The PM has dropped a plan to postpone May’s local elections after advice suggested a likely court defeat. Ministers confirmed polls will proceed on schedule, following backlash from councils and opposition figures over cost, confusion and the risk to democratic fairness.

Research indicates deaths linked to domestic abuse are vastly undercounted. A police-led project logged 98 suspected deaths in 2024, outstripping 80 intimate-partner homicides. Local data suggest the national toll could be many times higher. Experts urge better recording, safeguarding and funding.

Judges quashed ministers’ decision to outlaw a protest group, ruling the proscription disproportionate and unlawful. The verdict could affect many arrests and cases linked to alleged support. Ministers may appeal and are expected to review policing and guidance.

The PM has removed No 10’s top civil servant in a shake‑up aimed at tightening standards after a row over an appointment process and internal oversight. Allies say the move is to restore grip and accountability; critics warn it risks politicising the civil service.