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Pressure is intensifying on Keir Starmer after Andy Burnham was given a route back to parliamentGood morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics.Housing secretary Steve Reed has been on the media round this morning urging Labour colleagues to put the “country first, party second”, even as he admits Keir Starmer is “unpopular”. Continue reading...

Greater Manchester mayor would need to win byelection to launch leadership challenge against Starmer• UK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham now has a route back to parliament after a Greater Manchester MP announced he would stand down, triggering a byelection, and putting Burnham in contention to become the next Labour leader.The Greater Manchester mayor has been seeking to return to parliament for months, but was blocked by Keir Starmer from running in the Gorton and Denton byelection at the start this year, to the anger of his supporters inside the party. Continue reading...

Transcripts reveal billionaire Ted Waitt’s relationship with Epstein accomplice and $7.2m breakup payoutSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Ted Waitt, the billionaire cofounder of the Gateway computer company, told lawmakers during a closed-door interview that he was in a romantic relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell from 2004 to 2010, but said that “if I knew then what I know now about Ms Maxwell, I never would’ve befriended her or allowed her to be around my four children”, according to a transcript of his testimony released by the House oversight and reform committee.“I never would’ve spent six years in a romantic relationship with her,” Waitt said in his opening statement before the committee on 30 April, according to the transcript released on Wednesday. His testimony provided new details about his relationship with Maxwell, and he also disputed Maxwell’s previous statements that their relationship ended after a mysterious blackmail attempt related to Epstein’s civil cases. Continue reading...

Foreign minister says ships must cooperate with Iranian navy, as vessel reportedly seized outside UAE portThe Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has said ships entering the strait of Hormuz must cooperate with the Iranian navy, as reports emerged of a ship being seized outside a United Arab Emirate port and taken towards Iranian waters.The UK Maritime Trading Organisation said the docked ship was seized by “unauthorised personnel” while it was anchored off the coast of the United Arab Emirates port of Fujairah near the southern entry to the strait of Hormuz. Continue reading...

Burnham’s backers understood to be lobbying Labour’s NEC who warn against Wes Streeting ‘coronation’UK politics live – latest updatesThe rules governing Labour party leadership contests should “not be tweaked” to allow Andy Burnham to run, a member of the party’s National Executive Committee has said.With the health secretary preparing to launch a leadership challenge against Keir Starmer on Thursday, if he can secure the support of enough MPs to trigger a contest, allies of Burnham have warned against a “coronation” for Wes Streeting as the next prime minister. Continue reading...

Asymptomatic people allowed off ship from Wednesday afternoon but those infected ordered to remain in isolationA norovirus-hit cruise ship carrying mainly passengers from the UK and Ireland has had a French lockdown order lifted.All 1,701 people onboard Ambition were prevented from disembarking for more than 24 hours after it docked in Bordeaux on Tuesday, as one person died and dozens became ill with a vomiting virus. Continue reading...

Exclusive: former deputy prime minister says investigation ‘clipped my wings’ as she settles £40,000 in unpaid stamp dutyAngela Rayner has been cleared by HMRC of deliberate wrongdoing or carelessness over her tax affairs, the Guardian can reveal, paving the way for a potential leadership bid as Keir Starmer’s grip on power unravels.The former deputy prime minister has settled £40,000 in unpaid stamp duty after initially paying the lower rate, but has not paid any penalty as a result of the investigation. HMRC was also satisfied there was no tax avoidance. Continue reading...

Health minister Mark Butler says six passengers who have tested negative for hantavirus will land in Western Australia on FridayFour Australian citizens who were aboard the MV Hondius, the cruise ship at the centre of the hantavirus outbreak, will soon be home after the government secured a suitable aircraft and crew for the journey.The health minister, Mark Butler, said the citizens, along with a permanent resident and a New Zealand citizen, were due to take off from the Netherlands on Thursday evening local time and would land in Perth on Friday afternoon. Continue reading...

• Buriram United secured a 4-3 aggregate victory over Johor Darul Ta'zim in the ASEAN Club Championship semifinals on Wednesday, advancing to the final despite JDT winning the second leg 2-1 at Chang Arena in Thailand. • Buriram's first-leg dominance proved decisive—they won 3-1 at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor Bahru with only three shots on target, establishing an insurmountable lead that JDT could not overcome despite their best efforts in the return fixture. • Kingsley Schindler scored an emphatic 98th-minute goal to secure Buriram's progression, marking JDT's first victory over the Thai club after five previous defeats in head-to-head matchups.

Health secretary’s move to force race sparks scramble on left of Labour for candidate to oppose himUK politics live – latest updatesWes Streeting is preparing to launch a leadership challenge against Keir Starmer on Thursday if the health secretary can secure the support of enough MPs to trigger a contest.Streeting’s move to force a race has sparked a frantic scramble on the left of Labour to find a candidate to oppose him, with Ed Miliband and Angela Rayner both possible contenders. Continue reading...

St John the Divine, Kennington has built one of UK’s largest youth choral programmes in area marked by deprivation https://media.gutools.co.uk/images/f691f17c8bec6dd39eb407c2e7bddce5c0148803https://media.gutools.co.uk/images/d8f91c2e89ef1aed515efeda33eadbfe161bafbb Continue reading...

Passengers will now continue their 45 days of isolation at home, with health officials confirming they remain asymptomaticSix people who were on the cruise ship linked to an outbreak of hantavirus have left Arrowe Park hospital in Wirral to isolate at home, health officials have said.Passengers from the MV Hondius were taken to the Merseyside facility for checks by specialists. Continue reading...

Wes Streeting is expected to launch a leadership challenge against Keir Starmer as soon as Thursday. News of the health secretary’s plans came during the king’s speech, derailing what was supposed to be another chance for the prime minister to reset the political agenda. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s head of national news, Archie Bland Continue reading...

The country’s new leadership has pledged to reverse years of democratic backsliding, but they must act quickly• Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereUnder blue skies on Saturday, crowds cheered as the EU flag was raised on the facade of the Hungarian parliament after a long absence. It was a powerful symbol on the day Péter Magyar was sworn in as Hungary’s prime minister, with a declaration that Hungarians had given his party a mandate to launch “a new chapter” in the country’s history, and change the system.The new government, seen as an experienced technocratic team, immediately signalled its new direction. “Hungary’s place is in Europe; naturally, firmly and without question,” foreign minister designate Anita Orbán said. Soon after, Hungary dropped its long-standing veto over sanctions against violent Israeli settlers – a sign it no longer sought to be outside the EU mainstream. Continue reading...

One elderly passenger on vessel docked in Bordeaux has died and about 50 people have symptoms, say officialsFrench authorities have confined more than 1,700 passengers and crew members to a cruise ship docked in Bordeaux after a passenger died from suspected norovirus, officials have said.The Ambassador Cruise Line vessel carrying 1,233 passengers, most of them British or Irish, arrived in Bordeaux on Tuesday. One 90-year-old passenger had died and about 50 people had shown symptoms of the virus, French health officials said. Continue reading...

Sources say health secretary intends to trigger leadership election as early as ThursdayUK politics live – latest updatesWho are the main threats to Starmer’s leadership?Allies of Wes Streeting have said he is preparing to stand down as health secretary amid deep frustration with Keir Starmer’s leadership, and could mount a formal challenge for the leadership as early as Thursday.Downing Street insiders had suggested Streeting did not yet have the required support from 81 MPs, which is needed to formally launch a leadership bid, after the prime minister issued a “put up or shut up” ultimatum to his cabinet. Continue reading...

Another ally of health secretary renews call for resignation of prime minister, who is due to deliver king’s speech• UK politics live – latest updatesWes Streeting has held talks with Keir Starmer in Downing Street as an ally of the health secretary renewed calls for the prime minister to resign, saying his authority had “irretrievably ebbed away”.Streeting arrived in No 10 on Wednesday morning amid intense speculation over Labour’s leadership crisis and his own future within the party, before leaving approximately 16 minutes later without commenting to the media. Continue reading...

• High-profile celebrity alliance declarations and streaming service changes dominate this week's entertainment news from Colombo Marciano. • Key announcements include major partnership deals involving top stars, reshaping industry collaborations. • These developments signal evolving business models in Asia's entertainment sector, impacting content distribution.

Supporters of PM say it shows he has majority backing after more than 80 MPs call on him to quitUK politics live – latest updatesWho are the main threats to Starmer’s leadership?More than 100 Labour MPs have signed a statement saying this is “no time for a leadership contest” – as Keir Starmer told his cabinet he would not stand down while a formal leadership contest had not been triggered.The letter, coordinated by backbenchers, has been signed by 103 MPs, including parliamentary private secretaries. Organisers say it did not come from No 10, though MPs said it had been circulated by government whips. Continue reading...

Seventh body found near railroad tracks thought to be connected to what authorities call ‘potential human smuggling event’Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailFederal agents are investigating the deaths of at least six people thought to be immigrants found inside a shipping container at a Union Pacific rail yard near the border with Mexico in Laredo, Texas, on Sunday as a “potential human smuggling event”.Officials reportedly have also said the death of a seventh person whose body was found near railroad tracks outside San Antonio, Texas – 150 miles (241km) to the north – may be connected to the case.Guardian staff contributed reporting Continue reading...

• Hong Kong officials highlighted innovation partnerships and AI development during a visit to Sweden, seeking deeper international collaboration. • Focus areas include artificial intelligence and life sciences to bolster Hong Kong's position as a global I&T hub. • The trip emphasizes expanding cross-border ties amid growing demand for advanced tech solutions in East Asia.

• Chrigor emerges as Selangor's pivotal player after scoring a brace in the first leg of the ASEAN Club Championship semifinal against Thép Xanh Nam Định. • The Malaysian club holds a 2-1 aggregate lead heading into the second leg on Wednesday in the 2025-26 Shopee Cup. • Known as the Red Giants, Selangor aims to secure a final berth, with Chrigor looming large against the Vietnamese side.

Prime minister says process for challenging a leader has not been triggered and Labour should get on with governing• UK politics live – latest updates• Who are the main threats to Starmer’s leadership?Keir Starmer has told his cabinet he will not resign as prime minister, saying the threshold for a leadership challenge has not been met.In comments that effectively dared the health secretary, Wes Streeting, to launch a challenge against him, Starmer said he intended to get on with governing. Continue reading...

In today’s newsletter: Our policy editor on what Keir Starmer said, how his leadership challengers have reacted, and what lies aheadGood morning. Yesterday, Keir Starmer gave a speech which he hoped would draw a line under any potential moves within Labour to replace him, after the nation resoundingly punished his party at the ballot box.However his words were not enough to quell disquiet. Pressure on the prime minister is growing, with more than 70 Labour MPs publicly calling for him to stand down, and two senior cabinet ministers believed to be among those telling him he should oversee an orderly transition of power.UK politics | A newly elected Reform UK councillor has resigned after he allegedly celebrated on social media the rape of a Sikh woman in the Midlands, declared white people the “master race” and called Muslim people “rats”.Iran conflict | Donald Trump has said the ceasefire with Iran is on “life support” and that he is considering restarting US navy military escorts of ships through the strait of Hormuz in an attempt to end the Iranian blockade.Cost of living | Households cut back on their spending in April at the fastest pace in 18 months, as the conflict in the Middle East provoked fears of another cost of living crisis, a report from one of the UK’s biggest banks has suggested.Hantavirus | A French woman who tested positive for hantavirus after she was evacuated from a cruise ship reported symptoms to doctors onboard but was told it was probably just anxiety, the Spanish health minister has said.Health | Singing, painting or visiting a gallery or museum helps people age more slowly, according to the latest study to link taking an active interest in art and culture with improved health. Continue reading...

• Health officials addressed a hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship, announcing the return of 18 Americans evacuated to Nebraska for quarantine on May 11, 2026. • Adm. Brian Christine, assistant secretary for health, stated 'the risk of hantavirus to the general public remains very, very low,' noting the Andes variant requires prolonged close contact like sharing utensils or 15 minutes within six feet of symptomatic individuals. • Most evacuees are monitored at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the nation's only federal quarantine unit and a leading high-risk infectious disease facility.

• Ben Jealous, former executive director of a major civil rights organization, is challenging what he describes as a "disheartening" decision to terminate his employment. • Jealous oversaw multiple rounds of layoffs during his two-year tenure and reportedly sparred with staff over organizational direction and policy priorities. • His removal represents a significant leadership transition within the advocacy group and reflects internal tensions over management strategy.

Address was billed as make-or-break amid mounting speculation of a challenge. Has he done enough to hang on?Who are the main threats to Keir Starmer’s Labour leadership?UK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer’s speech and press conference on Monday morning was almost universally billed as his final chance to save his premiership. Was it enough? And what – if anything – did he actually offer? Continue reading...