The UK Defence Secretary Resigns. Plus: Violence in Belfast and Albania’s Backlash Against a Jared Kushner Backed Hotel Development

Politics Uncensored

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Thursday, 11 June 2026 - 49 minutes

The Week Unwrapped What’s next for the war in the Middle East?Hopes for a truce in the Middle East are fading, as the United States launched a second round of airstrikes into Iran on Thursday morning. The attacks were launched after the downing of an American helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded by targeting the US’s allies in the Gulf: Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday night that Tehran would “pay the price” for stalling peace negotiations. Zoë and Ali discuss what these breaches mean for peace, whether it is turning into a long-term war, and what the cost is domestically for Donald Trump.Defence Secretary John Healey resigns over military spending plansDefence Secretary John Healey has resigned from Keir Starmer’s government over military spending plans. In a letter to the PM on Thursday, he says the defence investment plan "falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time" and that he had no choice but to stand down. Zoë and Ali unpack why this comes as a surprise and what this significant move means for Keir Starmer’s future. One week to go until the Makerfield By-electionAli is in Makerfield again this week, so he brings us the latest from the constituency ahead of the consequential by-election. Ali also tells us about the mood locally, why he thinks it is going to be a tight race and why he is concerned about the rise of the right-wing Restore Britain.Violence breaks out in Belfast after protests over a knife attackEarlier this week, footage was widely circulated on social media of a serious knife attack in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Authorities say the suspect is a Sudanese refugee, a detail that has fuelled anti-immigration protests. Some were peaceful, but others descended into violence.Demonstrators have set fire to vehicles and buildings, largely in Belfast, with residents reporting that many of those targeted were people of colour. The unrest comes as anger over the fatal stabbing of Southampton student Henry Nowak remains raw. While the two cases are unrelated, both have sparked protests and renewed debate around immigration and asylum in the UK. Zoë and Ali unpack why this is more than an immigration issue, how this casts light on increasing racist rhetoric in the UK and the role of social media. Albania’s Flamingo Revolution: Jared Kushner’s hotel development sparks fierce backlashTo Albania now, where thousands of people have taken to the streets of the capital, Tirana, to protest a multi-billion-dollar development linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of Donald Trump.Plans for a 10,000-room luxury resort complex on the former military outpost of Sazan Island, alongside a development near the neighbouring Vjosa-Narta Lagoon, a protected stretch of Albania's coastline, have sparked opposition. Albania's government is backing the investment and appears determined to push ahead. Una Hajdari, Politico Europe contributor and Balkans expert joins us to explain the political difficulty of the project, why Albanians are so angry and what this might mean for the country’s future.Guest: Una Hajdari, Politico Europe contributor and Balkans expert. You can find Una on X here. Producer: Monica Lillis

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