"The former shadow defence secretary Clive Lewis said: “No one disputes the need for diplomacy with the US. That is realpolitik. But rolling out a state visit in the middle of an illegal war, led by a man doing profound damage to democratic norms, is not diplomacy; it is a profound misreading of the moment.”"

theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/m…

#AbolishTheMonarchy #USRoyalVisit #UKPol #UKpolitics #CliveLewis

King Charles’s state visit to US will be ‘humiliation’ amid Iran war

Visit with Camilla to go ahead in late April despite calls for delay over conflict and Trump-Starmer tensions

^{Jessica Elgot (The Guardian)}

I need 5 co-signatures for my UK petition before it will be reviewed and published:

"Implement proportional representation for general elections"

petition.parliament.uk/petitio…

#ProportionalRepresentation #ElectoralReform #UK #UKPol #UKPolitics

The UK government has refused to regulate the ever-growing age verification industry.

This is despite market leader Yoti being fined by the Spanish data protection authority for the way it handles personal data.

Expanding the reach of age gates further across the Internet threatens privacy.

#ageverification #privacy #freedomofexpression #internet #ukpolitics #ukpol

Powers unhindered by UK Parliamentary scrutiny threaten freedom of expression.

With no need to demonstrate harm to children, governments could do as they please.

A Reform government could force ID checks to access LGBTQ content as part of their manifesto commitment “to end trans ideology” in schools.

#ageverification #privacy #freedomofexpression #internet #ukpolitics #ukpol

Far-reaching powers over Internet access are being rushed through.

Last minute amendments have been shoved into the UK Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

Ministers will be able to force anyone over 13 to use unsafe and unregulated age-ID services to access whatever content the government wants.

Find out more ⬇️

openrightsgroup.org/press-rele…

#ageverification #privacy #freedomofexpression #internet #ukpolitics #ukpol

13 year olds could be compelled to use unregulated age verification

Last minute amendments to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will have huge implications for freedom of expression and privacy in the UK, Open Rights Group has warned.

^{Open Rights Group}

Political donations from companies should be banned.

They clearly lead to #Corruption

Why would companies donate otherwise?

#UK_Politics #UKPolitics

archive.is/20260322210406/ft.c…

Media coverage of net zero is more than twice as likely to be negative than public attitudes and is driving a false perception that net zero policies are unpopular with voters, according to an analysis that identifies rightwing media narratives as fuelling a false backlash against climate action.

#NetZero #Media #Rightwing #UKPolitics #ClimateEmergency

theguardian.com/environment/20…

Rightwing narrative fuelling false belief UK public oppose net zero, study finds

Reform, Tory and some media rhetoric runs contrary to poll showing far more voters for net zero than against it

^{Damien Gayle (The Guardian)}

Unusually fair article on Green Party leader Zack Polanski from the BBC. Is something afoot?

#XackPolanski #GreenParty #UKPolitics

Zack Polanksi: I want to hold balance of power at next general election - BBC News
bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg05x…

Zack Polanksi: I want to hold balance of power at next general election

Green Party leader says thought of becoming PM is 'on his mind' and the aim of 30-40 MPs now feels "under ambitious".

^{Jennifer McKiernan (BBC News)}

"The very basics, the things we rely on to build the foundations of a good life, have been taken out of our hands, sold for profit – and then sold or rented back to us at crushing rates. The water that keeps us alive. The energy that warms us. The home that keeps us safe"
Zack Polanski, leader Green Party of England and Wales

#UKPolitics #GreenParty #Privatisation

theguardian.com/politics/2026/…

‘Basics’ of life in Britain have been sold for profit, says Polanski

Exclusive: England and Wales Greens leader outlines economic policy including help to meet rising energy costs and water re-nationalisation

^{Peter Walker (The Guardian)}

The failure to inform asylum applicants of the use of AI in decision-making is likely UNLAWFUL.

A new legal opinion for ORG finds that the use of AI tools by the UK Home Office doesn't meet legal obligations nor standards in the AI Playbook.

We need full transparency to ensure lawful and fair decisions.

Read more ⬇️

independent.co.uk/news/uk/home…

#asylum #ai #legal #migrants #homeoffice #ukpolitics #ukpol

Home Office use of AI in asylum cases could be unlawful, legal experts warn

Exclusive: Caseworkers use AI to summarise asylum interviews and to search for information about country of origin

^{Holly Bancroft (The Independent)}

"At the heart of the claims is that while the underlying data may remain under the MoD’s control, any insights derived from that data do not. The implications of this, the insiders say, are far-reaching, especially because of the vast quantity of personal and other data the company has access to across UK government departments"

#Palantir #UKPolitics #MoD

"A second source, who has a background in intelligence, said Palantir probably has “a complete profile on the whole UK population. They have visibility into wildly different focus areas, yet their data is all condensed into one foreign supplier’s control/visibility. At the very least I’d call that a security risk.”

#Palantir #UKPolitics

Palantir, the US AI surveillance and security firm with hundreds of millions of pounds in UK government contracts, poses “a national security threat to the UK”, according to two anonymous MoD senior systems engineers with knowledge of the Palantir software systems the MoD is using.

#Palantir #MoD #Security #UKPolitics

‘It beggars belief’: MoD sources warn Palantir’s role at heart of government is a threat to UK’s security
thenerve.news/p/palantir-techn…

‘It beggars belief’: MoD sources warn Palantir’s role at heart of government is threat to UK’s security

Experts say that claims UK data remains under government ownership miss the point that the company has the capability to build its own detailed picture of the British population, and even infer state secrets.

^{Charlie Young (The Nerve)}

"There is little evidence that young people are using VPNs to bypass digital ID checks imposed by the [UK] Online Safety Act."

Age gating them "will have little impact on children's online safety but will deter adults from using them or force people to hand over personal documents or biometric data."

🗣️ @JamesBaker for ORG.

independent.co.uk/extras/indyb…

#vpn #privacy #cybersecurity #onlinesafety #ukpolitics #ukpol

Could VPNs be banned in the UK? We asked the experts

The government has launched a public consultation into whether VPNs should be age-restricted

^{Alex Lee (The Independent)}

“This broad amendment takes power away from [UK] parliament and Ofcom and hands it to ministers. The consequence of this would be every adult having to provide their personal data, or use their body and biometric features as a key to unlock the Internet."

It doesn't address the structural causes of online harms and can be used to restrict content ideologically.

🗣️ @JamesBaker

#onlinesafety #digitalid #privacy #ageverification #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

🚨 Wide ranging powers to restrict Internet access in the UK have been voted through 🚨

Ministers will be able to impose digital ID checks, curfews and VPN restrictions without Parliamentary scrutiny.

This can be used on websites, social media, apps and games with no need to show there's any harm to children.

Find out more ⬇️

openrightsgroup.org/press-rele…

#onlinesafety #digitalid #id #privacy #ageverification #freedomofexpression #ukpolitics #ukpol

MPs give ministers powers to restrict entire Internet

MPs have rejected a Lords amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would allow a social media ban for under 16s.

^{Open Rights Group}

Digital ID checks ransom our access to information.

We’re forced to splurge our sensitive data all over the place, eroding our freedoms and creating a privacy timebomb.

It’s lose lose.

UK MPs mustn't hand the government unbridled powers over all Internet services in today's vote.

Write to your MP ⬇️

action.openrightsgroup.org/no-…

#onlinesafety #digitalid #privacy #freedomofexpression #ageverification #ukpolitics #ukpol

No ID Checks for Web Access

Take action! What’s the problem? The Government has proposed amendments to the Children Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which would give Ministers the power to restrict access to "internet services".

^{Open Rights Group}

Mahmood’s policies hit refugees,
students, and migrant workers.

Coercion, uncertainty, and
contradictions abound

#MigrantRights #UKPolitics #AsylumSeekers #Refugees
thewhipline.substack.com/p/sha…

Mahmood’s Migrant Crackdown: Refugees, Students, and Workers

Mahmood’s policies restrict refugees, students, and migrant workers, raising ethical, social, and political concerns.

^{The Whip Line}

“When you create a law, you have to think about what a future government could do with those powers."

Ministers would have unilateral powers to lock what they see as 'harmful' behind digital ID checks.

This could end up being used on LGBTQ+ and reproductive health content.

🗣️ ORG's James Baker.

politico.eu/article/uk-eyes-sw…

#onlinesafety #digitalid #privacy #freedomofexpression #ageverification #ukpolitics #ukpol

UK eyes sweeping powers to regulate tech without parliamentary scrutiny 

The U.K. government has laid two amendments that would let it sidestep parliamentary debate so it can update online safety laws.

^{Mizy Clifton (POLITICO)}

New powers would let Ministers pick and choose what should be restricted, as well as impose curfews on access.

All without having to prove sites are harmful for children.

They don’t just cover social media, but all 'Internet services’ – blogs, websites, online games and more.

This is overreach.

lbc.co.uk/article/under-16-soc…

#privacy #freedomofexpression #ageverification #digitalID #onlinesafety #ukpolitics #ukpol

Lords-backed under-16 social media ban to be overturned as Labour prepares its own measures

A Lords-backed ban on children using social media could be overturned next week.

^{Chay Quinn (LBC)}

All adults would have to do a digital ID check to establish their age with third-parties so they can access any service.

If you don't, you could face blocks or time restricted curfews.

These powers could be used by any government in the UK to restrict access to almost any online service you could imagine.

#privacy #freedomofexpression #ageverification #digitalID #onlinesafety #ukpolitics #ukpol

This is no longer about banning under-16s from social media.

It’s about control over all information and forcing adults to go through digital ID checks to access the Internet.

Forcing us to submit our identity or biometric data to an array of different providers poses significant privacy risks.

#privacy #freedomofexpression #ageverification #digitalID #onlinesafety #ukpolitics #ukpol

🚨 ID checks to get online could become the new norm 🚨

A new amendment would give the UK government sweeping powers to block access to lawful information and communications.

That's unless we submit our identification to a bounty of providers.

Tell your MP to stop this broad and repressive law ⬇️

action.openrightsgroup.org/no-…

#privacy #freedomofexpression #ageverification #digitalID #onlinesafety #ukpolitics #ukpol

No ID Checks for Web Access

Take action! What’s the problem? The Government has proposed amendments to the Children Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which would give Ministers the power to restrict access to "internet services".

^{Open Rights Group}