Catherine Neilan

London

Politics Editor at Tortoise

Whitehall Editor of The Observer

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Articles

The vote was won but the debate on ‘deeply flawed’ assist...

6 days ago | observer.co.uk | Catherine Neilan

Pro-assisted dying campaigners Rebecca Wilcox, right, and Sophie Blake, during a protest ahead of the Commons vote Passions are still running high and both sides are on a charm offensive to sway peers as Kim Leadbeater’s bill heads to the Lords The assisted dying bill may have passed in the House of Commons last week, with Kim Leadbeater, the MP who introduced it, saying she hopes it could have royal assent by October.
150 Labour MPs ready to rebel against welfare reforms

6 days ago | observer.co.uk | Catherine Neilan

Backbenchers point to the U-turn on winter fuel payments as a rationale for rebelling against Starmer’s welfare reforms As many as 150 Labour MPs are threatening to rebel against the government’s welfare reforms next month, raising the prospect of Keir Starmer’s first Commons defeat since becoming prime minister.
Starmer announces national inquiry into grooming gangs

1 week ago | observer.co.uk | Catherine Neilan |David Connett

Sir Keir Starmer has announced that there will be a statutory inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal after accepting the recommendation of a government commissioned report by Baroness Louise Casey. The government has previously resisted a new inquiry into the scandal, instead allowing five councils to set up their own investigations in towns where girls were abused.
Rachel Reeves says she's ending austerity. People may not...

2 weeks ago | observer.co.uk | Catherine Neilan

Labour’s promise to change Britain will be very hard to meet Welcome to the Sensemaker, our daily newsletter. It features calm and clear analysis on the stories driving the news across tech, politics, finance, culture and more. The Sensemaker will appear here every morning, but to receive it in your email inbox, sign up on our newsletters page.
Reform’s departed chi...

2 weeks ago | observer.co.uk | Catherine Neilan

When Reform UK party staffers rocked up at their Westminster local, the Marquis of Granby, last Thursday, they had reason to celebrate. Voting in the byelection of Hamilton, Stonehouse and Larkhall pointed to Reform making headway in Scotland. But the more immediate issue was the resignation of Zia Yusuf, the party chair, who quit seemingly out of nowhere while the polls were still open.
Our sights on 5% of GDP for defence spend, says Healey

2 weeks ago | observer.co.uk | Catherine Neilan

John Healey has indicated that the UK could agree a fresh target to spend 5% of GDP on defence, saying “we are up for that discussion”. Britain faces renewed pressure to increase its commitment to defence, with talks last week that agreed new military capabilities for each Nato member and further discussions at the end of June month to thrash out spending.
Britain’s defence targets may need rapid revision

3 weeks ago | observer.co.uk | Catherine Neilan

For all its rhetoric, the UK is nowhere near the goal set by the US Welcome to the Sensemaker, our daily newsletter. It features calm and clear analysis on the stories driving the news across tech, politics, finance, culture and more. The Sensemaker will appear here every morning, but to receive it in your email inbox, sign up on our newsletters page.
War is not something in a faraway country. It’s here now, warns report

3 weeks ago | observer.co.uk | Catherine Neilan

Britain’s defence has to undergo its biggest change for 150 years – and citizens must step up, new review urges British society must come together to protect its homeland amid the most profound set of changes to defence and security in 150 years, a landmark report will say tomorrow.
How rightwing activists tried to thwart Chagos deal

1 month ago | observer.co.uk | Catherine Neilan

The plan to hand the Chagos Islands over to Mauritius was nearly derailed last week by a “pro-sovereign, pro-right” group led by a former deputy leader of Reform. Under the Chagos deal, Britain will lease back the UK-US military base in Diego Garcia from Mauritius for £101m annually over the next 99 years. Having thought the deal was on pause, Bullivant received a tip-off on Wednesday it was being fast-tracked. “I got a call saying we needed to mobilise,” Bullivant told The Observer.
Starmer wants a reset on the EU

1 month ago | observer.co.uk | Catherine Neilan

But Farage, France and fisheries may stand in the way Welcome to the Sensemaker, our daily newsletter. It features calm and clear analysis on the stories driving the news across tech, politics, finance, culture and more. The Sensemaker will appear here every morning, but to receive it in your email inbox, sign up on our newsletters page. The EU summit is finally upon us.