UK News
Hegseth right to mock Royal Navy, says ex-army chief as he backs claims over military underfunding – UK politics live | Politics
Hegseth right to mock Royal Navy, says ex-army chief as he backs claims over military underfunding
Good morning. When Keir Starmer gave evidence to the Commons liaison committee before the Easter recess, and when he made a statement to MPs yesterday on the first day after it was over, he was repeatedly asked when the government will publish its defence investment plan (DIP). On both occasions, he could not give a timetable and would just say it would be published as soon as it was ready.
His critics are furious because the DIP, a 10-year plan explaining how the government will fund its commitment to get defence spending up to 3% of GDP by the end of the next parliament, with total national security spending reaching 5% of GDP by 2035, was due to be published last autumn.
In particular, the DIP will explain how the government will be able to fulfil the goals set out in the strategic defence review it published last year. The review was led by the Labour peer George Robertson, a former defence secretary and former secretary general of Nato. And he seems to have finally lost patience with the government.
He is giving a speech in Salisbury tonight, but Lucy Fisher from the Financial Times has already written up some extracts and in them Robertson is withering about the Treasury. According to Fisher’s report, Robertson will accuse “non-military experts in the Treasury” of “vandalism”, adding: “We cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget.”
He will criticise Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, for devoting just 40 words to defence in her budget speech last year, and saying nothing about the topic at all in her spring statement last month. He will say:
There is a corrosive complacency today in Britain’s political leadership. Lip service is paid to the risks, the threats, the bright red signals of danger — but even a promised national conversation about defence can’t be started.
He will also say Britain is not safe.
We are underprepared. We are underinsured. We are under attack. We are not safe . . . Britain’s national security and safety is in peril.
Robertson is not a defence loudmouth. He is a quintessential establishment figure who for most of his career has avoided being provocative, or rocking the boat. If he feels minded to speak out like this, it must be serious.
Olivia Lee has a full write-up here.
This morning General Sir Richard Barrons, who along with Robertson was one of the three experts who wrote the defence review (the other was the former White House adviser and Russia expert Fiona Hill), gave an interview to the Today programme. Barrons, a former commander of Joint Forces Command, fully supported what Robertson will be saying in his speech. And he said that Britain’s armed forces are so diminished that he had to accept that Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, was right when he mocked the Royal Navy last month.
“Last time I checked, there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like [clear the strait of Hormuz] as well,” Hegseth said.
Asked how he felt hearing that, Barrons said:
Like many others I hung my head in sorrow. But I couldn’t argue with him because although the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force and the army are, in their bones, outstanding institutions, they are simply too small and too undernourished to deal with the world that we we now live in. And the review says this.
Here is the agenda for the day.
Morning: Keir Starmer chairs cabinet. There will be a political session, as well as the usual government meeting.
10am: South East Water executives give evidence to the environment, food and rural affairs committee, followed by Ofwat chief executive Chris Walters at 11am.
10am: Education experts give evidence to the Commons education committee about the proposed changes to Send (special educational needs and disabilities) provision.
10.30am: Executives from TikTok, Meta, Sky TV and Paramount TV executives give evidence to the culture committee about children’s TV and video content.
Morning: Kemi Badenoch is on a visit in south London.
11am: Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, holds a press conference focusing on health.
11.30am: Wes Streeting, the health secretary, takes questions in the Commons.
Noon: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.
Afternoon: Starmer meets his Dutch counterpart, Rob Jetten, in Downing Street.
If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line when comments are open (between 10am and 3pm), or message me on social media. I can’t read all the messages BTL, but if you put “Andrew” in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word.
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, 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.
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’t 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.
Key events
Reeves condemns Trump’s decision to launch war against Iran as ‘folly’
Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, has described Donald Trump’s decision to go to war against Iran as “folly”.
She used the comment in an interview with the Daily Mirror, ahead of her trip to Washington for IMF meetings where she will discuss the global impact of the war with her counterparts.
Reeves has already said publicly that she is “angry” about the war, but she was blunter speaking to the Mirror. She said:
This is a war that we did not start. It was a war that we did not want. I feel very frustrated and angry that the US went into this war without a clear exit plan, without a clear idea of what they were trying to achieve. And as a result the strait of Hormuz is now blocked.
Asked why she was so angry, she explained:
Because of the impact it’s having on families and businesses in our country. When I presented the spring statement at the beginning of March, it showed that inflation was coming down, interest rates were projected to fall further after having been cut six times since I became chancellor of the exchequer.
Borrowing and debt were falling and the economy was set to grow. It was already the fastest growing G7 economy in Europe last year, and that was projected to continue
Obviously no sensible person is a supporter of the Iranian regime, but to start a conflict without being clear what the objectives are and not being clear about how you are going to get out of it, I do think that is a folly and it is one that is affecting families here in the UK but also families in the US and around the world.
Sometimes politicians make the news when they say things that are unusual or controversial. This is an example of the opposite sort of news; a politician making a statement of the bleeding obvious, but one that is still unexpected because, for reasons of tact or diplomacy, most of her colleagues would never say it in public.
In private, “folly” may be one of the milder things being said by government ministers about Trump’s war. But Reeves’s comment is still stronger than anything anyone else in the government has said openly.
Keir Starmer and his team have spent much of their time in office trying to avoid saying anything at all critical of Trump, for fear of offending him. But increasingly Trump’s conduct, and domestic political considerations too, are making that policy impossible to sustain.
Core compensation paid to victims of infected blood scandal to be increased, MPs told
Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Cabinet Office minister, has told MPs that the government will increase the amount of “core compensation” available to victims of the infected blood scandal.
In a statement to the Commons giving the government’s response to a consultation on the compensation scheme, he said:
The community were clear that the scheme must do more to recognise people’s individual experiences and compensate them fairly in a way that minimises the administrative burden placed upon those who have been harmed, minimises the demand for evidence and maintains the delivery of tariff based compensation, and those requirements underpin the changes.
For infected people, the changes will increase the amount of core compensation available and increase the options available for supplementary compensation awards.
For affected people, additional core compensation will be available to those eligible.
Thomas-Symonds said the government would be making “substantive changes” in seven areas. He also said that as of April 7, 3,273 people have received an offer and more than £2 billion has been paid out.
The Cabinet Office has published full details of the changes here.
Sarwar accuses Swinney of encouraging ‘conspiracy theory’ about decision to block Chinese wind investment in Scotland
Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, has accused John Swinney, Scotland’s SNP first minister, of encouraging a “conspiracy theory” about the UK government’s decision to ban a Chinese firm from building a wind turbine factory.
Last month the government announced that it would not allow MingYang, China’s biggest offshore wind company, to supply wind turbines for use in the North Sea. MingYang had been planning to build a factory to make them in the Highlands, creating up to 1,500 jobs.
At the time ministers said the investment was being blocked for reasons of national security. There are fears that the Chinese could somehow retain the capacity to switch off vital infrastracture in a crisis, but the government has not made this argument, or elaborated on what the national security concerns involved in this case were.
In a BBC election debate on Sunday night, Swinney suggested the move was motivated by anti-Scottish bias. He said:
My concern is that Scotland’s renewable industry is being undermined by the actions of a Labour government that’s just turned its back on £1.5 billion worth of investment.
It is welcoming Chinese investment into Hinkley power station south of the border. If that’s not an anti-Scottish move by a Labour government, I don’t know what is.
This morning, speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Sarwar accused the first minister of peddling a “pretty strange conspiracy theory”. He said:
I can give you a cast-iron guarantee, I will not do crankery or conspiracy theory as first minister.
I will always accept national security advice, because our first duty as a government would be to protect the great citizens of this country.
Asked if it was strange that Chinese investment was allowed in other UK projects, Sarwar said:
All these projects will have national security briefings. A national security briefing was received that said there was a national security risk for investment.
Are we honestly saying that a first minister would reject national security advice? I can tell you quite categorically, if a national security briefing comes to me, I will not ignore it, because I will put the national interest before political interest.
He said the suggestion that the intelligence services would have taken a “deliberate do Scotland down approach” was the “height of conspiracy theory”.
But Swinney has defended his comment, saying he has not had an explanation from the UK government as to why the MingYang bid was blocked. He told the Press Assocation.
I have no more detailed understanding [of the decision] than that simple statement from the UK government.
And I think that is unacceptable because there is Chinese investment, Chinese development being embraced and welcomed in other parts of the United Kingdom – there’s a Chinese super embassy going to be built in the heart of the city of London.
Nandy clears takeover of Telegraph by German media group
Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, has cleared Axel Springer’s £575m takeover of the Telegraph, paving the way for the end of almost three years of uncertainty over the ownership of the titles. Mark Sweney has the story.
Nandy made the announcement in a Commons written statement.
The Labour MP Samantha Niblett has said she wants to make 2026 the “summer of sex”. While this sounds like the most enticing of the election offers we’ve heard during the campaign so far, she used the phrase in an interview with PoliticsHome talking about her campaign for better, lifelong sex education. You can read the full interview, which includes Niblett saying she is negotiating with the parliamentary authorities about bringing sex toys into the Commons for an event she is planning to publicise her campaign, here.
Reform activist suspended over racist and antisemitic comments remains election agent
A Reform UK activist in the Gorton and Denton byelection who was suspended over racist and antisemitic comments has been named as the election agent for three of the party’s candidates in Manchester ahead of polls on 7 May, Ben Quinn and Rob Davies report.
Q: Do you understand why some people in your party are frustrated because they think you as a party should be doing much better?
Nationally, the Lib Dems are now polling well behind not just Reform UK, Labour, the Tories and the Greens.
Davey said oppostion was difficult. But he said “the fact that we keep winning is somethiing that should reassure people”. He said he thought the party would win “many more seats” at the next general election.
And the party was on course to become the second biggest party in local government because it “keeps winning”, he said. That would happen again in May, he said.
Lib Dems call for housing developers to be required to fund extra GP provision for people buying their homes
Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, was holding his press conference this morning to announce a proposal for housing developers to be required to fund new or expanded GP surgeries for the people who buy their new homes.
Explaining the plan in a news release, the Lib Dems say:
The party would require developers to fund or build new, or expand existing, GP surgeries in time for the arrival of new residents, with developer levies used to pay for them to be staffed while new residents are still moving in. This is part of the Liberal Democrats’ infrastructure-first approach to development, and supports their campaign to rescue General Practice and ensure everyone can get an appointment within 7 days, or 24 hours if urgent.
Developers would be required not only to fund new facilities but also to guarantee the GP surgery contract (or the cost of salaried GPs) while new residents are still moving in. This would ensure new residents don’t have to turn to over-stretched existing GPs, and new practices can be viable from the outset.
Delivery of health services has been found to be integral for public trust, with recent LSE research finding that where GP provision has declined and more surgeries have closed, support for the extreme right has risen.
At the press conference Davey was asked about claims by rival parties that, although the Lib Dems nationally back new housing, at a local level their councillors are adept at blocking developments.
Davey said “the reverse” was true. He claimed Lib Dem councils have a very good record building homes.
We’re the ones who actually build homes. I could take you to Eastleigh, who’ve been building homes over a number of years and have got a very good record. I could take you Cambridgeshire. I can take you to my own area, Kingston, where I have to declare a vested interest; my wife is the housing portfolio holder. She’s overseeing the largest council house building programme for 40 years. I could take you the Vale of White Horse in Oxfordshire. I could take you to South Lakeland. Across the country, actually the Liberal Democrats have a very, very proud record of building homes.
Davey renews call for South East Water CEO to resign after company tells MPs it failed in its duty to customers
Q: Do you think the chief executive of South East Water should resign? This morning he and colleagues told a committee that some of the problems that let to a water shortage in Tunbridge Wells last year were foreseeable?
Davey said that he has already called for the resignation of David Hinton, the South East Water CEO. He did so at the time of the Tunbridge Wells shortage, he said. He went on:
If he’s now admitting it was foreseeable and predictable, I’m surprised he is not offering his resignation already.
Here is the Press Association report of the evidence given by Hinton and others to the Commons environment committeee this morning.
The chairman of South East Water has admitted the company failed in its primary duty to supply customers with water after recent outages left thousands without drinking water.
Bosses of the company were grilled by the Commons environment, food and rural affairs committee this morning about their response to the multiple supply interruptions in Kent and Sussex.
Tunbridge Wells suffered a sustained outage in November and December, with around 24,000 properties in and around the Kent town left without drinkable water for almost two weeks.
Then thousands of properties in Kent and Sussex saw their supply disrupted for days in January, with South East Water (SEW) blaming the outage on Storm Goretti causing burst pipes and power cuts.
Customers were left with no tap water, unable to shower or bathe and could not flush their toilets, while a number of schools were forced to close.
Chairman Chris Train told MPs that the company “failed on the basic objective of delivering water to customers and therefore that is a failure and we recognise that failure”.
“We failed our customers,” he continued. “We worked very hard to rectify that situation, and since the events and independent review, we have undertaken a lot of actions to improve the resilience of the operations.”
Committee chairman Alistair Carmichael asked Train to score his team’s performance out of 10, arguing that customers deserve that degree of accountability from a non-executive director.
The chairman refused to do so, saying the situation is “complex” but added: “That degree of accountability is that we accept that we failed in our primary duty and we could have done better with all of the factors.”
Chief executive David Hinton was also asked to give a score out of 10 for the company’s response to the January outages after he previously marked it as eight out of 10 for the November incident.
Hinton also refused to do so but admitted that the performance was “disappointing” after many vulnerable customers were left without an alternative supply of water.
“My expectation is that we deliver to all priority service customers and that the bottled water stations are completely resourced the whole time, and customers can get access to alternative water at all times.
“So whenever we do not meet that particular yardstick, then I’m disappointed.”
Q: Do you think the Treasury should be looking for savings in other departments to fund higher defence spending?
Davey said of course the Treasury should be trying to find savings. But he claimed that his plan for defence bonds (see 11.36am) was the best idea put forward by any party to find the money for defence.
Davey claims Lib Dems will be ‘one of two biggest parties in local government’ by time of next general election
Q: Are you concerned that the Liberal Democrats are losing support given the rising popularity of the Green party?
Davey did not accept that. He replied:
We got, the best result for over a hundred years at the general election. But we’ve kept on winning since.
At the last May elections a year ago we beat the Conservatives and Labour for the first time ever. And it was our seventh year in a row of wins.
If you look at council by elections across the country, which party won the most in 2025? It was the Liberal Democrats.
And I make this prediction as we look at the council elections between now and the next election … By the time the next election will be one of the two biggest parties in local government. And with politics changing, that will be a massive change across our country.
According to Open Council Data UK, the Lib Dems are currently in third place, in total councillor numbers, in the UK.
Davey seems to be saying the Lib Dems will overtake the Tories, who are on course to lose around 1,000 seat in the local elections, according to at least one forecast. Labour are expected to lose even more, but they are starting from a higher base.
UK News
Mark Rutte says Nato needs ‘more forces, more resources’ ahead of defence ministers meeting– Europe live | World news
Morning opening: G7 commits to ‘unwavering support for Ukraine’
Jakub Krupa
Despite some early concerns about Donald Trump’s position, the G7 leaders meeting in France have agreed on a statement declaring their “unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”
The statement, published overnight, says:
“We commend Ukraine for its resilience and progress on the battlefield in recent months and emphasise there is now a new momentum.
To support and accelerate this new momentum, we agree to increase the delivery of air defence capacities, additional systems and interceptors, and long-range capabilities.
We are also ready to consider extending to Ukraine the benefit of licenses to allow for an increase in Ukraine’s military production.”
In a classic Trump-era move, the statement on Ukraine also includes some pointed praise of the US president in a pointed attempt to keep him on side:
“We commit to increase the pressure on the Russian war economy. In this context, we will strengthen our sanctions, including those on the oil and gas sectors. We consider this the right moment to proceed with additional measures, as president Trump has delivered a deal that we support in reopening the strait of Hormuz.”
I guess, whatever works, right?
The leaders will continue their talks today discussing economic growth and AI, with the latter session likely to get some attention as they will meet with the bosses of OpenAI and Anthropic.
Later tonight, France’s Emmanuel Macron will host the US president at the Palace of Versailles to mark the 250th anniversary of the US independence. Unusually enthused Trump said last night that it was “a real deal,” and that he was looking forward to it.
Separately, we will hear from Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte this morning ahead of tomorrow’s meeting of the alliance’s defence ministers – and less than a month before the much-dreaded Ankara summit, which once again will be all about keeping Trump on side.
Lots to cover today.
It’s Wednesday, 17 June 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
Key events
Potential reopening of dialogue with Russia ‘clearly debated among allies,’ Rutte says
Rutte gets asked about potential reopening of channels with Russia, as advocated by some leaders, including Finland’s Alexander Stubb.
He says “clearly it is something debated among allies,” primarily through the EU, but it’s not something that came up at the Nato level so far.
“It’s really a discussion playing out in the EU at the moment, and of course we are following that, and will be supportive wherever we can.”
Rutte gets pressed on his points about Europe taking more responsibility for their own defence, as he gets challenged that this could take away from their support for Ukraine.
The has the two need to go “hand in hand, and everybody realises that.”
Rutte says that the G7 statement on Ukraine today shows that all Nato allies are “completely commited to making sure that Ukraine maintains its position in the fight against Russia, and is able to defend itself.”
He says the US also continues its support in areas that only they can provide, including the air defence Patriot systems, which is paid for by European and Canadian allies.
He says he wants the summit to deliver “an absolute ironclad commitment” to Nato spending pledges from last year, and to Ukraine.
‘We are not naive,’ Rutte says on reports China helps Russia with military training
Rutte also gets asked about China’s apparent help to Russia through training, as recently disclosed by the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas.
He says Nato is “constantly trying to follow exactly what China is doing.”
“We are not naive. We follow everything exactly. I cannot tell you more at this moment, or at least in this open press conference, but you can be assured that we follow every [bit].”
Rutte gets asked about the Czech Republic’s troubles with getting to 2% defence spending under Andrej Babiš.
He says:
“We know each other for many years, and I know that the Czech Republic is as committed as everyone to what we decided in The Hague.
Czechia did not reach the 2% last year, but I know that the Czech government is working very hard to make sure that when it comes to a credible trajectory, it will be there.”
Rutte says he expects Zelenskyy to have a full programme of meetings at Nato’s summit in Ankara next month, but notably “no sit down with all the 32 leaders.”
Rutte gets asked about what Ukraine is likely to get from the Nato summit next month.
He says there were already some positive statement coming out of the G7 in France.
He says Nato will “focus particularly, of course, on what Ukraine needs to maintain the fight,” including the flow of military equipment, including the US interceptors for the Patriot system.
He says the focus will be on “making sure the money is there.”
“I’m pretty confident that collectively we’ll make sure you have what you need as far as Europeans and Americans can help to defend yourself,” he says.
Rutte gets pushed further about the question on timeline, which he completely avoided answering at the first time of asking.
He gives a muddled answer, saying it’s impossible to answer this question.
“It’s not that you can answer that question with a yes or no. It’s clear that US has adjusted its commitment to the Nato force model, but it’s in technical terms, it is not a yes or no.”
Rutte gets asked about spending commitments, and some countries that appear to be dragging their feet.
He says that overall, the increases are “really staggering,” with many countries “really ramping up” their spending.
Rutte also gets asked about the potential Nato/European assistance in the strait of Hormuz.
He says it comes outside the Nato framework, but it is clear that France and the UK are coordinating on this, and it was discussed at the G7 summit in France.
“Whether Nato will play a role there, yes or no… if helpful, of course we will play a role, but if they can do it without us, also okay; we are always ready to help if so wanted.”
Let’s say journalists are somewhat suspicious of the positive spin Rutte is putting on the changes to the Nato Force Model.
He gets asked about them further.
He stays on message:
“We have already seen that, as the United States has adjusted its pledge contributions, other allies have stepped up to contribute more, in some cases completely, in some cases nearly, but there are also areas that require more work, but the overall picture is looking good.”
Keir Starmer says Labour should focus on a subsequent Manchester mayoral race if Andy Burnham wins in Makerfield.
Source link
UK News
World Cup 2026: England kick off in Dallas after big-hitting trio make mark – live | World Cup 2026
Key events
Max Rushden and friends are coming in your ears with all the latest from the tournament.
Thomas Partey will not be part of the Ghana team that faces Panama, after he was denied access to Canada.
What Ghana do have is the likes of Antoine Semenyo after putting greater emphasis of attracting players from the diaspora.
Some lad called Messi is top of the Golden Boot list already. Who will hunt him down? Check out the top scorers, thus far.
Portugal open up against DR Congo as the Hors d’oeuvre for England v Croatia, not that anyone in those two countries will see it like that.
It is the sixth time Cristiano Ronaldo has been at a World Cup, which is a rather silly statistics. At 41, does he still have the powers to make a difference?
Ronaldo could wield a huge influence over the trophy’s ultimate destination. It remains to be seen whether that is channelled positively. Portugal can field arguably the best first-choice midfield in this summer’s competition, an experienced defence and an admirable array of wide forwards. At the heart of their attack stands, depending on your perspective, either a free-scoring icon primed to fire them all the way or a 41-year-old passenger whose presence sucks an otherwise fluent team into an inescapable void.
Nick Ames takes a look at the legend.
That is more than enough England material for the timing being, but do not fear, there will plenty throughout the day.
Opponents Croatia have impressed in recent times at the World Cup, reaching a final and semi-final in their past two outings. A key reason for their successes come in the form of 40-year-old Luka Modric, who is still going in the middle of the park and will be plotting England’s downfall.
Aleksandar Holiga on the the great man’s last dance.
There is plenty to get your teeth and eyes into as we prepare for England’s entrance in Dallas.
David Hytner has been listening to Harry Kane’s thoughts on the Three Lions’ chances and his own form.
I’m coming into this tournament in the best way possible; the best place physically and mentally. Throughout a career, there aren’t loads of times when all the pieces of the puzzle will come together at the right moment. Talking now, I feel like I’m in that place.
Thomas Tuchel is about to learn what managing at a major tournament is all about, writes Jacob Steinberg.
After an impressive qualifying campaign, Tuchel is backing England to thrive under the microscope in the US.
Barney Ronay on England shifting the focus from fun to business.
You can sit there playing with your silly little machines as much as you like. I’ll show you a World Cup. Close to a week in, with almost an entire round of cloudless group games in the bag, the coffin lid is starting to creak. By late Monday morning the first little knots of Three Lions shirts could be seen wandering the blank, baking streets of Dallas, blinking in the light. England are at the door. And it’s time for a vibe shift.
We should start with the latest set of results on what was a fascinating day.
Paul MacInnes was in New York/Jersey to see Mbappe lay down the first marker of the day. The Frenchman’s goals mean we will not have to spend our time discussing VAR too much but we certainly will.
The Ewan Murray witnessed Erling Haaland doing what he does best as Norway returned to the biggest stage by pummelling Iraq into submission.
Pablo Iglesias Maurer was on hand to see Lionel Messi’s 200th Argentina appearance, which he celebrated with a hat-trick against Algeria. He will be 39 next week but no one seems to have told him.
Austria required an own goal and late penalty against newcomers Jordan to get their competition up and running.
Preamble
After the tedium of four draws the day before, Tuesday felt like a moment within the context of this World Cup. Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi all made their marks with goals in big win for their respective countries. Tournaments need their stars to step up, often it is individuals rather than teams that are remembered for their successes in the history books and three of the globe’s best are threatening to do that again.
The hotly-anticipated England opener comes our way later, as Thomas Tuchel et al aim to end *checks notes* 70 years of hurt. Croatia provide the opponents, having previously caused plenty of harm to wallies with brollies and inflicting a semi-final defeat in Russia eight years ago. Will Harry Kane join his fellow figure heads by proving his class on the biggest stage? One nation certainly hope so.
We will be bringing you all the latest from the World Cup with plenty to look back on but even more to look forward to.
Mark Rutte says Nato needs ‘more forces, more resources’ ahead of defence ministers meeting– Europe live | World news
Haiilo partners Work Networks to boost platform adoption
New Oxford campaign seeks to demystify genetic and neurological conditions using animations
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoOxfordshire bridge closure comes as management ‘weaknesses’ found
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoWhat happens to Halifax customers if Lloyds makes changes?
-
Oxford News4 weeks agoActor steps down from major role in new Harry Potter series
-
UK News4 weeks agoBurnham seeks to calm markets by committing to fiscal rules
-
UK News4 weeks agoGlass deposit scheme 'risks major problems' for retail industry
-
UK News4 weeks agoEx-minister Shapps quits aerospace firm over rule concerns
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoRyan Bridge speaks of London arrest after Oxford incident
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoOxfordshire man accused of sexual offences 40 years ago