2 w. ago Streeting says Reform are real threat and may become Labour’s main rivals

Health secretary asks public to give government time as he calls Farage’s party a ‘serious opposition force’Politics live – latest updatesWes Streeting has said Reform is a real threat and could replace the Conservatives as the main opposition party by the next election, as he urged the public to give Labour the “benefit of the doubt”.The health secretary said Nigel Farage’s party was being treated as a “serious opposition force” after Reform’s success in the local elections, where it narrowly won a byelection from Labour and took 677 council seats, gaining control of 10 councils. Reform took most seats from the Conservatives, who lost 674, while Labour lost 187. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago English local elections live: Starmer admits results ‘disappointing’ as Reform say they are main opposition after byelection victory

PM says he will go ‘further and faster’ on change after Labour lose Runcorn byelection by six votesLocal elections: full mayoral and council resultsReform win Runcorn with just six votes in blow to LabourIs Farage’s quest to rid Reform of ‘amateurism’ paying off?Reform UK has won three of the first five wards declared at Northumberland County Council, with Labour and the Conservatives picking up one each, PA reports.There are 67 seats on the council, with the Conservatives defending 33, Labour 18, the Liberal Democrats four and Greens two, while there were 10 independent councillors. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Keir Starmer admits disappointment as Nigel Farage hails bombshell by

‘Reform are in business. They are a major challenge,’ says polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice

Events

3 w. ago What we have learned so far from England’s local elections and byelection

Results show gains for rightwing Reform UK party and move away from traditional Labour/Conservative duopolyEnglish local elections – latest updatesA series of elections took place across England on Thursday, with the results now coming in. It can seem a confusing picture, but clear lessons are already emerging. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago English local elections: Starmer admits results ‘disappointing’ as Reform say they are main opposition after byelection victory – live

PM says he will go ‘further and faster’ on change after Labour lose Runcorn byelection by six votesLocal elections 2025: full mayoral and council results for EnglandReform win Runcorn with just six votes in blow to LabourIs Farage’s quest to rid Reform of ‘amateurism’ paying off?Reform UK has won three of the first five wards declared at Northumberland County Council, with Labour and the Conservatives picking up one each, PA reports.There are 67 seats on the council, with the Conservatives defending 33, Labour 18, the Liberal Democrats four and Greens two, while there were 10 independent councillors. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago English local elections: Tories reject claim Reform UK main opposition after ultra

Reform score victories including their first mayoral race and taking Runcorn with six votes in byelectionLocal elections 2025: full mayoral and council results for EnglandReform win Runcorn with just six votes in blow to LabourIs Farage’s quest to rid Reform of ‘amateurism’ paying off?Reform UK has won three of the first five wards declared at Northumberland County Council, with Labour and the Conservatives picking up one each, PA reports.There are 67 seats on the council, with the Conservatives defending 33, Labour 18, the Liberal Democrats four and Greens two, while there were 10 independent councillors. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago English local elections: Reform UK wins Runcorn byelection by six votes as Andrea Jenkyns becomes party’s first mayor – UK politics live

New MP Sarah Pochin pays tribute to Nigel Farage as ‘great leader’ as former Tory minister takes Greater Lincolnshire as mayor for Reform UKLocal elections 2025: full mayoral and council results for EnglandReform win Runcorn with just six votes in blow to LabourReform UK has won three of the first five wards declared at Northumberland County Council, with Labour and the Conservatives picking up one each, PA reports.There are 67 seats on the council, with the Conservatives defending 33, Labour 18, the Liberal Democrats four and Greens two, while there were 10 independent councillors. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago English local elections: Reform UK wins Runcorn byelection by six votes as Labour says result means it must ‘move faster’ with plans – UK politics live

New Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin pays tribute to Farage as ‘great leader’; Labour wins North Tyneside and Doncaster mayoral racesLocal elections 2025: full mayoral and council results for EnglandReform UK has won three of the first five wards declared at Northumberland County Council, with Labour and the Conservatives picking up one each, PA reports.There are 67 seats on the council, with the Conservatives defending 33, Labour 18, the Liberal Democrats four and Greens two, while there were 10 independent councillors. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago English local elections: full recount ordered in extremely tight Runcorn byelection – UK politics live

Reports that just four votes separate Labour and Reform UK in Runcorn and Helsby seat; Labour wins North Tyneside and Doncaster mayoral racesLocal elections 2025: full mayoral and council results for EnglandReform UK has won three of the first five wards declared at Northumberland County Council, with Labour and the Conservatives picking up one each, PA reports.There are 67 seats on the council, with the Conservatives defending 33, Labour 18, the Liberal Democrats four and Greens two, while there were 10 independent councillors. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago English local elections: full recount in Runcorn byelection race; Labour holds North Tyneside mayoralty – UK politics live

Reports that just a handful of votes separate Labour and Reform in Labour-held Runcorn and Helsby seat; with results also due in mayoral and council racesLocal elections 2025: full mayoral and council results for EnglandReform UK has won three of the first five wards declared at Northumberland County Council, with Labour and the Conservatives picking up one each, PA reports.There are 67 seats on the council, with the Conservatives defending 33, Labour 18, the Liberal Democrats four and Greens two, while there were 10 independent councillors. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago English local elections: Labour hold North Tyneside mayoralty; votes counted in Runcorn byelection and council races – UK politics live

Votes being counted in Labour-held Runcorn and Helsby seat with results also due later for six mayors and 24 councilsLocal elections 2025: full mayoral and council results for EnglandReform UK has won three of the first five wards declared at Northumberland County Council, with Labour and the Conservatives picking up one each, PA reports.There are 67 seats on the council, with the Conservatives defending 33, Labour 18, the Liberal Democrats four and Greens two, while there were 10 independent councillors. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago English local elections: votes counted in Runcorn byelection, mayoral contests and council races – UK politics live

Votes being counted in Labour-held seat with results also due later for six mayors and 24 councilsLocal elections 2025: full mayoral and council results for EnglandReform UK has won three of the first five wards declared at Northumberland County Council, with Labour and the Conservatives picking up one each, PA reports.There are 67 seats on the council, with the Conservatives defending 33, Labour 18, the Liberal Democrats four and Greens two, while there were 10 independent councillors. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Polls close for local and mayoral elections in England and byelection result due

First mayoral race results expected around 2am with important Runcorn and Helsby byelection result about an hour laterPolls have closed across England for local and mayoral elections, as well as a key parliamentary byelection, with the first results due to be announced within hours.It is the first full-scale electoral test for Keir Starmer since the general election, and could have notable repercussions for Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch, as well as to a lesser extent for the Liberal Democrats and Greens. Continue reading...

Politics