Westminster's leadership question collides with London's hate-crime weekend
Catherine West will start collecting the 81 MP signatures needed to force a Labour leadership contest if Starmer's Monday relaunch does not move her; 30+ Labour MPs want him out and Rayner said blocking Andy Burnham was "a mistake." Thousands rallied at Downing Street for Standing Strong: Extinguish Antisemitism after the 29 April Golders Green stabbing; Pat McFadden was booed and counter-terror police arrested two over the Whitechapel synagogue arson. 16 Air Assault Brigade parachuted onto Tristan da Cunha for a Hantavirus case; Sarwar stays on after a worst-ever 17-of-129 Holyrood result.
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Backbencher West sets Labour leadership threshold at 81 MPs as Rayner says blocking Burnham was a mistake
Labour backbencher Catherine West confirmed she will gather signatures to trigger a leadership contest unless Keir Starmer's relaunch speech on Monday convinces her otherwise; she needs 81 MPs — 20 percent of the parliamentary party — to force a ballot, and more than 30 Labour MPs have already publicly called for the prime minister to go. Former deputy PM Angela Rayner broke her silence to call the National Executive Committee's blocking of Andy Burnham "a mistake" and warn that this is Labour's "last chance" to be a working-people's party. Equity general secretary Paul Fleming and Unison's Andrea Egan added union pressure for an exit timetable, as rumoured contenders Wes Streeting and Rayner herself stayed publicly silent on whether they would stand.
Thousands rally against antisemitism in London after Golders Green stabbing
Thousands gathered outside Downing Street on Sunday for the 'Standing Strong: Extinguish Antisemitism' rally, organized in response to a surge in antisemitic hate crimes and the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green on 29 April. Senior politicians including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey addressed the crowd, while Labour's Pat McFadden was met with boos and shouts of 'Where is Starmer?'. The rally followed an open letter from interfaith leaders calling antisemitism 'a problem for all of us to fix'.
Two arrested by UK counter-terror police for arson at former East London synagogue
Counter-terrorism police arrested a 45-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman on Sunday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson in connection with a fire at the former East London Central Synagogue in Whitechapel. The fire, reported at 5:16 a.m. on Tuesday, caused minor damage to gates and a lock; no one was injured. The building was in the process of being sold to a local Somali Muslim organisation.
British paratroopers airdrop onto Tristan da Cunha for Hantavirus emergency response
A six-person team from 16 Air Assault Brigade, including two military clinicians, parachuted from an RAF A400M onto Tristan da Cunha on 9 May to deliver emergency medical support after a British national was suspected of contracting Hantavirus. Oxygen supplies and medical equipment were airdropped simultaneously, marking the first time the UK military has inserted medical personnel via parachute for humanitarian aid. The island, Britain's most remote inhabited overseas territory with a population of 221, has no airstrip, making an airdrop the only viable method for urgent care.
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gb30Sarwar says he will 'absolutely' stay on as Scottish Labour leader after worst-ever election result
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar confirmed he will remain in his role despite the party losing four seats in the Scottish Parliament election, returning only 17 of 129 seats—its worst-ever result. Sarwar took responsibility for the campaign strategy and reiterated his February call for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign. The result reflects a broader collapse of Labour support across the UK, including in Wales and English local elections.
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Sarwar says he will 'absolutely' stay on as Scottish Labour leader after worst-ever election result
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar confirmed he will remain in his role despite the party losing four seats in the Scottish Parliament election, returning only 17 of 129 seats—its worst-ever result. Sarwar took responsibility for the campaign strategy and reiterated his February call for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign. The result reflects a broader collapse of Labour support across the UK, including in Wales and English local elections.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar confirmed he will remain in his role despite the party losing four seats in the Scottish Parliament election, returning only 17 of 129 seats—its worst-ever result. Sarwar took responsibility for the campaign strategy and reiterated his February call for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign. The result reflects a broader collapse of Labour support across the UK, including in Wales and English local elections.
gb28Cleverly defends Conservative position as largest right-wing party amid Reform UK local election surge
Shadow housing secretary James Cleverly argued the Conservatives remain the largest right-wing party in British politics despite Reform UK winning over 1,450 council seats and control of 14 councils, including in Suffolk, Essex, Sunderland, and Barnsley, in local elections. Cleverly dismissed Reform as a 'cult of personality' without coherent policy, while Reform deputy leader Richard Tice called the results a 'seismic earthquake'. The Conservatives lost more than half the seats they defended, with support falling 11 points compared to 2022, particularly in areas with high Reform vote share. The Green Party also made gains, with leader Zack Polanski declaring two-party politics 'dead and buried'.
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Cleverly defends Conservative position as largest right-wing party amid Reform UK local election surge
Shadow housing secretary James Cleverly argued the Conservatives remain the largest right-wing party in British politics despite Reform UK winning over 1,450 council seats and control of 14 councils, including in Suffolk, Essex, Sunderland, and Barnsley, in local elections. Cleverly dismissed Reform as a 'cult of personality' without coherent policy, while Reform deputy leader Richard Tice called the results a 'seismic earthquake'. The Conservatives lost more than half the seats they defended, with support falling 11 points compared to 2022, particularly in areas with high Reform vote share. The Green Party also made gains, with leader Zack Polanski declaring two-party politics 'dead and buried'.
Shadow housing secretary James Cleverly argued the Conservatives remain the largest right-wing party in British politics despite Reform UK winning over 1,450 council seats and control of 14 councils, including in Suffolk, Essex, Sunderland, and Barnsley, in local elections. Cleverly dismissed Reform as a 'cult of personality' without coherent policy, while Reform deputy leader Richard Tice called the results a 'seismic earthquake'. The Conservatives lost more than half the seats they defended, with support falling 11 points compared to 2022, particularly in areas with high Reform vote share. The Green Party also made gains, with leader Zack Polanski declaring two-party politics 'dead and buried'.
gb18Reform UK councillor suspended over racist online posts
Reform UK councillor Glenn Gibbins, elected to Sunderland City Council, has been suspended from the party pending an investigation into allegations of racist online posts targeting the Nigerian community and misogynistic comments. Deputy leader Darren Grimes acknowledged a failure in the vetting process. The incident has drawn criticism from political opponents and highlighted ongoing scrutiny of Reform UK's candidate selection.
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Reform UK councillor suspended over racist online posts
Reform UK councillor Glenn Gibbins, elected to Sunderland City Council, has been suspended from the party pending an investigation into allegations of racist online posts targeting the Nigerian community and misogynistic comments. Deputy leader Darren Grimes acknowledged a failure in the vetting process. The incident has drawn criticism from political opponents and highlighted ongoing scrutiny of Reform UK's candidate selection.
Reform UK councillor Glenn Gibbins, elected to Sunderland City Council, has been suspended from the party pending an investigation into allegations of racist online posts targeting the Nigerian community and misogynistic comments. Deputy leader Darren Grimes acknowledged a failure in the vetting process. The incident has drawn criticism from political opponents and highlighted ongoing scrutiny of Reform UK's candidate selection.
gb15European energy profits surge, renewing calls for windfall taxes
Major European energy firms Shell, BP, and TotalEnergies reported sharp Q1 profit increases due to soaring oil prices from the Middle East war and Strait of Hormuz blockade. Shell reported net profit of nearly $5.7 billion for Q1 2026, up 19% year-on-year, citing higher prices, increased refining margins, and a higher contribution from trading activities. BP posted $3.84 billion in profit, while TotalEnergies saw profits soar 51% to $5.8 billion. In contrast, U.S. energy firms ExxonMobil and Chevron saw profits decline due to a time lag in derivatives markets. The profit surge has revived calls in the UK and France for windfall taxes, with UK Energy Minister Ed Miliband condemning 'excessive profits' and French President Macron urging a European response. Analysts expect strong profits again in Q2.
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European energy profits surge, renewing calls for windfall taxes
Major European energy firms Shell, BP, and TotalEnergies reported sharp Q1 profit increases due to soaring oil prices from the Middle East war and Strait of Hormuz blockade. Shell reported net profit of nearly $5.7 billion for Q1 2026, up 19% year-on-year, citing higher prices, increased refining margins, and a higher contribution from trading activities. BP posted $3.84 billion in profit, while TotalEnergies saw profits soar 51% to $5.8 billion. In contrast, U.S. energy firms ExxonMobil and Chevron saw profits decline due to a time lag in derivatives markets. The profit surge has revived calls in the UK and France for windfall taxes, with UK Energy Minister Ed Miliband condemning 'excessive profits' and French President Macron urging a European response. Analysts expect strong profits again in Q2.
Major European energy firms Shell, BP, and TotalEnergies reported sharp Q1 profit increases due to soaring oil prices from the Middle East war and Strait of Hormuz blockade. Shell reported net profit of nearly $5.7 billion for Q1 2026, up 19% year-on-year, citing higher prices, increased refining margins, and a higher contribution from trading activities. BP posted $3.84 billion in profit, while TotalEnergies saw profits soar 51% to $5.8 billion. In contrast, U.S. energy firms ExxonMobil and Chevron saw profits decline due to a time lag in derivatives markets. The profit surge has revived calls in the UK and France for windfall taxes, with UK Energy Minister Ed Miliband condemning 'excessive profits' and French President Macron urging a European response. Analysts expect strong profits again in Q2.