EU-UK Relations

In 2025 the last hereditary peers will leave the House of Lords. That will not be enough to satisfy its critics, writes Ros Taylor, who believe Britain’s second chamber is overstuffed with idle peers and too many cronies who were not appointed on merit.

As Britain reaffirms its support for Ukraine, changing geopolitical dynamics are testing the resilience of Western alliances. Amid growing concerns over support from key allies, the UK navigates complex decisions on defence commitments and NATO’s future. This article explores the UK's evolving stance, its recent defence collaborations, and the potential challenges ahead as Britain balances solidarity with Ukraine against the backdrop of a dynamic global landscape.

Cross-continental energy networks are the backbone of Europe’s energy transition. With the accelerated roll-out of solar panels and wind turbines, policymakers and grid operators now feel the back pain from limited energy infrastructure capacities. How can the EU rehab our existing electricity grids and gas pipelines? Two new publications from the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union provide guidance.

Tough decisions lie ahead for the UK government as it tries to decarbonise electricity generation by 2030. Several key decisions have been made but much remains unknown, particularly on reform of the electricity market and the detail of collaboration with the EU. Ros Taylor reports.

When three girls were killed in Southport, the reactionary digital right proved adept at exploiting the horror. The rioters are quickly being punished, writes Ros Taylor, but the new government needs to recognise the ease with which lies spread in the new digital ecosystem and be frank and transparent about its own approach to immigration.

Keir Starmer was determined to make Labour electable again. By the time Rishi Sunak called the general election, he was able to tell voters: ‘I've changed the Labour Party. If you put your trust in me by voting Labour, I will change the country.’ Ros Taylor looks at the UK’s new prime minister.

Labour is still allergic to the E-word, says Ros Taylor. But the party’s manifesto offers hints of what a far closer relationship with the EU might look like.

Scotland has been a pioneer in renewables, says Kirsten Jenkins. But the easy wins are over and the task of decarbonising Scotland’s economy is becoming steadily more difficult, as the row over net zero targets showed. Nonetheless, the potential to build on its record is clear and the obstacles are not insurmountable.

No one knows whether Labour will repeal some of the draconian anti-protest laws passed in recent years in the UK, writes David Mead. But it is unlikely to be a priority for a party worried about alienating the press and with a failing welfare state to fix.