Greens captured Gorton in a by‑election, taking the seat from Labour and denting Starmer’s authority. Some Labour MPs urged a shift left, but the leadership signalled no change. The PM vowed to counter “extremes” as parties assess the result’s implications for strategy.
After a heavy by-election defeat in Gorton and Denton, where Green candidate Hannah Spencer won with 41% and Reform UK came second while the Tories lost their deposit, Labour fell to third. Angela Rayner is urging the PM to shift left, intensifying leadership pressure amid MPs’ warnings of serious jeopardy.
Greens seized Labour’s once-safe Gorton and Denton in a by-election, electing a local plumber as MP. The result pushed Labour into third behind Reform, triggering calls for the PM to quit. Angela Rayner urged a wake-up call; Starmer vowed to continue and reject what he called divisive Green policies.
Convicted killer Ian Huntley was seriously injured in a prison incident and flown to hospital by air ambulance. He remains in a critical condition as officials investigate the circumstances and review security measures.
An internal audit at Global Counsel found a significant batch of Lord Mandelson’s business emails missing. The account had been used to correspond with Jeffrey Epstein. Officials have requested the material; the firm will provide what remains, while Mandelson says he lost access in 2022.
Ian Huntley is in a critical condition after an incident in a workshop at HMP Frankland. A fellow inmate was detained on suspicion of carrying out the attack. Huntley, 52, had been working within a segregated unit. Prison safety procedures and supervision are under review.
Spanish police are set to operate in Gibraltar under a UK‑EU treaty, with powers to make arrests, conduct checks and oversee the border at the airport and port. Ministers say it protects fluid travel and trade; critics call it a breach of sovereignty and a broken Brexit pledge.
Ian Huntley is in a critical condition after an assault in a workshop at HMP Frankland. A fellow inmate is suspected. Police and prison authorities have launched inquiries and are reviewing security procedures.
Home Office data show a steep fall in overseas nurses and care workers after tighter visa rules, sparking warnings of a staffing crisis across the NHS and social care. Analysts say services risk failing to meet demand from an ageing population unless recruitment and retention improve.
Senior Conservatives accuse Labour of lacking resolve after official data shows only 6% of Channel small‑boat arrivals were removed last year—2,550 of 41,472. They urge tougher action to deter crossings and speed up removals, increasing pressure on ministers.
A bid to legalise assisted dying is set to fail after the Government signalled no extra Lords time. Supporters accuse peers of talking it out; critics say scrutiny shows it’s unsafe. Lord Falconer alleges filibustering; Esther Rantzen decries ‘sabotage’.
About 1m 16–24s are not in education, employment or training, raising fears of a “lost generation”. Experts urge the chancellor to introduce a jobs or training guarantee, expand apprenticeships and improve careers support to prevent long‑term economic scarring.
UK gilt sales are expected to decline for the first time since 2023, easing borrowing costs and giving Reeves a modest fiscal boost. Banks see lower issuance and yields, while the Treasury signals continued discipline to avoid any perception of a licence to spend.
Ministry of Justice data show severe court backlogs, with some criminal trials listed as far off as 2030. Victims face waits of four years or more, and over 200 suspects in serious sexual assault cases are not expected to reach a jury before at least 2028. Senior figures say the delays deny justice.