Nicholas Cecil

Political Editor

ABOUT

Nicholas Cecil is Political Editor of The Standard. He covers politics at Westminster, foreign affairs, the economy, intelligence and security, and other major stories affecting London and Britain including the Covid-19 epidemic, climate change, air pollution and occasionally sport stories

ABOUT
VIEW

Nicholas Cecil is Political Editor of The Standard. He covers politics at Westminster, foreign affairs, the economy, intelligence and security, and other major stories affecting London and Britain including the Covid-19 epidemic, climate change, air pollution and occasionally sport stories

Politics

'Ever-rising' council tax: Rayner challenged on reforms hitting London

The Deputy Prime Minister was grilled over looming funding cuts to boroughs such as Richmond and Kingston

25 Jun 2025
Politics

Starmer 'did not overrule' King on second Trump state visit timing

The Times reported that Prime Minister had gone against the wishes of the Monarch by bringing forward Trump’s state visit to September

25 Jun 2025
Politics

Chilling warning: Nuclear attack risks to UK growing, says minister

The Cabinet minister also told how Britain has to strengthen its homeland defences against the threat of war

25 Jun 2025
NETHERLANDS-US-NATO-SUMMIT-DEFENCE-DIPLOMACY
Politics

Trump intel row: 'Imminent' threat of Iran nuclear arms hit, says UK

US President’s claim to have ‘obliterated’ Iran’s nuclear sites is contradicted by early Pentagon assessment

25 Jun 2025
Murdoch annual party
Politics

Mayor leads huge welfare cuts revolt as Starmer faces 120 rebel MPs

City Hall warned that disabled Londoners face losses of between £3,800 and £5,700 a year if Labour reforms approved

25 Jun 2025
Politics

Labour 'sheds votes' in London to Reform, Tories, Lib Dems and Greens

Sir Keir Starmer’s party is on 32% - an 11 point drop since the general election last July, according to the new poll

24 Jun 2025
Politics

UK to spend 5% of GDP on security amid Europe and Middle East wars

The Prime Minister stressed Britain has been plunged into an ‘era of radical uncertainty’ by growing threats

23 Jun 2025
World

UK warns Trump's 'bullseye' strikes won't stop Iran nuclear arms plan

The UN’s nuclear watchdog is calling for a ceasefire so its inspectors can verify what has happened to some 400kg of highly enriched uranium in Iran

23 Jun 2025
IRAN-ISRAEL-CONFLICT-KHAMENEI
Politics

'In bunker' Iran Supreme Leader must not escalate war, warns Lammy

The Foreign Secretary is stressing that that the Middle East, and beyond, is at a ‘moment of peril’

23 Jun 2025
Politics

Tory defects to Reform on flagship council as Farage eyes London gains

EXCLUSIVE: Westminster councillor Laila Cunningham is quitting the Conservatives saying she can no longer ‘defend failure’

23 Jun 2025
Politics

Londoners face council tax rises above 5% as funds moved to North

Leading economists warn suburban boroughs such as Kingston, Richmond, Bromley and Barnet could be hit hard, as well as Westminster and Wandsworth

21 Jun 2025
ISRAEL-IRAN-CONFLICT
Politics

UK envoys quit Iran and evacuation flights for Brits in Israel planned

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has been working with the Israeli government on flights back to the UK

20 Jun 2025
Notting Hill Carnival 2024
London

Sadiq: Carnival crush left me frightened and thinking of Hillsborough

Future of carnival in doubt after a review identified ‘critical public safety concerns’ due to vast crowds

19 Jun 2025
World

Keir Starmer urges Donald Trump not to attack Iran's nuclear sites

Israel has launched more air strikes on Tehran and Iran hit a hospital in southern Israel

19 Jun 2025
Politics

'Strong case' for Trump to attack Iran nuclear sites, says ex-MI6 boss

Sir John Sawers, head of the Secret Intelligence Service from 2009 to 2014, believes it may be better if the US president ‘got on with it’

19 Jun 2025
Smoke rises as the Israel-Iran air war continues, in Tehran
Politics

Iran's leader trades war threats with Trump in 'dangerous moment'

Ayatollah warns any US air strikes on Iran would have ‘serious irreparable consequences’ as US President considers military action

18 Jun 2025
Politics

Migrant boats: Rule stopping French police going into water to be axed

The change is set to come as some 17,000 economic migrants and asylum seekers have already reached UK shores so far this year

18 Jun 2025
Transport

HS2 to miss 2033 target as 'litany of failure' hikes costs by £37bn

HS2 has made UK a 'laughing stock' on infrastructure, says minister as high speed line timetable hits the buffers

18 Jun 2025
A general view of Hammersmith Bridge in London
Politics

Hopes rise that Hammersmith Bridge could re-open

Repairing the 138-year-old bridge, which has been closed to motor vehicles for six years, would be a major boost to west London

17 Jun 2025
Grooming gangs statement
UK

Grooming gangs: London children 'sexually and criminally exploited'

Baroness Casey found ‘deep-rooted failures’ to protect children from rape, exploitation, and violence, with continued fragmentation in the authorities' response

16 Jun 2025
Politics

Grooming gangs scandal: Damning key findings from Casey review

The Government has now ordered a new national inquiry into grooming gangs after the shocking findings

16 Jun 2025
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