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The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

Nigel Farage faces inquiry over £5m gift from crypto billionaire

Watchdog to examine whether Reform UK leader should have declared donation received before entering parliament Nigel Farage is facing a formal investigation by the parliamentary standards watchdog over a £5m gift from the crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. The Reform UK leader received the money weeks before announcing he would stand as a candidate in the 2024 general election. Continue reading...

PoliticsReform
The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

What is the king’s speech and what is the state opening of parliament?

Ceremonial event marks start of new parliamentary year, and outlines government policies and proposed legislation UK politics live – latest updates Continue reading...

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The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

Wes Streeting plans to resign and mount leadership challenge, allies say

Sources say health secretary intends to trigger leadership election as early as Thursday UK politics live – latest updates Who are the main threats to Starmer’s leadership? Allies of Wes Streeting have said he is preparing to stand down as health secretary amid deep frustration with Keir Starmer’s leadership, and could mount a formal challenge for the leadership as early as Thursday. Downing Street insiders had suggested Streeting did not yet have the required support from 81 MPs, which is ne

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The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

Starmer sets out changes to education, health and courts in king’s speech

King Charles unveils government agenda for the next year as PM faces leadership threat from within Labour • UK politics live – latest updates Keir Starmer has put long-promised changes to education, health and the courts at the heart of his agenda for the next year, as the embattled prime minister looks to prove he can enact the scale of change being demanded by Labour MPs and voters. The prime minister unveiled his legislative programme for the next parliamentry session on Wednesday, a moment h

PoliticsEducationCrime
The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

Starmer holds 16-minute meeting with Streeting amid leadership crisis

Another ally of health secretary renews call for resignation of prime minister, who is due to deliver king’s speech • UK politics live – latest updates Wes Streeting has held talks with Keir Starmer in Downing Street as an ally of the health secretary renewed calls for the prime minister to resign, saying his authority had “irretrievably ebbed away”. Streeting arrived in No 10 on Wednesday morning amid intense speculation over Labour’s leadership crisis and his own future within the party, befor

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The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

Easy as ABC: voters in England tend to pick names nearer top of ballot, data suggests

Exclusive: Where parties fielded multiple candidates in last week’s vote, those at top of list were more likely to be picked Fancy your chances in politics? Then perhaps you should change your name to Aaron Aaronson or Aaliyah Aardvark, figures from last week’s local elections in England suggest. A Guardian analysis of election results compiled by the website Democracy Club points to a striking alphabet effect. In wards where a party fielded three candidates, those listed nearer the top of the b

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

Wes Streeting arrives at No 10 for talks with Keir Starmer ahead of King’s speech - UK politics live

A number of the health secretary’s allies called for the prime minister’s resignation but Streeting has yet to call for a formal leadership challenge Report: Starmer given a lifeline after Streeting challenge fails to materialise Good morning. There are two main events in the diary today. At this point, it is not entirely clear which will turn out to be more consequential. At 11.15am the king will arrive at parliament for the state opening. The king’s speech sets out the legislative programme

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The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

Labour-supporting unions predict Starmer will not lead party into next election

Exclusive: Leaked draft statement says party ‘cannot continue on its current path’ under PM Keir Starmer will not lead his party into the next general election, Labour-supporting unions have predicted, in an intervention that threatens to further destabilise the prime minister after a damaging few days. The 11 Labour-affiliated unions – which include Unite, Unison and the GMB – are expected to issue a joint statement on Wednesday saying “at some stage” the party will have to put a plan in place

PoliticsDefenceHousing
The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

Labour needs a battle of ideas now, not a scramble to snatch the keys to No 10 | Rafael Behr

Removing Starmer solves the problem of an unpopular leader, but without a coherent alternative agenda his successor won’t fare much better Labour has spent much of the past year paralysed by competing fears. MPs’ dread of facing voters with Keir Starmer as prime minister has been kept in check by their recoil from the process of replacing him. They know the prime minister is an electoral liability; they know that the electorate takes a dim view of chaotic, regicidal parties that showcase disunit

PoliticsDefenceHousing
The Guardian Politics12 May 2026

Labour must fulfil promise to introduce clean air act, charities urge

Party held out prospect of act while in opposition but plan did not make it into election manifesto Ministers should bring forward a new clean air act that would ban wood burning, clear diesel vehicles from the roads and force councils to cut pollution, a group of more than 60 charities have urged before the king’s speech on Wednesday. Labour held out the prospect of a clean air act while in opposition in 2023, but this was dropped from the final election manifesto, and the government has made n

PoliticsDefenceEnvironment
The Guardian Politics12 May 2026

Starmer hopes to regain momentum with unveiling of dozens of bills in king’s speech

Planned legislation includes housing, immigration and energy measures, and comes amid awkwardness with the palace over Charles’s role Keir Starmer will attempt to regain the political initiative on Wednesday as his government announces a package of 35 bills for the next parliamentary session, covering everything from housing to immigration. The embattled prime minister will release details of dozens of bills that he intends to pass over the next 12 months, even as his own MPs line up to demand h

PoliticsImmigrationDefenceHousing
The Guardian Politics12 May 2026

Despite calls to step down, Keir Starmer is still the UK’s prime minister – for now

How Labour party leader lost authority over two days of confusion and drama before state opening of parliament As the afternoon faded in Westminster, final preparations were being made for Wednesday’s state opening of parliament, where King Charles will set out a year-long legislative programme for a government that even its most ardent allies fear might not last the week. Once again, here we are. Keir Starmer is still the UK’s prime minister. It is even possible he might be in a few months from

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