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The Guardian Politics7 May 2026

Polls close in elections across England, Scotland and Wales

Results of elections for councils in England, the Senedd in Wales and the Scottish parliament could transform Great Britain’s political landscape Polls have closed across England, Scotland and Wales for local, mayoral and parliamentary elections, with the first results to be announced within hours. More than 30 million people across Britain were given the opportunity to vote on Thursday in what is widely seen as the biggest test for Keir Starmer since the 2024 general election. Results across th

Politics
The Guardian Politics7 May 2026

The Guardian view on facial recognition technology: mistaken identities are a political issue | Editorial

Once again, digital tools are running ahead of regulators. Civil liberties must not be sacrificed to policing It is a familiar story. Extravagant claims are made on behalf of novel computerised tools. The public are told that this or that digital application or system is going to change the world for the better. Efficiencies will be unlocked and problems solved as human limitations are overcome by networked devices plugged into vast stores of data. Anyone who questions the narrative is a pessim

Politics
The Guardian Politics7 May 2026

If Labour now decides the PM is no longer up to the job, there’s just one problem: neither is anyone else | Gaby Hinsliff

Whoever leads Britain through the next three years may have to navigate a recession, even a war. The way we choose that person needs an urgent overhaul This is going to be an ugly weekend for British politics. How ugly we won’t quite know until Saturday night, when enough votes will have been counted to judge whether Keir Starmer’s government has suffered merely a midterm kicking or a full-blown collapse, and what dark forces may have been unleashed in the process. For you needn’t be a Labour vo

PoliticsEconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics7 May 2026

‘The worst year in memory’: parties describe climate of abuse on campaign trail

Candidates from across the spectrum report abuse and harassment online and in person in lead-up to local and devolved elections UK politics live – latest updates Candidates and political parties have described a climate of abuse in this year’s local and devolved elections including death threats and intimidation while campaigning. Elections are taking place across councils in England and governments in Scotland and Wales on Thursday, with millions expected to vote. Continue reading...

PoliticsEnvironment
The Guardian Politics7 May 2026

BP plans to sell shares in flagship carbon projects as it pulls back from green agenda

Oil firm seeks to reduce stake in carbon capture and storage projects in north-east of England after schemes fail to win over shareholders BP plans to sell stakes in two flagship carbon capture and storage projects in the north-east of England as the company continues to retreat from the green agenda. The oil company hopes to reduce its share in the Net Zero Teesside (NZT) project, which aims to develop the UK’s first gas power plant to be fitted with a controversial carbon capture system to rem

Environment
The Guardian Politics7 May 2026

Whoever wins today’s elections, democracy is the loser under first past the post | Polly Toynbee

This outdated system is destroying trust in politics. But there’s still time for Labour to follow Wales and Scotland’s example and introduce PR in the UK Before a vote is counted, this much we know. More results than ever will involve the winning party getting a disproportionate amount of power, considering the number of votes cast for it; fewer people will get what they voted for. The ever more random roulette wheel of our voting system will produce wildly odd winners and losers. Our never-fit-

Politics
The Guardian Politics7 May 2026

2026 election results: latest from local, Scottish and Welsh votes

From the devolved parliaments in Scotland and Wales to councils and mayoralties across England, our results tracker will show what has happened in your area as results come in. Polls close at 10pm, with the first results expected at around midnight. Check back later for live updates Continue reading...

Politics
The Guardian Politics7 May 2026

Election monitors note instances of voters in England turned away over ID

European observers have seen incidents of confusion over ID requirements but problem is not regarded as widespread Instances of voters being turned away from polling stations due to confusion over photo ID requirements have been recorded by European election observers watching voting in England on Thursday. While the problem is not regarded as widespread, it has been noted by the delegation from the Council of Europe, which will issue a report on the local elections in England as well as the Sco

Politics
The Guardian Politics7 May 2026

STV’s Scotland election coverage to be hit by strike action over pay

About 120 journalists and broadcast staff expected to protest about pay freeze as STV invests in new radio station UK politics live – latest updates Coverage of Scotland’s election counts by STV, the commercial broadcaster, is expected to be heavily hit by strike action in an escalating dispute over pay. The National Union of Journalists and the technical union Bectu have targeted STV’s election reporting for their second strike this year in protest at its decision to impose a company-wide pa

Politics
The Guardian Politics7 May 2026

Starmer’s failure to demonstrate strong values ‘driving away progressive voters’

Report using research from senior Blair and Clinton pollster comes as Labour braces for dismal election results May elections: What’s at stake across England, Wales and Scotland? UK politics live – latest updates Progressive voters have been driven away from Labour by a lack of argument and vision from Keir Starmer, according to a report using research from a senior pollster to Tony Blair and Bill Clinton. Downing Street is understood to have been briefed on the research, which has also been

Politics
The Guardian Politics7 May 2026

‘Trauma trackers’ to monitor toll of job on police officers in England and Wales

Ministers to mandate use of tools that record individuals’ cumulative exposure to harrowing incidents Policing in England and Wales faces a reckoning over the levels of trauma experienced by officers and staff as “trauma tracker” tools are to be mandated by ministers to ensure the psychological toll caused by exposure to death, abuse and neglect is recorded. A Home Office white paper published in January outlined a legislative push to make trauma monitoring systems mandatory across all 43 forces

Crime
The Guardian Politics7 May 2026

May elections live: millions cast their votes across England, Scotland and Wales

About 5,000 councillors and six mayors up for election in England, while Scotland chooses 129 MSPs, and Wales selects 96 members of the Senedd Here is the election message from Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservative party. Today, as they head to polling stations, millions of people across the country face a stark choice: between electing a Conservative council that delivers better services and lower taxes, and the chaos and that Labour, Reform and the rest have to offer. Under my leadersh

PoliticsEconomy