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  • NEWS STORY : Cambridge South Station to Open in June 2026

    NEWS STORY : Cambridge South Station to Open in June 2026

    STORY

    The new Cambridge South railway station will open to passengers on Sunday 28 June 2026, the Government has announced. The station, which has been backed by £250 million of Government funding, will serve the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and provide direct rail access to one of Europe’s largest medical research facilities.

    The Department for Transport said the station is expected to handle around 1.8 million passengers a year. It will offer up to nine trains an hour to Cambridge city centre, as well as services to London, Birmingham and Stansted Airport. The Government said up to 20 services will call at Cambridge South during peak hours, improving access for workers, visitors and businesses linked to the Biomedical Campus.

    The station will be the first new station to carry Great British Railways branding, as the Government continues its rail reform and public ownership programme. Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy said the project would improve access to jobs, homes and “world-class facilities”, while Network Rail chief executive Jeremy Westlake said the station would provide better connections across the UK and beyond.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Cambridge South – new station’s opening date revealed [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Cambridge South – new station’s opening date revealed [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 11 May 2026.

    New Cambridge South rail station opening in June 2026.

    • date revealed for opening of new Cambridge South station next month giving direct rail link to Europe’s largest medical research facility and its 40,000 daily visitors
    • backed by £250 million government funding the station will host up to 9 trains an hour to Cambridge alongside further direct services to London, Stansted and Birmingham Airport – boosting access to jobs, opportunities and housing
    • Cambridge South will be the first new Great British Railways branded station as the rail reform programme ramps up with over 660 million passengers now travelling on publicly owned services annually

    Passengers will soon be able to take trains from the new Cambridge South station after its opening date was revealed today (11 May 2026). Services will begin calling at Cambridge South on Sunday 28 June before the station’s official opening ceremony takes place the following day.

    The first Great British Railways (GBR) branded station in the country, Cambridge South, is expected to welcome 1.8 million passengers annually as the government’s public ownership programme gathers steam.

    The station will benefit from up to 9 trains an hour to the centre of Cambridge as well as a direct link to the city’s Biomedical Campus, with its world-class science, NHS hospitals and business facilities. The Cambridge Biomedical Campus contributes £4.7 billion annually to the UK economy, a figure expected to rise to £18.2 billion by 2050 alongside a doubling of its 20,000 current employees, thanks in part to the boost brought by the new station.

    Passengers will also be able to take trains to London, Birmingham, Stansted Airport and international rail services via St Pancras, with up to 20 services calling at Cambridge South in peak hours. This signals a huge boost to vital links to jobs, housing and businesses.

    Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said:

    Backed by £250 million government investment, Cambridge South will open up access to jobs, homes and world-class facilities for people across the region, boosting the growth of the Biomedical Campus as one of the most important engines of growth in the country.

    As the first new Great British Railways branded station, the opening is an important milestone for our railways and a sign of the real change public ownership will deliver. Faster connections supporting economic growth, thousands more jobs and homes and a railway that works for the communities it serves.

    The opening comes as the public ownership programme continues apace alongside the creation of GBR, which will coordinate the whole rail network in the UK. The creation of GBR will end the country’s convoluted rail system involving over 17 different organisations, cut through the frustrating bureaucracy and instead run Britain’s railways as a single organisation for the first time in decades.

    As a single organisation, GBR will deliver lasting change and build a railway fit for Britain’s future, owned by the public, for the public. The full public ownership programme is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, with 8 out of the 14 train operators now publicly owned and operators managing more than 1,100 stations.

    Jeremy Westlake, Chief Executive for Network Rail said:

    We’re excited to welcome passengers to this landmark station from next month, providing direct access to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and better connections across the UK and beyond. Cambridge South station will significantly improve travel and connectivity for campus staff, visitors and the wider community for many years to come.

    Thousands of people have worked tirelessly on this fantastic project to build a modern, accessible and sustainable station that reflects the excellence of the work that is being undertaken in Europe’s largest biomedical facility. It’s been a truly collaborative experience working alongside government, contractors, industry partners and the wider rail network to make this station a reality and we’re really proud of the result and the role it will play in connecting people to jobs, research and opportunity across the region.

    Alongside setting up GBR, the government is focused on getting better value for passengers now and keeping the cost of rail tickets down. Regulated rail fares have been frozen across England until March 2027 so passengers are not paying a penny more on season tickets, peak returns for commuters and off-peak returns between major cities.

    Cambridge South station has been built thanks to more than £250 million of government funding, alongside £5 million contributions from AstraZeneca, Cambridge & Peterborough Combined Authority and the Greater Cambridgeshire Partnership.

  • 2026 LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS – Leeds City Council

    2026 LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS – Leeds City Council

    2026 LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS – Leeds City Council

    Leeds City Council
    Election: Leeds City Council elections, Thursday 7 May 2026
    Overall turnout: 41.49%
    Overall control/status: not stated on the council results page
    Source note: the council published ward-by-ward results, including candidates, votes, turnout and spoilt ballots.

    Seat summary from the published ward results:

    Labour / Labour and Co-operative: 9
    Reform UK: 8
    Conservative: 7
    Green: 7
    Liberal Democrats: 2
    Garforth and Swillington Independents: 1
    Morley Borough Independents: 1
    Social Democratic Party: 1

    Total seats declared here: 36

    Adel and Wharfedale
    Result: Conservative HOLD
    Elected: David Stoddart-Scott, Conservative; Lee Anthony Farmer, Conservative
    Turnout: 50.39%
    Majority: 529
    Spoilt ballots: 18
    Candidates: David Stoddart-Scott, Conservative, 2,462; Lee Anthony Farmer, Conservative, 2,452; Jemima Frankie Bostock, Labour and Co-operative, 1,923; Craig Gabbitas, Reform UK, 1,874; Michael Lowry, Reform UK, 1,833; Nathan James Ramsden, Labour and Co-operative, 1,675; Gordon Richard Howe, Green, 1,300; Dominic Daniel Jack Seaward, Green, 1,265; Fiona Josephine Allen, Liberal Democrats, 1,004; Ray Smith, Liberal Democrats, 668.

    Alwoodley
    Result: Conservative HOLD
    Elected: Dan Cohen, Conservative
    Turnout: 47.79%
    Majority: 3,500
    Spoilt ballots: 17
    Candidates: Dan Cohen, Conservative, 4,633; Catherine Taylor, Green, 1,133; Matthew McGonagle, Labour and Co-operative, 1,124; Howard Anthony Newman, Reform UK, 893; Robert Hugh Jacques, Liberal Democrats, 296.

    Ardsley and Robin Hood
    Result: Reform UK GAIN
    Elected: Robert Stephen Jagger, Reform UK
    Turnout: 40.90%
    Majority: 1,531
    Spoilt ballots: 16
    Candidates: Robert Stephen Jagger, Reform UK, 3,023; Mike Foster, Conservative, 1,492; Shamim Miah, Labour, 1,336; Noah Bentley, Green, 802; Debra Alison Stretton, Liberal Democrats, 476; Sian Gardener, Social Democratic Party, 135.

    Armley
    Result: Green GAIN
    Elected: Clancy Walker, Green
    Turnout: 32.06%
    Majority: 772
    Spoilt ballots: 21
    Candidates: Clancy Walker, Green, 2,215; Paul Bickerdike, Reform UK, 1,443; Richard Banks, Labour, 1,137; Edmond Daramy-Williams, Conservative, 268; Dan Walker, Liberal Democrats, 187; John Frank Beal, Social Democratic Party, 37; Florian Oscar Alice Hynam, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, 21.

    Beeston and Holbeck
    Result: Green GAIN
    Elected: Matt Rogan, Green
    Turnout: 31.29%
    Majority: 253
    Spoilt ballots: 17
    Candidates: Matt Rogan, Green, 1,978; Al Garthwaite, Labour, 1,725; Loreen Gulrez Nix, Reform UK, 1,245; Sasha Watson, Social Democratic Party, 284; Alex Kettle, Conservative, 280; Christopher Thomas Howden, Liberal Democrats, 159; Nick “The Duck Guy” Moore, Official Monster Raving Loony Party, 43.

    Bramley and Stanningley
    Result: Labour HOLD
    Elected: Kevin Ritchie, Labour
    Turnout: 37.07%
    Majority: 612
    Spoilt ballots: 8
    Candidates: Kevin Ritchie, Labour, 2,724; Daren David Morrish, Reform UK, 2,112; Annabell Roodi Kesby, Green, 883; William Michael Gallimore, Conservative, 308; Rosemary Claire Spencer, Liberal Democrats, 166; Ian Robert Howell, Social Democratic Party, 20.

    Burmantofts and Richmond Hill
    Result: Labour HOLD
    Elected: Luke Anthony Farley, Labour
    Turnout: 29.93%
    Majority: 564
    Spoilt ballots: 13
    Candidates: Luke Anthony Farley, Labour, 1,957; Leo Doherty, Reform UK, 1,393; Shahab Saqib Adris, Green, 1,123; David Ewan Hollingsworth, Liberal Democrats, 252; Zoe Metcalfe, Conservative, 183; Richard Chaves-Sanderson, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, 34; Daniel Paul Whetstone, Social Democratic Party, 19.

    Calverley and Farsley
    Result: Conservative HOLD
    Elected: Andrew Carter, Conservative
    Turnout: 46.69%
    Majority: 789
    Spoilt ballots: 19
    Candidates: Andrew Carter, Conservative, 3,102; Kathryn Sara Penny, Labour and Co-operative, 2,313; Andy North, Reform UK, 1,418; Ellen Graham, Green, 1,380; Stuart McLeod, Liberal Democrats, 258.

    Chapel Allerton
    Result: Green GAIN
    Elected: Cristiana Mirosanu, Green
    Turnout: 42.78%
    Majority: 549
    Spoilt ballots: 29
    Candidates: Cristiana Mirosanu, Green, 3,520; Eileen Taylor, Labour and Co-operative, 2,971; Yaseen Saddique, Reform UK, 594; Kevin Irving Black, Conservative, 382; Darren Finlay, Liberal Democrats, 287; Richard Cowles, Social Democratic Party, 55.

    Cross Gates and Whinmoor
    Result: Reform UK GAIN
    Elected: Paula-Jane Thackray, Reform UK
    Turnout: 40.56%
    Majority: 962
    Spoilt ballots: 5
    Candidates: Paula-Jane Thackray, Reform UK, 3,013; Luke Murrow, Labour, 2,051; John Kennedy, Conservative, 902; Martin Francis Hemingway, Green, 706; Joshua Patrick Lowthion, Liberal Democrats, 260; Mark Nicholson, Independent, 223; Howard Graham Dews, Yorkshire Party, 157; Paul Anthony Whetstone, Social Democratic Party, 14; Ali Mansfield, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, 11.

    Farnley and Wortley
    Result: Reform UK GAIN
    Elected: Wenzdae Robbins, Reform UK
    Turnout: 35.43%
    Majority: 762
    Spoilt ballots: 5
    Candidates: Wenzdae Robbins, Reform UK, 2,397; Ann Blackburn, Green, 1,635; Charlotte Hill, Labour and Co-operative, 983; Peter Edward Allison, Independent, 922; Shikha Chaturvedi, Conservative, 304; Peter Richard Andrews, Liberal Democrats, 178; Richard David Riley, Social Democratic Party, 19.

    Garforth and Swillington
    Result: Garforth and Swillington Independents HOLD
    Elected: Mark David Dobson, Garforth and Swillington Independents
    Turnout: 48.82%
    Majority: 3,425
    Spoilt ballots: 16
    Candidates: Mark David Dobson, Garforth and Swillington Independents, 5,007; David Ian Butterfield, Reform UK, 1,582; David Patrick Nagle, Labour, 542; Alexander James Bull, Green, 433; Peter Bentley, Conservative, 362; Rebecca Cecilia Phillips, Liberal Democrats, 92.

    Gipton and Harehills
    Result: Labour and Co-operative HOLD
    Elected: Salma Arif, Labour and Co-operative
    Turnout: 36.28%
    Majority: 409
    Spoilt ballots: 27
    Candidates: Salma Arif, Labour and Co-operative, 2,345; Khizer Qayyum, Green, 1,936; Arif Hussain, Independent, 1,108; Callum Daniel Bushrod, Reform UK, 612; Patricia Helen Jones, Conservative, 174; Jack Glover, Liberal Democrats, 104; Iain Alaistair Dalton, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, 30; Andrew Alexander Martin, Social Democratic Party, 29; Andy Nix, UKIP, 17.

    Guiseley and Rawdon
    Result: Labour and Co-operative HOLD
    Elected: Eleanor Frances Thomson, Labour and Co-operative
    Turnout: 50.34%
    Majority: 1,062
    Spoilt ballots: 16
    Candidates: Eleanor Frances Thomson, Labour and Co-operative, 3,469; Paul James Alderson, Conservative, 2,407; Robert Andrew Harder, Reform UK, 1,813; Eliza Ainley, Green, 918; Bob Buxton, Yorkshire Party, 316; Helen Louise Page, Liberal Democrats, 279.

    Harewood
    Result: Conservative HOLD
    Elected: Angela Jane Bond Wallis, Conservative
    Turnout: 51.26%
    Majority: 1,469
    Spoilt ballots: 9
    Candidates: Angela Jane Bond Wallis, Conservative, 3,380; John Cowling, Reform UK, 1,911; David John Bowgett, Labour, 1,007; Claire Anne Evans, Green, 842; John William Hills, Liberal Democrats, 300; Patrick Anthony Tobyn Wright, Independent, 224.

    Headingley and Hyde Park
    Result: Green GAIN
    Elected: Nilesh Chohan, Green
    Turnout: 27.96%
    Majority: 3,056
    Spoilt ballots: 16
    Candidates: Nilesh Chohan, Green, 4,334; Jonathan David Pryor, Labour and Co-operative, 1,278; Andrew Robert Wilde, Reform UK, 225; Brandon Ashford, Liberal Democrats, 139; Della Heptinstall, Conservative, 97; Ryan Richards, Your Party, 62.

    Horsforth
    Result: Labour HOLD
    Elected: Emmie Bromley, Labour
    Turnout: 49.32%
    Majority: 955
    Spoilt ballots: 24
    Candidates: Emmie Bromley, Labour, 3,018; Chris Calvert, Conservative, 2,063; Khadijah Akhtar, Green, 1,719; Michael Meston, Reform UK, 1,450; Ivan Petrovich Brookes, Liberal Democrats, 570; Catherine Frances Dobson, Social Democratic Party, 25.

    Hunslet and Riverside
    Result: Green HOLD
    Elected: Ed Carlisle, Green
    Turnout: 33.80%
    Majority: 1,780
    Spoilt ballots: 19
    Candidates: Ed Carlisle, Green, 3,202; Sarata Sawo, Labour and Co-operative, 1,422; Ayesha Shamim, Reform UK, 700; Taiwo Funmilayo Adeyemi, Conservative, 199; Roderic Parker, Liberal Democrats, 112; Paul Thomas, Social Democratic Party, 57.

    Killingbeck and Seacroft
    Result: Reform UK GAIN
    Elected: David Stephen Dresser, Reform UK
    Turnout: 31.38%
    Majority: 577
    Spoilt ballots: 19
    Candidates: David Stephen Dresser, Reform UK, 2,371; John Tudor, Labour, 1,794; Nosheen Majid, Green, 899; Rosemary Gaskell, Conservative, 446; Ben Turner-Chastney, Liberal Democrats, 214; Thomas Peter Foster, Social Democratic Party, 50.

    Kippax and Methley
    Result: Labour HOLD
    Elected: Mary Elizabeth Harland, Labour
    Turnout: 44.40%
    Majority: 298
    Spoilt ballots: 18
    Candidates: Mary Elizabeth Harland, Labour, 3,336; Chris Weightman, Reform UK, 3,038; Connor Mulhall, Conservative, 717; Andy Phillips, Green, 674; Thomas Adrian Leadley, Liberal Democrats, 208.

    Kirkstall
    Result: Green GAIN
    Elected: Joe Ingham, Green
    Turnout: 41.58%
    Majority: 964
    Spoilt ballots: 15
    Candidates: Joe Ingham, Green, 2,922; Hannah Louise Bithell, Labour, 1,958; Jacob Andrew Holmes, Reform UK, 946; Dawn Julia Collins, Conservative, 240; Stuart Long, Independent, 211; Chris Read, Liberal Democrats, 178; George Phillips, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, 16.

    Little London and Woodhouse
    Result: Green GAIN
    Elected: Eden Hills, Green
    Turnout: 28.83%
    Majority: 1,616
    Spoilt ballots: 15
    Candidates: Eden Hills, Green, 2,617; Kayleigh Brooks, Labour and Co-operative, 1,001; Bradley Evan Holmes, Reform UK, 326; George Sykes, Liberal Democrats, 255; Jonathan Paul Burkitt, Conservative, 125; TJ Diniz Mota, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, 26.

    Middleton Park
    Result: Social Democratic Party HOLD
    Elected: Wayne Alan Dixon, Social Democratic Party
    Turnout: 29.48%
    Majority: 267
    Spoilt ballots: 12
    Candidates: Wayne Alan Dixon, Social Democratic Party, 2,203; James Kendall, Reform UK, 1,936; Innocent Igiehon, Labour and Co-operative, 773; Ciaran Lee Head, Green, 545; Samson Roberts Adeyemi, Conservative, 206; Kristof Szecsi, Liberal Democrats, 108.

    Moortown
    Result: Labour HOLD
    Elected: Laura Jane Fisher, Labour
    Turnout: 49.1%
    Majority: 311
    Spoilt ballots: 33
    Candidates: Laura Jane Fisher, Labour, 2,758; Rachel Elizabeth Hartshorne, Green, 2,447; Sharon Margaret Slinger, Liberal Democrats, 1,277; Sajjad Raja, Reform UK, 1,011; Rob Speed, Conservative, 838; Sarah Welbourne, Social Democratic Party, 43.

    Morley North
    Result: Morley Borough Independents GAIN; Reform UK GAIN
    Elected: Terry Grayshon, Morley Borough Independents; Jonathan Graves, Reform UK
    Turnout: 42.79%
    Majority: 80
    Spoilt ballots: 13
    Candidates: Terry Grayshon, Morley Borough Independents, 2,780; Jonathan Graves, Reform UK, 2,707; Simon William Kimberley, Morley Borough Independents, 2,627; Dinah Rose Jones, Reform UK, 2,515; Edward John Brown, Labour, 892; Jonny Kelsey, Labour, 743; Amber Conyers-Davies, Green, 736; Pauline Barron, Conservative, 678; Kasim Rasool, Green, 657; Louisa Mary Singh, Conservative, 407; James Trueman, Liberal Democrats, 313; Mihai Marcelin Barticel, Liberal Democrats, 173; Nigel Perry, Social Democratic Party, 21.

    Morley South
    Result: Reform UK GAIN
    Elected: Michael Burnham, Reform UK
    Turnout: 40.51%
    Majority: 607
    Spoilt ballots: 14
    Candidates: Michael Burnham, Reform UK, 2,564; Darren Mark Senior, Morley Borough Independents, 1,957; Michael James Fox, Liberal Democrats, 992; Matthew Ball, Green, 793; Adrian Blake, Labour and Co-operative, 594; John Barron, Conservative, 402; Cordelia Frances Lynan, Social Democratic Party, 12.

    Otley and Yeadon
    Result: Liberal Democrats HOLD
    Elected: Colin Andrew Campbell, Liberal Democrats
    Turnout: 50.38%
    Majority: 994
    Spoilt ballots: 15
    Candidates: Colin Andrew Campbell, Liberal Democrats, 3,189; Scott Michael Richmond, Reform UK, 2,195; Mick Bradley, Green, 1,746; Simon Mark Dowling, Labour, 1,038; Paul John Spencer Wadsworth, Conservative, 600.

    Pudsey
    Result: Conservative HOLD
    Elected: Simon Anthony Seary, Conservative
    Turnout: 44.94%
    Majority: 2,884
    Spoilt ballots: 19
    Candidates: Simon Anthony Seary, Conservative, 4,415; Richard James Robinson, Reform UK, 1,531; Stephen McBarron, Labour, 1,304; Arlan Jones, Green, 1,105; Jennifer Ann Wilson, Liberal Democrats, 176.

    Rothwell
    Result: Liberal Democrats HOLD
    Elected: Stewart Golton, Liberal Democrats
    Turnout: 45.34%
    Majority: 1,843
    Spoilt ballots: 10
    Candidates: Stewart Golton, Liberal Democrats, 3,772; Lindon Dove, Reform UK, 1,929; Mikey Sykes, Green, 638; Archie Sykes, Labour, 495; Stewart Peter Harper, Conservative, 293; Mark Daniels, Social Democratic Party, 52.

    Roundhay
    Result: Labour GAIN
    Elected: Kathleen Johnstone, Labour
    Turnout: 50.15%
    Majority: 74
    Spoilt ballots: 23
    Candidates: Kathleen Johnstone, Labour, 3,316; Brannoc Stevenson, Green, 3,242; Rachel Lynda Cohen, Conservative, 918; Steven Michael Robinson, Reform UK, 851; Najeeb Iqbal, Liberal Democrats, 316; Carl Clements Richman, Social Democratic Party, 56.

    Temple Newsam
    Result: Reform UK GAIN
    Elected: Richard Barker, Reform UK; Kieran Richard Thomas White, Reform UK
    Turnout: 41.77%
    Majority: 263
    Spoilt ballots: 10
    Candidates: Richard Barker, Reform UK, 2,456; Kieran Richard Thomas White, Reform UK, 2,253; Julia Almond, Labour and Co-operative, 1,990; Tim Dowd, Labour and Co-operative, 1,809; Maggie Taylor, Conservative, 1,172; Max Holley, Conservative, 992; Joshua Benjamin Alston, Green, 813; Keely Bannister, Green, 768; Keith Cecil Norman, Liberal Democrats, 355; Noah Allerton, Liberal Democrats, 317; Kimberley Ruth Reid, Social Democratic Party, 60; Rajiv Kumar Thukral, Social Democratic Party, 49.

    Weetwood
    Result: Labour and Co-operative HOLD
    Elected: Izaak Wilson, Labour and Co-operative
    Turnout: 50.35%
    Majority: 471
    Spoilt ballots: 20
    Candidates: Izaak Wilson, Labour and Co-operative, 2,684; Chris Howley, Liberal Democrats, 2,213; Simon Christopher Dixon, Green, 1,901; Peter Young, Reform UK, 821; Brijesh Virola, Conservative, 270; Rob Walker, Social Democratic Party, 30.

    Wetherby
    Result: Conservative HOLD
    Elected: Norma Harrington, Conservative
    Turnout: 51.56%
    Majority: 1,098
    Spoilt ballots: 15
    Candidates: Norma Harrington, Conservative, 3,684; Fran Murphy, Green, 2,586; Stuart David Burdekin, Reform UK, 1,464; Alex Riddell, Labour and Co-operative, 549; Jonathan Jared Levy, Liberal Democrats, 182.

  • NEWS STORY : Rayner Warns Labour Faces “Last Chance” After Historic Local Election Defeat

    NEWS STORY : Rayner Warns Labour Faces “Last Chance” After Historic Local Election Defeat

    STORY

    Angela Rayner has warned that Labour must urgently change direction after what she described as a “historic defeat” in the local elections, saying the party is in danger of becoming “a party of the well-off, not working people”.

    The former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party said many Labour councillors had lost their seats despite working hard for their communities, while the party had also lost council administrations and missed opportunities for further gains. She said the results showed that the Government’s current approach was not working and that Labour may now be facing its “last chance” to respond.

    Rayner said the cost of living had been the dominant issue raised by voters, arguing that people had turned to “populists and nationalists” because Labour had not done enough to address pressure on household finances. She said living standards were barely higher than they had been a decade and a half ago, while ordinary people continued to feel that the economic system was “rigged against them”.

    Her comments represent a direct challenge to the Prime Minister and the direction of the Government. Rayner criticised decisions such as cutting winter fuel allowance and said the Peter Mandelson scandal had exposed what she called a “toxic culture of cronyism”. She argued that Labour needed to return to its purpose as the party of working people and take faster action to make voters materially better off.

  • Angela Rayner – 2026 Comments on Labour’s Performance at Local Elections

    Angela Rayner – 2026 Comments on Labour’s Performance at Local Elections

    The comments made by Angela Rayner, the former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, on 10 May 2026.

    Our party has suffered a historic defeat.

    Many good Labour colleagues have lost their seats despite working hard for those they represented. We have lost good Labour administrations and lost the chance for more.

    What we are doing isn’t working, and it needs to change. This may be our last chance.

    The Labour Party must now live up to our name: we must be the party of working people.

    We’ve heard the same on the doorstep as we’ve seen in the polls – the cost of living is the top issue for voters of all parties. People have turned to populists and nationalists because we have not done enough to fix it.

    Living standards are barely higher than they were a decade and a half ago. People feel hopeless – that the cost of living crisis will never end, and now they see oil and gas companies use global instability to post record profits.

    Once again, ordinary people are paying the price for decisions they didn’t make. It’s no wonder that across the UK, working people feel the system is rigged against them.

    Things can be so much better than this. Countries including Spain and Canada have shown that economies can grow and people can thrive when governments stay true to labour and social democratic values and put people first. We need to learn from that.

    In London, we lost young people who fear they will never afford a home. In my patch and across the north, we lost working people whose wages are too low and costs too high. In Scotland and Wales, people do not currently see Labour as the answer.

    We are in danger of becoming a party of the well-off, not working people.

    The Peter Mandelson scandal showed a toxic culture of cronyism.

    Decisions like cutting winter fuel allowance just weren’t what people expected from a Labour government.

    For too long, successive governments have allowed wealth and power to concentrate at the top without a plan to ensure the benefits of economic growth are shared fairly. The result is an economy that does not work for the majority, with wealth concentrated in too few hands. This level of inequality, alongside squeezed living standards, is the outcome of a model built on deregulation, privatisation, and trickle-down economics.

    But we have the chance to fix this.

    We need immediate action to cut costs for households and put money back into the everyday economy. This can be done within the current fiscal rules, by ensuring those who benefit from the crisis contribute more so that everyone can thrive.

    Our Employment Rights Act was just the first step in our plan to Make Work Pay. Now is the time to take the next steps, starting with a Fair Pay Agreement in social care – but not ending there. A rising minimum wage must go alongside our programme to get young people into work.

    The investment we secured in social and affordable housing should now unleash a building boom that benefits British business and workers. We must double down on renters’ reform and show leaseholders our action on tackling ground rents and charges was just a first step to ending freehold for good.

    Our devolution revolution has begun, but is nowhere near done.

    Giving mayors powers to transform planning and licensing can boost local business and good growth, in the interests of local people. They must go alongside economic powers and public services.

    Boosting community ownership and stopping the sell-off of local assets from pubs to playgrounds will put power back in local hands, helping restore the pride they feel in the places they live.

    We must go further on planning reforms, to build the schools, hospitals, roads and infrastructure the country needs to grow.

    We should be unafraid to promote new forms of public, community and cooperative ownership across the board. Buses and trains being brought back into public hands can now operate for the public good, at prices passengers can afford.

    Thames Water is an iconic failure of privatisation, which resonates for the same reasons. People are rightly sick of bonuses for bosses who deliver nothing but higher bills. We must face down demands that the public pay the price of private failure.

    We must create good jobs that pay decent wages by ensuring defence investment includes a secure manufacturing base. Use our house building programme to boost construction, invest in the green economy, backing SMEs by reforming business rates and increasing support to revive our high streets and local economies, raise the minimum wage and get young people into work.

    And then there is politics itself, putting power back into people’s hands so that they are shaping the decisions that impact them. We must tackle the inflow of dodgy money in our politics – something that Nigel Farage, who took 5 million pounds in a secret personal gift from an offshore crypto baron, will never do. We must make politics work for ordinary people.

    We can only prove we mean it by putting the common interest ahead of factionalism.

    This is bigger than personalities, but it is time to acknowledge that blocking Andy Burnham was a mistake. We must show we understand the scale of change the moment calls for – that means bringing our best players into Parliament – and embracing the type of agenda that has been successful at a local level, rather than reaching back to an agenda and politics that has failed people.

    These are the fights we need to have, and the change in direction we need to see. Policy tweaks will not fix the fundamental challenges facing our country. This government needs, at pace, to put measures in place that make people’s lives tangibly better, while fixing the foundations of a system rigged against them.

    The Prime Minister must now meet the moment and set out the change our country needs.

    Change our economic agenda to prioritise making people better off, change how we run our party so that all voices are listened to, and change how we do politics.

    Labour exists to make working people better off. That is not happening fast enough, and it needs to change — now.

  • NEWS STORY : Reform UK Distance Themselves from Darren Grimes Comments as Glenn Gibbins Allegations Worsen

    NEWS STORY : Reform UK Distance Themselves from Darren Grimes Comments as Glenn Gibbins Allegations Worsen

    STORY

    Journalist Kevin Schofield has reported that Reform UK have not suspended Glenn Gibbins following the serious allegations made against him, distancing themselves from the comments made by Darren Grimes that he had been.

    Schofield posted on X:

    “Glenn Gibbins has NOT been suspended, despite claims by Reform councillor Darren Grimes. Party spokesman: “The investigation is still ongoing. No decision has been made yet.”“

    Further allegations have now been made against Gibbins for engaging in hate speech, with Reform UK saying that they will investigate the matter. Darren Grimes has yet to comment on the snub from Reform UK.

  • NEWS STORY : Serious Allegations Made Against Reform Councillor Glenn Gibbins

    NEWS STORY : Serious Allegations Made Against Reform Councillor Glenn Gibbins

    STORY

    Serious allegations of racism and hate speech have been made against new Reform councillor Glenn Gibbins, representing Hylton Castle Ward on Sunderland City Council. Reform UK confirmed that the allegations were so serious that the councillor has been suspended from the party pending investigation and will now sit as an independent.

    Gibbins also faces allegations of hate speech, misogyny and Darren Grimes, the deputy leader of Durham County Council, has said that there had been “a failure of the vetting process” in selecting him.

    Gibbins has yet to comment on the allegations.

  • NEWS STORY : UK Military Parachutes Medical Team Onto Tristan da Cunha After Suspected Hantavirus Case

    NEWS STORY : UK Military Parachutes Medical Team Onto Tristan da Cunha After Suspected Hantavirus Case

    STORY

    The UK military has carried out an emergency parachute drop onto Tristan da Cunha to deliver medical personnel, oxygen supplies and equipment after a British national on the island was suspected of contracting Hantavirus.

    The Ministry of Defence said six paratroopers and two military clinicians from 16 Air Assault Brigade jumped from an RAF A400M transport aircraft onto the remote South Atlantic island. Oxygen supplies and other medical aid were dropped almost simultaneously. It is the first time the UK military has inserted medical personnel by parachute to provide humanitarian support.

    Tristan da Cunha is Britain’s most remote inhabited overseas territory, has no airstrip and is normally accessible only by boat. The island has a population of 221 people. The Government said oxygen supplies on the island had reached a critical level, leaving an airdrop with medical staff as the only way to get urgent care to the patient in time.

    The operation involved a flight of 6,788km from RAF Brize Norton to Ascension Island, followed by a further journey of more than 3,000km to Tristan da Cunha. The A400M was supported by an RAF Voyager aircraft, which provided mid-air refuelling. Weather conditions around the island are often difficult, with average wind speeds frequently exceeding 25mph.

    Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the mission reflected the Government’s commitment to people in the Overseas Territories and to British nationals wherever they are. Armed Forces Minister Al Carns described it as an “extraordinary operation” in challenging circumstances and paid tribute to the personnel involved.

    The mission follows the UK Government’s wider response to a Hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship. British nationals are being repatriated from the vessel to the UK on a special chartered flight. The Government said none of those returning had reported symptoms, but all British passengers and crew on board are being isolated for 45 days and monitored by the UK Health Security Agency.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Military conducts daring parachute drop to deliver critical medical support to Tristan da Cunha [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Military conducts daring parachute drop to deliver critical medical support to Tristan da Cunha [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 10 May 2026.

    An Army specialist team has parachuted onto Tristan da Cunha to deliver critical medical support after it was confirmed that one British national on the island was suspected of contracting Hantavirus.

    • Specialist Army team parachute from an RAF A400M onto remote island, with medical personnel in-tandem and oxygen supplies and medical equipment.
    • Tristan da Cunha – Britian’s most remote overseas territory – is located deep in the South Atlantic, has no airstrip, and is normally only accessible by boat. 
    • Drop comes after the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on Friday confirmed one suspected case of Hantavirus of a British national on Tristan da Cunha.

    An Army specialist team has parachuted onto Tristan da Cunha to deliver critical medical support after it was confirmed that one British national on the island was suspected of contracting Hantavirus.

    The team of six paratroopers and two military clinicians, all from 16 Air Assault Brigade, parachuted from an RAF A400M transport aircraft. Meanwhile, vital oxygen supplies and other medical aid were air dropped almost simultaneously onto the remote island. 

    This operation is the first time the UK military has inserted medical personnel to provide humanitarian support via a parachute jump, demonstrating how the military can deploy at very short notice across the world on a range of tasks.

    Tristan da Cunha, a group of volcanic islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, is Britian’s most remote inhabited overseas territory. It is accessible only by boat, has no airstrip, and has a population of 221 inhabitants. 

    Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

    “I am deeply grateful to the personnel across the Armed Forces and the RAF who acted at pace to get urgent medical support to Tristan da Cunha. This extraordinary operation reflects our unwavering commitment to the people of our Overseas Territories and to British nationals, wherever they are. The safety and well-being of all members of the British family is our number one priority.

    “We will continue to work closely with international authorities and the Tristan da Cunha administration, keeping those affected informed and ensuring the right support is in place in the UK and across the Overseas Territories.”

    With oxygen supplies on the island at a critical level, an airdrop with medical personnel was the only method of getting vital care to the patient in time. The operation will also ensure the resilience of wider healthcare on the island by supporting Tristan da Cunha’s two-person medical team.

    The military team flew 6,788 km from RAF Brize Norton to Ascension Island. The aircraft then proceed to fly over 3,000 km to Tristan da Cunha, where the personnel parachuted onto the island. They were supported by an RAF Voyager aircraft to refuel the A400M mid-air.

    Weather conditions at Tristan da Cunha can be exceptionally challenging, with average wind speeds often exceeding 25mph, presenting difficult conditions for the paratroopers. 

    Minister for the Armed Forces Al Carns said:

    “This was an extraordinary operation in incredibly challenging circumstances to get vital help to our citizens on Tristan da Cunha.

    “I want to pay a huge tribute to our brave personnel for carrying out their task with the utmost professionalism and composure under pressure. 

    “This is a real cross-government effort showing our determination to support our overseas territories and British nationals affected by the Hantavirus outbreak.”

    Brig Ed Cartwright, Officer Commanding 16 Air Assault Brigade said:

    “This was a joint effort with the Royal Air Force and highlights the speed, reach and utility of parachuting.

    “The arrival of paratroopers, medical personnel and medical supplies from the sky has hopefully reassured the people of Tristan da Cunha.”

    The mission comes as the UK government continues to work with international authorities to respond to the outbreak of Hantavirus from the MV Hondius cruise ship.

    British nationals are being repatriated from the MV Hondius to the UK via a special chartered flight. None of the British citizens who are being repatriated have reported symptoms but are being closely monitored.

    All British passengers and crew on board the MV Hondius are being isolated for 45 days upon returning to the UK and UKHSA is closely monitoring these individuals, with testing as required. 

    Follow up is underway for individuals who may have been in contact with cases and have since returned to the UK or are in in UK Overseas Territories. The UK government will ensure those self-isolating are given appropriate support. 

    The Ministry of Defence has worked with UKHSA to provide vital diagnostic supplies, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which were delivered to Ascension Island via a military plane on 7 May.

    The risk to the general public remains very low.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New missions to transform childhoods of most disadvantaged [May 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : New missions to transform childhoods of most disadvantaged [May 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 10 May 2026.

    New education missions launched to open doors for children in the most under-served communities.

    Thousands of children from England’s most under-served communities are set to benefit from targeted support that will transform their life chances through two pioneering new education programmes. 

    Mission North East and Mission Coastal will bring expert support into classrooms and new opportunities beyond the school gates for children in the North East, Hastings and Scarborough from this September — communities where too many young people have been held back for too long, with persistently low results. 

    Announced by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson today, these landmark programmes will transform children’s lives — giving the most disadvantaged children the mentoring, careers support, and enrichment opportunities they need to achieve and thrive.

    The data driving these decisions is stark. The North East has the lowest exam results of any region in England at 1.9 points below the national average of 46.0 in Attainment 8. In Hastings, disadvantaged pupils average just 26.0 and in Scarborough around 27.

    Across the country, disadvantaged White British pupils are being consistently let down, scoring 30.9 against 48.6 for their better-off peers. That is a generational injustice.

    These missions will change that. Expert practitioners will work directly with leaders and teachers, building teacher capacity and raising standards. Schools will work together in local clusters, learning from each other rather than tackling challenges alone. 

    Beyond the school gates, new partnerships with employers, sports clubs, faith groups and youth organisations will provide vital mentoring, careers support and cultural enrichment — the building blocks of a full childhood.

    These programmes build on the success of the London Challenge, which launched in 2003, and proved what is possible when you concentrate expert-led, place-based support in communities that have previously been left behind. 

    Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

    I grew up in the North East and know the challenges families face. I want every child there, and in coastal communities like Hastings and Scarborough, to have the same opportunities I was lucky enough to have.  

    For too long, children living in these areas have grown up without the opportunities that they need and deserve to be able to achieve and thrive. 

    That is not a matter of ability. It is a matter of justice. Mission North East and Mission Coastal are our commitment to change that postcode lottery for good.

    Designed with a Test, Learn and Grow approach, these programmes will identify what works quickly and feed those lessons back into national policy – so these missions benefit not just local communities, but similar communities across the country.

    Over time, we will look to form a wider alliance of other coastal areas with similar challenges, where children and families can benefit from the approach being taken in Scarborough and Hastings.

    The landmark Schools White Paper set out the government’s plans for Mission North East and Mission Coastal as part of our plan to cut the link between background and success and halve the disadvantage gap for this generation, so that every child can achieve and thrive.

    This work builds on the passing of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act, which introduced free breakfast clubs to all primary schools and places new limits on branded school uniform costs. Together, these measures form part of the most ambitious programme of investment in children and childhood England has seen in a generation.