Dan Bloom

1 day ago | politico.eu | Dan Bloom |Stefan Boscia

Britain’s ruling Labour Party defied pundits Friday by clinching victory in a key by-election, despite a surge for right-wing populists Reform UK. Labour took the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse seat in the Scottish Parliament from the Scottish National Party on a 7.4 percent swing, winning 31.6 percent to the SNP’s 29.4 percent. However, Reform UK — Nigel Farage’s upstart movement that is leading U.K. national opinion polls — came a close third with 26.1 percent.

3 weeks ago | politico.eu | Dan Bloom

LONDON — Russia must agree a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine before starting full talks about ending the war, leading European politicians insisted Monday. Foreign ministers from France, Spain, Germany, Italy and the European Commission said a halt in fighting remained a pre-condition to negotiations — despite Russian President Vladimir Putin apparently ignoring a Monday deadline set by European allies over the weekend.

3 weeks ago | politico.eu | Dan Bloom

Poland will close the Russian consulate in Krakow after finding “proof” that Moscow was behind an “act of arson” last year. Poland’s foreign minister Radosław Sikorski said he took the decision at around 9 a.m. European time Monday following an evaluation of the fire in a shopping mall in Warsaw. The huge fire burned the largest mall in the Polish capital to the ground a year ago.

4 weeks ago | politico.eu | Dan Bloom |Sam Blewett |Graham Lanktree |Megan Messerly |Emilio Casalicchio |Stefan Boscia

LONDON — Sporting a bow tie under the gold filigree ceiling of London’s 18th century Mansion House, Britain’s Jonathan Reynolds was in a good mood. Britain and India had sealed a (highly controversial) trade deal the previous day, and a pact with the U.S. seemed near. “This is not an easy time to be a trade minister,” the business and trade secretary told a banquet of ambassadors and business elite Wednesday night. “Weeks happen in hours.”He did not realize how right he was.

1 month ago | politico.eu | Dan Bloom |Noah Keate

LONDON — Local elections don’t usually change the game of British politics. This time might be different. Nigel Farage’s populist, right-wing Reform UK has its first levers of power after a torrid set of results in England for the two main parties, Labour and the Conservatives. Reform now leads national opinion polls, overturned a massive Labour majority to win the Runcorn and Helsby parliamentary seat, and gained hundreds of council seats across England.