All posts tagged: Labours

Politics Home | Shadow Housing Secretary Blames Labour’s Rent Reforms For Eviction From His Home

Politics Home | Shadow Housing Secretary Blames Labour’s Rent Reforms For Eviction From His Home

Published by Sam Flores

3 min read1 hr Conservative MP James Cleverly has revealed that he is being forced out of his rented home in his constituency, blaming government reforms to the rental sector that will take effect next month. Speaking to PoliticsHome, the shadow housing secretary, himself a former landlord, said that the Renters’ Rights Act was forcing “good landlords” like his in Essex out of the market. The reforms, which ministers describe as the most significant changes to renting brought in by a UK government, include the banning of “no-fault” evictions, meaning landlords must provide a valid legal reason for eviction, the ending of fixed-term contracts, and putting a stop to “bidding wars” which result in tenants paying more than the advertised price. Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed, has called the legislation “the biggest leap forward in renters’ rights in a generation”, saying it is “levelling the playing field between renters and landlords”.   However, Cleverly, the Tory MP for Braintree, claimed it was forcing landlords nationwide, including his own, to sell their properties, creating a “spate” of …

After 27 years in power, Welsh Labour’s dominance may soon be over

After 27 years in power, Welsh Labour’s dominance may soon be over

Published by Sam Flores

Welsh Labour is in unfamiliar territory. While winning elections in Wales had become routine since 1922, the upcoming Senedd (Welsh parliament) election has thrown the party into uncharted waters, with the prospect of finishing a distant third. So much is new about this election. The Senedd has been expanded from 60 to 96 members, alongside the introduction of a new electoral system which changes how members are elected, making this a contest like no other in the devolution era. But it is not just the Senedd that is transforming. More than a century of Labour dominance now appears under serious threat, with Plaid Cymru and Reform UK emerging as beneficiaries of a potentially seismic realignment. Read more: Wales is overhauling its democracy – here’s what’s changing Polling suggests a stark outcome: around 12 seats for the party that has dominated Welsh political life, down from 29 at the last election. And that’s despite the Senedd’s expansion. In trying to breathe new life into the party, Welsh Labour claimed in late 2025 to be ushering in …

‘We have been profoundly let down’: Voters in one of Labour’s safest seats consider switching sides

‘We have been profoundly let down’: Voters in one of Labour’s safest seats consider switching sides

Published by Sam Flores

Until recently, lunchtime on a Thursday would have been a manic period for Steven Lightbrown, with a queue out of the door for fish and chips, pies and fritters. But since the closure of the steelworks in Port Talbot in September 2024, the takeaway business that his father established 40 years ago in the industrial community of Taibach has taken a “massive hit”, losing almost half of its trade. Locals remain loyal customers, but the drop in trade has forced Mr Lightbrown to reduce his hours at Steve’s Fish Bar to four days a week. “Businesses have been heavily affected with the lack of people coming,” he tells The Independent. “It’s affected morale, steelworkers were my main trade. A lot of workers have now left the area, some have gone up to Hinkley Point, others have gone up to Trostre Steelworks.” Steve Lightbrown’s fish shop has lost 40 per cent of its trade (Supplied) It has been 20 months since Tata Steel turned off the blast furnaces in the south Wales industrial town, with 2,000 …

Starmers Brexit Gamble May Impact Labours Support

Starmers Brexit Gamble May Impact Labours Support

Published by Sam Flores

Keir Starmer loves the European Union. It is not controversial to point this out. Few, if any, MPs did more to overturn the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum than the member for Holborn and St. Pancras. As Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary, Starmer led the charge – often against intense resistance from his own party colleagues – for a second referendum, and made no secret of the fact he would campaign to stay in the EU if it ever happened. In the end, Jeremy Corbyn’s decision to support Boris Johnson’s call for a snap election in 2019 put paid to Starmer’s dream. Johnson won a landslide victory and took the UK out of the bloc on January 31, 2020. This neatly coincided with the Labour leadership contest, which Starmer won with a promise to “defend free movement as we leave the EU”. That pledge, alongside the other nine he made during that campaign, were all quickly ditched once he was in post. Indeed, the return of free movement remains a “red line” the government says …

‘A declaration of war’: How councils are resisting one of Labour’s core objectives | Politics News

‘A declaration of war’: How councils are resisting one of Labour’s core objectives | Politics News

Published by Sam Flores

Councils are ignoring explicit instructions to approve planning projects from ministers – as the scale and cost of their resistance to development is revealed for the first time. It comes as tensions between councils of all political stripes are rising with ministers, who are desperate to hit their target of 1.5 million new homes in England by the end of the parliament. Politics Hub: Latest updates from Westminster In one case shared with Sky News, a council northwest of London refused a planning application for a 256-home development despite housing minister Matthew Pennycook directing councillors to approve the case 24 hours earlier. Councillors on a planning committee at Three Rivers District Council rejected the application last week, with 10 votes to refuse and one abstention, on the grounds the plan might harm the green belt, concern over flooding, and the loss of hedgerows. However, the council’s own planning officer had recommended the site be approved for development, concluding it met the government definition of “grey belt” and that while “adverse impacts would arise to the …

The House Article | Inside The Battle For Labour’s Mainstream: Luke Akehurst Vs Luke Hurst

The House Article | Inside The Battle For Labour’s Mainstream: Luke Akehurst Vs Luke Hurst

Published by Sam Flores

Labour First’s Luke Akehurst and Mainstream’s Luke Hurst (l-r) 12 min read49 min Two internal players called Luke are battling to claim Labour’s mainstream. The outcome of their rivalry will shape the future of the party – and possibly the country. Sienna Rodgers reports On one side is Luke Akehurst. He is a veteran organiser within the party and has served as secretary of Labour First, the ‘old right’ Labour factional group, for 20 years. In recognition of his services, the 54-year-old became a Labour MP for the first time at the last general election, and now also runs a WhatsApp group of 198 MPs called “mainstream”. On the other is Luke Hurst. He is the lesser-known Luke, having only involved himself in Labour during Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership years, via student politics. Today, the 27-year-old is national co-ordinator of new membership organisation Mainstream, which represents the soft left of the party and is best known for being close to Manchester mayor Andy Burnham. As their respective brands suggest, both claim to …

The Battle for Labour’s oldest stronghold:  Wales – POLITICO

The Battle for Labour’s oldest stronghold:  Wales – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

In May, Labour faces losing some of its oldest heartlands. In Wales, the party has dominated elections for 104 years, but is, according to polls, fighting for third or fourth place against powerful forces on the left and right — Plaid Cymru and Reform. Host Sascha O’Sullivan and POLITICO’s political editor Dan Bloom took the train to Newport and drove through South Wales, where the fight is fiercest, to find out how the parties are vying for the top spot in the Senedd, the Welsh Parliament. They spoke to first minister Eluned Morgan as she launched the Welsh Labour campaign in Newport Market. And newly-appointed Welsh leader of Reform Dan Thomas explained why the party there differs from the one led by Nigel Farage. Westminster Insider speaks to Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth about how the party has ditched their message on independence in a bid to scoop up voters on the left disillusioned with Labour. Source link

Labour’s left unite behind ‘major reset’ call in fresh challenge to Starmer | Politics News

Labour’s left unite behind ‘major reset’ call in fresh challenge to Starmer | Politics News

Published by Sam Flores

Labour’s left-wing factions have united behind a call for a “major reset” – warning the party will “only survive if it chooses a different path”. The statement, from a coalition of MPs, councillors and activists, comes after a major intervention from Angela Rayner, in which she criticised Sir Keir Starmer’s “un-British” immigration reforms and said Labour’s “very survival” is “at stake”. The former deputy prime minister was speaking at a reception hosted by Mainstream, a centre-left organisation which advocates for practical left policies and is closely aligned with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. Her language has been echoed by a new “Reset the Labour Party” statement, which calls for a change of course in the wake of the Gorton and Denton by-election disaster and potentially catastrophic local elections in May. The statement, launching with an official website this evening and seen by Sky News, calls for bolder ideas and a more democratic culture within the party, hitting out at the “pandering to the far right” from the “top down” leadership. It is supported by Mainstream …

Politics Home | Andy Burnham Says Labour’s By-Election Defeat Shows “Chasm” Between Westminster And Voters

Politics Home | Andy Burnham Says Labour’s By-Election Defeat Shows “Chasm” Between Westminster And Voters

Published by Sam Flores

(Alamy) 3 min read1 hr Andy Burnham has said that Labour’s historic defeat at the Gorton and Denton by-election demonstrated the “chasm” between Westminster and the public. In his first public intervention since Labour lost the Greater Manchester contest to the Greens last week, Burnham said the result ought to be a “code red for Westminster politics”. Labour had controlled the constituency for over 100 years before falling to third place behind the Greens and Reform UK last week.  Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, wanted to be Labour’s candidate and was widely seen as the party’s most likely chance of keeping hold of the seat, but was blocked by senior Labour officials, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer.  As well as being a bruising result for Labour, it was another blow to Westminster’s historic, two-party system, with neither of the top two parties being Labour or the Conservatives. Speaking at an event in London hosted by the Centre for Cities think tank on Wednesday, Burnham said: “What I want to say today is that the time has most definitely come …

Labour’s Shabana Mahmood threatens Pakistan with visa ban | Politics | News

Labour’s Shabana Mahmood threatens Pakistan with visa ban | Politics | News

Published by Sam Flores

Pakistan could face sweeping visa restrictions from Britain (Image: Getty) Pakistan could face sweeping visa restrictions from Britain after new figures laid bare how few rejected asylum seekers are being sent home. Official data shows that despite thousands of refusals, just 4.1 per cent of failed Pakistani applicants were returned last year — the equivalent of one in 25. The scale of the issue is significant. Pakistani nationals now represent the single largest group claiming asylum in the UK, accounting for roughly one in 10 applications overall, reports show. In 2024, 10,638 Pakistanis sought asylum — double the previous year’s total and ahead of countries including Eritrea (8,948), Iran (7,419) and Afghanistan (6,462). A striking feature of the trend is how many initially arrived through legitimate routes. Large numbers entered Britain on student, work or visitor visas before later applying for asylum — a move that can pave the way towards permanent residency if successful. Yet more than 70 per cent of Pakistani claims are rejected. Read more: Zia Yusuf pledges British version of Trump’s …