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The Guardian Politics8 May 2026

Nigel Farage hails ‘historic shift in politics’ after Reform UK election gains

Party has success in Labour and Tory heartland areas but one pollster says results suggest Reform may have peaked Nigel Farage hailed sweeping election wins for Reform UK as a “historic shift in British politics” on a day when the populist party made gains at the expense of Labour and the Conservatives. Reform made advances in heartland areas of both parties, clocking up substantial early results in the English local elections by taking control of Essex county council, Havering, its first London

PoliticsReform
The Guardian Politics8 May 2026

Plaid Cymru tipped to be biggest party in Senedd, ending 100 years of Labour control

First time Welsh nationalist party has enough support to run Wales, while also blocking momentum of Reform UK Election 2026 live: latest news updates Full results from England, Scotland and Wales Plaid Cymru is on course to declare victory in the Welsh Senedd elections, a result that would simultaneously end nearly 30 years of Labour dominance in devolved politics in Wales and block the momentum of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. By early Friday evening, with 14 of 16 constituencies declared, the c

PoliticsReform
The Guardian Politics8 May 2026

Badenoch claims Tories ‘coming back’ despite widespread losses in local elections

Badenoch’s statement came after the Conservatives won back Westminster and Wandsworth councils in London Elections 2026 live: latest news updates Full results from England, Scotland and Wales Kemi Badenoch has claimed that the Conservatives are “coming back” after winning back Westminster and Wandsworth councils from Labour in London, despite her party suffering significant losses throughout England in Thursday’s elections. The party also saw off a threat from Reform in Bexley. But the Tories

Politics
The Guardian Politics8 May 2026

Reform UK gains at Labour’s expense in local elections – podcast

It has been a crushing set of local and devolved elections for Labour, with Reform UK making huge gains across the country and the Greens winning in London. Keir Starmer is under pressure to announce a timeline for his departure – yet he insists he will not walk away Continue reading...

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The Guardian Politics8 May 2026

Reform and Greens surge in local elections: what next for Labour? – The Latest

Keir Starmer has vowed to fight on after Labour suffered heavy losses in local elections, while Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and the Green party made substantial gains. So is the era of two-party politics over? And can the prime minister survive? Lucy Hough speaks to political correspondent Alexandra Topping Continue reading...

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The Guardian Politics8 May 2026

Martin Rowson on Reform’s May elections success – cartoon

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Politics
The Guardian Politics8 May 2026

UK borrowing costs fall and pound rises as Starmer says he will remain as PM

Bond yields drop as market fears ease that Labour leader will be replaced by a more leftwing rival Elections 2026 – live updates Business live – latest updates UK government borrowing costs fell and the pound rose on Friday as Keir Starmer vowed to remain as prime minister despite the Labour party losing hundreds of council seats across England. Investors calculated that some of the intense pressure on Starmer’s leadership had eased, as Labour appeared on track for a smaller losses than elec

Politics
The Guardian Politics8 May 2026

Starmer will hope he’s dodged the axe for now – but these elections leave Britain more fragmented than ever | Jonathan Freedland

Even if all the results were not as catastrophic as expected for Labour, the writing is on the wall for the old ways of doing politics He wants a little more time and he may just get it. It seems there was enough in the results of Thursday’s elections to allow Keir Starmer to fend off calls for his immediate exit. But that should not obscure the bigger picture, which is not only disastrous for Labour but also has alarming implications for British politics – and even the future of the country. St

Politics
The Guardian Politics8 May 2026

Lib Dems can counter extremes of Reform and Greens, Davey says

Party makes gains in Portsmouth and Richmond-upon-Thames in local elections but loses a Scottish stronghold Elections 2026 – live updates Full results from England, Scotland and Wales Ed Davey has sought to cast Liberal Democrat wins in England’s local elections as proof his party is best positioned to confront what he described as the “extreme populist change” offered by Reform UK and the Greens. As Labour assessed a disastrous set of results, the Lib Dems were able to claim they had been ab

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The Guardian Politics8 May 2026

What do the unfolding local election results mean? Our panel responds

Nigel Farage and Zack Polanski have reason to celebrate – but what next for Labour and the Tories now that the two-party system has been demolished? Continue reading...

PoliticsReform
The Guardian Politics8 May 2026

Robert Jenrick’s rancorous relationship with former Tory colleagues aired live on BBC

Victoria Atkins accused him of abandoning friendship and said they had not spoken since he defected to Reform The rancorous relationship between Robert Jenrick and his former colleagues in the Conservative party was aired on live TV on Friday when an MP who backed his leadership bid accused him of abandoning their friendship. Victoria Atkins, the shadow environment secretary, revealed live on the BBC’s local election programme that she has not spoken to Robert Jenrick since he defected to Reform

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The Guardian Politics8 May 2026

How Labour’s ‘terrible’ night unfolded as Reform surges and Greens and Lib Dems hail wins

Plaid Cymru set to take power in Wales and SNP to retain it in Scotland, but Reform made big gains in both nations Election 2026 live: latest news updates Full results from England, Scotland and Wales The polls were terrible, the predictions dire and even one of his predecessors as Labour leader, Ed Miliband, had reportedly told Keir Starmer he should set a timetable for his resignation. But for the prime minister, as polls closed in Wales, Scotland and many regions of England, there would b

PoliticsEnvironment