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Andy McNab says he would not join SAS today as veterans warn legal fears are damaging elite force

Former SAS soldier Andy McNab says he would not join the regiment today as veterans warn fears of future prosecution are affecting recruitment and retention, while the Government insists lawful service personnel will be protected.

By Charlotte Mercer • 1 September 2026 • 7 min read

Latest articles

Labour

Small-boat crossings fall sharply as summer arrivals almost halve

Small-boat arrivals fell to 7,371 across June, July and August, roughly half last summer's total, as ministers credit stronger UK-French enforcement while acknowledging more people are being packed onto each vessel.

Charlotte Mercer • 1 Sep 2026 • 4 min read

Labour

Burnham offers devolution deal to every part of England — and opens door to mayor-free deals

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has offered devolution deals to every part of England without devolved powers and said Cornwall's agreement could proceed with or without an elected mayor.

Charlotte Mercer • 1 Sep 2026 • 4 min read

Labour

Keir Starmer to quit Parliament as former Prime Minister ends 11-year Commons career

Sir Keir Starmer has announced he will stand down as Labour MP for Holborn and St Pancras after 11 years in Parliament, paving the way for a high-profile by-election.

Charlotte Mercer • 1 Sep 2026 • 3 min read

Labour

Free school meals expanded to more than three million children as school-cost package takes effect

More than three million children from Universal Credit families are now eligible for free school meals as the Government rolls out a wider package of breakfast clubs, childcare and school-cost support.

Daniel Whitmore • 1 Sep 2026 • 4 min read

Labour

Government accelerates £110m prison-building drive as capacity pressure continues

The Government is bringing forward £110 million from existing budgets to accelerate prison construction and conversions as ministers pursue a target of 14,000 additional places by 2031.

Charlotte Mercer • 1 Sep 2026 • 4 min read

Labour

Healey promises firm timetable for next major rise in UK defence spending

Chancellor John Healey says the 2027 Spending Review will set a target date for Britain to reach 3% of GDP on defence and a clear path towards the NATO core-defence commitment of 3.5% by 2035.

Charlotte Mercer • 1 Sep 2026 • 4 min read

Conservatives

Badenoch promotes Katie Lam as new generation enters Shadow Cabinet

Kemi Badenoch has completed her Shadow Cabinet reshuffle, promoting 2024 MPs Katie Lam, Rebecca Paul and Harriet Cross to major portfolios as the Conservatives bring a new generation onto the front bench.

Charlotte Mercer • 1 Sep 2026 • 4 min read

Labour

Student loan interest capped at 6% as new rules take effect

A government cap preventing Plan 2 and Plan 3 student-loan interest rates from exceeding 6% has taken effect for the 2026/27 academic year, with ministers citing the risk of inflationary shocks linked to conflict in the Middle East.

Charlotte Mercer • 1 Sep 2026 • 4 min read

Labour

UK gains full access to £13tn CPTPP trade bloc as Canada deal takes effect

UK businesses now have full access to all 11 other CPTPP members after the agreement entered into force with Canada, completing Britain's accession to a trading bloc worth almost £13 trillion including the UK.

Charlotte Mercer • 1 Sep 2026 • 4 min read

Neutral

Major DBS safeguarding law change takes effect as barred-list checks widen

A major change to the legal definition of regulated activity with children has taken effect, removing the supervision exemption and bringing more regularly supervised staff and volunteers within the barred-list regime.

Charlotte Mercer • 1 Sep 2026 • 4 min read

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Afghanistan Inquiry 1 Asylum 1 Brexit 1 Charities 2 Civil Service 1 Constitution 2 CPTPP 1 Devolution 2 Elections 1 Falkland Islands 1

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Greens

Swinney publishes draft Bill for second Scottish independence referendum — setting up fresh constitutional clash with Burnham

5 min read

Andy McNab says he would not join SAS today as veterans warn legal fears are damaging elite force

Latest articles

Small-boat crossings fall sharply as summer arrivals almost halve

Burnham offers devolution deal to every part of England — and opens door to mayor-free deals

Keir Starmer to quit Parliament as former Prime Minister ends 11-year Commons career

Free school meals expanded to more than three million children as school-cost package takes effect

Government accelerates £110m prison-building drive as capacity pressure continues

Healey promises firm timetable for next major rise in UK defence spending

Badenoch promotes Katie Lam as new generation enters Shadow Cabinet

Student loan interest capped at 6% as new rules take effect

UK gains full access to £13tn CPTPP trade bloc as Canada deal takes effect

Major DBS safeguarding law change takes effect as barred-list checks widen

Explore topics

Follow the stories that matter to you.

Trending this week

What readers are following now.

Greens snatch Dover council seat from Conservatives as Reform finishes just 1.3 points behind

Healey set to shelve his own 3% by 2030 defence spending target as Treasury pressures bite

Burnham Government approves above-inflation train-driver deal after strike threat

Burnham administration parts company with Starmer-era government communications chief

Swinney publishes draft Bill for second Scottish independence referendum — setting up fresh constitutional clash with Burnham