Green party of England and Wales; left-wing, environmentally focused
Andy Burnham is taking office as prime minister and is weighing a pragmatic approach to North Sea oil and gas while honouring Labour’s manifesto. The Rosebank and Jackdaw fields remain central to the debate, with industry and Green groups urging clarity on licensing and climate commitments.
The local elections across England and the semiautonomous parliaments in Scotland and Wales are likely to yield a heavy setback for Keir Starmer’s Labour. Polls open early and results are expected by Friday afternoon, with Reform UK and the Greens poised to gain at Labour’s expense amid wider disillusionment with the government.
Local and devolved votes held 7–8 May have produced major gains for Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and for the Green Party while Labour has lost hundreds of council seats and control of key authorities. Scotland and Wales results are reshaping national parliaments; Keir Starmer has said he will stay in office and has taken responsibility for the losses.
Labour has suffered a major setback in local and devolved elections, with Reform UK and the Green Party making significant gains. The leadership question for Sir Keir Starmer is intensifying as MPs and voters express dissatisfaction with the pace of change and the government's direction. Welsh and Scottish results compound pressure on Labour's national strategy.
Andy Burnham has outlined a plan to devolve power away from Whitehall, establishing a No 10 North unit in Manchester to oversee regional reform, housing, transport and economic policy. He has positioned himself as the voice for English regions and signalled potential changes to where key decisions are made.
Labour leadership discussions have outlined a plan to reinvest in defence, increase transparency, and pursue a stronger, Europe-facing foreign policy, as Nimble leadership contest continues to unfold.
The Reform UK leader has quit as an MP to trigger a Clacton by-election, arguing the people of Clacton should judge his actions amid ongoing scrutiny over a 35m gift and separate fundraising allegations. Most major parties are not fielding candidates, leaving Count Binface as the primary challenger; the by-election carries potential legal and financial implications for Farage and Reform.
Nigel Farage has resigned as MP to trigger a by-election in Clacton, arguing the voters should judge his actions. With major parties abstaining, Count Binface and a slate of independents are contesting the race, which is drawing scrutiny over Farage’s finances and a parliamentary standards inquiry.