Most read: UK Politics — Q2 2026

At a glance: Starmer grapples with leadership crisis

The prime minister is fighting to stay on in No 10 as heavy election losses trigger a Labour revolt.

BBC •BBC News• May 12, 9:17 AM • 1 min read

Lammy says he told JD Vance his Nowak comments were 'wrong'

Vance had blamed Henry Nowak's death on the "mass invasion of migrants" - but Lammy says it "has got nothing to do with mass migration".

BBC •Joshua Nevett• Jun 7, 9:51 AM • 4 min read

Social media to be banned in UK for under-16s, Starmer announces

Meta, YouTube and Snapchat say ban, which would stop children using their platforms, will drive them to ‘less safe services’

The Guardian •Kiran Stacey• Jun 15, 11:02 AM

Chris Mason: Questions multiply for the man tipped to replace Starmer

Andy Burnham will have to set out his stall to show how he will deliver on his promises, the BBC's political editor writes.

BBC •Chris Mason• Jun 22, 10:43 PM • 4 min read

Anti-Islam influencer Valentina Gomez blocked from entering UK for far-right rally

Exclusive: Home secretary understood to have withdrawn authorisation for speaker at Unite the Kingdom rally in May

The Guardian •Rajeev Syal• Apr 20, 1:07 PM • 3 min read

Election results so far at a glance - and what's still to come

Reform UK has made gains at the expense of Labour and the Conservatives in early council election results overnight.

BBC •Becky Morton• May 8, 3:59 AM • 4 min read

Starmer considers political future as pressure to quit mounts

It comes as Donald Trump says Starmer will resign, in a further blow to the embattled Labour leader.

BBC •Paul Seddon• Jun 21, 9:53 AM • 4 min read

Trump says UK prime minister Starmer ‘will resign’

President Trump on Sunday claimed that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to resign. “Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom. He failed badly on two very important subjects- IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well!” Trump said Sunday morning, referencing the U.K.’s refusal to drill…

The Hill •Tara Suter• Jun 21, 3:23 PM • 1 min read

King and Queen will not live in Buckingham Palace after renovations

King Charles and Queen Camilla will continue to reside in Clarence House, Buckingham Palace says.

BBC •André Rhoden-Paul• Jun 25, 9:01 PM • 4 min read

Elections 2026 live: Labour suffers early losses as results begin to arrive in England

Reform UK gain councillors in early results; Scottish and Welsh parliament results are due from midday

The Guardian •Hamish Mackay Hamish Mackay• May 8, 2:04 AM • 8 min read

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

From devolved parliaments in Scotland and Wales to councils and mayoralties in England, find out what happened in your area

The Guardian •Seán Clarke• May 8, 12:34 AM • 5 min read

New Zealand's Māori Queen meets King Charles at Buckingham Palace

The meeting with the British monarch was Te Arikinui's first since she became Maori Queen in 2024.

BBC •Kethaki Masilamani• May 15, 2:43 AM • 1 min read

Challenge Starmer by Monday or I will, Labour MP tells cabinet

Catherine West tells the BBC if a leadership hopeful does not put themselves forward she will try to trigger a contest.

BBC •Becky Morton• May 9, 5:59 PM • 6 min read

UK’s Starmer resigns as prime minister

The leader of governing Labour Party has faced growing pressure to step down after months of declining popularity.

Al Jazeera •Elis Gjevori• Jun 22, 7:39 AM

Report says UK PM Starmer ready to quit, but source says he is still focused on the job

The Observer report said Starmer was discussing the matter with his wife at his Chequers country residence before making a final decision.

CNBC • Jun 20, 10:44 PM • 1 min read

More than half of Britons support rejoining EU 10 years on from Brexit vote

Experts say Labour’s ‘halfway house’ approach risks losing support from progressives and ‘red wall’ voters

The Guardian •Lisa O’Carroll• Apr 17, 1:27 PM • 3 min read

Swinney turns down Trump invitation to White House banquet

The Scottish government said Swinney "politely declined" the offer to join the event as part of the King and Queen's state visit.

BBC •BBC News• Apr 20, 9:52 PM • 1 min read

UK PM Starmer resigns as Britain faces its seventh leader in 10 years

CNBC •Hugh Leask• Jun 22, 8:35 AM • 2 min read

In pictures: King Charles and Queen Camilla begin US state visit

King Charles III and Queen Camilla were greeted by a military band and honour guard as they arrived for their four-day state visit.

BBC •Matthew Tucker• Apr 27, 8:46 PM • 1 min read

Nazi salutes, Sikhs abused: UK grapples with tensions after teen’s murder

Although the victim’s father has warned against exploiting his family’s tragedy, far-right groups are rallying.

Al Jazeera •Taj Ali• Jun 5, 1:06 PM • 6 min read

Starmer under pressure, as Labour suffers heavy elections losses

Reform makes huge gains in England, as Labour loses power in Wales and the SNP wins fifth term in Scotland.

BBC •Joshua Nevett• May 8, 8:38 AM • 6 min read

The potential challengers to Keir Starmer

Andy Burnham, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are all potential candidates for the top job.

BBC •BBC News• May 12, 3:47 PM • 5 min read

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer Quits After Party Rebellion

Britain heads for its sixth prime minister in seven years, an unprecedented period of political turbulence in the world’s fifth-largest economy

The Wall Street Journal •David Luhnow, Max Colchester• Jun 22, 8:35 AM

Talk of Starmer staying on to fight is fading - fast

After Andy Burnham’s by-election victory, support for the prime minister is evaporating, writes Laura Kuenssberg.

BBC •Laura Kuenssberg• Jun 20, 11:33 AM • 6 min read

Starmer quits as Labour leader and paves way for contest for new prime minister

Sir Keir delivered a statement to announce his planned departure from Downing Street.

BBC •Richard Wheeler• Jun 22, 8:46 AM • 4 min read

Signs grow that Starmer will set out timetable to resign as mood in government shifts

The BBC's Henry Zeffman and Nick Eardley on the mood in government as speculation grows about the prime minister's departure.

BBC •Nick Eardley• Jun 21, 10:57 AM • 4 min read

Andrew sublet three cottages while paying ‘peppercorn rent’ to crown estate

Report into royal property affairs reveals disgraced ex-prince generated private income from Windsor Royal Lodge

The Guardian •Caroline Davies• Jun 5, 4:01 AM

Andy Burnham wins key UK by-election, paving way to challenge Keir Starmer

Greater Manchester mayor’s victory in Makerfield clears path for bid to unseat Starmer as prime minister.

Al Jazeera •Al Jazeera Staff• Jun 19, 2:11 AM • 3 min read

UK elections – early results and takeaways; will Starmer have to resign?

Ruling Labour party has suffered early losses with Reform and Greens gaining in local council elections.

Al Jazeera •Al Jazeera• May 8, 8:18 AM • 5 min read

Cabinet split as Mahmood calls on Starmer to set out timetable to go

Over 70 Labour MPs have publicly urged the PM either to resign immediately or set out a timetable to stand down.

BBC •Becky Morton & Jennifer McKiernan• May 11, 5:31 PM • 5 min read

Tens of thousands march in London in far-right and pro-Palestine protests

British capital sees heightened security as right wing rally takes place at the same time as Nakba Day march.

Al Jazeera •Al Jazeera• May 16, 1:59 PM • 2 min read

‘Straight out of Trumpland’: LGBTQ+ members fight for Pride after Essex library ban

Rochford LGBTQ+ community say Reform council’s ban on flying pride flags or holding events states they’re not welcome

The Guardian •Geneva Abdul• Jun 14, 12:00 PM

With presidents, cowboys and A-listers - King Charles pictured in US over the years

The British monarch returns to the US on Monday, a country he has been visiting for decades.

BBC •Max Matza• Apr 26, 11:13 PM • 1 min read

Farage’s partner refuses to confirm how she paid for house in his constituency

French publication Le Monde says Laure Ferrari ‘dodged’ question when quizzed over property purchase in Clacton

The Guardian •Jamie Grierson• May 5, 5:06 PM • 3 min read

Makerfield byelection: Burnham’s decisive win sharpens threat to Starmer’s leadership – UK politics live

Burnham hails a ‘turning point’ for the country after a resounding victory over Reform UK and Restore that may force prime minister Keir Starmer to step aside

The Guardian •Andrew Sparrow Andrew Sparrow• Jun 19, 7:47 AM

Angela Rayner says Starmer should ‘reflect on’ stepping aside after HMRC clears her over tax affairs - UK politics live

The former deputy prime minister said she should be keen to ‘play my part’ in the event of a leadership contest

The Guardian •Andrew Sparrow Andrew Sparrow• May 14, 11:05 AM • 20 min read

Four ministerial aides quit and more than 60 MPs call for Keir Starmer’s resignation as speech fails to quell rebellion – UK politics live

Labour MPs say prime minister did not ‘did not speak clearly enough’ this morning and urged him to set a timetable for his exit

The Guardian •Charlie Moloney Andrew Sparrow Charlie Moloney Andrew Sparrow• May 11, 7:38 PM • 10 min read

Revealed: Mandelson failed vetting but Foreign Office overruled decision

Guardian investigation uncovers decision by UK security officials to deny clearance before Mandelson took up role as US ambassador

The Guardian •Paul Lewis• Apr 16, 5:16 PM • 9 min read

Starmer expected to announce departure on Monday as growing numbers of MPs back Burnham for PM – UK politics live

Business secretary says PM spending the weekend ‘making time to reflect on the political realities’ he faces

The Guardian •Yohannes Lowe Yohannes Lowe• Jun 21, 11:47 AM

Tony Blair tells Starmer and rivals: abandon net zero and move closer to Trump

In highly unusual intervention, ex-PM says his party’s ‘almost infinite capacity for self-delusion’ makes it likely to lose next election

The Guardian •Jessica Elgot• May 26, 9:00 PM

Farage under mounting pressure to prove Russian hack claim

Reform UK leader claims ‘counter-espionage experts’ suggest state-sponsored hackers are behind disclosure of £5m gift

The Guardian •Aletha Adu• May 24, 3:46 PM

Starmer heads to parliament for king’s speech after less than 20 minute meeting with Streeting in No 10 – UK politics live

King will set out the government’s planned new laws in the state opening of parliament this morning

The Guardian •Andrew Sparrow Andrew Sparrow• May 13, 10:04 AM • 17 min read

Tommy Robinson tells tens of thousands at London rally to prepare for ‘battle of Britain’

Turnout down at second ‘unite the kingdom’ march featuring Islamophobic and ethnonationalist hate speech and flyers

The Guardian •Geraldine McKelvie• May 16, 6:21 PM • 6 min read

Are the Downing Street dominoes about to fall?

John Healey's resignation as defence secretary is a disaster for the prime minister, writes Laura Kuenssberg.

BBC •Laura Kuenssberg• Jun 13, 11:59 AM • 9 min read