In the rapidly unfolding drama of the Labour Party's leadership crisis, allies of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham are already mapping out key posts in a potential future government — with former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh emerging as the surprise favourite for Chancellor of the Exchequer. According to reports, senior figures backing Burnham's expected challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer have urged the mayor to appoint Haigh to the top Treasury job, describing

When a loved one faces a serious illness like cancer, the last thing a family should worry about is financial survival. Yet for many in the UK, the reality is harsh. One man’s battle with throat cancer highlights deep cracks in the support system designed to catch people in their most vulnerable moments. A Devastating Diagnosis and the Fight for Support A father underwent major surgery to remove a cancerous lump in his throat. Recovery is tough — involving pain, potential spe

What happened? Local elections took place across England on 7 May 2026. Reform UK had a very big success. They won many more council seats than before. The main numbers • Reform UK won about 1,453 council seats. This is an increase of roughly 1,452 seats. • They gained control of 14 councils. • Reform did well in many places that used to strongly support Labour or the Conservatives. Where did Reform do well? Reform made strong gains in: • North East England – places like

Femi Mohammed, a Muslim woman of colour from Dudley in the West Midlands, has emerged as a vocal survivor of child sexual exploitation (CSE) and adult sexual assault. Her experiences span nearly two decades of trafficking by a white gang starting at age 17, followed by more recent allegations of assault and threats by a Pakistani Conservative councillor. She has publicly detailed her story amid her involvement — and subsequent fallout — with Independent MP Rupert Lowe's crowd

Who is Rupert Lowe? Rupert Lowe is a British businessman, farmer and politician. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Great Yarmouth since July 2024. He first won the seat for Reform UK but later left the party and now leads his own group called Restore Britain. Before politics, he was well known as chairman of Southampton Football Club. What are the claims? Some people have asked questions about whether Rupert Lowe received gifts or support from two Conservative pee

Two friends from the UK are preparing for an ambitious and unconventional charity adventure that promises equal parts determination, discomfort, and entertainment. Joel Redhead and Shane Cole are taking on Tiny Wheels BIG Journey — a 150-mile coast-to-coast trek from West Kirby beach on the west coast to Hull in the east, travelling entirely on children’s push scooters. The challenge begins on Saturday, 13 June 2026. The pair are raising funds for Chasing Rainbows, a charity

A dramatic new opinion poll has revealed just how fiercely contested the upcoming Makerfield by-election will be. Released on 23 May 2026, the first constituency poll of the campaign puts Labour candidate Andy Burnham at 43% and Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon at 40% — a razor-thin lead that falls well within the margin of error. The Survation poll, conducted for The Times & Sunday Times between 18–22 May with a sample of 369 respondents, shows the following voting intentions: • A

In the upcoming Makerfield by-election, Restore Britain is positioning itself as a fresh alternative. However, a cold look at the numbers shows the party faces an almost impossible uphill battle to actually win the seat. The Threshold for Victory To defeat the Labour candidate (widely reported as the frontrunner Burnham), a party will likely need to secure around 40% of the vote in what is expected to be a multi-party contest. This is a high bar in a fragmented field. The May