Why candidates dress up and run in major UK elections

EPACostumed candidates at UK elections are a longstanding traditionAndy Burnham - a man who hopes to be the next prime minister - stood shoulder-to-shoulder with a man in a fox costume and an "inte…

'Cabinet turns on Starmer' and 'Meg's in' for palace stay

Saturday's papers are focused on the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer being asked to step aside and make way for Andy Burnham. Burnham won a resounding victory in the Makerfield by-election, which ha…

Air Force One, gifted to Trump from Qatar, arrives at Joint Base Andrews

U.S. President Donald Trump pumps his fist after touring the inside of the newest aircraft in the presidential fleet at Andrews Air Force Base on June 19, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. …

Fifa alters how World Cup tables work - it changes everything

The main knock-on effect is a greater chance of teams not only advancing but winning the group before matchday three. Under the old format, a team would need to be four points clear of second to lo…

Could ‘king in the north’ become Britain’s new prime minister?

“We know no king but the King in the North”, declares the young Lady Lyanna Mormont in the hit HBO series Game of Thrones. In the early hours of Friday morning, in a nondescript conference hall in …

Celebrations and a swift exit after a Burnham win ‘beyond our wildest dreams’

There was plenty of the hopey, changey stuff from Andy Burnham at his victory rally on the morning after the night before – but it ended with the new MP for Makerfield doing a runner. “Are you goin…

US to end funding of South Africa's HIV programmes over claims of Afrikaner persecution

US to end funding of South Africa's HIV programmes over claims of Afrikaner persecutionGetty ImagesDonald Trump confronted South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House last year over claims th…

The Guardian view on Labour after Makerfield: change must mean more than a new leader | Editorial

Andy Burnham’s triumph in the Makerfield byelection leaves the prime minister with only two options: fight openly for the Labour leadership, or leave office cleanly. The former Greater Manchester m…

‘I’m not a Labour fan but I like Burnham’: relief in Makerfield among left, right and centre

The morning after Andy Burnham secured a landslide byelection victory in Makerfield, returning him to Westminster after nine years as Greater Manchester mayor, it is hard to avoid the large, red pl…

Minimum age of 11 set for UK puberty blocker trial

Getty ImagesGender-questioning children will have to be at least 11 years old to take part in a clinical trial assessing the risks and benefits of puberty-blocking drugs.The planned Pathways Trial …

A losing streak? Makerfield shows mounting dangers for Nigel Farage

As those around Nigel Farage are fond of pointing out, Reform UK has now led in more than 300 consecutive national polls. When it comes to byelections, though, it is fair to say the party’s results…

Thousands of HGV drivers given bogus medical tests in the back of vans

Will Fyfe,Wales News ImpactandLucy Vladev,BBC Wales, Swansea Crown CourtSecret footage caught people given bogus medical tests for their HGV licence applicationsThousands of HGV drivers are thought…

Heathrow third runway GDP yield may be 90% less than original estimate

The economic boost from a Heathrow third runway could be a tiny fraction of previous estimates, government analysis shows, while the overall trade-off from the bigger airport could set the UK back …

Scottish guidance on trans prisoners ruled unlawful

PA MediaA judge has ruled that prison guidance which allows some transgender prisoners to be held in jails matching their gender identity, rather than their sex at birth, is unlawful.Judge Lady Ros…

Starmer facing pressure from ministers and Labour grandees to prepare for ‘orderly exit’

Cabinet ministers and Labour grandees are to urge Keir Starmer not to fight a leadership challenge and to prepare for an “orderly exit,” the Guardian understands.Andy Burnham, who won a compelling …

Henry Zeffman: What does Keir Starmer do next after Andy Burnham's Makerfield win?

ReutersThat's just a flavour of the messages I've been receiving from Labour MPs since Andy Burnham won the Makerfield by-election in the early hours of this morning.To be clear, it's Sir Keir Star…

The key figures in Andy Burnham's inner circle

ReutersAndy Burnham is expected to seek the Labour leadership after his resounding victory in the Makerfield by-election.If Burnham succeeds in gaining the keys to Number 10, here are some of the M…

Energy bills, business rates and HS2: What are Burnham's potential policies?

Energy bills, business rates and HS2: What are Burnham's potential policies?Harry Farley,Political correspondentandJames Gregory,Political reporterPA MediaAndy Burnham's victory in the Makerfield b…

Burnham the mystic with a mission is all smiles after Makerfield coronation | John Crace

In the end, it wasn’t even close, Andy Burnham taking well over 50% of the vote and Rob Kenyon departing the stage without a murmur, never to be heard of again. Rob will probably be happier that wa…

Historic by-election win sends message to Labour and SNP, says Badenoch

Angus Cochrane,Senior political journalist, BBC ScotlandandPaul O'Hare,BBC ScotlandPA MediaKemi Badenoch praised the positivity of Douglas Lumsden's campaign and said his by-election win had nation…

Facts and figures: the Makerfield byelection result in numbers

It was, the consensus opinion states, probably the most politically consequential byelection in recent UK history. But what can we learn from the raw numbers announced overnight in Makerfield? Here…

Binface, foxes and raving loonies: the UK’s proud history of costumed candidates

When world leaders are elected, it is usually a solemn moment, but when the Labour party veteran Andy Burnham found out he had won the Makerfield byelection, increasing the likelihood he could beco…

Farage blames Makerfield defeat on anti-Starmer votes

ReutersNigel Farage says he is disappointed with Reform UK's performance in the Makerfield by-election, as he blamed his party's defeat on a desire among voters to eject Sir Keir Starmer from Downi…

‘The purpose of the rule is fascism’: scientists fight back against planned Trump research cuts

While waiting to board her flight home at Ronald Reagan Washington national airport recently, Colette Delawalla was reviewing a list of possible impacts from a proposed Trump administration rule on…

Reform’s genius plan is finally coming into view: field terrible candidates then lose | Marina Hyde

You’ll note Keir Starmer is in full bunker mode – and we’ll get to him – but after this Makerfield result, why isn’t Nigel Farage? Why isn’t Nigel ranting madly at his generals and refusing to admi…

Tories pick themselves up off the floor with unexpected Scottish by-election win

Paris GourtsoyannisBBC Scotland Westminster correspondentPA MediaKemi Badenoch made several visits to Aberdeen during the campaignConservative leader Kemi Badenoch became a frequent flyer in the fi…

Nigel Farage urges Restore voters to back Reform after ‘disappointing’ night in Makerfield

Nigel Farage has urged people who voted for Restore Britain in the Makerfield byelection to back Reform UK instead, after what he accepted had been a “disappointing” night for his party.Reform’s ca…

Starmer says he will stand in any Labour leadership contest against Burnham

Keir Starmer has said he will stand in a Labour leadership contest should one be triggered after Andy Burnham’s decisive victory in the Makerfield byelection, adding he will not “walk away”.He also…

What would ‘change’ look like if Andy Burnham becomes prime minister?

Andy Burnham’s victory in Makerfield sets up a battle for Downing Street. Allies of the outgoing Greater Manchester mayor want him to be installed as prime minister as quickly and painlessly as pos…

Plans to end gazumping with binding agreements in house sales shake-up

Rachel Clun,Business reporterandKevin Peachey,Cost of living correspondentGetty ImagesHome buyers and sellers can expect an end to "gazumping" and more transparency in a major shake-up of the prope…

Labour peer and Reform MP clash over ‘brown people’ and domestic abuse

The Labour peer Thangam Debbonaire has clashed with Reform UK’s Sarah Pochin at the Makerfield byelection count, asking the MP: “You don’t like being on television with brown people, do you Sarah?”…

These Wisconsin swing voters say Trump's war in Iran wasn't worth it

Vessels are anchored along the Strait of Hormuz. Amirhossein Khorgooei/ISNA/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Meet the law students working to bring workplace protections to federal courts

The Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on the morning of the Birthright Citizenship case arguments. Tyrone Turner/Tyrone Turner/WAMU hide caption

Some local police have access to an ICE facial recognition app

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer takes a video as they stand guard in front of protesters outside Delaney Hall, which is being used as an ICE detention center on May 27, 2026 in…

What next for Andy Burnham? Five key questions after Makerfield win

Andy Burnham is heading back to the Commons after a resounding victory in Makerfield, putting Keir Starmer’s leadership on notice, and giving Reform something to think about. The now to be former m…

Zimbabwe MPs pass bill to extend president's time in power

EPA-EFEPresident Emmerson Mnangagwa was due to step down in 2028 when his second term expires Zimbabwe's lower house of parliament has passed a bill to extend presidential terms from five to seven …

Labour's Andy Burnham wins a special election, setting up a showdown with Starmer to lead Britain

Andy Burnham, Britain's Labour candidate for Makerfield, gestures in front of supporters during the by-election in Makerfield, England, Thursday, June 18, 2026 where voters are choosing a new lawma…

Excessive probation workloads put public at risk in England and Wales, union warns

The public is “at direct risk” from unsupervised ex-offenders because probation officers in England and Wales are being asked to cope with excessive workloads, a union has said.As ministers prepare…

I saw all Reform’s weaknesses on display in Makerfield – Farage should be worried | John Harris

The day before the voters of Makerfield chose their new MP, I stood with my camera-wielding colleague John Domokos on the main road through the post-industrial town of Hindley. Every two or three m…

‘Astonishing’ win for Andy Burnham puts pressure on Starmer to step aside

Speaking hours before polls closed in Makerfield, a Downing Street source acknowledged a rare moment of doubt about the prime minister’s future. “Keir will fight on,” the source said, repeating the…

Chris Mason: Emphatic win leaves Starmer with big decision on leadership

Watch: After Burnham's win, how long will Starmer carry on?Andy Burnham couldn't have hoped for a better result than this.He has won and won big time, taking more votes than all his rivals combined…

This major Makerfield victory has made it inevitable: it’s now time for Keir Starmer to step aside | Neal Lawson

That tingle of emotion you felt when you awoke today? That is the long-lost feeling of progressive hope. That it comes from Makerfield is all the more remarkable. Reform has been defeated in a seat…

MPs urge Fujitsu to make ‘immediate’ payment to Post Office Horizon victims

The Japanese tech company at the centre of the Post Office IT scandal is facing calls from a parliamentary committee to make an “immediate” payment towards the compensation bill for victims.Fujitsu…

Sir John Curtice: Burnham's win against Reform represents remarkable personal success

Sir John CurticeProfessor of politics, Strathclyde UniversityBBCAndy Burnham's victory in the Makerfield by-election represents a remarkable personal success.Last year in the Runcorn by-election, L…

No champagne corks but a quiet pint for Burnham after seismic 3am victory

While an election count normally feels like an ending, the culmination of long campaign, in Makerfield the declaration of Andy Burnham as the constituency’s new MP felt like just the beginning.In t…

In Trump's shadow, Vance becomes face of Iran deal

ReutersVance said Trump was joking when he said he might blame himAs he defended the US-Iran deal at the White House press briefing on Thursday, Vice-President JD Vance brushed aside a question abo…

Scottish Conservatives win first Westminster by-election in more than 50 years

Angus CochraneSenior political journalist, BBC ScotlandPA MediaDouglas Lumsden is to resign from Holyrood as he takes up a seat at Westminster The Scottish Conservatives have won a Westminster by-e…

Andy Burnham wins huge majority in Makerfield byelection, paving way for Starmer leadership challenge

Andy Burnham has won the crucial Makerfield byelection by a huge majority, paving the way for a challenge to Keir Starmer’s premiership.The Greater Manchester mayor beat the Reform UK candidate, Ro…

Luigi Mangione's lawyers withdraw plans for psychiatric defense

Luigi Mangione appears for a pretrial hearing at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, June 17, 2026. Angelina Katsanis/AP hide caption

The pressure on the Church of England to ditch its slavery reparations plan

BBCThe soaring, light-filled quire in Rochester Cathedral has witnessed centuries of worship. But beneath where the cathedral's singers sit, its timeworn paving stones lies a dark financial legacy.…