US army base 'hit by suicide drone near major Iraqi airport'
A US military base in Iraq was struck by a suicide drone according to unconfirmed reports from Iraqi sources. Multiple drone attacks also targeted Sulaymaniyah in Iraq's Kurdish region on March 7, killing one person and hitting a building housing UN offices.
8 Mar 2026 · Relevance 7/10
Iran war: Seventh US soldier dies after being seriously wounded
A seventh U.S. servicemember died on March 8, 2026 from injuries sustained during Iranian regime attacks on March 1 in Saudi Arabia. President Trump attended a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base for six previously killed soldiers.
"Last night, a U.S. service member passed away from injuries received during the Iranian regime's initial attacks across the Middle East"
8 Mar 2026 · Relevance 8/10
US plots special operation in race with Tehran to seize near-bomb grade uranium
The U.S. and Israel are considering a special forces operation in Iran to secure 440kg of uranium enriched to 60% and prevent conversion to weapons-grade material at 90%. Last year, U.S. carried out attacks on Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities with bunker-busting ordinances that President Donald
"obliterated the stockpile"
8 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
Private jet used for Nigel Farage Chagos stunt linked to Reform mega-donor
Nigel Farage's private jet used for his failed attempt to reach the Chagos Islands military base appears linked to Reform UK mega-donor Christopher Harborne, who has donated £12m to the party. The Thailand-based cryptocurrency and aviation investor's planes facilitated both Farage's trip to the Mald
8 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
Far-right chaos merchant may cost Reform in Margate
Graeme Sergeant, a former BNP organiser in Kent, has repeatedly switched allegiances between Advance UK and Restore Britain, most recently committing to Rupert Lowe's Restore party on March 1, 2026. His involvement threatens to complicate Reform UK's efforts to recover a crucial county council seat
8 Mar 2026 · Relevance 8/10
Britain’s Christian Political Arms Race
Rupert Lowe announced plans to stand candidates for his new political party Restore Britain at the next election on Friday 13th March 2026. Reform UK simultaneously claimed Lowe would split the vote and that nobody has heard of him, creating tension between the two right-wing parties.
"Restore Britain is not a heretical sect, formed from splitting hair-shirts over apostolic succession."
8 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
KCC Cliftonville by-election: What residents are saying about the poll
Reform UK faces its first electoral test since sweeping to local government power in May 2025, with a Kent County Council by-election in Cliftonville sparked by the jailing of former Reform UK councillor Daniel Taylor for coercive behaviour towards his wife. Local Democracy Reporter Simon Finlay vis
8 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
Ocean rowers launch gruelling Irish Sea leg in £57m fight against MND
The ROW4MND team of four ocean rowers launched their second stage from Dale in Pembrokeshire on March 7, 2026, aiming to row across the Irish Sea to Scotland over ten days. The campaign seeks to raise £57 million for Motor Neurone Disease research by 2028, building on last year's successful challeng
8 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
'Youngest councillor' jumps ship from Conservatives to represent new political party
Redcar and Cleveland's youngest councillor Jack Symon, aged 24, has quit the Conservative Party to join Restore Britain, the new political party launched last month by Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe. Symon criticized Reform UK as 'daytime TV' and praised Restore Britain's 'clear and determined vision
"Restore Britain had a clear and determined vision, while Reform UK were a bit 'daytime TV'"
7 Mar 2026 · Relevance 8/10
Yorkshire charity rowers mistaken for migrants back at sea
Yorkshire charity rowers were mistaken for migrants by Rupert Lowe MP in August 2025 when he shared a photo on X claiming 'Dinghies coming into Great Yarmouth, RIGHT NOW'. The crew was actually undertaking a Land's End to John O'Groats charity challenge and has since raised over £140,000 for Motor N
"I just thought it was ridiculous."
7 Mar 2026 · Relevance 6/10
BRIAN READE: 'Do we really want a special relationship with a paranoid thug like Trump?'
Mirror columnist Brian Reade criticises Donald Trump's Churchill insult directed at Keir Starmer over the PM's refusal to support US military action in Iran. Reade argues Trump lacks historical knowledge and that Britain should not maintain a 'special relationship' with Trump, characterising him as
"'This is not Winston Churchill we're dealing with,' said The Incredible Sulk, after Starmer didn't feel it was in Britain's interests to once more bl"
7 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
Concerns raised that government grooming gang inquiry will ignore Islam
Tim Dieppe of Christian Concern criticized the government's planned inquiry into Muslim rape gangs, arguing that the draft terms of reference fail to address what he calls 'Islam's crucial role' in the abuse. Dieppe contends that key aspects of Islamic law and theology, including concepts of Muslim
"It seems then that the government deliberately wants to keep the role of religion in motivating grooming gang abuse out of the scope of the inquiry."
7 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
Positive
Evening Standard
Rowers begin second leg of sea challenge to raise millions for MND research
The ROW4MND team of four rowers—Aaron Kneebone, Gareth Timmins, Mike Bates, and Matt Parker—are launching the second leg of their challenge across the Irish Sea from Pembrokeshire on Saturday, aiming to raise millions for motor neurone disease research. The team previously raised over £140,000 durin
6 Mar 2026 · Relevance 6/10
Newsnight
BBC Newsnight programme questions whether Prime Minister Keir Starmer is taking sufficient action regarding Iran policy. The segment examines government response to regional tensions and diplomatic strategy.
5 Mar 2026 · Relevance 8/10
Circumcision classed as potentially harmful practice in controversial new guidance
The Crown Prosecution Service released new guidance classifying circumcision as a 'potentially harmful practice' when performed improperly or in unsafe conditions, though the procedure remains entirely legal in the UK. Earlier draft wording describing circumcision as 'child abuse' was removed follow
5 Mar 2026 · Relevance 5/10
Reform suspends Walsall councillor over 'aggressive' behaviour
Reform UK suspended its only Walsall councillor Graham Eardley in March 2026 after he acted 'aggressively towards a female volunteer'. Eardley, who won the Pelsall ward seat in a September by-election, subsequently joined Restore Britain, the party founded by former Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe.
"Graham Eardley has been suspended from Reform UK with immediate effect, pending investigation."
5 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
Kent County Council by-election to be held next month after councillor jailed
A Kent County Council by-election for Cliftonville was scheduled for 9 April 2026 following the jailing of ex-Reform UK councillor Daniel Taylor for 12 months in February 2026 for controlling and coercive behaviour towards his wife. Reform UK controls Kent County Council with 47 of 81 seats after wi
"The people of Cliftonville deserve a strong Reform UK councillor to represent them in Kent County Council."
5 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
The stink on Labour's doorstep Makerfield is buried in waste
UnHerd published an article about Josh Simons, Labour MP for Makerfield since the last election, examining his response to local issues including a 25,000-ton waste mound in Bickershaw that would cost £4.5 million to remove. Simons is described as a cerebral young man who previously worked in Jeremy
5 Mar 2026 · Relevance 6/10
Asylum seekers waiting over a year for claim in UK may be allowed to work under new measures
Up to 21,000 asylum seekers waiting over a year for claim processing could be allowed to work from June under new Home Office measures. The government will simultaneously eject claimants who break the law, work illegally, or have sufficient assets, removing their support payments. Home Secretary Sha
"Restoring order at our border is not just an embodiment of Labour values, it is the necessary condition for a Labour government to do anything at all."
4 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
Badenoch gives a borderline disgraceful performance at PMQs on Iran | John Crace
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch delivered a critical performance at PMQs on March 4, 2026 during debate over Iran policy and potential Middle East escalation. Guardian columnist John Crace criticized her for failing to put 'usual hostilities on hold for the sake of the country's security,' contras
"Sometimes a leader of the opposition just has to suck it up at PMQs. Put usual hostilities on hold for the sake of the country's security."
4 Mar 2026 · Relevance 8/10
‘He’s no Winston Churchill’: why Starmer can shrug off Trump’s insults over Iran
Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended his Iran policy at PMQs on March 4, 2026, stating that American planes operating from British bases and daily intelligence sharing represent the 'special relationship in action.' President Trump had criticized Starmer in the Daily Telegraph and Sun, claiming he '
"American planes are operating out of British bases – that is the special relationship in action. Sharing intelligence every day to keep our people saf"
4 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
Andy Burnham criticises ‘bankruptcy’ of Labour approach to campaigning
Andy Burnham criticised Labour's 'bankruptcy' of campaigning approach a week after the party lost Gorton and Denton, saying the strategy prevented connection with non-Labour voters and progressive parties, and reignited speculation about challenging Keir Starmer's leadership.
"It revealed the full depth of the chasm between people and Westminster politics"
4 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
One in five Reform members want non-white British citizens to be removed from UK, poll finds
A Hope Not Hate poll of 629 Reform members found that one in five want non-white British citizens whose parents were born in the UK forcibly removed or encouraged to leave, while over half support removal of non-white foreign-born citizens compared to 24 per cent for white foreign-born citizens. Nic
"The views of party members are so hardline on many political issues that it is not inconceivable to think that they could either push Reform UK furthe"
4 Mar 2026 · Relevance 10/10
Rafe Fletcher: Britain needs muscular citizenship
Rafe Fletcher, founder of CWG, argues that Britain needs to adopt a 'muscular citizenship' approach similar to Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who won a landslide victory last month on a pro-market, firm immigration platform. Fletcher contrasts Japan's ethnically homogeneous population of
"Japan is an outlier because national identity is so intertwined with ethnicity. But the subject is nonetheless getting a bit more mainstream in Britai"
4 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
Ex-Nato commander defends Starmer after Trump’s ‘no Winston Churchill’ jibe
Former NATO commander Gen Sir Richard Shirreff defended Prime Minister Keir Starmer against Donald Trump's criticism that he was 'not Winston Churchill' over his refusal to allow US strikes on Iran from British bases. Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray stated Starmer acted 'with a cool hea
"This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with."
4 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
I’m not a ‘monster’— I’m proud to lead the only party that puts Britons first
Rupert Lowe, leader of Restore Britain, defends his party against Telegraph columns labelling him a 'monster' and comparing the party to Nazis, while reaffirming commitment to 'the biggest deportation scheme that Britain has ever seen'. Lowe emphasizes the party's governance philosophy of putting Br
"Restore Britain is unapologetic about what we stand for – a system of governance that puts the British people first. Each and every time."
4 Mar 2026 · Relevance 8/10
Poll: Reform UK is most disliked party in Britain
A More in Common survey from March 4, 2026 found that 38% of British voters would tactically vote against Reform UK, making it the most disliked party in Britain, up nine points since November 2025. Labour came second with 34% of voters willing to block it, down four points. The polling was conducte
"I think it helps explain the result in Gorton and Denton where a particularly polarizing Reform"
4 Mar 2026 · Relevance 8/10
Let caterpillars eat your plants, gardeners told
The Royal Horticultural Society and The Wildlife Trusts are urging gardeners to allow caterpillars to feed on plants to support the UK's 2,500 moth species, which have declined by a third since the 1960s due to urbanisation, climate change and pollution.
4 Mar 2026 · Relevance 5/10
The four men who could save – or destroy – Iran
Iranian clerics are selecting a new leader following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in air strikes on Saturday, with the leading contender being Khamenei's son. The Islamic Republic must decide whether to pursue de-escalation or confrontation with the United States and Israel,
"It's not going to be anybody that we were thinking of because they are all dead"
4 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
MPs say Starmer’s UK-EU reset lacks ‘direction, definition and drive’
Parliament's foreign affairs committee, chaired by Labour MP Emily Thornberry, issued a critical report on Keir Starmer's UK-EU reset strategy, concluding it lacks 'direction, definition and drive' despite a May summit at Lancaster House that improved political relations. The committee found the gov
"It feels as though we are on a journey with no clear destination."
4 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
Trump’s cabinet splits over who started Iran war
Donald Trump's cabinet is divided over responsibility for the US war with Iran, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggesting Israel led the US into conflict by bombing Tehran. Trump claims he ordered the Saturday attack due to fears of Iranian pre-emptive strikes, contradicting Rubio's public stat
"It was abundantly clear that if Iran came under attack by anyone, [be that] the United States, or Israel or anyone, they were going to respond – and r"
3 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
Shabana Mahmood suspends student visas from four countries
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood suspended student visa applications from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Sudan and Myanmar after a near sixfold increase in students from these countries claiming asylum since 2021. Migrants have used student visas as a backdoor route to claim refugee status, with nearly four i
"Migrants have used their visas as a backdoor route to enter the UK and then claimed refugee status to remain permanently."
3 Mar 2026 · Relevance 10/10
Most Reform UK members believe non-white British citizens should be forced or encouraged to leave, poll finds
A poll by Hope Not Hate found that 54% of Reform UK's 270,000 members believe non-white British citizens born abroad should be forcibly removed or encouraged to leave, while 22% supported this for non-white citizens whose parents were born in the UK. The survey of 629 Reform members was conducted be
"54% of Reform members thought non-white British citizens born abroad should be forcibly removed or encouraged to leave"
3 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
Trump: Starmer is no Churchill
Donald Trump has attacked Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over his lack of support for military action against Iran, saying he is 'not Winston Churchill' and 'ruins relationships'. Trump criticised Starmer for initially blocking the use of Diego Garcia military base in the Chagos Islands for strikes
"not Winston Churchill"
3 Mar 2026 · Relevance 10/10
British students mourn ‘beloved’ Ayatollah
Following Ayatollah Khamenei's death, Iran faces a power struggle as the country's fate depends on whether the people can topple the regime before a successor is chosen. David Blair analyzes how America and Israel identified a historic opportunity to strike Iran's regime at this vulnerable moment.
"The country's fate now rests on whether the people can topple the regime before Khamenei is replaced"
3 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
Award-winning rapper jailed for killing student in hit-and-run
Award-winning grime artist Ghetts, real name Justin Clarke-Samuel, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for killing 20-year-old Nepalese student Yubin Tamang in a hit-and-run while above the drink-drive limit in north-east London in October. Judge Mark Lucraft described CCTV footage showing an 'appal
"I would 'never forgive Clarke-Samuel for what he has done'"
3 Mar 2026 · Relevance 7/10
Is this the Royal Navy’s biggest humiliation?
The British Royal Navy is unable to protect Cyprus with its fleet tied up at home, described as making Britain 'a laughing stock' according to Defence Editor Tom Cotterill's analysis in The Telegraph on 3 March 2026. The article questions whether this represents the Royal Navy's biggest humiliation,
3 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
Shadow of Iraq war lies over Westminster as MPs consider US-Israeli attack on Iran
Labour MP Calvin Bailey, who served in Iraq in 2003, warned Prime Minister Keir Starmer about parallels between current US-Israeli strikes on Iran and the Iraq invasion. Starmer assured MPs the government remembered Iraq's mistakes and would operate on a lawful basis with a viable plan.
"If you look at what is happening right now, it's materially different to 2003, but I think I can speak with adequate weight and credibility."
3 Mar 2026 · Relevance 8/10
Trump is right. Starmer has humiliated the land of Churchill
Columnist Allison Pearson criticises Prime Minister Keir Starmer's response to Iran as 'moral cowardice', contrasting it with Donald Trump's position and citing the 2004 execution of 16-year-old Atefeh Sahaaleh in Iran as evidence of the regime's brutality.
"Trump is right. Starmer has humiliated the land of Churchill"
3 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
Tehran an ‘apocalypse’ of hospitals in flames and children buried beneath rubble
Foreign correspondent Akhtar Makoii reports that Tehran experienced 'apocalyptic' scenes as bombs struck hospitals, schools and residential buildings in the heaviest strikes since the war began. The Iranian Red Crescent reported 787 dead across 153 cities by Tuesday morning, with 504 locations struc
"The big one was coming"
3 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
‘It’s no news just when we wanted some’: bosses react to spring statement
Rachel Reeves delivered a deliberately low-key spring forecast on Tuesday, avoiding major policy announcements amid economic volatility. Business owners expressed disappointment at the lack of relief from rising employment costs and unclear defence investment plans, with changes to business rates pr
"As a small business owner, you want to believe in this."
3 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
Reeves’s spring statement? The economy is great, don’t worry about the Middle East
Rachel Reeves delivered a spring statement on March 3, 2026, claiming the economy was in good health despite figures showing falling growth and rising unemployment. The statement came three days after Donald Trump's military action against Iran, with oil prices rising and bond markets in turmoil.
"When your luck is out, your luck is out."
3 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
Britain braces for surge in Iranian asylum seekers
Charles Hymas reports that Britain faces a potential surge in Iranian asylum seekers following Middle East conflict escalation, with migration experts warning that 2.5 million displaced Afghans currently in Iran could also migrate. The EU's asylum agency warned of migration influx of 'unprecedented
"Displacement of just 10 per cent of Iran's population would rival the largest refugee flows of recent decades."
3 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
Labour to scrap government power over elections watchdog amid fears of abuse
Steve Reed announced Labour will repeal Conservative powers that allowed government control over the Electoral Commission, citing concerns about potential abuse by future authoritarian governments. The move reverses provisions from the Conservatives' 2022 Elections Act that critics warned could unde
"repeal in full the power for government to impose a strategy and policy statement on the Electoral Commission"
3 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
Gulf states to run out of air defences in a week
The Telegraph's defence editor Tom Cotterill reports that Gulf states including Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain will exhaust air defence weapons within one week following intense Iranian missile strikes. Tehran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and kamikaze drones after being attacked by the US and
3 Mar 2026 · Relevance 8/10
Elton John family picture goes on display at National Portrait Gallery
Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, is refusing to sign off on a helicopter order for the Yeovil factory in Somerset, creating Cabinet splits and disagreement with No 10. The article references the 1986 Westland Helicopters crisis when Michael Heseltine resigned and Margaret Thatcher faced political turm
"How many times are we going to pay well over market price for aircraft we mostly don't need?"
3 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
Mahmood could hit Pakistan with UK visa ban
Pakistan faces potential UK visa ban as official figures reveal only 4 per cent of failed Pakistani asylum seekers were returned in 2025. Pakistani nationals topped asylum claims with 10,638 applications in 2025, double the 2023 rate, with Home Secretary Mahmood vowing to get tough on countries not
2 Mar 2026 · Relevance 8/10
Starmer vows to avoid ‘mistakes of Iraq’ that have haunted Labour for decades
Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Parliament on Monday that the government remembers the mistakes of Iraq and will operate on a lawful basis with a viable plan regarding Middle East crises, implying criticism of US and Israeli strikes against Iran. Starmer stated the government does not believe in re
"This government does not believe in regime change from the skies."
2 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
Keir Starmer defends decision not to join US strikes after Trump criticism – video
Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended his decision not to join initial US-Israeli strikes against Iran, stating he stood by his judgment despite Donald Trump's criticism that the UK was taking 'too long'. Starmer announced that Britain would allow US forces to use British airbases to strike Iranian s
"The decision had now been made to allow US forces to use British bases to strike storage depots and for a 'limited defensive purpose'"
2 Mar 2026 · Relevance 10/10
Immigrants aren’t our enemies, Zia Yusuf | Letter
Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's new home affairs spokesperson, stated he would secure Britain's borders, prompting a response from a letter writer who is the child of immigrants expressing fear that immigrant friends could face deportation and harassment. The letter writer argues that immigrants are essentia
"Immigrants aren't villains – they are our doctors and nurses, our restaurant owners and shopkeepers, our teachers and friends and families"
2 Mar 2026 · Relevance 8/10
Farage emulating ‘his hero Trump’ in deriding byelection results, says new Green MP
Nigel Farage was accused of Trump-style election denial by Green MP Hannah Spencer after claiming Reform's candidate 'came first' among British-born voters in the Gorton and Denton byelection. Spencer won with 14,980 votes, 4,400 ahead of Reform's candidate, though Reform reported allegations of 'fa
"I'm absolutely convinced that amongst British-born voters, Matthew Goodwin came first in their election last week. Of that, I have absolutely no doubt"
2 Mar 2026 · Relevance 8/10
Weekend voting to be piloted in May elections
The UK government announced pilot schemes for weekend voting in May 2026 elections across Milton Keynes, Tunbridge Wells, Cambridge, and North Hertfordshire. Voters will be able to vote at shopping centres and central buildings at times convenient to them, rather than being restricted to single poll
2 Mar 2026 · Relevance 8/10
Starmer says UK will not join ‘regime change from the skies’ on Iran
Keir Starmer rejected joining offensive strikes on Iran, stating the UK does not believe in 'regime change from the skies', while defending his decision to permit US defensive strikes from RAF bases on Sunday. Starmer cited lessons from Iraq and insisted any UK military action must have lawful basis
"We all remember the mistakes of Iraq, and we have learned those lessons. Any UK actions must always have a lawful basis, and a viable thought-through "
2 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
Exclusive: Trump – I’m ‘very disappointed’ in Starmer over Iran
President Trump told The Telegraph that he is 'very disappointed' in Prime Minister Starmer over Iran policy, claiming the PM 'took far too long' to allow America to use the Chagos Islands air base. The exclusive interview reveals tensions between the US and UK governments over military cooperation.
"I'm 'very disappointed' in Starmer over Iran"
2 Mar 2026 · Relevance 8/10
Decline in South African drug-testing casts cloud over World Cup wins
South Africa has the highest number of convicted dopers in rugby history, yet testing decreased sixfold during the period coinciding with the nation's 2019 and 2023 World Cup triumphs. This exclusive investigation raises questions about the integrity of those championship victories.
2 Mar 2026 · Relevance 10/10
Regime change in Iran. Which UK political leaders are on the "right side of history"?
Harry Phibbs criticizes the British Government's muddled position on Iran regime change, arguing it accepts the Iranian regime is evil but refuses to take action or support American and Israeli efforts. He contrasts this with Canadian and Australian support, claiming the PM offers only 'vacillation
"Our Prime Minister has offered vacillation and equivocation when the time came for evil to be confront"
2 Mar 2026 · Relevance 7/10
Reform UK is too weird to win
The Green Party's Hannah Spencer won the Gorton and Denton by-election, overturning expectations that Nigel Farage would become prime minister if a general election were held. Reform UK activists were observed engaging in unusual behavior on doorsteps, including staying silent or launching into rehe
"Reform's activists can be odd ducks"
2 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10
UK to allow US to use British bases for defensive strikes against Iran
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on March 2, 2026, that the UK would allow the US to use British military bases for defensive strikes against Iranian missile sites. Starmer cited Iran's reckless approach and risk to 200,000 British citizens in Middle Eastern countries, justifying the decision u
"The only way to stop the threat is to destroy the missiles at source in their storage depots or the launchers which are used to fire the missiles."
2 Mar 2026 · Relevance 9/10