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The Guardian Politics6 May 2026

One of the last true believers, Pat McFadden is sent out to defend kryptonite Keir | John Crace

Starmer is determined to see his five-year term through, even if it’s not what the country or the party wants 'Twas the night before the elections, when all through No 10, not a creature was stirring, not even a hen. Mainly because Downing Street had come to the conclusion that letting Keir Starmer loose on the campaign trail was a surefire way to lose votes. Canvassers from all over the country had confirmed what the polls were saying. That the prime minister was kryptonite to Labour’s chances.

Politics
The Guardian Politics6 May 2026

Carry on vaping, Angela Rayner: voters might just like you for it | Zoe Williams

With her eye on No 10, the former deputy PM is apparently shedding bad habits. But isn’t a proudly imperfect leader just what we need? Angela Rayner, the former deputy prime minister, is the bookmakers’ favourite to be Keir Starmer’s successor. She is also someone who has recently given up vaping, according to the government minister Steve Reed, who had dinner with her at the weekend and told Sky News about it. These two facts about her – wanting to be PM and quitting vaping – are almost certai

Housing
The Guardian Politics6 May 2026

‘I am losing faith’: disaffected Scottish voters may deny SNP a fifth term

The Scottish parliament election is the most unpredictable for some time, with Labour claiming it is winning over the don’t knows It was supposed to be a carefully choreographed walkabout for John Swinney through his party’s target seat of Hamilton. Instead, the Scottish National party leader was confronted by angry voters, including his own. Natasha Kelly, 35, railed against the local council’s failure to improve the damp council flat that had left her 13- and eight-year-old boys with chronic a

Politics
The Guardian Politics6 May 2026

Green party threat to Labour in London laid bare in Starmer’s own back yard

In inner London boroughs such as Camden, home to PM’s constituency, Greens hope to capitalise on collapse in Labour support May elections: What’s at stake across England, Wales and Scotland? In Highgate New Town, a north London housing estate whose brutalist architecture has been a fixture of film shoots, the enormous scale of the challenge Labour faces in the capital from the Greens was starkly evident. “I’ve always voted Labour. My entire family has, but it feels like a time for a change,” s

PoliticsEnvironmentHousing
The Guardian Politics6 May 2026

Scottish mum stuck in Spain after baby falls foul of UK dual nationality rules

Sarah Schloegl stranded in Alicante after 11-month-old was found to have invalid documentation under new rules A British woman from Aberdeen and her 11-month-old baby have been stranded abroad because of new rules regarding dual nationals introduced by Labour. Sarah Schloegl was refused board on a Ryanair flight from Alicante last week after she went to Spain for a short break with her Austrian husband, Philipp, their three-year-old daughter and 11-month-old baby. Continue reading...

The Guardian Politics6 May 2026

Andy Burnham sparks Labour anger with appearance alongside Greens

Some MPs accuse Greater Manchester mayor of undermining local election campaign message over Change:Now event Politics live – latest updates Andy Burnham’s decision to appear at a progressive rally alongside prominent Green and Liberal Democrat figures has sparked anger among some Labour MPs, who have accused him of undermining their local election message. The Greater Manchester mayor, who is seen as one of the most likely challengers to Keir Starmer, will be speaking at the Change:Now event

PoliticsEnvironment
The Guardian Politics6 May 2026

Trainline says Middle East tensions hitting European rail bookings

Profits jump to £122m at ticketing retailer but it expects flat or declining revenues over the coming year Business live – latest updates Trainline has said the US standoff with Iran is hitting its revenues, with rail ticket sales to foreign visitors to Europe affected. The UK-based international ticketing aganet said it expected revenues to stay flat or decline over the coming year, citing “the effects of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on inbound air traffic into Europe”. Continue

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics6 May 2026

Reform-led Lancashire county council to quit refugee resettlement scheme

Councillor announces plan to withdraw from government-funded programme in run-up to May elections UK politics live – latest updates The Reform-led Lancashire county council will withdraw from the government’s refugee resettlement scheme, one of its cabinet members has said. Councillor Joshua Roberts announced plans for Lancashire to leave the scheme, which would make it the first local authority to do so. Continue reading...

Politics
The Guardian Politics6 May 2026

Airlines and companies using fuel surcharges to cover surge in costs, UK survey shows

Firms raising prices at fastest rate in three years, driven by soaring energy and wage bills but also extra cost of metals and plastics Business live – latest updates Oil prices fall as Trump hails ‘progress’ on Iran deal Airlines and other companies are increasingly using fuel surcharges to cover soaring costs, a survey has found, in a further sign of Iran war-linked inflation hitting the economy. A poll of companies in the services sector, which includes airlines, found rising fuel prices h

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics6 May 2026

Reform and Plaid likely to benefit from polarisation of Welsh politics

Polls suggest Reform could win most seats in Senedd election but party is unlikely to be able to form government UK politics live – latest updates On a sunny but cold evening in a shopping centre car park on the outskirts of Merthyr Tydfil, Reform UK supporters enjoyed free pizza and loud music as they waited for what the party leader, Nigel Farage, said was his last big speech before Thursday’s Welsh Senedd, Scottish parliament and English local elections. Reform could win the most seats unde

PoliticsReform
The Guardian Politics6 May 2026

Zack Polanski’s Jewish identity is being erased because his views are too leftwing | Owen Jones

The leader of the Green party has faced antisemitic attacks, and yet his thoughts on the subject don’t count as far as the rightwing UK press is concerned The surge of the Green party has emphasised an iron rule of British politics: those on the left cannot be treated as legitimate political actors. A case in point came at the weekend, when the Green party leader, Zack Polanski, was interviewed by Sky News’ Trevor Phillips, who barely concealed his contempt. Two weeks ago, in an interview with H

PoliticsEnvironment
The Guardian Politics6 May 2026

Sudanese asylum seekers challenge Home Office rule changes for refugees

Shabana Mahmood has announced plan to cut leave to remain to 30 months, to concern of UN’s refugee agency Two Sudanese asylum seekers are challenging a key element of Labour’s plans to strip refugees of basic rights, rejecting the home secretary’s accusation that they are “asylum shoppers”. Shabana Mahmood has announced plans to halve refugees’ leave to remain in the UK from five years to 30 months, while refugees will have to wait 20 years before being eligible for permanent stay in the UK. Pre

Immigration