Local elections 2025: Polls to open across England

Hundreds of councillors, six mayors and one MP will be elected in polls across England.

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Watch: What's at stake in these local elections?

Watch: What's at stake in these local elections?

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Chris Mason: A wildly unpredictable local elections

The results of the ballots will mould the national political mood, our political editor writes.

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Government not taking climate seriously - advisers

The government has made little progress in preparing the UK for rising temperatures, climate watchdog the CCC says.

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Jenkyns at odds with Farage on special needs

The Reform leader has previously said there are too many SEND diagnoses for children.

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Kneecap apologises to families of two murdered MPs

The rap group said an extract of footage "taken out of context" is being "exploited and weaponised".

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Plans to extend sugar tax to milkshakes

The tax will be applied to manufacturers of milk-based drinks and dairy-based substitutes, under the plans.

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Sex offenders to be denied asylum rights in new law

Asylum seekers placed on the sex offenders register will be denied the right to stay in the UK.

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Knife crime could rise without funding - Met chief

Sir Mark Rowley warns that without more funding, the Met will struggle to meet key crime targets.

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Daughter of murdered MP calls for Kneecap apology

Video emerged of a 2023 gig appearing to show a band member saying: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory."

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Urgent care worse than pre-pandemic, think tank says

The Health Foundation argues that the NHS was "in distress" this winter with A&E waiting times reaching a record high.

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Tories may need to form coalition with Reform, says Ben Houchen

A pact may be needed to keep Labour out of government at next general election, the Tory mayor says.

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Greens call for single-sex guidance to be withdrawn

Carla Denyer says the equalities watchdog's guidance puts trans people at risk of discrimination.

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Will this be the 'anyone but the big parties' local election?

"Slivers" of votes are set to decide the local elections - with the big parties likely to suffer.

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Equality watchdog issues interim guidance on single-sex spaces

It follows the UK Supreme Court's ruling that a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law.

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Eligibility case against Reform candidate dismissed

Dame Andrea Jenkyns is standing as a candidate in the Greater Lincolnshire mayoral race.

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Reeves working 'flat out' to get US trade deal

The chancellor is set to meet her US counterpart to make the case for a bilateral trade deal.

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Watch: Labour MP criticises gender ideology 'damage'

Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi says Welsh government and others were "captured" by LGBT charities.

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Supported housing in crisis, groups tell Starmer

Supported housing for vulnerable or disabled people is in crisis, a letter to the prime minister says.

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UK-Irish deal on Troubles legacy could be 'within weeks'

Secretary of State Hilary Benn hosted Tánaiste Simon Harris and Irish Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan.

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Reform UK 'would work with any other Senedd party'

The Reform UK leader said his party is not a protest vote and will serve as antidote in the Senedd.

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Call to fine 'headphone dodgers' who play music on buses

Lib Dems say fines of up to £1,000 would tackle the "blight" of anti-social behaviour on public transport.

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Higher pay and benefits drives government borrowing higher

The government borrowed £151.9bn in the year to March, which marked the third highest on record.

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Chris Mason: Gender debate has changed but it's not over yet

The landmark Supreme Court ruling has changed the tone of the conversation, our political editor writes.

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Police chiefs to be granted powers to remove unfit officers

Police chiefs will be able to automatically sack officers who fail background checks, under new measures.

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Hereditary Lords speak out on prospect of leaving Parliament

Lords who inherited their titles share their mixed feelings about being ejected from the Upper Chamber.

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Nationalities of foreign criminals to be published

Data is due to be released by the year's end showing nationalities and crimes of those awaiting deportation.

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Pubs to stay open late for VE Day 80th anniversary

The government has given the go-ahead for pubs and bars to stay open for two hours longer than usual.

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Starmer and Trump discuss 'productive' trade talks

The men held their first call since the US president imposed tariffs on UK goods earlier this month.

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Reform and Greens aim high in volatile mayoral contests

Smaller parties are looking to cause an upset in mayoral contests in Hull and the West of England.

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Fire services get 50% less than police to cover tax rises

Fire services across England say they will struggle to meet the cost of a rise in employer National Insurance.

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Trump suggests UK state visit set for September

Earlier this year, King Charles III invited Donald Trump for an unprecedented second state visit.

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Losing mum and seat in July was traumatic - Coffey

Former MP Therese Coffey says losing her 20,000 majority meant she could spend time with her mother.

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UK bans EU cheese and meat imports to prevent disease spreading

People coming into Great Britain can no longer bring cured meats or cheese from the EU following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

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Lib Dems call for rural crime teams in police forces

The party says the policy would be funded by scrapping Police and Crime Commissioners in England and Wales.

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Former MP paid 'six figures' for Big Brother stint

Former Conservative MP for Lichfield was the first to be evicted from Celebrity Big Brother on Friday.

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Judges to announce ruling on definition of a woman

The Supreme Court is to issue its judgement on how a woman should be defined under the law.

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Extra staff to check Carer's Allowance overpayments

Some carers have been told to pay back thousands of pounds after being overpaid the benefit for years.

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A1 dualling hit by lack of government 'enthusiasm'

The axed scheme to upgrade a 13-mile (20km) stretch is discussed at a Northumberland hustings event.

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'Don't take too long to do right thing' - Hillsborough mum's plea to PM

On the 36th anniversary of Hillsborough Margaret Aspinall calls for the strongest new legislation.

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'Good chance' of US-UK trade deal, says Vance

The Trump administration's trade policy shakeup has caused global economic turmoil.

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Record number of migrants cross Channel in 2025 so far

Some 656 people crossed the Channel on Saturday, the highest number recorded in a single day this year.

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Race to keep furnaces burning at British Steel plant

The government is working to obtain coal to power the company's furnaces after passing an emergency law to take control of its site.

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Some police forces unprepared for summer riots, MPs find

The policing response was "entirely appropriate" given the violence and criminality, the report found.

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Reynolds refuses to say if steel furnaces can keep running

The government took control of the steelworks to prevent Chinese owners Jingye shutting down production.

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Chris Mason: As British Steel law rushed through Parliament, officials waited in hotel

For all of Saturday's drama, the government's intervention so far is just a stop gap, writes our political editor.

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Lib Dem MP refused entry to Hong Kong

Party leader Sir Ed Davey urges the foreign secretary to summon the Chinese ambassador for an explanation.

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Rail minister admits using phone while driving vintage bus

Lord Hendy has apologised in full for the "error of judgement" and will reportedly accept the sanctions.

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Grangemouth closure 'not comparable' to British Steel, MPs told

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn challenged the UK government over similarities to the closure of the Scottish oil refinery

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Rishi Sunak's resignation honours list in full

The former prime minister has handed out 36 honours, including to well-known ex-ministers and former advisors.

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Why is British Steel in trouble and who owns it?

MPs are having an emergency debate on the future of the UK's only remaining plant making virgin steel.

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Union anger after bin workers urged to agree deal

The Deputy Prime Minister says striking Birmingham bin workers should accept an improved offer.

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UK economy grew more than expected in February

The economy grew by 0.5% in February, thanks to a strong month for the services sector.

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Deadline nears to register to vote in local elections

There are local elections to 24 of England's 317 councils and mayoral authorities on 1 May.

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How exposed is the UK to Trump's tariff chaos?

The exact impact remains uncertain - but some of the emerging fallout may have an upside - here's why.

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Matt Chorley: Local elections might lack glamour - but they matter

The 5 live host considers what's at stake on a trip to the heart of some of the big battles on 1 May.

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MPs call for streaming levy to help UK TV industry

A CMS committee report warns of the need to safeguard "culturally distinct British productions".

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Starmer to set out plan for more police patrols at peak times

The prime minister says he wants to ensure every community has specialist neighbourhood officers.

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Union boss urges Labour MPs to vote against benefit cuts

Fire Brigades Union general secretary Steve Wright urges MPs to rebel against Sir Keir Starmer's plans.

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New Universal theme park confirmed for UK

The company says the new site is expected to create 28,000 jobs and generate £50bn for the economy.

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Sarah Brown: Our baby loss led to search for answers

There was an outpouring of support from the public after the death of Sarah and Gordon Brown's daughter Jennifer.

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Government considers nationalising British Steel

There are fears among ministers that the company's blast furnaces could run out of raw materials within days.

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Neighbouring council to help clear bin strike waste

Lichfield District Council says it will help clear the rubbish that has accumulated on the streets of Birmingham.

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Chris Mason: What can Starmer do in a world buffeted by Trump?

The government is leaning into this moment of turbulence but can it make a difference.

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Steel closures 'far from done deal', minister says

Business minister Sarah Jones says all options are open in response to calls for nationalisation.

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Former PMs and home secretaries may face asylum centre inquiry

An internal Home Office document says allegations of failures at the holding centre in 2022 are likely to be “reputationally damaging” for the department.

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Ministers to review hundreds of public bodies

The move could see some taxpayer-funded organisations not directly controlled by ministers scrapped.

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Apple-UK data privacy row should not be secret, court rules

The UK government sought to keep details of its row with Apple over requested access to its encrypted cloud storage tool private.

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Rules on UK car firms relaxed ahead of 2030 petrol vehicles ban

The prime minister says the measures are designed to aid the UK motor industry, which has been hit by Trump's tariffs.

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MP Dan Norris arrested on suspicion of child sex offences and rape

A spokesperson for Labour says he has been suspended from the party after being arrested.

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Elin Jones to stand down as Llywydd in 2026

Jones has been the chamber's referee and figurehead since 2016.

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Pylon plans could spark mass social unrest - Plaid

A green energy company is threatening landowners with legal action as they deny access requests.

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Assisted dying: California man invites BBC to witness his death as MPs debate new law

Wayne Hawkins believes terminally ill people should be able to die when they choose, but others in the state disagree.

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Chris Mason: UK relief but not delight at Trump tariffs

How the world responds to the tariffs will have economic and political consequences for the UK, writes our political editor.

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Councils putting homeless children at risk, MPs find

An inquiry says children are living in "appalling conditions" and suffering impacts to their health.

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UK to keep pushing for deal after Trump imposes 10% tariff

"No one wants a trade war" but "nothing is off the table", UK business secretary says.

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Uncertainty over £400m of Covid loans yet to be paid back

There is a "high degree of uncertainty" over how much of the hundreds of millions of pounds lent to sports bodies during the Covid pandemic will be repaid, says an influential group of MPs.

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Chris Mason: Jitters, uncertainty and hope as UK awaits Trump tariff decision

Talks are continuing between London and Washington at quite an intensity, our political editor writes.

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Grooming inquiry lawyer asked Home Office 'do you still want me?'

Tom Crowther KC suggests there has been little progress nearly three months since his role was announced.

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Adoption fund to continue after families 'left in limbo'

Families had been calling for clarity for months about the therapy fund, which expired on Monday.

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Minister who bet on election in line for peerage

Conservative Sir Alister Jack - who bet on the election date - is set to be given a seat in the Lords.

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UK has best chance to overturn tariffs, says Reynolds

Tne trade secretary says the UK will be hit by tariffs on Wednesday but can negotiate an exemption.

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