Politics

A row over withheld vetting files for Peter Mandelson has intensified scrutiny on the government, while Andy Burnham is confirmed as Labour’s Makerfield candidate and emerges as a potential leadership challenger

Keir Starmer is contesting questions in the Commons while Andy Burnham’s selection for Makerfield and recent cabinet unrest sharpen the party’s leadership debate

Putin’s two-day summit in Beijing follows Donald Trump’s visit and aims to expand trade, energy cooperation and strategic coordination

Several newly elected Green councillors in London have resigned or been ruled ineligible, forcing by-elections that will cost cash-strapped councils tens of thousands each

Four progressive Democrats compete for a safely blue seat in Philadelphia, revealing fault lines over strategy, endorsements and the role of Gaza in local politics

A closer look at the legal, moral and political questions after a non-citizen was elected to the Scottish Parliament

Wes Streeting’s public call to treat Brexit as a mistake and seek a new path toward the European Union has intensified rivalries within Labour and turned attention to the Makerfield by-election.

A detailed look at the policing plan for 16 May: numbers, technology and legal steps aimed at preventing clashes between Unite the Kingdom and Nakba Day protests

Wes Streeting has endorsed Andy Burnham for the Makerfield by-election and urged Labour to prioritise electability while the party navigates internal debates and logistical hurdles

A sitting mayor is preparing to re-enter Parliament after an MP’s surprise departure, intensifying an already volatile Labour leadership debate

A Labour MP will step aside for Andy Burnham to contest Makerfield, escalating internal debate about party leadership and strategy

A swirl of briefings and denials has intensified the debate over Sir Keir Starmer’s future, with Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner at the centre of speculation

Trump’s visit to Beijing combined imperial-style pageantry with urgent conversations on Taiwan, AI export controls and critical mineral dependencies

Local councillors have challenged the outcome of a residents’ survey for a Slieve View bilingual street sign application, pointing to possible postal or process failures

A looming State Opening raises fresh concerns after several ministers resigned and dozens of MPs demanded Keir Starmer step aside, prompting warnings from the Palace

Several cabinet figures have resigned, splitting Labour MPs and raising questions about Keir Starmer’s future while some colleagues rally to his defence

A growing group of Labour MPs and senior figures are pressing Sir Keir Starmer to step aside or set out a clear exit plan amid threats of a formal challenge

Keir Starmer will attempt a public reset amid growing calls for change after Labour’s local election setbacks, with figures such as Wes Streeting, Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham being discussed as possible successors

A concise exploration of how long incumbency, local campaigning and the 8 May 2026 Shetland result reveal risks to democratic responsiveness

SNP returns to office yet the distribution of seats leaves questions on leadership, coalition math and the future of independence

Labour’s 14-year run in Birmingham ended as Reform, Greens, Conservatives and independents split the council, creating an uncertain future for services and the bin dispute

Labour’s 14-year leadership of Birmingham City Council ends as several parties pick up seats and remaining recounts leave the chamber with no single majority

Eluned Morgan’s unexpected loss in the Senedd marks a historic defeat for a sitting leader and deepens a difficult night for Welsh Labour

Early tallies on 8 May 2026 showed Reform UK expanding rapidly across councils, with both Labour and the Conservatives facing setbacks and leadership questions

The local elections revealed major gains for Reform UK, significant Labour losses and expert analysis suggesting the long-standing two-party pattern in England is breaking up