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The Guardian Politics18 May 2026

The Green party is split between two factions – but there is a strategy that could bring them together | Joe Todd

If Zack Polanski can be both popular and radical – think price controls to manage the cost of living – then he will have found a uniting mission The Greens are jubilant after sweeping through Labour heartlands in last week’s elections, winning Norwich, Hastings, Waltham Forest, Hackney and Lewisham, while becoming the largest party in Haringey and Lambeth too. At the same time, there are reports that Zack Polanski is “plotting” to water down the Green policy platform. That’s not quite true. As l

PoliticsEconomyEnvironment
The Guardian Politics18 May 2026

Lammy dismisses Streeting’s call for UK to rejoin EU as ‘sixth form’ debating position – UK politics live

Deputy PM says the public will not forgive weeks of internal debate on the EU and Labour leadership, warning it will play into Reform’s hands Good morning. Harold Wilson was right; a week is a long time etc etc. Seven days ago, the biggest threat to Keir Starmer was a half-baked challenge from Catherine West. A week on, with Andy Burnham on a viable path back to Westminster within the next few weeks, it now seems more likely than not that Burnham will be prime minister by the autumn, perhaps ear

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics18 May 2026

Starmer is not setting out timetable for his departure, says David Lammy

Deputy PM says Andy Burnham would be ‘great addition to parliament’, but leadership row is an ‘own goal’ for Labour Keir Starmer is not about to set a timetable for his departure from Downing Street, David Lammy, one of the prime minister’s closest cabinet allies, has said, calling on Labour to get beyond the “spectacular own goal” of repeated leadership speculation. While allies of Starmer have suggested he is potentially willing to step aside if Andy Burnham wins next month’s Makerfield byelec

Politics
The Guardian Politics18 May 2026

I've interviewed Reform UK voters – and they're much more progressive than you might think | Sacha Hilhorst

Over the past five years, I’ve spoken to people struggling to get by in post-industrial northern England. They’re crying out for more radicalism, not less Among other defeats, the recent local elections saw Labour lose heavily across the Midlands and the north of England. The results are reminiscent of the 2016 Brexit vote and, with the return of those electoral geographies, some of the old tropes have resurfaced, too. Once again, England’s post-industrial towns are cast as the angry, reactionar

PoliticsReform
The Guardian Politics18 May 2026

National Conversation project launches as Britain risks ‘being torn apart by differences’

Commission led by Sajid Javid and Jon Cruddas asks public to share vision of community and country to help rebuild social cohesion Sajid Javid has warned the country risks “being torn apart by our differences” as figures from across public life launch a project that asks what it means to be British. The Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion, co-chaired by the former Conservative chancellor as well as the former Labour party policy chief Jon Cruddas, is urging the public to share their

Defence
The Guardian Politics18 May 2026

The result of normalising Reform’s ideas? Neighbour is turned against neighbour | Nesrine Malik

‘Concern’ about immigration has now morphed into policing how ethnic minorities exist in our communities Turn away, for a moment, from Westminster and the battle to be the next prime minister – and towards the lives of the ethnic minorities and immigrants who live in England and who just saw many parts of their country turn turquoise at the May local elections. How are these people to be treated by Reform representatives when that party thinks they are lesser humans – and a threat to the social

PoliticsImmigrationDefence
The Guardian Politics18 May 2026

UK’s next ambassador to Japan may be called to give evidence in Mandelson inquiry

MPs will decide whether Corin Robertson will face questions over decision to award security clearance against advice The UK’s next ambassador to Japan could be called to give evidence over the decision to award Peter Mandelson security clearance against the advice of vetting officials. Corin Robertson was the Foreign Office’s (FCDO) chief operating officer when she was involved in the decision in late January 2025 to grant Mandelson clearance, according to evidence given to MPs. Continue readin

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics17 May 2026

Campaigners threaten legal action over UK-US deal on prices NHS pays for drugs

Two campaign groups claim that change to how NHS treatments are approved amounts to ‘unlawful power grab’ Campaigners against the UK’s controversial drug pricing deal with Donald Trump are threatening the government with legal action unless it scraps a key element of the plan. They claim that a change to how drug treatments are approved for use by the NHS, which could lead to it paying even higher prices for them, amounts to an “unlawful power grab”. Continue reading...

Healthcare
The Guardian Politics17 May 2026

David Lammy promises 25% cut in number of children jailed while they await trial

Justice secretary’s white paper will overhaul youth justice rules and could end lifelong criminal records for under-18s David Lammy has promised to cut the number of children kept in jail while they await trial by a quarter as part of an overhaul of youth justice rules that could also end lifelong criminal records for under-18s. The justice secretary is publishing a white paper on Monday that he says will reduce the number of children ending up in jail – something he admits was his greatest fear

ReformCrime
The Guardian Politics17 May 2026

Andy Burnham faces perilous race to win Makerfield byelection, allies say

Reform, which won more than 50% of the local election vote, is likely to focus heavily on immigration and Brexit Andy Burnham faces a perilous race to win the Makerfield seat, his allies have warned, as he gears up to fight a byelection that could decide the long-term future of Labour and the country. The Greater Manchester mayor is likely to be confirmed as Labour’s candidate for the north-west constituency later this week, but those close to him say he faces an uphill battle to beat Reform UK.

PoliticsImmigrationDefenceReform
The Guardian Politics17 May 2026

London mayor criticises plans for north of England bid to host Olympics

Excluding capital would be ‘missed opportunity’, says Sadiq Khan, given existing assets and ‘world-class infrastructure’ The mayor of London has criticised plans to explore a bid for the north of England to host the Olympics, saying that excluding London would be a “missed opportunity”. Ministers have commissioned an assessment by UK Sport which could inform a bid for the international sporting event in the 2040s. If the campaign were successful, it would be the first time the Olympic Games and