‘Prolonged disruption’ expected on GWR and LNER as cracks found on trains May 8, 2021 Hitachi trains have been taken off the network for companies like Great Western Railway (GWR) and the London North Eastern Railway (LNER), with significant disruptions now expected. The Department for Transport said in a statement today that cracks had been found in the chassis of some of the trains during routine safety checks. The department [...]
Scotland election: SNP majority hopes on ‘a knife edge’ as Sturgeon pushes for second independence referendum May 8, 2021 Nicola Sturgeon is insisting she will push for an independence referendum after the Scottish election even as the chances of a Scottish National Party (SNP) majority remain “on a knife edge”. The SNP will form the next Scottish government, either with an outright majority or with the help of the Green Party, which also supports [...]
Scotland election: SNP set for victory but majority ‘a long shot’, says Sturgeon May 7, 2021 Nicola Sturgeon’s Scottish National Party (SNP) look set to cruise to another election victory, however the party is playing down its chances of getting a majority in the poll. The Scottish first minister said a majority, which the party has said would give the country a mandate for a second independence referendum, has “always been [...]
English council elections: Tories make more gains in the Red Wall May 7, 2021 The Conservatives have won control of four councils and almost 100 new seats across the country, with the party making further inroads in traditional Labour areas in local elections in the North and the Midlands. The Conservatives so far have won Harlow Council in Essex, Dudley Council in the West Midlands, Northumberland Council and Nuneaton [...]
Now what for Sir Keir Starmer and Labour after crushing Hartlepool defeat? May 7, 2021 Labour’s crushing defeat in the Hartlepool by-election has already sparked recriminations and finger pointing, with the party quickly descending into factional warfare. Labour left MPs have been reasonably quiet about their discontent with Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership and his attempt to moderate the party until now, however we should expect to see this change from [...]
Labour hammered in Hartlepool by-election as Starmer comes under pressure May 7, 2021 Labour has suffered an historic defeat in yesterday’s Hartlepool by-election, with Boris Johnson’s Conservatives winning the constituency for the first ever time. The Tories blitzed Labour in the by-election, winning by a staggering 23 points after losing the seat in the 2019 General Election. The loss has already led to recriminations within the Labour party [...]
‘Super Thursday’ UK elections: What time will the winners be announced? May 6, 2021 Elections have been conducted across the UK today in the biggest electoral test since 2019, with results set to be announced over the next few days. The results will tell us a lot more about the mood of the country, including how much cut through Sir Keir Starmer has had with the UK electorate since [...]
Early London mayor election in-person turnout just 12 per cent of 2016 May 6, 2021 Internal Labour polling numbers are showing in-person turnout as of noon in today’s London mayor election was just 11.6 per cent of the total 2016 turnout, raising fears among Sadiq Khan’s camp about a surprise defeat. It is expected there will be many more postal votes this year, due to Covid-19, however it is unknown [...]
Five things to look for in the ‘super Thursday’ UK elections May 6, 2021 Around 48m people in the UK will be eligible to vote in elections today in what is being dubbed “super Thursday”. This includes Holyrood elections in Scotland, Welsh Senedd elections, Hartlepool’s by-election and mayoral contests in London, Greater Manchester, West Midlands, Tees Valley, Liverpool, West Yorkshire. There will also be more than 100 council elections [...]
British gunboats will continue to patrol Jersey as French fishing boats leave May 6, 2021 Two British naval ships will remain off the coast of Jersey and patrol the waters, after a flotilla of 60 French fishing boats ended their protest this afternoon. Two armed Royal Navy boats, the HMS Tamar and HMS Severn, were sent by Boris Johnson last night to patrol waters around Jersey amid a protest by French [...]
