Starmer says welfare vote will go ahead despite threat of Labour rebellion
Sir Keir Starmer has said a vote on welfare reforms will go ahead next week despite an unprecedented number of Labour MPs expected to rebel.
Taking questions from journalists following a speech at the NATO summit, the prime minister was asked by Sky News' political editor how he can govern the country if he can't govern his party.
He replied: "On the question of welfare reform, we're committed to reforming our welfare system. It doesn't work. It traps people. And it has to be reformed.
"And it also has to ensure we've got a welfare system that is fit for the future. That is why, there will be a vote and we will press ahead with the reforms."
Responding to other questions, he went on to insist that there is a "pretty united front" among Labour MPs that the UK's welfare system needs reform.
"You won't find many Labour MPs who are not accepting that we need reform, we are absolutely on the page with them," he said.
Asked if he is confident he will lead Labour into the next general election in 2029, the Sir Keir says he is "very confident" he will.
He added the party was elected on a platform promising a "decade of national renewal" with a "huge majority".
"It is really important that I lead from the front and take the long-term decisions about the future of our country."
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As the EU weighs sanctions and legal action, the question looms: How far can a democratic alliance tolerate open defiance of its core principles, and what happens when those principles are redefined by politics?Source: 'Another red line crossed': Fierce debate on Hungary's Pride ban at the European Parliament [Euronews] After nearly two decades of stalled negotiations, the EU's Equal Treatment directive — which aimed to expand protections against discrimination based on religion, disability, age, and sexual orientation — has officially hit a dead end. Despite widespread support from most member states and approval from the European Parliament, opposition from Germany, Czechia, and Italy has blocked the bill's passage in the European Council, where unanimity is required. The legislation, first proposed in 2008, would have extended anti-discrimination protections into areas like education, healthcare, housing, and public services. With the current draft unlikely to move forward, the European Commission plans to pivot to non-legislative initiatives, like policy roadmaps on LGBTQ+ rights and anti-racism — a move that NGOs have criticized as symbolic and lacking enforcement power. Civil society groups are calling the failure a major setback for equality across the bloc. Why it matters: The collapse of the EU's flagship anti-discrimination bill underscores how even broad public support and political will can be derailed by national veto power — especially on rights issues. The proposal could have served as a blueprint for stronger anti-discrimination protections across Europe and beyond, including in the US, where housing, healthcare, and education inequalities often intersect with race, disability, and sexual identity. Instead, the EU's pivot to "roadmaps" over binding legislation mirrors a wider global trend: governments making rhetorical commitments to equity without delivering legal guarantees. For marginalized communities on both sides of the Atlantic, the failure to enact enforceable protections reflects just how vulnerable equal rights remain, even in liberal democracies. Source: Exclusive: After 17 years, EU anti-discrimination bill hits a dead end [Euronews] The European Union is advancing its first-ever legislation on the welfare of cats and dogs, aiming to regulate a €1.3 billion industry and curb inhumane practices like ear cropping. The proposed law would require electronic microchipping for traceability and introduce baseline animal welfare standards — but critics say it falls short in several key areas. MEPs and NGOs warn that the legislation contains loopholes that could allow illegal pet trade to flourish online, particularly since it doesn't mandate verification for sellers on platforms where most black-market activity occurs. Another concern is an exemption for small-scale breeders, which could leave as many as 80% of breeders unregulated. Shelters, already overwhelmed, would continue to bear the burden of untraceable or abandoned animals. Lawmakers are now pushing for amendments ahead of a crucial vote in the European Parliament. Why it matters: This legislation reflects a growing effort across Europe (and globally) to treat animal welfare as a serious policy issue. But its shortcomings also expose how online marketplaces and lax oversight can undercut even well-meaning laws. The same dynamics are playing out in the US, where puppy mills and anonymous online pet sales remain a persistent problem despite increasing awareness. As platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are used to traffic animals without oversight, critics say vague enforcement allows abuse to go unchecked. The EU's struggle to close loopholes is a preview of the regulatory challenges ahead: How do you build humane, enforceable systems when bad actors can hide behind a screen name? Source: EU pet protection plan barks up wrong tree, MEPs and NGOs warn [Euronews] A court in Azerbaijan has sentenced seven journalists, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reporter Farid Mehralizada and six staffers from the independent outlet Abzas Media, to prison terms ranging from 7.5 to 9 years. The journalists were convicted on charges including illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion, and forgery — accusations widely denounced by international rights groups as politically motivated. Press freedom watchdogs, including Reporters Without Borders and Amnesty International, have condemned the verdicts, calling them part of a broader campaign to silence investigative journalism in the country. The crackdown has intensified over the past year, with multiple news outlets raided, press credentials revoked, and foreign media organizations forced to shut down. Mehralizada, who had no formal ties to Abzas Media, was detained in 2024 and missed the birth of his child while awaiting trial. Why it matters: The sentencing of journalists in Azerbaijan is more than an instance of domestic repression, it reflects a broader strategy among authoritarian regimes to weaponize legal systems against independent media. Charges like tax evasion and illegal entrepreneurship offer cover for political retaliation, allowing governments to stifle dissent without overt censorship. The case also underscores the growing vulnerability of international journalism, particularly for outlets funded by public broadcasters like RFE/RL. As more governments treat critical reporting as a national security threat, press freedom is increasingly a geopolitical issue — not just a local concern — and one that tests how democratic allies respond when their strategic partners abandon democratic Azerbaijan jails 7 journalists in latest media crackdown on free speech [AP News] A Russian court has sentenced activist Nadezhda Rossinskaya to 22 years in prison on charges of treason and financing terrorism after she helped evacuate Ukrainians from Russian-occupied territory. Rossinskaya, also known as Nadin Geisler, ran a volunteer group called "Army of Beauties," which claimed to assist thousands of civilians fleeing war zones. She was arrested in February 2024 after an Instagram post — which she denied authoring — allegedly called for donations to Ukrainian forces. Prosecutors sought 27 years, one of the longest sentences ever requested for a Russian woman (prompting Rossinskaya to defiantly tell the court to "make it 27 years and one day"). Her name was added to Russia's national list of "extremists and terrorists," alongside others critical of the invasion. The case is one of hundreds brought under treason and terrorism laws since Russia's full-scale war began. Why it matters: Rossinskaya's sentencing is part of a sweeping crackdown on dissent in Russia, where laws intended to combat terrorism are now routinely applied to citizens aiding Ukrainian civilians or speaking out against the war. Her case reveals how the Kremlin is using treason charges to criminalize humanitarian work, equating acts of evacuation and aid with betrayal of the state. The decision also sends a harsh message to other would-be volunteers or activists, in Russia and beyond, that any challenge to wartime policy can carry the state's most extreme punishments. For the rest of the West, the case underscores the escalating legal war on civil society in Russia and raises pressing questions about how international support networks can continue to function when humanitarian aid is reframed as treason. Source: Russian activist who helped Ukrainian refugees jailed for 22 years [AP News] Chris Brown pleaded not guilty in a London court Friday to charges stemming from an alleged 2023 nightclub assault on music producer Abe Diaw. Prosecutors say Brown and fellow musician Omololu Akinlolu attacked Diaw with a bottle, punching and kicking him in front of clubgoers in Mayfair. Brown, currently on a world tour, faces multiple charges including grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon. He is set to return to court in July, with a trial scheduled for October 2026. Why it matters: The case adds to Brown's long history of violent incidents, raising continued concerns about accountability for celebrity behavior — especially amid global touring and fandom. For international audiences and venues, it also tests how different legal systems address high-profile defendants in the public Singer Chris Brown pleads not guilty in London nightclub assault case [AP News] What do you think of these stories? Did any surprise you, shift your perspective, or feel especially relevant to life in the US? What other global headlines have you come across that haven't gotten much play in American media? Drop your thoughts in the comments below — I'd love to hear what's on your radar!
