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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
The Guardian Politics7 May 2026

Imagine a technique that can heal Britain of division and keep out the hard right. I call it ‘radical listening’ | George Monbiot

In my constituency, volunteers chat with people in deprived areas – most of whom find they are to the left of their voting intentions. The results are exhilarating Most people have made up their minds, and nothing you can say will change them: that’s the credo of parties such as Labour and the Democrats. Don’t challenge voters on the doorstep. Use focus groups to find out what they want, and give it to them. Follow, don’t lead. But all that’s on them, not us. It’s true that conventional attempts

The Guardian Politics7 May 2026

Local elections results timeline: when do the key battlegrounds across England, Wales and Scotland report?

Labour is resigned to losses but who its voters switch to will be crucial in shaping the new political landscape Labour is braced for a brutal set of local election results that will define either the next phase of Keir Starmer’s prime ministership or bring about the end of it. Party strategists expect losses of close to 2,000 seats across England, Wales and Scotland but the damage could be a lot worse. The danger for the prime minister is not whether Labour loses heavily but where those losses

Politics
The Guardian Politics7 May 2026

Major test for Labour as polls open in English, Scottish and Welsh elections

Local, mayoral and parliamentary contests could upend political landscape as Reform, Greens and Lib Dems surge Polling has opened across England, Scotland and Wales in a series of local, mayoral and parliamentary contests – the biggest electoral test Keir Starmer and the Labour government have faced since the 2024 general election. As millions of people across Great Britain go to the polls on Thursday, party leaders are poised for a set of results that could fundamentally change the political la

PoliticsEnvironment
The Guardian Politics7 May 2026

Cut UK speed limits to reduce Iran war impact on consumers, thinktank urges

Cap of 20mph in towns and cities and 60mph on motorways would cut fuel demand and combat rising prices, IPPR says Britain should lower speed limits for drivers as part of a package of measures to reduce the impact of the Iran war on consumers, a thinktank has said. Capping legal speeds at 20mph in towns and cities and 60mph on motorways would help reduce fuel demand and combat soaring oil prices triggered by conflict, according to the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). Continue readin

Defence
The Guardian Politics6 May 2026

Keir Starmer makes late pitch to voters turning to Greens and Reform

As Labour faces record-breaking losses in Thursday’s local elections, prime minister says rivals are unfit to lead Labour is braced for record-breaking losses in Thursday’s local elections in England, which could be decisive for Keir Starmer’s future as prime minister. In a message to voters on Thursday, Starmer said Reform’s Nigel Farage and the Greens’ Zack Polanski were “not fit to meet this moment of great global instability” and that only Labour was putting the national interest first. Con

PoliticsEnvironmentReform
The Guardian Politics6 May 2026

Cameo, speeches, pushing gold bullion: how Farage has made millions since becoming an MP

After two years in parliament, Reform UK leader has brought in £2m on top of his Commons salary Nigel Farage’s income since being elected MP has hit £2m, analysis shows “There’s no money in politics,” Nigel Farage complained almost a decade ago, describing himself as “53, separated and skint”. He has since proved himself wrong. After two years in parliament, Farage has brought in £2m, including hospitality, through speeches, presenting, writing news articles, promoting gold bullion – and even

PoliticsReformHealthcare
The Guardian Politics6 May 2026

Nigel Farage’s income since being elected MP has hit £2m, analysis shows

Reform UK leader has registered wide range of financial interests on top of his Commons salary since July 2024 Cameo, speeches, pushing gold bullion: how Farage has made millions since becoming an MP Nigel Farage’s income since he was elected as an MP has now reached £2m on top of his parliamentary salary, analysis of the register of MPs has shown. Farage’s earning power sets him alongside a small number of MPs who have been able to leverage their status for external income alongside their day

PoliticsReform
The Guardian Politics6 May 2026

The Guardian view on Britain’s multiparty politics: the Westminster voting system needs to catch up | Editorial

Local and devolved elections will reveal fragmented party allegiances that cannot be fairly represented in parliament via first past the post Some results in local council and devolved elections this week can be forecast with confidence, but none with precision. Labour will have a torrid time everywhere. Reform UK will do well, continuing the trend of recent years. The Greens will surge in parts of London. Plaid Cymru will enjoy a breakthrough in Wales. Those trends could produce a wide spectrum

PoliticsEnvironmentReform
The Guardian Politics6 May 2026

UK voters need to hear battle over bills and climate crisis are linked, green experts say

As Reform vows to block solar and windfarms, energy leaders say renewables offer most secure future, insulating UK from hostile forces UK politics live – latest updates • May elections: What’s at stake across England, Wales and Scotland? The defining issue of Thursday’s local elections, feedback from doorsteps suggests, will be the UK’s soaring cost of living. But voters should be told about the links between inflation and the affects of fossil fuels and the climate crisis – or the remedies th

PoliticsEconomyEnvironment
The Guardian Politics6 May 2026

As Labour heads for a wipeout, a lesson: never fall for the 'adults in the room’ line again | Aditya Chakrabortty

Presenting himself as a serious, sensible ‘grownup’ was essential to Starmer’s rise to power. His premiership has revealed how hollow that message is Some big questions will be asked this weekend – about how Labour fell so far so fast, about when Keir Starmer goes and who takes his place – but at least one big thing will be clear: never entrust your country to people who keep insisting they’re grown up. Think back to 2024 and the birth of Starmer’s government. “The adults are back in the room,”