Scott Duffield

A MHCLG spokesperson said:

“Following legal advice, the Government has withdrawn its original decision to postpone 30 local elections in May.

“Providing certainty to councils about their local elections is now the most crucial thing and all local elections will now go ahead in May 2026.”

Government abandons plans to delay 30 council elections Government abandons plans to delay 30 council elections

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The Leader of Reform UK has welcomed the news.

His party had been mounting a legal challenge over the government’s decision to postpone local elections.

BREAK: The government has abandoned plans to delay 30 council elections following legal advice.

Cabinet Office looking into Labour Together claims, says minister The think tank paid a company at least £30,000 to investigate the origins of a story about undeclared donations.

Sir Keir said he "didn't know anything" about APCO Worldwide's investigation adding: "It absolutely needs to be looked into."

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The Prime Minister has ordered the Cabinet Office to investigate claims that Labour Together commissioned a report to investigate the background of a journalist.

The group paid APCO Worldwide £30k to "investigate the sourcing, funding and origins" of a Sunday Times story about the Think Tank.

Cabinet Secretary front runner Antonia Romeo previously spoken to about management style Dame Antonia Romeo was found to have no case to answer over one complaint nine years ago.

Cabinet secretary frontrunner previously spoken to about management style

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Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell accused of embezzling £459,000 over 12-year period Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell accused of embezzling £459,000 over 12-year period

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NEW: The former SNP chief executive - Peter Murrell - is facing a charge of embezzling £459,000 from the party over a period of more than 12 years, it has emerged.

He is accused of illicitly purchasing items including luxury goods, jewellery, cosmetics, two cars and a motorhome.

The Home Secretary has said she is “disappointed by the Court’s decision and disagree with the notion that banning this terrorist organisation is disproportionate”

Shabana Mahmood also said: “ I intend to fight this judgment in the Court of Appeal.”

The decision means that while the group has successfully challenged the ban, expressing support for Palestine Action or taking part in its activities remains a serious criminal offence.

NEW: The High Court has ruled that the ban of Palestine Action under terrorism legislation is unlawful - but the ban remains in place for now

Wormald will stand down as Cabinet Secretary today.

A process to appoint a successor will be set out. On an interim period the duties will be shared between three Permanent Secretaries - Catherine Little (in Cabinet Office), Dame Antonia Romeo (in Home Office) and James Bowler (in HM Treasury)

NEW: The UK's most senior civil servant, Sir Chris Wormald, is to stand down "by mutual agreement" with the Prime Minister

He was appointed by Sir Keir Starmer in December 2024

PM says peer did not give 'full account' over links to sex offender Sir Keir Starmer was asked at Prime Minister's Questions about his decision to award a peerage to Lord Doyle.

PM says Lord Doyle [Matthew Doyle] did not give 'full account' over links to sex offender

Starmer says he 'will never walk away from the country I love' after thanking cabinet for support The PM was speaking to the public in Hertfordshire about the cost of living - he earlier met his cabinet in London and thanked them for backing him.

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The PM has said he 'will never walk away from the mandate' he was given by the electorate

Sir Keir was making a speech in Hertfordshire where he vowed to keep fighting for working people.

NEW: PM told political cabinet “the whole of the Labour Party wants Anas Sarwar to become FM and will fight for a Labour government in Scotland”.

It comes after Sarwar called for the PM to resign.

The PM thanks political cabinet colleagues for their support and said “they were strong & united”.

Chris Mason: Labour sticks with Starmer for now but this is not over The prime minister has come through a political near-death experience, the BBC's political editor writes.

Chris Mason: Labour sticks with Starmer for now but this is not over

“I hope he does”

Pat McFadden says he “hope[s]” PM stays in the job

Heidi Alexander (Transport Secretary) explicitly references Anas Sarwar - saying he is “wrong” (to call for PM’s resignation)

Seeing quite a lot of the Cabinet now publicly posting their support of the PM

Eyes will now be looking to see who stays silent 👀

We’ve had Twitter, BlueSky and now LinkedIn support from Cabinet members…

Attorney General’s post ⬇️

The Chancellor posts on X (Twitter) saying “With Keir as our Prime Minister we are turning the country around”

And another…

Chief Sec to the PM says “all of us in the Labour Party must get behind the Prime Minister”

NEW: A Downing Street spokesperson says Starmer “has a clear 5yr mandate from the British people to deliver change and that is what he will do”.

This is evidently in response to Scottish Labour Leader, Anas Sarwar, calling for the PM to resign.

Sarwar says Keir is a “decent man”

He criticises “leadership in Downing Street” which he says has meant people are unaware of the work that’s been done by Labour Govt

NEW: Anas Sarwar, Leader of Scottish Labour, has called for Sir Keir to resign

He says the “distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change”

NEW: Second member of Cabinet posts support for Sir Keir

Housing Secretary Steve Reed says: “We need to stay the course and deliver the change this country voted for”

NEW: Deputy Prime Minister posts his support on X (Twitter) backing Sir Keir Starmer