News

Original reporting and the latest political headlines from across the UK.

Our Articles

Mainstream Headlines

Filtering by:Tag: politics×Source: The Guardian Politics×Clear all

1224 headlines found — Page 39 of 102

The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

Who would be in Wes Streeting’s corner if he ran for the Labour leadership?

The health secretary’s backers have different – not always ideological – reasons for supporting him Wes Streeting plans to resign and mount leadership challenge, allies say For all that Labour’s left denounce Wes Streeting as a reincarnated Blairite, he has friendships and alliances across various Labour factions, not all of which lean into each other. As he considers a possible bid to challenge Keir Starmer, the MPs supporting him are not ideological clones. Some are personal allies, while

PoliticsHousing
The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

‘Hold the line’: Burnham tells allies in parliament he still has options to return

Greater Manchester mayor seeks to reassure his supporters after potential seats for him fail to materialise Andy Burnham has told Labour MPs they should hold the line and that he has options to return to parliament after several seats identified by allies of the Greater Manchester mayor failed to materialise. Two seats his backers had described as “nailed on” as recently as Monday night are now out of contention after the MPs concerned got cold feet. Continue reading...

Politics
The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

As Westminster rages, and Labour sinks into civil war: what about the people? | Aditya Chakrabortty

Voters are desperate for a turnaround in living standards. The runners and riders for the Labour leadership must address this “Westminster is a cocoon. Lots of people in lovely jobs, so it becomes easy to forget the world outside.” Catherine West should know. She’s been an MP for 11 years, even if you hadn’t heard of her until this weekend when the Labour backbencher threatened Keir Starmer for the leadership, firing the first shots in the civil war that now engulfs the government. Before Wes St

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

‘It’s more incrementalism’: Starmer’s safe king’s speech fails to quell mutiny

One of PM’s expanding cohort of critics in Labour party says policy programme ‘sums up where we have gone wrong’ For Keir Starmer’s Labour critics, his second king’s speech, in which the government set out what it would do in parliament over the next 12 to 18 months, was a crystallisation of everything that was wrong with the prime minister’s strategy. Over 34 bills and three draft ones, Starmer set out a programme he said would “make this country stronger and fairer”. But the package, which inc

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

The Guardian view on the king’s speech: an agenda for a government that lacks conviction | Editorial

Keir Starmer’s programme is fatally limited by the timidity of an election manifesto that shied away from hard arguments Ending 14 years of Conservative rule was supposed to bring an end to dysfunctional government. In the speech that launched his 2024 general election campaign, Sir Keir Starmer said that “a vote for Labour is a vote for stability … a vote to stop the chaos”. Less than two years later, Sir Keir’s government looks no sturdier than its predecessors. The prime minister’s chances o

Politics
The Guardian Politics13 May 2026

King’s speech might be the last word on Starmer as reluctant monarch does his duty | John Crace

With the PM’s future numbered in days no wonder Charles might have felt reading out the government’s agenda was not the best use of his time The king looked fed up. His attempts to throw a sickie had come to nothing. Did the government really want to go ahead with the state opening? Apparently it did. Would it be OK if he phoned it in? He fancied a day WFP. Working from palace. It wouldn’t. It was a three-line whip. One of the few occasions a monarch was obliged to attend. “My lords. Pray be sea

PoliticsHousing
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...

Politics
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

Politics
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

Politics
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