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1218 headlines found — Page 26 of 102

The Guardian Politics26 May 2026

UK may be ‘tipped into a general election’ if Burnham replaces Starmer, says Harman

Former deputy Labour leader says Nigel Farage could say Manchester mayor is a ‘usurper’ and he may seek his own mandate UK politics live – latest updates The UK may find itself “tipped into a general election” if Andy Burnham replaces Keir Starmer as prime minister, Labour’s former deputy leader Harriet Harman said on Tuesday. If Burnham replaces Starmer as prime minister in the coming months, he may feel he needs to secure his own mandate, partly because Nigel Farage would accuse him of being

PoliticsReform
The Guardian Politics26 May 2026

Carol Vorderman demands apology from Reform candidate over ‘disgusting comments’

Broadcaster describes Robert Kenyon, who is standing in the upcoming Makerfield byelection, as a misogynist and a ‘cowardly man’ Carol Vorderman has demanded an apology from the Reform UK candidate in the upcoming Makerfield byelection for “disgusting comments” he made about her on social media in the past. The broadcaster and former Countdown numbers expert described Robert Kenyon, who Reform has backed to face Andy Burnham in next month’s vote, as a “cowardly man” for a series of offensive po

PoliticsDefenceReform
The Guardian Politics26 May 2026

Mother of boy who may have died in TikTok challenge urges No 10 to ban social media

Ellen Roome, whose son, Jools Sweeney, was 14 when he died, wants a ban put in place for under-16s The mother of a teenager who believes he died in a TikTok challenge gone wrong has said that Downing Street has been too slow to move towards a social media ban for under-16s, and accused the government of “kicking it down the road”. Ellen Roome, the mother of Jools Sweeney, 14, is among the families who will meet Keir Starmer on Tuesday as a consultation into the social media ban closes this week.

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics26 May 2026

Wes Streeting says Starmer ‘behind the curve’ on under-16s social media ban – UK politics live

Former health secretary says he unsuccessfully argued for tougher action when in cabinet Good morning. The government has been consulting on whether to follow Australia and impose a ban on social media for under-16s, or whether to opt for other restrictions, and the consultation ends at 11.59pm tonight. Keir Starmer is expected to announce the government’s response soon afterwards. He has already said that there will be action of some sort. Last year ministers were sceptical about following the

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics26 May 2026

Green party announce new candidate for Makerfield byelection

Sarah Wakefield, Manchester city councillor, to stand for party after initial candidate withdrew The Green party has announced its new candidate in the Makerfield byelection. Sarah Wakefield, a councillor on Manchester city council, will stand for the party after its initial candidate withdrew from the race. Continue reading...

PoliticsEnvironment
The Guardian Politics26 May 2026

The curse of burnout Britain affects politicians as much as everyone else: give Carla Denyer a break | Gaby Hinsliff

The Green MP’s decision to take time out has angered some – but many more will see endemic stress and anxiety as a blight we must address Carla Denyer is taking some time out. The Bristol Central MP and former Green party co-leader says she is suffering from burnout after trying to juggle health issues on top of the job and has been advised by her doctor to take a break. In an ideal world, most people would just wish her a swift recovery and get on with their lives, as quite a lot of MPs from no

PoliticsEnvironment
The Guardian Politics26 May 2026

Andy Burnham’s (third) bid for the Labour leadership – podcast

Josh Halliday on why Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is tipped to be the future Labour leader … if he wins the Makerfield byelection The mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, is running in the Makerfield byelection in June. Winning a seat as an MP would open up his chance to challenge Keir Starmer for the Labour party leadership. “He’s expressed multiple times that politics doesn’t work for most of the country,” the Guardian’s north of England editor, Josh Halliday, tells Nosheen Iqbal. “We l

Politics
The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

Rachel Reeves tells ministers to ‘buy British’ in four key industries

Exclusive: Chancellor pushes for procurement of ships, steel, energy and AI to prioritise Britishness as well as cost Rachel Reeves has instructed cabinet colleagues to award government contracts in four critical industries directly to British companies, making clear her irritation that ministers have been sending too much government business abroad. In a letter seen by the Guardian, the chancellor tells every cabinet minister in charge of a spending department to “buy British” wherever possible

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

Oppressing women is how authoritarianism begins. So listen to what Reform is saying | Zoe Williams

We saw it when Russia jailed members of Pussy Riot, and again when the US overturned Roe v Wade: misogyny is a powerful political weapon. Let’s focus on fighting it, not ‘understanding’ it In preparation for interviewing Pussy Riot’s Maria “Masha” Alyokhina at the Charleston festival, I was reading her new memoir, Political Girl. I thought I remembered the group’s origin story pretty well – in 2012, they performed their anthem, Punk Prayer (Virgin Mary Banish Putin), and two band members were im

Politics
The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

Here is Andy Burnham’s route to save Labour: a new manifesto, a new election and electoral reform | Polly Toynbee

Proportional representation can rescue Britain’s warped politics. It could stop Nigel Farage arriving at No 10 with less than 30% of the vote Here comes the prospect of redemption, a second chance for Labour to start over. A victory for Andy Burnham in the Makerfield byelection not only opens the door to No 10; a leadership contest also allows him and Wes Streeting to finally stretch their wings. Ideas currently firmly chained up in a Downing Street dungeon could be freed. Land value tax? Wealth

PoliticsEconomyDefenceReformHousing
The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

Musk retweet signals rightwing split that could help Burnham in Makerfield byelection

Far-right party set up by former Reform MP appears to be taking some support from Farage Andy Burnham is unlikely to be Elon Musk’s first pick to be prime minister of the UK. But an intervention by the US tech billionaire on behalf of a far-right offshoot of Reform UK is one of several signs that a divided right wing could deliver the Makerfield seat to the Manchester mayor. On 18 June, Burnham will fight a byelection in Greater Manchester, and polls have him only slightly ahead of Reform’s cand

PoliticsReform
The Guardian Politics25 May 2026

To understand Britain’s new politics, look no further than this Shakespearean saga in Worcestershire | Jason Okundaye

What should be a story of Reform incompetence instead speaks to the broader refusal of Westminster to adapt to multiparty democracy If you want a window into how a fragmented nation and a splintered party system are reshaping British politics, look no further than the drama at Worcestershire county council. It shows the consequences of Britain governing like a two-party state, when it now votes like a multiparty democracy. Last week, opposition councillors from the Conservatives, Greens, Liberal

PoliticsEnvironment