Observer | The Guardian (2024)

Front page Labour and Tories would ‘both leave NHS worse off than under austerity’ Number of private school pupils rises despite claims families priced out by Labour’s VAT plan ‘People should not wait two years to be tried’: inside the crown court crisis Theanti-Ulez vote helped Tories win in Uxbridge but has pro-car agenda run out of road? Disaffection among young UK voters fuelling growth of smaller parties Bagging a Munro gets easier as volunteers fund repairs to mountain paths Election diary: a tax on disco music, a levy on punctuation – and VAT terror stalking rural England Howto reverse austerity? Scrap some of the tax-relief schemes worth £204bn EUdrugs watchdog probes painkiller linked to deaths HMRC has failed to fine a single ‘enabler’ of offshore tax fraud in five years Metpolice accused of failing to address toxic culture in firearms unit ‘The new lads will thrive’: England’s youthful call-ups ready to grasp chance Labour sends activists to 13 seats where it fears losing Muslim voters over Gaza ‘No pride in occupation’: queer Palestinians on ‘pink-washing’ in Gaza conflict ‘A lingering taste of coconut and vanilla’: how Nigerians reclaimed ‘moonshine’ palm spirit Netanyahu is fighting a war on two fronts. No end is in sight for either one Israel has fallen into Hamas trap in Gaza war, says Giorgia Meloni at G7 Biden goes on offense over age issue, wishing Trump a happy 78th birthday ‘This could end up ugly’: after Macron’s gamble, will the far right seize power in France? ‘We’re excited’: arthouse hits draw young UK filmgoers to a summer of subtitles Awobbly left and a wary right could cut the Labour vote with low turnout ‘When they get in they will face a terrible reality’: can steady Starmer deliver what he promises? Howparakeets escaped and made Britain their home From humiliation to annihilation: could this election mean the end of the Tory party as we know it? Rishi Sunak’s chances were always slim. And the numbers just get worse #MeToo men want to be forgiven, but what of the careers of their casualties? Thatcherism, austerity, Brexit, Liz Truss... goodbye and good riddance to all that SirKeir’s not here to entertain. If the media wants politics as panto, it’s playing in Clacton Far-right policies don’t become palatable just because mainstream politicians adopt them Victoria Starmer isn’t playing ball with the rightwing press. Good for her Labour’s chocolate box urban utopia is one election promise it can’t fulfil Bankers’ bonuses are taxed fairly, so why aren’t those of their private equity counterparts? Mydad Martin Amis loved a gangster film – but hated my plays InMiddlesbrough, I found drug dealers and their victims locked in a circle of despair Chris Riddell on how the three main parties are heading towards the election – cartoon Rising violence against politicians is an attack on democracy itself Editorials & Letters TheObserver view on the French election: Emmanuel Macron is playing a dangerous game TheObserver view: manifestos reveal the gulf between the main parties Wehave abandoned our vulnerable children ‘Encryption is deeply threatening to power’: Meredith Whittaker of messaging app Signal ‘I was abused twice, first by my partner and then by my bank’ Boom in cataract surgery in England as private clinics eye huge profits Struggle to damp down inflation leaves Tories’ election hopes high and dry Hyde United to Czech No 1: Jindrich Stanek’s unlikely journey to the Euros Euro 2024 diary: missing underpants and lost confidence as Scotland hit Germany Artem Dovbyk’s path from Ukraine’s third tier to La Liga’s finest finisher Bryson DeChambeau takes control of US Open with 67 but McIlroy falters England beat rain delays and Namibia to keep T20 World Cup hopes alive Alexander-Arnold can be special in England’s midfield, insists Southgate Havertz warns Euro 2024 rivals Scotland rout was just the start for Germany Harry Kane the scorer now has the aura to lead England to glory Italy bounce back from first-minute shock as Barella strike sinks Albania Koeman shrugs off hiccups and insists Netherlands have fighting chance Emma Raducanu draws first blood in Nottingham battle with Katie Boulter Reviews Beth Gibbons review – an unapologetically intense triumph Sasquatch Sunset review – brilliant bigfoot oddity is unexpectedly moving Gavin Jantjes: To Be Free! A Retrospective 1970-2023 review – fierce and subtle Architect David Chipperfield: ‘We used to know what progress was. Now we’re not so sure’ ‘People like it because it’s the messy truth’: Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver on their hit podcast Miss Me? ‘Hip-hop is the new avant garde’: John Cale on Lou Reed, anger and continual reinvention Time may be up for the Tories, but their legacy of lies will live on Self-care: why looking after No 1 isn’t always best for your wellbeing ‘We want the audience to feel there is hope’: how to write a play about the climate crisis, by the team behind The Jungle and Little Amal Stephen Fry: ‘The Conservatives are what we call in poker a busted flush’ Thebig picture: Joel Meyerowitz in 1960s Málaga ‘In South Africa, you hear of disappearance all the time’: one photographer’s search for his sister’s missing years Sulaiman Addonia: ‘I’m taking writing back to the rock’n’roll era!’ Prof Arturo Casadevall: ‘It is hubris to think a fungal pandemic can’t happen to us’ How’s this for a bombshell – the US must make AI its next Manhattan Project Onmy radar: Golda Schultz’s cultural highlights Oneto watch: Aziya Streaming: the best films about elections Computer says yes: how AI is changing our romantic lives Thegreat DIY revival: meet the people who’ll try to fix anything Bowie and Spice Girls PR Alan Edwards: ‘Through punk I found another family’ Mygrownup son is gaming all day and lives on takeaways Nigel Slater’s recipe for mango and passion fruit fool ‘Stay angry as hell with our politicians’: Katharine Hamnett on politics, the planet and slogan T-shirts Carnival of colour: fashion designer Isabela Capeto’s Rio apartment 10of the best places to celebrate the summer solstice in the UK and Ireland Nigel Slater’s recipes for vanilla shortbread with pistachio and cherries, and feta scones, watercress and cucumber butter Myson is suspicious of the idea of Father’s Day. Why would he want to celebrate the lesser of his two parents? Finding comfort in good chocolate and the phases of the moon Falling over will teach you hard truths about life – and teeth Sunday with Fearne Cotton: ‘Once our kids start work, we’re going to do a gap year’ Scented body oils: 10 of the best Curry tasting in Fife, oysters on Exmoor: expert tips for foodie holidays around Britain Aubergine caviar, post-Soviet kebab kiosks: what Ukraine’s food culture taught me 30 years ago ‘Spain is much more than patatas bravas’: José Pizarro’s summer recipes Grilled sardines, baked hake, baked haddock: Nigel Slater’s easy fish recipes Welcome to June’s Observer Food Monthly Richard Bainbridge’s secret ingredient: nutritional yeast Conservationist Isabella Tree: ‘Rewilding is vital for the UK’s agricultural future’ Comedian Allan Mustafa: ‘I love banh mi. I geek out on being able to eat history’ Wake up and smell the yorkshires – Sunday lunch is back! Farming is risky and vital – it needs to be on the next UK government’s priority list Pancetta tarts, vegan ginger slice, onion flatbreads – Nigel Slater’s recipes for all-day bakes Welcome to May’s Observer Food Monthly Lamb kofta, sea bream puttanesca, potato cakes – 20-minute recipes from Anna Haugh Ruby Bhogal’s secret ingredient – ginger, in all forms Most viewed Most viewed in UK news Most viewed Across the guardian