Politics

US must be prudent when supplying arms to Taiwan, Xi tells Trump, as tensions between Washington and Beijing resurface amid renewed diplomatic contact between the two leaders and growing concern over stability in the Taiwan Strait. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered the message during a direct exchange with former US President Donald Trump, according to sources familiar with the discussion, stressing that continued American arms sales to Taiwan risk undermining...

‘Absurd!’ Keir Starmer blasted as he prepares speech on ‘decency’ after yesterday’s chaos, with critics across the political spectrum accusing the Labour leader of staggering hypocrisy following a turbulent 24 hours that exposed internal confusion, public messaging failures and growing unrest within his party. Starmer is due to deliver a major address centred on “decency in public life,” but the timing has prompted ridicule after what opponents describe as a...

Russia trolls savage ‘finished’ Keir Starmer after Mandelson scandal explodes, as Kremlin-linked media outlets and Russian officials seized on fresh controversy engulfing the Labour leader, amplifying criticism and portraying him as politically weakened amid mounting domestic pressure. The coordinated messaging marks an unusually blunt intervention into British political discourse, following renewed scrutiny over Lord Peter Mandelson’s past role and influence within Labour circles. Russian state-affiliated broadcasters and social media accounts...

Labour MP freezes in ‘worst BBC Newsnight pause ever’ after brutal Starmer question, as an awkward on-air moment during a live BBC broadcast triggered widespread reaction across Westminster and social media. The prolonged silence, which followed a direct question about Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership and policy consistency, has reignited debate about Labour’s media preparedness and internal confidence as the party faces mounting political pressure. The incident occurred during a late-night...

Published: 05 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. California’s new congressional map has cleared a major legal hurdle, allowing Democrats to maintain strategic advantage. The Supreme Court ruled the California map can be implemented this November, rejecting a last-minute challenge from California Republicans. Focused on redistricting politics, the decision underscores the continuing struggle between partisan interests and voter initiatives in American democracy. Proposition 50, which voters...

Published: 05 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The UK defence funding has faced scrutiny as ministers continue to defend delays to the military spending plan. Defence funding remains critical as the government seeks to bridge a growing £28bn gap, which has already affected major programmes including the Tempest fighter jet. Luke Pollard, the minister for defence readiness and industry, insisted the plan is “a bigger...

Published: 05 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Fresh criticism has erupted around the Department for Work and Pensions after senior MPs accused its leadership of allowing a damaging culture to grow around carer allowance administration. The growing carer allowance controversy centres on how thousands of unpaid carers were pushed into unexpected debt through systemic failures. Lawmakers say repeated warnings were ignored, leaving vulnerable people exposed...

Published: 05 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. A growing Starmer crisis is shaking Westminster after senior Labour MPs warned that the prime minister’s position now looks increasingly fragile. Anger has spread quickly across the parliamentary party following controversy surrounding Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador. The Starmer crisis intensified after fresh disclosures about Mandelson’s past links with Jeffrey Epstein triggered uproar in the Commons. What...

Starmer to release Mandelson files has emerged as a significant political moment in Westminster, as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed plans to make public a tranche of long-sealed government documents linked to former Labour powerbroker Lord Peter Mandelson. The move, framed by Downing Street as part of a broader commitment to transparency, has immediately reignited debate about Labour’s New Labour era, political influence, and the balance between openness and...

Published: 04 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online After months of sharp rhetoric and public insults, US President Donald Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro struck a notably conciliatory tone following a high-profile meeting at the White House, signalling a potential thaw in relations between Washington and Bogotá. The closed-door bilateral talks, which lasted around two hours, covered a wide range of sensitive regional issues, including...