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Starmer pledges to bring forward law proscribing Iran’s Revolutionary Guards

24 April 2026 at 15:34

Prime minister tells Jewish leaders legislation against malign state actors will go before parliament in July

Keir Starmer has promised to proscribe Iran’s Revolutionary Guards by introducing legislation in the next session of parliament in July.

On a trip to Kenton united synagogue in north-west London on Thursday, the prime minister said he wanted “to make Britain a country where our Jewish community feels safe”.

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© Photograph: Dan Kitwood/AP

© Photograph: Dan Kitwood/AP

© Photograph: Dan Kitwood/AP

McSweeney denies bullying civil servants into appointing Mandelson

24 April 2026 at 11:16

Starmer’s former chief of staff says he does not recognise media’s portrayal of him before evidence hearing with MPs

Morgan McSweeney has denied claims he bullied civil servants into appointing Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the UK, before an evidence hearing with MPs next week.

Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff resigned in February over his role in the hiring of Mandelson, but the move failed to end the crisis over the peer’s appointment. On Thursday, McSweeney told a security forum in Kyiv that he did not recognise his “character” as it was portrayed in the media.

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© Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images

© Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images

© Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Victims of sexual violence distressed by MPs’ ‘pugnacious’ questioning

21 April 2026 at 19:08

Exclusive: Victims’ commissioner makes formal complaint after committee session left one attender ‘shocked, upset and extremely distressed’

Victims of rape and sexual violence have told parliamentarians they felt anxious and distressed during a Westminster evidence session, with one stating that witnessing “pugnacious” questioning had resulted in her “breaking down, sobbing and struggling to breathe”.

The victims’ commissioner has made a formal complaint to the chair of an influential group of MPs after a highly charged evidence session carried out by the public bill committee for the courts and tribunals bill about controversial changes to jury trials.

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© Photograph: Chunyip Wong/Getty Images

© Photograph: Chunyip Wong/Getty Images

© Photograph: Chunyip Wong/Getty Images

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