Can Andy Burnham actually beat Reform in Makerfield to take on Starmer? Here’s what the data shows The Mayor of Manchester has several obstacles to overcome on the long road to Westminster The Independent UK · May 15
More than just a critical blow to Keir Starmer and Labour, local votes signal a dis-United Kingdom Local elections in Britain on May 7, 2026 – in which the ruling Labour Party suffered deep losses – revealed tectonic shifts. The Conversation · May 15
Politics has tossed friendship out of the window – as Keir Starmer is realising Britain’s embattled PM is beset by enemies. One reason is that Westminster has ceased to be a club and turned into a shambles, says Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins The Guardian - UK · May 15
London MPs back Andy Burnham Commons comeback: 'We need our best players on the pitch' Brent East MP Dawn Butler stresses Labour needs its ‘best players on the pitch’ Evening Standard · May 15
UK government faces weeks of uncertainty over the prime minister's future The British government faces weeks of uncertainty as embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer prepares for a leadership challenge from the popular mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham The Independent UK · May 15
Labour has not learned lessons of defeat in Scotland – SNP Westminster leader SNP MP Dave Doogan is calling on the UK Government to bring forward an emergency cost-of-living budget to help families. Evening Standard · May 14
Sales fall for second month in row amid ongoing conflict in Middle East Figures from the Scottish Retail Consortium and KPMG show total sales in Scotland fell by 1.2% last month compared with April 2025. Evening Standard · May 14
New Health Secretary named after Streeting resignation sparks potential Labour leadership contest Wes Streeting resigned from the role on Thursday, saying it would be dishonourable and unprincipled” to continue in the Cabinet under Starmer The Independent UK · May 14
Who are the main contenders to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister? It has become a given in Westminster circles that Keir Starmer’s tenure as prime minister could be nearing its end. This is because, fairly or unfairly, the UK public have made up their minds – and they do not like him. The Conversation · May 14
Westminster waits in frenzied limbo before Wes jumpstarts day of drama Everything was in place for a move against the PM but for a moment Labour seemed to have forgotten the final act The Guardian - UK · May 14
How could Labour MPs trigger a leadership contest? The threshold Streeting must meet Here’s how a contest could be triggered and who could stand The Independent UK · May 14
What now for Starmer, Labour and UK politics? Letters: Former Europe minister Denis MacShane says Sir Keir Starmer could be more effective as foreign secretary than prime minister. Plus letters from Bernie Evans, Keith Flett, Alec Hamilton and Douglas Currie The Guardian - UK · May 14
Starmer ‘will not block’ Burnham from standing in by-election triggered by Labour MP IN FULL The Independent UK · May 14
What Wes Streeting said in his resignation letter – and what he meant Wes Streeting quit as health secretary on Thursday after an extremely turbulent week for the Labour Party. Here, The Independent looks at what he said in his resignation letter as he launched a blistering attack on the prime minister The Independent UK · May 14
Evening Standard · May 14 Westminster ‘chaos’ underlines need to ‘break shackles’, says O’Neill Stormont’s First Minister met in London with the SNP and Plaid Cymru following their election victories in Scotland and Wales.
The Conversation · May 14 Why a new Plaid Cymru government in Cardiff may pose a fresh challenge for Westminster After emerging as the largest party in the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) election, Plaid Cymru is now establishing itself as the next Welsh government. It’s the first administration not led by Welsh Labour since devolution began 27 years ago.
Evening Standard · May 14 Flynn and Gethins hit out at ‘crisis-ridden Westminster’ as they quit Commons The former SNP MPs have been elected to the Scottish Parliament after last week’s election.
International Business Times UK · May 14 'I Have A Crush On Her': Michael Gove Admits He's Smitten With Labour Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood Michael Gove's admission of a crush on Shabana Mahmood during a radio interview has sparked discussions in Westminster, highlighting Mahmood's political influence and generating mixed social media reactions
Evening Standard · May 14 Angela Rayner 'cleared' in HMRC tax dodge investigation paving way for Labour leadership run Former Deputy Prime Minister does not rule out running in any leadership race but says she would not ‘trigger’ contest
The Guardian - UK · May 14 Thursday briefing: Is this Starmer’s last stand? In today’s newsletter: As the prime minister loses his grip on his party, his health minister appears to be waiting in the wings to take a chance on a leadership bid
Evening Standard · May 13 Labour turmoil continues as Streeting mulls leadership challenge Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has questioned whether any of the Prime Minister’s rivals can muster the necessary support to launch a contest.
Evening Standard · May 13 Back our attempt to oust Keir Starmer, SNP urges Scottish Labour MPs SNP chief whip Kirsty Blackman urged Anas Sarwar to order Scottish Labour MPs to back her bid to oust Sir Keir Starmer.
The Guardian - UK · May 13 As Westminster rages, and Labour sinks into civil war: what about the people? Voters are desperate for a turnaround in living standards. The runners and riders for the Labour leadership must address this, says Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty
The Independent UK · May 13 Politics isn’t about the public anymore — it’s about the Westminster village, says former Labour insider Sir Keir Starmer’s biographer has criticised Labour’s internal turmoil, saying he is “astonished that a party’s behaving like this” amid growing questions over the leadership.
Evening Standard · May 13 Tourist tax and leasehold reform: What the King's Speech means for London Sir Keir Starmer unveiled his legislative programme for the next parliamentary session on Wednesday, which he hopes will win over Labour MPs calling for his resignation after a disastrous set of local election results