Parochial complacency define the prime minister’s view of the world, leaving him unequal to the crisis in AfghanistanThe prime minister told parliament on Wednesday that Britain was prepared for the fall of Kabul and also that it could not have been f…
The Guardian view on buildings – out with the new! For the planet’s sake | Editorial
Tearing down old structures and throwing up new ones is how we usually make our streetscapes. It’s also ruinous for the climateA new and highly swanky hotel lands in Edinburgh, a mass of shimmering bronze-coloured coils, and all anyone can think to say…
Former Great Grimsby Labour MP Austin Mitchell dies aged 86
Keir Starmer leads tributes to colourful figure who represented Lincolnshire port town for 38 yearsAustin Mitchell obituaryKeir Starmer has led tributes to the former Great Grimsby MP Austin Mitchell, who has died aged 86.Mitchell was a colourful figur…
Society of Editors withdraws claim that UK media is not racist
Organisation that represents UK newspaper editors says it will work to improve diversity in industryThe organisation that represents British newspaper editors has withdrawn its claim that the UK media is not racist or bigoted, after six months of press…
Rightwing culture warriors do not define Britishness | Letters
Readers respond to Kojo Koram’s article about the Tory preoccupation with dictating our national storyKojo Koram provides a useful corrective to the common, narrow perception of culture he describes (Here’s what the right gets wrong about culture: it’s…
Why did we ignore the lessons of history in Afghanistan? We need a public inquiry | Jonathan Steele
The US and Britain’s dogged pursuit of reform and regime change made the return of the Taliban almost inevitableWhen rising British casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq started to raise public doubts 15 years ago, a new mantra began to be heard: Iraq was…
The Afghanistan debate showed that Boris Johnson’s flaws lead directly to tragedy | Zoe Williams
For Starmer, the point was ‘what are the human consequences when power is held by someone so unfit?’The initial shock of a packed House of Commons, recalled in recess for an emergency debate on Afghanistan, was how unfamiliar the packed green benches n…
‘A perfect storm’: UK beet growers fear Brexit threatens their future
They produce half the country’s sugar needs, but expect new trade deals to make their tough situation worseIn a field in Norfolk, the sight of lush green leaves sprouting from the soil are giving farmer Ed Lankfer cause for optimism. “I think this is o…
Cambridge to end teacher training if government enacts overhaul
Exclusive: university hits out at planned changes in England, which have been called a ‘wrecking ball’The University of Cambridge says it will cease teacher training courses if the government persists with damaging proposals to change how primary and s…
Rail passengers in England and Wales could see biggest fare rise since 2012
Commuters could face 4.8% increase in January as campaigners call for price freeze to help cut emissionsRail fares in England and Wales are on track to rise at their fastest rate in a decade unless ministers decide to prevent steep price increases to e…