Scotland’s first minister makes assertion in phone call with Boris Johnson on Sunday evening • Elections 2021 live – latest news and reaction Nicola Sturgeon has told Boris Johnson that a second independence referendum is “a matter of when, not if” after the Scottish National party secured a historic fourth […]

Former Coronation Street actor’s victory will trigger byelection in marginal seat targeted by Tories Elections 2021 live – latest news and reaction Labour’s Tracy Brabin has been elected as the first mayor of West Yorkshire, setting up another byelection in a marginal seat targeted by the Conservatives. Brabin was named […]

Row between leader and deputy holds up reshuffle while Rachel Reeves’ promotion looks set to inflame tensions with party’s left Keir Starmer handed his deputy, Angela Rayner, a major promotion on Sunday night after a day of fraught negotiations and power battles. He also sacked his shadow chancellor and promoted […]

Spread of Indian Covid variant has not deterred PM from return of cinemas and indoor hospitality and permitting mixing at home Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Friends and family will be able to hug and mix indoors from next week, while cinemas and museums can reopen, […]

Strong performance in Bristol and nationwide council seat gains raise hope of general election success The co-leader of the Green party has said voters have finally come to accept his party as a credible electoral force as he marked gains from both Labour and the Conservatives in local elections. Jonathan […]

First minister says there is ‘no democratic justification’ for No 10 denying second vote Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to press ahead with plans for a second independence referendum after the Scottish National party won its fourth consecutive Holyrood election, triggering a constitutional battle with Boris Johnson. In a letter issued […]

Victory was less emphatic than predicted after late increase in support for Tory Shaun Bailey Sadiq Khan has been elected as mayor of London for a second term, following a victory that was less emphatic than predicted after a late increase in support for his Conservative opponent. As recently as […]

Questions grow on Keir Starmer’s leadership with accusations of ‘cowardly avoidance of responsibility’ Elections 2021: results and reaction – live Labour chair Angela Rayner has been dramatically fired by Keir Starmer as a bitter row erupted over the party’s disastrous performance in Thursday’s bumper set of elections. She was blamed […]

Passengers face ‘significant’ disruption as GWR and LNER suspend services in order to inspect trains Have you been affected by the recent GWR and LNER train cancellations? Rail services on Britain’s main intercity lines were halted and passengers told of potential prolonged disruption ahead, after cracks were found on high-speed […]

Kaukab Stewart makes history as she wins for SNP in Glasgow Kelvin History was made in Scotland on Saturday as the country elected its first woman of colour to serve as a member of the Scottish parliament (MSP). Kaukab Stewart won her race for the Scottish National Party (SNP) in […]