgeshire district council already implementing the schedule, sparking...

Published: 23 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Plans by Reform UK to reduce the nation’s overseas aid to £1bn annually have sparked urgent warnings from charities and political commentators. Experts argue such a dramatic reduction would diminish Britain’s influence in global institutions and cripple its capacity to respond to crises worldwide. Currently, the UK contributes around 0.5% of GDP to aid, projected to fall to...

Published: 23 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Keir Starmer’s government has been urged to pursue closer trade ties with the European Union, highlighting a growing challenge for British exporters navigating post-Brexit agreements. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) described a strengthened EU trade deal as a “strategic necessity” to ensure companies can thrive, warning that the existing Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) is increasingly failing...

Published: 23 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The UK government is preparing to outlaw the practice of boiling lobsters alive, marking a significant shift in animal welfare policy across England. Ministers confirmed that killing crustaceans while they are alive and conscious will no longer be considered acceptable, as part of a broader strategy aimed at modernising and strengthening cruelty laws. The move reflects growing scientific...

Published: 21 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Kent County Council, a flagship authority under Reform UK, is facing widespread criticism for approving plans to spend tens of thousands of pounds on hiring political assistants, sparking debate over financial priorities and governance transparency. The controversy has reignited concerns about hypocrisy within the party, following similar allegations earlier this year in Warwickshire, where Reform councillors voted to...

ISLAMABAD – In a move that has sent shockwaves through Pakistan’s political landscape, a special court on Saturday sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, to 17 years of rigorous imprisonment. The conviction pertains to the "Toshakhana" case, involving the illegal retention and undervalued purchase of luxury state gifts—most notably high-end watches gifted by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The court's verdict handed the...

Published: 19 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. A Reform UK mayoral candidate, Chris Parry, has sparked widespread condemnation after questioning the loyalty of several politicians from minority ethnic backgrounds. Parry, a retired naval rear admiral chosen to contest the now-postponed Hampshire and Solent mayoral election for the party, previously told Labour’s David Lammy to “go home to the Caribbean where his loyalty lies.” His remarks,...

Published: 19 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The Liberal Democrats have urged the UK government to extend its inquiry into hostile foreign interference to include actions taken by the United States. Party officials argued that the US administration’s overt support for far-right nationalist parties across Europe constitutes clear outside interference. In a detailed letter to communities secretary Steve Reed, who is overseeing the independent review,...