No 10 says Starmer ‘will not walk away’ if Burnham officially enters Labour leadership contest - UK politics live 05. June 2026 (12:00) Downing Street responded after Andy Burnham publicly admitted that he would consider launching a bid to become Labour leader‘I wouldn’t flinch’: Burnham on social care, markets, Brexit – and the prospect of a general electionCommenting further on the defence investment plan, Starmer highlighted the urgency of boosting defence due to the threat of a Russian attack against Nato.He said:If you needed any reminder about the importance of this, it is our intelligence assessment, and the assessment of other countries in Nato, that there could be an attack by Russia on Nato as soon as 2030.So you can see the urgency and the priority that we’re putting behind this.We’ve been working on that defence investment plan for some time, very closely with our armed forces, as you would expect, because we need that interaction.What is the capability that you most need, in what time period, with the MoD and actually across government, because this is a cross-government priority. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kanya King, founder of Mobo awards for Black British music, dies aged 57 05. June 2026 (11:28) Entrepreneur died of colon cancer, with Mobo Organisation hailing her as ‘one of the most fearless champions’ in the music industryKanya King, the entrepreneur and tireless champion of Black British music who founded the Mobo awards, has died aged 57 from colon cancer.The news was announced by the Mobo Organisation, who said she died on Wednesday “after a courageous and characteristically determined battle” with her illness. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Three more charged after Southampton protests over Henry Nowak murder 05. June 2026 (11:13) Connor Bishop, 24, Reece Robinson, 21, and Noah Etherington, 18, charged with violent disorder after sentencing of Vickrum DigwaThree more people have been charged with violent disorder after protests in Southampton this week over the murder of Henry Nowak.Connor Bishop, 24, of Southampton; Reece Robinson, 21, of Havant; and Noah Etherington, 18, of Havant, were to appear at Southampton magistrates court on Friday morning, Hampshire police said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Peer ‘shocked’ that watchdog has not established Andrew’s property income 05. June 2026 (10:54) Margaret Hodge concerned over use of taxpayers’ money after revelations about former prince’s sublettingUK politics live – latest updatesA former chair of an influential parliamentary committee said it was “shocking” that the public spending watchdog had not established Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s income from subletting properties.Margaret Hodge, who led the public accounts committee, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme she was “very concerned” that the National Audit Office (NAO) was not able to find out how much money the former prince had made from letting properties. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
William Hill owner agrees £243m takeover by Greek casino and lottery firm 05. June 2026 (10:39) Evoke had been in talks for two months with Bally’s Intralot, which has extensive international operationsThe owner of William Hill and the 888 online casino brand has agreed a £243m takeover by the Greek casino and lottery operator Bally’s Intralot.Evoke has been locked in talks for the past two months with the Athens-listed Bally’s Intralot, which has extensive international operations, including in the US. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
One Nation, six farcical explanations and no clearer understanding of its housing policy 05. June 2026 (10:21) Hanson’s party is leading in the polls, but it has a long way to go before being recognised as a serious political outfitGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWhen sent out to do a cleanup job, it usually helps to not make the mess even worse.It took One Nation six separate attempts over nearly 24 hours to clarify the basic details of their policy on foreign ownership of housing. Between Thursday night and Friday afternoon, the story turned from bizarre to farcical, with attempts to clarify the policy just making the situation murkier as Australians watched:a Barnaby Joyce interview;a quick do-over on Sky News on Thursday;a Pauline Hanson social media update on Friday morning;a Sean Bell interview, again on Sky, on Friday;and then a 2GB spot;before a written press release from Bell on Friday afternoon Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Family values’ African charter condemned by rights groups as regressive and dangerous 05. June 2026 (10:00) Draft treaty claims sexual and reproductive health and rights are an existential threat to the African familyAn African treaty that rejects longstanding international human rights obligations moved a step closer to becoming policy this week as governments across the continent met in Ghana.The draft African charter on family, sovereignty and values, seen by the Guardian, asserts that African values and culture are under attack from “foreign ideologies” and urges states to withdraw from any agreements that do not align with the principles of the charter, including the 2003 Maputo protocol, which promotes gender equality and protects the reproductive and health rights of women and girls. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Woman illegally strip-searched by police ‘reasonably thought’ officers would call her a liar, judge says 05. June 2026 (09:33) NSW seeking leave to appeal against successful class action including aggravated damages of $20,000 awarded to woman strip-searched at music festivalGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe woman awarded $93,000 after an illegal strip-search by NSW police thought until “just before” the trial that she would be called a liar in the proceedings by the officers who conducted the search.
This was despite the officers submitting statements 12 months before her appearance that they had no recollection of the woman or the search, a court was told on Friday.Lawyers acting for the woman, Raya Meredith, and 6,000 music festivalgoers appeared before the NSW court of appeal on Friday in the final day of a two-day hearing where NSW is seeking leave to appeal after losing a class action over unlawful strip-searches conducted at music festivals between 2018 and 2022. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK house prices fall for third successive month amid Iran war uncertainty 05. June 2026 (09:27) Unexpected monthly drop of 0.1% in May leaves price of typical home at £298,806, says lender HalifaxBusiness live – latest updatesUK house prices fell unexpectedly in May as rising mortgage rates fuelled by the war in Iran affected affordability and homebuyer demand.The average price of a typical UK home fell by 0.1% in May to £298,806, the third consecutive monthly drop recorded by the lender Halifax. Analysts had been expecting a return to growth, with a consensus of a 0.1% rise forecast for May. The monthly drop followed falls of 0.1% in April and 0.5% in March. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
ANU scandals during Julie Bishop’s tenure caused $100m in reputational damage, university estimates 05. June 2026 (09:06) Interim vice-chancellor tells senate estimates of ‘very significant’ effect on donor pipeline and enrolmentsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA series of high profile scandals and governance failures has cost the Australian National University $100m in reputational damage, the interim vice-chancellor, Rebekah Brown, has told a parliamentary committee.Fronting senate estimates on Friday – a day after a scathing audit report found the ANU approved a controversial $250m cost-cutting program without clear evidence – Brown acknowledged it had been a challenging time for the university. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
