MagnaCartaPolitics

Zuzana Moscakova, Chief Reporter                 Vanesa Zackova, Political Editor Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stated that restructuring England’s social care system should be prioritised before Parliament debates assisted dying legislation, arguing that vulnerable individuals must first receive excellent care and support. He made the remarks during cross-party discussions following the government’s announcement of plans for a major overhaul of social care. Speaking after a speech on social care, Burnham said Parliament should not consider assisted dying until both social care and palliative care have significantly improved. He argued that when someone is approaching the end of their life and cannot access the care they need, they should never feel as though they have limited options. The Prime Minister described England’s current social care system as “broken” and said that previous governments had failed to deliver lasting reform. He out...

Aaryan Bora, Political Reporter The people of the Northern state of Assam in India have lived with floods for generations and have become accustomed to them. Every monsoon season, the river Brahmaputra and its tributaries used to swell beyond their banks, inundating villages, destroying crops, and forcing thousands of people to leave their homes and seek relief camps for food and shelter. Flooding is one of the major factors in the state’s geography, but what unfolded in July was heartbreaking for residents of Assam. 18-year-old Saline Patro from Jorhat stated that "the floods took everything from us." She and her family decided to leave Jorhat; however, when she returned to their home to collect belongings, the family's home was destroyed by the flood. Now they are living at a relief camp with hope to return soon.  Around 600,000 people have been affected by the floods, with around 68 people having lost their lives. Assam is very much prone to floods, and ...

Zuzana Moscakova, Chief Reporter                     Vanesa Zackova, Political Editor Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced his first Cabinet after being appointed as Britain’s new prime minister. He removed several senior ministers who had served under Sir Keir Starmer and reshaped the government with several key appointments. The changes mark the beginning of Burnham’s premiership and reflect a new political and economic strategy focused on tackling the cost-of-living crisis, reindustrialising Britain, and modernising public services. The most unexpected appointment was John Healey as Chancellor of the Exchequer. After speculation that other senior ministers, including Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood, were the leading candidates for the role, Healey, who stepped down as Defence Secretary following disagreements over defence spending, now takes charge of the Treasury. Burnham’s supporters described Healey as an experienced and depe...

Zuzana Moscakova, Chief Reporter As Prime Minister Páv Magyar's cabinet moves on with reforms after defeating Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party in the election, the Hungarian parliament has adopted constitutional amendments that remove President Tamás Sulyok from office . Tisza's two-thirds parliamentary majority supported the amendment's approval. The law not only terminates Sulyok's presidency but also dismisses Péter Polt as the chairman of the Constitutional Court. Since Tisza established a government following his victory against Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party in the general election on April 12, which ended Fidesz's 16-year rule, the vote is one of the most significant parliamentary choices. President Sulyok has five days to either sign the change into law or refer it to the Constitutional Court for review in accordance with Hungary's constitutional procedures. Magyar said the government would begin proceedings to remove Sulyok if he pursues that course, wh...

Aaryan Bora, Political Reporter Vanesa Zackova, Political Editor The ceasefire between the United States and Iran is currently showing fresh signs of strain, with Washington, D.C., demanding that Tehran publicly assure the safety of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and acknowledge that the recent attacks on oil tankers are a serious mistake. This demand highlights how the world’s most critical energy passage has become the next major flashpoint, even as diplomatic channels remain open. The latest tensions erupted after three commercial tankers were attacked earlier this week, raising fears of another cycle of retaliation. According to recent US reports, Iranian officials told Washington that the attacks were not carried out by the government but by a rogue hardline faction acting without official approval. The Trump administration is demanding that Iran guarantee the Strait of Hormuz remains open to commercial shipping, promise not to targe...

Billy Merrin, Founder & Editor-in-Chief Yesterday, Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, announced his resignation as MP for the Essex constituency of Clacton, triggering a by-election in which he will stand to retain his seat in the House of Commons.  Over the last few weeks, Farage has been central to a large controversy surrounding his funding. He is currently being investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards for failing to register five million pounds he received in the year leading up to his election as the MP for Clacton in July 2024. Furthermore, reports of Farage's financial integrity were questioned by a financial relationship with convicted US cryptocurrency businessman George Cottrell, who funded Farage's social media staff, accommodation, and private security. Farage has in no way been found guilty of any financial wrongdoing to date and insists on his innocence, arguing that the $5 million was a 'gift' and that he can spend it as he wishes...

Zuzana Moscakova, Chief Reporter                   Vanesa Zackova, Political Editor Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, is under investigation after it emerged that, before becoming a Member of Parliament, he did not disclose gifts and support he received from cryptocurrency entrepreneur George Cottrell. The issue has led to calls for a parliamentary investigation into whether the support should have been declared under MPs’ rules. The allegations were first reported by The Sunday Times . In the year leading up to the 2024 general election, Cottrell provided Farage with accommodation, private security, and social media staff. While Reform UK has acknowledged that Farage received this support, the party argues that it was provided in a personal capacity before he entered Parliament and therefore did not need to be declared. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick confirmed that Cottrell paid for social media staff working for Farage. ...

Zuzana Moscakova, Chief Reporter              Vanesa Zackova, Political Editor Climate change is becoming more than simply an environmental problem. As Britain experiences record-breaking heat and scientists warn that high temperatures are becoming more common, it is quickly becoming one of the nation’s key political issues, requiring difficult decisions on infrastructure, public health, energy, and the economy. Large parts of England and Wales have experienced record-breaking temperatures during another unprecedented June heatwave in the United Kingdom. In parts of Suffolk, temperatures reached 37.3°C during the last week of June, breaking the previous record for the highest June temperature in the UK. The heatwave disrupted transport, placed pressure on hospitals and emergency services, and led to health warnings for vulnerable people. World Weather Attribution states that the current European heatwave was made significantly more likely and severe be...

Zuzana Moscakova, Chief Reporter                    Vanesa Zackova, Political Editor Following Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation as Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party, Andy Burnham has emerged as the frontrunner in the race to take over the party and form a new Westminster administration. After a difficult period that saw Labour return to office with a landslide victory in 2024 before suffering a significant decline in political popularity, Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation as Prime Minister and Labour leader. Until the party chooses a replacement, he will continue to serve as Prime Minister in Downing Street. In a statement made outside No. 10, Starmer said that many members of his own party no longer believed he was the best candidate to lead Labour into the next general election. His resignation follows weeks of speculation surrounding his future, driven by a series of poor electoral results, growing dissatisfaction a...

Aaryan Bora, Political Columnist The 'NEET-UG' entrance exam is an undergraduate medical assessment taken nationwide by aspiring medical students in India. However,  it was just a few months ago that the exam paper leaked, causing widespread controversy in India. The  government decided to re-conduct the  entrance examination, while also temporarily banning Telegram  across India to prevent paper leaks.  The intention behind the Indian government's action is mainly to curb the spread of leaked papers  and prevent cheating. The policy will not stop examination papers from being leaked, but it could prevent a high number of applicants from viewing the entrance exam in advance, through the messaging app. In my mind, a social media website can’t be blamed for a crisis, which is a huge  institutional failure and seems a large government failure, too. The controversy towards NEET is becoming one of the biggest educational scandals in recent history.  Wh...

Zuzana Moscakova, Chief Reporter Vanesa Zackova, Political Editor A Somali football referee appointed to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup was denied entry to the United States after arriving at Miami International Airport, according to statements from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and confirmation from FIFA. The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, has already experienced a controversy surrounding a match official who was denied entry into the United States, preventing him from participating in the tournament. United States Border and Customs Protection (CBP) stated that the individual was found "inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry." The agency has stated that everyone entering the United States, including athletes, referees, and team personnel, is subject to inspection and admissibility checks. These decisions are made on a case-by-case basis using the i...

Zuzana Moscakova, Chief Reporter Vanesa Zackova, Political Editor Republican lawmakers are showing rare signs of resistance to President Trump's wishes, challenging the conflict against Iran, budget proposals and key appointments in the government as concerns grow about Republican hopes of victory in the November midterm elections. The House of Representatives' approval of a resolution to stop US military action against Iran was the most serious violation. Democrats and four Republicans alike backed the proposal. Trump responded on social media, calling the Republicans who supported the motion "GRANDSTANDERS" and calling the action "unpatriotic." The vote was one of the few times when Republican members openly disagreed with Trump on a significant policy matter. Republicans disagreed with the US president on more than just the Iran vote. A planned US $1.8 billion fund for Trump supporters who believe they were unfairly targeted by t...

Zuzana Moscakova, Chief Reporter Vanesa Zackova, Political Editor Following recent reporting on his previous relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, former Labour cabinet minister Peter Mandelson has come under renewed scrutiny. Documents and previously reported correspondence continue to highlight Epstein’s network of influential contacts. Mandelson, a prominent figure in British politics who held several ministerial positions under Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, has acknowledged that he remained in contact with Epstein after his 2008 conviction in Florida for obtaining a child for prostitution. In recent interviews, Mandelson described maintaining the relationship as “a mistake” and expressed “deep regret” over the decision. Speaking previously, Mandelson stated, “I wish I had not stayed in touch with him,” describing Epstein as a “charismatic” but ultimately deceptive individual who misled him about the nature of his legal troubles....

Gabriel Levine, Contributor Sometimes it is funny. Sometimes it is refreshing (meep meep). But SNL UK only proves to me that we are leading parallel cultural lives. What kind of Briton are you? What version of Britain is this? Those are the questions that SNL UK has attempted to answer in its eight episodes of series one. Sadly, it hasn’t answered them. They have made an admirable attempt in trying to understand Britain. The team has tried to gauge its audience, shown through the repeated portrayals of Starmer (George Fouracres) and how Princess Diana has been portrayed in drag (Jack Shep), has gone viral. I’m sure this pleases the show’s audiences who are on university campuses and on the internet — the majority of whom probably have an idea of Princess Diana from a couple of TikTok edits and, let’s not forget, that very reliable potted history that is Netflix’s The Crown . The show has not done massively well on TV, but it shows immense potential on YouTube, especially. With a walle...