5 h. ago Labour will keep control of at least NINE councils it was set to lose by cancelling local elections

Around 30 councils - serving between four and five million voters - are set to be given permission to postpone ballots, set for May, to help a wider reorganisation of local government.

Politics

6 h. ago Elon Musk’s xAI datacenter generating extra electricity illegally, regulator rules

Win for Memphis activists who say ‘Colossus’ facilities add extra pollution to already overburdened communitiesA US regulator ruled on Thursday that Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company had acted illegally by using dozens of methane gas turbines to power massive data centers in Tennessee.xAI has been fighting for a year and a half over truck-sized gas turbines the company had parked near its Colossus 1 and 2 facilities, arguing to local authorities that the electricity-generating turbines were exempt from requirements for air quality permits. Continue reading...

Events

11 h. ago Opponents label Jenrick a ‘chancer’ and a ‘charlatan’ as he defects to Reform – politics live

Former shadow justice secretary turns fire on Tories and Labour as he joins Nigel Farage’s partyFull report: Badenoch sacks JenrickNigel Farage, speaking at his press conference in Scotland, has said that “of course” he has had conversations with Robert Jenrick, who was sacked by Kemi Badenoch this morning for planning to defect.UPDATE: Farage said:I have had conversations with a number of very senior conservatives over the course of the last week, the last month. A lot of them realise that for all the talk on 8 May the Conservative Party will cease to be a national party. They will be obliterated in Scotland, Wales, the red wall councils.As far as Mr Jenrick is concerned, of course I have talked to Robert Jenrick. Was I on the verge of signing him up? No. But we have had conversations.This morning I removed the Conservative whip from Robert Jenrick after dismissing him from the shadow cabinet.I was very sorry to be presented with clear, irrefutable evidence, not just that he was pr...

Politics

12 h. ago Jenrick joins Reform UK and claims Labour and Tories ‘broke Britain’ as Farage rules out any more defections after May – politics live

Nigel Farage introduces former shadow justice secretary at press conference following upheaval in Tory partyFull report: Badenoch sacks JenrickNigel Farage, speaking at his press conference in Scotland, has said that “of course” he has had conversations with Robert Jenrick, who was sacked by Kemi Badenoch this morning for planning to defect.UPDATE: Farage said:I have had conversations with a number of very senior conservatives over the course of the last week, the last month. A lot of them realise that for all the talk on 8 May the Conservative Party will cease to be a national party. They will be obliterated in Scotland, Wales, the red wall councils.As far as Mr Jenrick is concerned, of course I have talked to Robert Jenrick. Was I on the verge of signing him up? No. But we have had conversations.This morning I removed the Conservative whip from Robert Jenrick after dismissing him from the shadow cabinet.I was very sorry to be presented with clear, irrefutable evidence, not just th...

Politics

18 h. ago Robert Jenrick sacked by Kemi Badenoch over ‘clear evidence he was plotting to defect’ – UK politics live

‘I have sacked Robert Jenrick from the shadow cabinet, removed the whip and suspended his party membership with immediate effect,’ Tory leader saysFull report: Badenoch sacks JenrickNigel Farage, speaking at his press conference in Scotland, has said that “of course” he has had conversations with Robert Jenrick, who was sacked by Kemi Badenoch this morning for planning to defect.UPDATE: Farage said:I have had conversations with a number of very senior conservatives over the course of the last week, the last month. A lot of them realise that for all the talk on 8 May the Conservative Party will cease to be a national party. They will be obliterated in Scotland, Wales, the red wall councils.As far as Mr Jenrick is concerned, of course I have talked to Robert Jenrick. Was I on the verge of signing him up? No. But we have had conversations.This morning I removed the Conservative whip from Robert Jenrick after dismissing him from the shadow cabinet.I was very sorry to be presented with c...

Politics

18 h. ago Voting in Uganda’s general election delayed by technical and logistical issues

Some polling stations have no ballot papers and some machines to check ID are not working, local reports sayVoting in Uganda’s general election has been delayed in many parts of the country because of technical and logistical issues, against the backdrop of an internet shutdown and crackdown on the opposition.Some polling stations in the capital, Kampala, and the eastern city of Jinja remained closed nearly two hours after voting was supposed to start on Thursday. According to local reports, in some instance ballot papers had not been delivered and biometric machines used to check voters’ identities were not working. Anxious crowds at polling stations spoke of their concerns about the delay. Continue reading...

Politics

19 h. ago Rachel Reeves desperately tries to shore up Keir Starmer amid rising Labour anger

The Chancellor moved to shore up Sir Keir's position in No10 amid rumours of a push by his own backbenchers to oust him if May's local elections go badly.

Politics

20 h. ago Furious backlash grows against cancelling local elections which 'could see 10 million denied vote'

The Conservatives, Reform UK and Liberal Democrats have condemned the delays

Politics

21 h. ago Cabinet minister says voters WANT Labour to cancel 'pointless' local elections as Nigel Farage vows legal action

At least 30 councils - covering more than five million people - are expected to have applied to postpone elections by a deadline that expired at midnight.

Politics

30 h. ago Nigel Farage in legal bid to block election delays that risk turning Britain into a 'banana republic' where FIVE MILLION people will lose their vote

Ministers announced last month that they were inviting councils in areas undergoing local government reorganisation to postpone their elections.

Politics

3 d. ago Calls for ‘immediate’ general election to be debated by MPs as 1,000,000 voters sign petition

The petition is a sign of increased dissatisfaction with the government among voters ahead of the local elections in May

Politics

4 d. ago Reform will win councils in London at May local elections, says Tice as it races to recruit 1800 candidates

Nigel Farage’s party is hoping to gain control of a string of councils in Outer London

Politics

6 d. ago Nigel Farage accuses Labour of betraying Brexit as he launches Reform's campaign in London

The Reform UK leader was speaking at a rally at the Excel centre in London

Politics

7 d. ago Government responds to calls to stop local elections being cancelled

Cancelling local elections is 'voter suppression and undemocratic', according to a petition with more than 100,000 signatures

Politics

9 d. ago Reform UK councils unveil plans for tax rises and service cuts

Party controls nine English councils and leads three minority administrations after last year’s local election wins

Politics

9 d. ago Starmer says UK ‘turning the corner’ at first Cabinet meeting of 2026

Labour faces a difficult set of elections in May in English local authorities and the Scottish and Welsh parliaments.

Politics

1 week ago Food prices in supermarkets to fall as UK moves closer to Single Market to undo Brexit harm, says Starmer

The Prime Minister toughened Labour’s stance on closer ties with the European Union as his party faces a hammering in May elections

Economics

1 week ago Brexit: Keir Starmer squares up to Nigel Farage with moves towards EU Single Market as he fights to stay PM

The Prime Minister toughened Labour’s stance on closer ties with the European Union as his party faces a hammering in May elections

Events

1 week ago Starmer squares up to Farage on Brexit with moves towards Single Market as he fights to stay PM

The Prime Minister toughened Labour’s stance on closer ties with the European Union as his party faces a hammering in May elections

Events

1 week ago FTSE 100 smashing through 10,000 mark hailed by Rachel Reeves as vote of confidence in UK economy

The optimistic news came as Labour is hoping for economic growth ahead of crunch local elections in May

Politics