Labours

Keir Starmer has vowed to stay on as British prime minister even after his Labour party was hammered in local elections, a bruising result that has intensified questions over his leadership. He conceded Labour had endured a "tough" night, but said that "days like this don't weaken my resolve to deliver the change that I promised". Nigel Farage’s Reform UK surged in contests across the country, with hundreds of Labour councillors losing their seats and piling fresh pressure on Mr Starmer. More damaging results could still lie…

Labour’s ruling body has blocked Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from seeking the party’s nomination in the Gorton and Denton by-election, citing the cost and risk of triggering a separate mayoral contest ahead of major elections in May — a move likely to inflame tensions inside the party. Burnham, one of Labour’s most high-profile figures and widely regarded as a potential leadership rival to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said he wanted to stand to replace Andrew Gwynne, the sitting MP who resigned last week on health…