Key events<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n 29m ago<\/p>\n Andrea Egan, leftwinger expelled from Labour who now favours Your Party, elected to lead UK’s biggest union, Unison<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 44m ago<\/p>\n Streeting refuses to tell MPs it’s safe to pass assisted dying bill, highlighting concerns palliative care not good enough<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1h ago<\/p>\n Streeting says hospices should be ‘essential part’ of health service, and not so reliant on voluntary donations<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1h ago<\/p>\n Streeting says, even though staff are on strike, people should still go to hospital if they need emergency help<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1h ago<\/p>\n Streeting says he is in ‘violent agreement’ with BMA on need for action on resident doctors’ jobs<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1h ago<\/p>\n Streeting says apologises to patients for disruption, saying government did ‘everything we could’ to avert resident doctors’ strike<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1h ago<\/p>\n UK inflation falls sharply to 3.2% amid slowdown in food price rises<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 2h ago<\/p>\n Streeting gives evidence to Commons health committee<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 2h ago<\/p>\n Labour support on course to fall to 10% in Senedd elections, poll suggests, with Plaid Cymru set to win most seats<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 2h ago<\/p>\n Labour says Farage’s refusal to apologise over racism allegations shows he’s ‘unfit for high office’<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 3h ago<\/p>\n Starmer urged by Lib Dems to ensure rejoining Erasmus is \u2018first step to closer relationship\u2019 with EU<\/p>\n <\/a>Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Andrea Egan, leftwinger expelled from Labour who now favours Your Party, elected to lead UK’s biggest union, Unison<\/p>\n Andrea Egan has been elected general secretary of the country\u2019s biggest trade union, PA Media reports. PA says:<\/p>\n In a surprise result, she beat Christina McAnea, who has been leader of Unison since 2021.<\/p>\n She will begin her five-year term of office representing public service workers next month.<\/p>\n She won 58,579 votes compared with 39,353 for McAnea.<\/p>\n The winner is on the left of the Labour movement and has been critical of the government since it came to office last year.<\/p>\n Egan said:<\/p>\n This result means ordinary Unison members are at long last taking charge of our union.<\/p>\n We will put faith in members\u2019 decisions and stand up to any employer, politician or cabinet minister who acts against our interests.<\/p>\n Together, we will turn Unison into the remarkable force for change it should be. That journey has begun today.<\/p>\n And Keir Starmer said:<\/p>\n Congratulations to Andrea Egan on her election as general secretary of Unison. I look forward to working with her.<\/p>\n A huge thank you to Christina McAnea for her outstanding contribution to the Labour and trade union movement.<\/p>\n She played an important role in securing the landmark Employment Rights Bill and her work has ensured this Labour government will bring in a fair pay agreement to boost the wages of social care workers.<\/p>\n The result means that the two biggest unions affiliated to Labour<\/a> \u2013 Unison and Unite \u2013 are now both run by leftwingers (Egan, and Sharon Graham) who have been very critical of Starmer, whose loyalty to the Labour government is limited, and who would support confrontational tactics to get more pro-worker policies from Labour.<\/p>\n In a mini-profile of Egan, the Financial Times says<\/a>:<\/p>\n Egan describes herself as a \u201csocial worker and straight-talking working-class trade unionist\u201d. She has been a union steward for 30 years and is secretary of Unison\u2019s Bolton local government branch as well as having been president of the national union for the past three years.<\/p>\n She has accused the union of having \u201ca subservient approach to the Labour government, allowing the factional priorities of the Labour leadership to take precedence over the interests of Unison members\u201d.<\/p>\n Labour said it had terminated her membership because she shared two articles from Socialist Appeal, a Marxist group within the party, on social media. Labour had proscribed Socialist Appeal a year earlier, saying it was not compatible with its rules or aims or values.<\/p>\n In a recent interview <\/a>with The House magazine, Egan said that, although she is not a member of any party, she does feel enthusiastic about Your Party, the new party set up by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana. \u201cI do feel that it gives people hope again,\u201d he said<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Streeting refuses to tell MPs it’s safe to pass assisted dying bill, highlighting concerns palliative care not good enough<\/p>\n Streeting is now being asked about the assisted dying bill.<\/p>\n Q: Is it is good idea to pass the assisted dying bill, with auto-commencement after four years, when the health service is in the state it is now? If proper palliative care is not available, people could be incentivised to take their own lives.<\/p>\n There is a pause. Then Streeting says that is a matter for parliament. He says the government is neutral.<\/p>\n (Streeting himself voted against the bill at second reading.)<\/p>\n Q: Do you have safety concerns about the legislation?<\/p>\n There is another pause.<\/p>\n Then Streeting says, if parliament does pass the bill, he would like to ensure high-quality palliative services are in place by the time its provisions come into force. \u201cThat is not where we are at present.\u201d<\/p>\n I would like to make sure, were parliament minded to proceed with the bill and see through its completion on the statute books, I would like to make sure that we have high-quality palliative, end-of-life care services so that there is a real choice and no one feels compelled to take up an assisted death through the absence of palliative and end-of-life care services. That is not where we are as a country at present.<\/p>\n Q; Do you think auto-commencement puts that at risk?<\/p>\n Streeting says:<\/p>\n Please, permanent secretary, save me from this line of questioning.<\/p>\n Samantha Jones, the permanent secretary, says the legislation is still going through parliament, there have been lots of amendments, and it would not be appropriate to comment.<\/p>\n Wes Streeting (centre) giving evidence to Commons health committee, alongside Samantha Jones, DHSC permanent secretary, and Sir Jim Mackey, NHS England chief executive Photograph: HoCShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.40 EST<\/p>\n Streeting says hospices should be ‘essential part’ of health service, and not so reliant on voluntary donations<\/p>\n Josh Fenton-Glynn (Lab) asked Streeting about funding for hospices.<\/p>\n Streeting said he was \u201cuncomfortable\u201d about the extent to which hospices are reliant on voluntary donations.<\/p>\n He said that members of his family had benefited from hospice care.<\/p>\n He said the hospice sector felt more like an \u201cessential part\u201d of a health service, not an extra funded by the charity sector.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.25 EST<\/p>\n Gregory Stafford (Con) asked how much money central government had given the NHS to cover the costs of the strike.<\/p>\n Streeting said NHS England had been able to keep costs under control. He went on:<\/p>\n We have managed to absorb pressures of strikes and costs of strikes without directly impacting on frontline services.<\/p>\n But he accepted that strikes had an opportunity cost of \u00a3500m. That was money that could have been spent elsewhere if it had not been spent on dealing with the impact of strikes.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Streeting pays tribute to Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA\u2019s resident doctor\u2019s committee. He says he thinks Fletcher is a decent person, and he says he and Streeting do agree on \u201cso many things\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Streeting says, even though staff are on strike, people should still go to hospital if they need emergency help<\/p>\n Streeting says he does not want people to stay away from hospitals today if they need emergency medical help.<\/p>\n The most important message that I want us all to convey collectively as, as parliament and the NHS, is to the public\u2019 I do not want people who need to access health care to think [they\u2019d] better not try.<\/p>\n So if it\u2019s an accident or an emergency, people should have access.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Streeting says he is in ‘violent agreement’ with BMA on need for action on resident doctors’ jobs<\/p>\n McIntyre moves on to the resident doctors\u2019 strike.<\/p>\n Streeting say he won\u2019t go over all he has said already about the BMA.<\/p>\n He explains what the government has done for resident doctors on pay and on jobs.<\/p>\n On jobs, he says the government is in \u201cviolent agreement\u201d with the BMA.<\/p>\n He says the government has proposed legislation<\/a> that would make it easier for resident doctors to get jobs.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n At the health committee Wes Streeting is now being asked about strikes.<\/p>\n Alex McIntyre (Lab) starts by asking about what he says is the longest running strike in the NHS \u2013 the strike by phlebotomists in Gloucestershire.<\/a><\/p>\n Streeting says no one has covered themselves in glory in this dispute. He says Unison and the NHS are involved in a \u201cconstructive\u201d period of dialogue at the moment. He says he hopes it will be over soon.<\/p>\n He also declares an interest, saying he is a Unison member.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Streeting says apologises to patients for disruption, saying government did ‘everything we could’ to avert resident doctors’ strike<\/p>\n Wes Streeting, the health secretary, has apologised to patients over the strike by resident doctors in England today.<\/p>\n Speaking to broadcasters before he started giving evidence to the Commons health committee, he said:<\/p>\n We did everything we could to avert these strikes and to stop strike action from taking place.<\/p>\n When we came into government, we recognised what resident doctors were saying about pay, and that\u2019s why they received a 28.9% pay rise from this government.<\/p>\n Of course, we\u2019re willing to talk to them about what we do in future years.<\/p>\n I think people can see that I\u2019ve tried my absolute best to avoid these strikes on what is the worst time for the NHS.<\/p>\n I\u2019m really sorry to patients for the disruption that is happening as a result.<\/p>\n Wes Streeting on a visit to NHS England HQ at Wellington House early this morning. Photograph: Lucy North\/PAShare<\/a>UK inflation falls sharply to 3.2% amid slowdown in food price rises<\/p>\n UK inflation fell by more than expected in November amid a slowdown in food prices, official figures show, strengthening the case for the Bank of England<\/a> to cut interest rates on Thursday, Richard Partington reports.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Streeting gives evidence to Commons health committee<\/p>\n Wes Streeting, the health secretary, is giving evidence to the Commons health committee. There is a live feed here.<\/p>\n At the start of the hearing Layla Moran, the chair, said they would cover the resident doctors\u2019 strike in the hearing, but she said she wanted to start with other topics.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Labour support on course to fall to 10% in Senedd elections, poll suggests, with Plaid Cymru set to win most seats Steven Morris is a Guardian reporter who covers Wales<\/a>.<\/p>\n Labour is on course to be crushed in next year\u2019s elections for the Senedd, a new YouGov poll implies.<\/p>\n Previous polls have shown Plaid Cymru and Reform UK on course to be the two largest parties in the Senedd, with Labour and the Conservatives far behind, but the new poll<\/a>, conducted by YouGov for Cardiff University, shows Labour\u2019s support falling even further, to 10%.<\/p>\n YouGov poll for Senedd elections in 2026 Photograph: Jac Larner\/Cardiff University<\/p>\n According to Jac Larner from Cardiff University, these results would result in the following seat distribution.<\/p>\n Plaid Cymru \u2013 39<\/p>\n Reform UK \u2013 34<\/p>\n Labour \u2013 10<\/p>\n Conservatives \u2013 6<\/p>\n Green \u2013 4<\/p>\n Lib Dem \u2013 3<\/p>\n Labour has been in power continuously in Cardiff since the first elections to what was then called the Welsh assembly in 1999 and a result like this \u2013 even though it is in line with that polls have been suggesting for months \u2013 would be devastating for the party.<\/p>\n Commenting on the poll in a post<\/a> on his Substack newsletter, Will Hayward, the Welsh political commentator, says:<\/p>\n The magic number under the new Senedd system is 49. You need 49 seats to get a majority. As it is highly unlikely that one party will get that alone, parties will need to work together.<\/p>\n With that in mind here are some key takeaways from the polling:<\/p>\n -Plaid and Labour together have exactly 49.<\/p>\n -Plaid alongside the Greens and Lib Dems are on 46 – three short of a majority.<\/p>\n -Together Reform and the Tories are nine short of a majority.<\/p>\n Once we start getting into the realms of Plaid potentially being able to form a government without Labour we are truly in uncharted waters.<\/p>\n In a joint blog<\/a> on the poll for Cardiff University, Larner and fellow academic James Griffiths say \u201cwhile Reform UK\u2019s growth reflects broader British patterns, Plaid Cymru\u2019s consolidation of progressive votes represents a Wales-specific political development\u201d. They explain:<\/p>\n England\u2019s disaffected Labour voters are increasingly drifting to the Greens or Liberal Democrats. Wales\u2019 progressive voters have a credible alternative in Plaid Cymru, but specifically in devolved electoral competition, where the choice is about Welsh governance and Plaid can credibly claim to fight for Welsh interests within Wales.<\/p>\n This creates a bifurcated realignment with different mechanisms on each side. Reform\u2019s consolidation of the British-identifying right reflects British politics playing out in Wales. Plaid\u2019s consolidation of the Welsh-identified left reflects Welsh politics asserting autonomy within the devolved electoral context.<\/p>\n For the first time in a century, Welsh Labour faces the prospect of opposition or junior coalition partnership. That prospect, more than any survey, signals how profound this realignment truly is. The bloc structure that has organised Welsh politics for decades persists, but the hierarchy within those blocs has been overturned.<\/p>\n Commenting on the poll, a Plaid Cymru spokesperson said:<\/p>\n Something big is truly happening in Wales.<\/p>\n Coming so soon after our Caerphilly by-election win, this poll shows the momentum is firmly with Plaid Cymru and that next year\u2019s election is shaping up to be a straight choice for Wales\u2019 future.<\/p>\n After years in power, Labour have given up on Wales. People are tired of broken promises and being taken for granted and yearning for something new: fairness, ambition, and a government that finally puts Wales first.<\/p>\n And a Welsh Labour source told ITV:<\/p>\n There will be many polls before May. This doesn\u2019t mean this is where we\u2019ll be by election day. Welsh Labour is focused on protecting jobs, bringing down waiting lists, supporting our communities. This is what makes a difference to everyone\u2019s everyday lives. We know we\u2019ve got work to do, but we\u2019re determined to earn back the trust that voters have put in us before.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.53 EST<\/p>\n Jeremy Corbyn speaking with resident doctors on the picket line outside St Thomas\u2019 hospital in London this morning. Photograph: Jonathan Brady\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.26 EST<\/p>\n Labour says Farage’s refusal to apologise over racism allegations shows he’s ‘unfit for high office’<\/p>\n Nigel Farage has been told to apologise for his alleged teenage racism by 26 school contemporaries who have written an open letter telling of their \u201cdismay and anger\u201d at his response in recent weeks. Daniel Boffey, Henry Dyer and Mark Blacklock have the story.<\/p>\n This morning Anna Turley, the Labour<\/a> party chair, said in a statement that Farage\u2019s refusal to apologise, and to even fully account for what happened, shows that he is \u201cunfit for high office\u201d.<\/p>\n It\u2019s shameful that Nigel Farage\u2019s refusal to have a proper answer as to whether he racially abused people at school has led to this. He should finally do the right thing now and apologise fully to those who have bravely come forward.<\/p>\n His inability to answer basic questions about his past behaviour leaves the impression he may have something to hide. It really shouldn\u2019t be that difficult for him to explain his actions, or to take responsibility for them. Once again, Nigel Farage has proven he\u2019s unfit for high office.<\/p>\n In his various comments on these stories, Farage has veered between denying the allegations in their entirety, suggesting people misremembered what happened, and dismissing the comments alluded to as banter that was not intended to cause offence.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Starmer urged by Lib Dems to ensure rejoining Erasmus is \u2018first step to closer relationship\u2019 with EU<\/p>\n Good morning. As Pippa Crerar revealed for the Guardian yesterday, the government will today announce that the UK is rejoining the EU\u2019s Erasmus student exchange programme.<\/p>\n Photograph: Guardian<\/p>\n The move has been welcomed by pro-EU parties. The Liberal Democrats released this comment from their universities spokesperson, Ian Sollom.<\/p>\n After years of campaigning by the Liberal Democrats, we welcome the news that the UK is finally set to rejoin the vital Erasmus+ student exchange scheme from 2027.<\/p>\n This is a moment of real opportunity and a clear step towards repairing the disastrous Conservative Brexit deal.<\/p>\n However, while this is a welcome breakthrough, it must be viewed as a crucial first step on a clear roadmap to a closer relationship with Europe. Starting with negotiating a bespoke UK-EU customs union, and committing to a youth mobility scheme for benefit of the next generation.<\/p>\n The SNP has also been calling for the UK to rejoin Erasmus, and it issued this statement from Joe FitzPatrick MSP.<\/p>\n Scotland did not vote for Brexit. Our young people, our universities, and our communities have already been paying the price of Farage\u2019s campaign to leave for years while Starmer refuses to admit that the whole thing was a mistake.<\/p>\n The SNP has campaigned tirelessly for Scotland\u2019s access to Erasmus, while Labour and the Tories ignored the voices of the young people most affected by Brexit.<\/p>\n It is baffling how Labour is only now realising what Scots figured out a long time ago. This isn\u2019t leadership, it\u2019s a desperate scramble to fix a mess they helped create. Scottish students shouldn\u2019t be used as pawns in Westminster\u2019s Brexit blunders.<\/p>\n But from the Conservative party and Reform UK \u2013 so far, we\u2019ve just had silence. It is not hard to see why. Do they defend Boris Johnson\u2019s decision not to join Erasmus, and the replacement scheme, Turing, that he set up as an alternative<\/a> (which is not reciprocal, and which is less generous)? And, if they are going to criticise the decision, do they commit to pulling out again if they win the next election \u2013 a pledge that would be unpopular with young people, and the university sector?<\/p>\n We may find out later today, although the Tories will probably want to say as little as possible on this topic.<\/p>\n And it is not as if there are not other issues to discuss. Here is our story about the strike by resident doctors in England starting this morning.<\/p>\n Wes Streeting, the health secretary, will be speaking to MPs about this within the hour.<\/p>\n Here is the agenda for the day.<\/p>\n 9.30am: Wes Streeting, the health secretary, gives evidence to the Commons health committee.<\/p>\n Morning: The government is due to confirm that the UK is joining the EU\u2019s Erasmus programme.<\/p>\n 10am: Unison is due to announce the results of its leadership election. Christina McAnea, the incumbent who is seen as one of Keir Starmer\u2019s main union allies, is being challenged by a leftwinger, Andrea Egan.<\/p>\n 11am: The Green party is due to announce what it calls a \u201csignificant\u201d defection. Politico says it\u2019s Jamie Driscoll<\/a>, the former Labour North of Tyne mayor.<\/p>\n Noon: Keir Starmer faces Kemi Badenoch<\/a> at PMQs.<\/p>\n With recess starting tomorrow afternoon, the government is also making 14 announcements in the form of written ministerial statements, including ones covering the local government settlement for 2026-27, the bid to buy the Telegraph, and progress on the Grenfell Tower inquiry recommendations.<\/p>\n If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line when comments are open (normally between 10am and 3pm at the moment), or message me on social media. I can\u2019t read all the messages BTL, but if you put \u201cAndrew\u201d in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word.<\/p>\n If you want to flag something up urgently, it is best to use social media. You can reach me on Bluesky at @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social. The Guardian has given up posting from its official accounts on X<\/a>, but individual Guardian journalists are there, I still have my account, and if you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I will see it and respond if necessary.<\/p>\n I find it very helpful when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos. No error is too small to correct. And I find your questions very interesting too. I can\u2019t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either BTL or sometimes in the blog.<\/p>\n![\"Wes](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3819.jpg\")
Wes Streeting answers questions at parliament committee starts \u2013 watch live<\/p>\n![\"Steven](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Steven_Morris,_L.png\")
Steven Morris<\/p>\n