News about Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak was given a glimmer of hope amid dire elections today as Labour suggested they have lost the Tees Valley mayoral battle. As the declaration looms in the contest, senior sources acknowledged that they were set to 'fall short' of ousting Tory incumbent Ben Houchen despite a 'significant swing'. The formal result, due at 12.30pm, and signs that Andy Street is performing strongly in West Mids could give the PM some much-needed relief after disaster in the Blackpool South by-election and a mounting bloodbath on councils. Polling guru Professor John Curtice said the Tories could be on track to lose 500 councillors and critics are already stepping up calls for Mr Sunak to go.

It was the lockdown humblebrag of the hip and wealthy, popularised by trendy users like Rishi Sunak (when he was popular) and Venus Williams but with the news that Peloton is cutting 400 jobs, has the gimmick officially run out of road. Yesterday, CEO Barry McCarthy resigned from the company following the news that 15% of its workforce would be cut to future proof the business with the company £134million into the red for the three months ending March 31. It caps an amazing fall from grace for the company which saw overnight success when millions of spin enthusiasts around the globe raced to buy its at home exercise equipment.

Rishi Sunak is hunkering down for a grim day as results continue to flow in, with experts warning the Conservatives are on track for their worst showing in 40 years. Labour's Chris Webb secured a massive 26 per cent swing in Blackpool South to become the newest MP in the Commons - and in a particularly alarming sign the Tory candidate barely managed to push Reform into third place, by just 117 votes. Visiting the constituency this morning flanked by Angela Rayner , Keir Starmer said voters wanted to 'turn the page' on the government. As English councils started to declare, Labour also claimed a 'truly historic result' to take Rushmoor - the home of the British Army - from the Tories and end nearly a quarter-of-a century of Conservative control. Polling guru Professor John Curtice said the Tories could be on track to lose 500 councillors and critics are already stepping up calls for Mr Sunak to go. MPs warned that Mr Sunak cannot have a 'bunker mentality' and 'there's no such thing really as a safe Tory seat anymore'.

It has been impossible for weeks to find a Tory who thought they would win the Blackpool South by-election. The party's previous MP left under a cloud, and it only required a 5.5 per cent swing to turn the seat red. But at 26 per cent, the scale of the swing to Labour will still have come as a huge blow to Rishi Sunak . That reinforces the idea that Keir Starmer is on track for power - and will set MPs' nerves jangling. However, perhaps what will alarm them most is the Reform performance.

Sir Keir Starmer 's party has lost power in the town in Greater Manchester - and outgoing councillors say the leader's face has been plastered on leaflets of independents who took their seats. Despite gains all over England from the Tories in yesterday's local elections , Labour lost control of Oldham after gains by Independents. The party's national campaign coordinator Pat McFadden has admitted the crisis in Gaza has been an 'issue' on the doorstep and 'does get raised' when asked about Labour's loss of control in Oldham. One Labour Councillor in the own who lost their seat told the BBC : 'The main reason for this is Gaza and anger that the Labour Party took too long to call for a ceasefire' . Labour is still the largest party on 27 seats - but have lost control because there are now 16 independents as well as nine Lib Dems and eight Tory councillors. Retiring Labour councillor Paul Fryer said last night: 'Labour have been in power in Oldham for 13 years, perhaps people are a bit tired of Labour. In some parts of the borough it's the Gaza issue that may lose them the seat'.

Rishi Sunak is hunkering down for a grim day as results continue to flow in, with the most striking so far Keir Starmer seizing Blackpool South. Chris Webb secured a massive 26 per cent swing to become the newest MP in the Commons - and in a particularly alarming sign the Conservative candidate barely managed to push Reform into third place, by just 117 votes. It is the seventh parliamentary seat the Tories have lost in a by-election since Mr Sunak became PM in October 2022, six of which have now been won by Labour - underlining that Sir Keir looks to be on track for Downing Street. As English councils started to declare, Labour also claimed a 'truly historic result' to take Rushmoor - the home of the British Army - from the Tories and end nearly a quarter-of-a century of Conservative control. Sir Keir also saw wins in Hartlepool and made other gains in key general election battlegrounds Thurrock and Redditch as they enjoyed early success.

Rishi Sunak is hunkering down for a grim day as results continue to flow in, with the most striking so far Keir Starmer seizing the Lancashire seat.

In a worrying sign for Rishi Sunak, Reform UK came in just 117 votes behind the Conservative candidate in the Commons contest. There was also significant support in council contests. In Sunderland - where the insurgents stood a full slate - they beat the Tories into third place in 16 of 25 seats. Although the PM will be relieved that he dodged Reform taking second place in Blackpool, the numbers will fuel fears about the right-wing vote being split at the general election.

Labour claimed a 'truly historic' result as they seized Rushmoor council directly from the Tories to end nearly a quarter-of-a-century of Conservative control. Sir Keir Starmer's party boasted of now being in charge of the 'home of the British Army' in a nod to the Hampshire authority's links to the military. They taunted Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that it was 'time for a general election' as they racked up a slew of victories in key council contests. Labour were also celebrating wins in Hartlepool and Thurrock in the early hours of Friday morning. Labour won nine out of 13 seats up for grabs on Rushmoor Borough Council, with the Tories winning three and the Liberal Democrats one. It gave Sir Keir's party a majority on the council as the Tories ceded control after 24 years in charge.

With more than 2,600 council seats up for grabs as well as dozens of mayoral and PCC elections, it will be a night of drama in Britain's political landscape. The Conservatives will be looking to hold on to as many seats as they can amid dire poll numbers and concerns they could have their votes squeezed by Reform UK. Meanwhile, Labour will be hoping to stick the boot in and wrestle control of their old heartlands back from Tory hands. The results will have wide ranging results, not just on how your local area is run, but potentially setting up the run in for the next General Election. You can see what gains and losses were made in your area using our map.

Tories are facing a night of turmoil as results pour in from local elections across the country. Labour are boasting of being 'on track' for power at Westminster after making gains in key council contests. Sir Keir Starmer 's party won in Hartlepool and made another gain in Thurrock as they enjoyed early success. They also retained their majority in Sunderland by winning 18 out of the 25 seats being contested. The Tories lost control of North East Lincolnshire in what was shaping up to be a dire set of results for PM Rishi Sunak. As well as the Tory-Labour fight, the performance of insurgent outfit Reform UK is also being keenly scrutinised throughout the night. Reform beat the Tories in 16 out of the 25 seats in Sunderland, with leader Richard Tice crowing they were 'becoming the real opposition to Labour in Red Wall areas'. The results from the 107 local authorities in England who held elections on Thursday could yet decide Mr Sunak's 's political fate. The PM is also braced for dismal results from mayoral contests and a parliamentary by-election.

Mrs Thatcher ­nodded. 'Proper coppers,' she said. 'Proper coppers.' I was sitting next to her on the top table at the Metropolitan Police Retired CID Officers' annual dinner. She was there to present bravery awards to three young officers who had risked their lives to tackle and disarm two gunmen in North London , even though they themselves were unarmed.

With every national scandal you can trace the people who stood up first and said 'this is wrong'. Gareth Eve was one. When he lost his wife Lisa, who died due to complications from the AstraZeneca vaccine, he put himself in the firing line to tell her story. He knew he had more chance than most of being listened to. Lisa Shaw, who was just 44, was a BBC journalist, a high profile and popular broadcaster on Radio Newcastle who was happy to receive the vaccine because, as Gareth puts it, 'it was the right and responsible thing to do'.

Rishi Sunak is set for more misery with Labour confident of winning the Blackpool South by-election as vote counting got underway tonight. Sir Keir Starmer 's party are expected to gain the Lancashire constituency to add to a string of recent by-election victories over the Tories . A result is expected in the early hours of Friday morning, but Labour sources were confident of a win as ballot papers arrived to be counted at Blackpool Sports Centre. They said party activists had reported large numbers of former Tory voters saying they'd be voting Labour for the first time. There was even the possibility of further humilation for the Prime Minister with Reform UK not ruling out the prospect of coming ahead of the Tories. A senior Reform source told MailOnline there was a chance the party could sneak ahead of the Tories and take second place in the by-election.

The right to protest peacefully is one of the hallmarks of our democratic society. But the unedifying scenes we saw yesterday, when masked activists blocked a coach set to ferry illegal migrants from a south London hotel to the Bibby Stockholm barge, went far beyond this. This Left-wing mob was not merely demonstrating against what it wrongly perceived to be an immigration injustice. By surrounding the vehicle, slashing its tyres and hurling bicycles into its path, this was a concerted and deliberate effort to impede the effective operation of government policy. Using the barge helps ministers cut the eye-watering £6million daily cost of keeping asylum seekers in hotels. The public believes it is entirely reasonable to place them on board this customised vessel.

Lord David Cameron has supported Ukrainian strikes against targets inside Russia using British-supplied weapons, arguing Kyiv has a 'right' to use missiles from London as it saw fit. On a visit to Kyiv today, Lord Cameron said: 'In terms of what the Ukrainians do, in our view, it is their decision about how to use these weapons, they're defending their country, they were illegally invaded by Putin and they must take those steps. 'We don't discuss any caveats that we put on on those things. But let's be absolutely clear, Russia has launched an attack into Ukraine and Ukraine absolutely has the right to strike back at Russia.' 

Polls have closed tonight in local elections that could decide Rishi Sunak 's fate - as well as being a final test of voter opinion ahead of the looming Westminster contest. The Prime Minister - and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer - will be nervously awaiting the results of council elections across 107 local authorities in England. Voting also took place from 7am on Thursday in 11 mayoral contests, 37 police and crime commissioner elections, and a parliamentary by-election in Blackpool South. Tories fear they could lose up to half of the council seats they are defending. Mayoral battles in Tees Valley and the West Midlands will also be a key barometer of Conservative and Labour fortunes ahead of the general election. In London , Labour mayor Sadiq Khan is expected to win an historic third term in City Hall despite a challenge by Tory rival Susan Hall over ULEZ and crime rates. The Conservatives are predicted to lose to Labour in Blackpool South, which would be the seventh Westminster by-election the party has lost with Mr Sunak as PM. There are some concerns in Tory ranks that the party might even finish third behind Reform UK, the Nigel Farage-backed outfit, in the Lancashire seat. Conservative rebels are poised to pounce on a dismal night for Mr Sunak by mounting a fresh effort to oust the PM from No10 in the coming days. Sir Keir will be hoping for a strong performance from Labour - particularly in key 'Red Wall' areas - to show they are on track for power at Westminster. The first council election results are expected shortly after midnight, while the mayoral results aren't due to be announced until Friday afternoon. The Blackpool South declaration should come in the early hours of Friday morning.

MSPs gathered at Holyrood yesterday to debate whether they should withdraw confidence in the Scottish Government. Which poses an obvious question: who thought it was a good idea to invest confidence in this mob in the first place? Who looked at Humza Yousaf and thought: 'Aye, the laddie who couldn't operate a scooter; he's the one for me'? Never mind, for Anas Sarwar was on hand to tell the Scottish parliament that we needed an election, by which he meant Labour needed an election. Sarwar delivers his speeches from such a high horse, it's a wonder he doesn't get vertigo.

Vote counting is underway across 107 local councils in England after millions of Britons went to the polls on Thursday. More than 2,600 council seats were up for grabs in this year's local elections, while 11 mayoral contests were also held on the same day. Meanwhile, 37 police and crime commissioners were being elected across England and Wales. Around a third (35) of councils are expected to declare their results tonight, with nearly two-thirds (68) set to declare during the day on Friday. The rest of the results will trickle out over the weekend in what many expect to be a dismal time by the Tories. A horrid performance for the Conservatives will pile pressure on Rishi Sunak's position as PM, with Tory rebels circling and ready to pounce. But Sir Keir Starmer also faces a challenge to show Labour are on course to win power at the looming general election. This interactive map reveals where counting will be taking place tonight and over the coming days...

It is always a struggle to get anyone in a government office to pick up the phone. But members of the public calling the Department of Health switchboard have been lucky enough to be connected to the Health Secretary herself. Callers were put through to Victoria Atkins under a new system designed to auto-divert calls to relevant officials via Microsoft Teams. Several were connected to the minister before officials replaced her laptop to stop this happening, Politico reported.The embarrassing error comes after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's Budget announcement that an extra £3.4billon would be spent on NHS productivity over five years - with the aim of ramping up digitisation and automation in a health service that until recently used fax machines.

Rishi Sunak (top right with wife) last night warned Labour (leader Sir Keir Starmer bottom right with wife) was a 'soft touch' on migrants. He hit out at opposition politicians for supporting two protests that stopped the Home Office moving migrants from costly hotels to the Bibby Stockholm barge. A Labour mayor led a blockade that forced one operation to be abandoned. And one of the party's MPs shared a call for 'comrades' to join another roadblock that ended in clashes with police and dozens of arrests (left; inset). Protesters had swarmed a coach, slashing its tyres to stop it from leaving.

As the polls closed at 10pm on Thursday night, odds of the Conservative party losing 500 or more seats were at 45 per cent on the Betfair Exhange. Forecasts suggest the Tories could lose up to half of the council seats they are defending in England, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt saying the party expects to suffer 'significant losses'. But while the party is braced for another bruising, punters are predicting the election results may not be as bad as feared. Odds of a wipe out of 750 or more seats were at a distant  five per cent on the Betfair Exchange as voting finished tonight.

Peloton's chairwoman Karen Boone and director Chris Bruzzo have replaced McCarthy (pictured), who had been in the job for two years, as co-chief executives. The New York company is axing around 15% of jobs worldwide, around 400 workers. I has suffered heavy losses when society went back to normal after lockdowns.

Ireland should join the Rwanda scheme if they believe it is already having an effect, Government sources said last night. After Irish ministers claimed migrants fearful of being deported to the African state are seeking sanctuary in Ireland instead, Westminster offered them to join forces. Ministers believe the reported uptick in asylum seekers entering Ireland from Northern Ireland demonstrates that the Rwanda scheme is already acting as a deterrent. And tonight a Government source told the Mail: 'If the Irish Government believe the Rwanda plan is already having an effect, we can explore Ireland joining the Rwanda scheme. Many countries are looking at a third country now, which is why Sir Keir Starmer 's amnesty for 115,000 illegal immigrants a year is so shortsighted.'