The Green Party is stealing councillors from the Labour Party at a rapid rate ahead of May’s local elections, and Zack Polanski is on the lookout for even more.
Fifty Labour councillors have defected to the Greens within the past six months, The Telegraph reports.
The insurgent party, buoyed by its recent by-election success in Gorton and Denton, said it was receiving an average of two or three inquiries a week from local Labour politicians.
A Green Party source told the paper that the upcoming local elections are encouraging more to make the switch.
“More and more councillors have been moving to the Greens in the past six months and, like our polling and membership surge, this momentum is increasing”, the source said.
London is a hotspot for defections, and the capital will be one of the most pivotal areas in May’s vote, with all borough council seats set to be contested.
One Labour MP told the Telegraph the trend was a “reflection of the face our base is deserting us.”
Mr Polanski continues to enjoy positive poll ratings and his party overtook Labour in the opinion polls for the first time last week.
Hannah Spencer became the party’s fifth MP after winning in Gorton and Denton, a traditional Labour safe seat, in a by-election last month.
- about 9 hours agoConservative frontbencher says Rachel Reeves is ‘refusing to act’ over rising fuel costs
- about 10 hours agoLabour says it will not tolerate ‘unfair practices’ from petrol bosses
- about 10 hours agoRichard Tice slams Labour over ‘absolute catastrophe’ as growth flatlines
- about 11 hours agoChildhood swarming with the dark voices of online hate, says Bridget Phillipson
- about 12 hours agoLabour vote collapses in by-election washout as Reform and Greens breach rival heartlands
- about 13 hours ago Petrol retailers withdraw from crisis talks with Rachel Reeves after ‘inflammatory language’ sparks ‘abuse’ at pumps
- about 14 hours agoAndrew, Lord Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein’s first known photograph together uncovered
- about 15 hours agoKeir Starmer was not ‘required’ to speak to Lord Mandelson during vetting process, No10 says
- about 15 hours agoPM: We need to put collective pressure on Russia
- about 16 hours agoKeir Starmer risks new row with Donald Trump over Russia sanctions
- about 16 hours agoREAD IN FULL: ‘It’s too late now!’ Donald Trump slams Keir Starmer in front of G7 leaders in tense Iran row, officials claim
- about 17 hours agoKeir Starmer faces sleaze probe over Lord Mandelson ‘cover-up’ as PM accused of ‘telling lie after lie’
- about 18 hours ago‘This is on him!’ James Cleverly warns PM’s credibility ‘undermined’ by Mandelson scandal
- about 19 hours agoLib Dems join calls for PM to face ethics probe
- about 19 hours agoUK economy records zero growth – and that’s before the Iran war energy shock hits
- about 20 hours agoPM receives resignation warning over imminent release of Mandelson messages
Conservative frontbencher says Rachel Reeves is ‘refusing to act’ over rising fuel costs
The Conservatives have accused Rachel Reeves of “point blank refusing to act” over rising fuel costs.
Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden said: “Rachel Reeves is point blank refusing to act whilst petrol costs rise and families and small businesses (are) already under pressure from the cost of living and Labour’s tax hikes.
“Rachel Reeves could cancel the fuel duty rise, she could cut the taxes piled onto energy, she could stop piling costs onto the price of fuel, but she isn’t doing anything because she doesn’t have the backbone.
“For every year of the last Conservative government, we found the resources to freeze and cut fuel duty.
“Labour made a different choice, opting for ever higher welfare spending and higher taxes on drivers. Labour must scrap the rise before it’s too late.”
Labour says it will not tolerate ‘unfair practices’ from petrol bosses
Rachel Reeves and Ed Miliband have told petrol bosses that they will not tolerate “unfair practices” in a meeting on Friday.
The petrol bosses were sitting in Number 11 Downing Street before the Chancellor and Energy Secretary entered the room.
The meeting began with the Chancellor thanking executives from firms such as Shell and the Petrol Retailers Association for their co-operation and said she was there to have an “open and frank conversation” with them.
She said: “We have concerns around the high prices and we do have a shared obligation.”
Mr Miliband told them: “We have said so clearly that we won’t tolerate unfair practices either here or anywhere else in the industry. It is our obligation as the Government to ensure the consumers are treated fairly in this crisis.”
Richard Tice slams Labour over ‘absolute catastrophe’ as growth flatlines
Richard Tice has slammed Labour after the UK economy ground to a halt in the latest blow to Rachel Reeves’s chancellorship.
Reform UK’s deputy leader branded the shock “an absolute catastrophe” with current figures failing to include ramifications of the escalating Iran war.
UK gross domestic product (GDP) dropped to zero per cent over the course of January, the Office for National Statistics confirmed.
Childhood swarming with the dark voices of online hate, says Bridget Phillipson
The Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has suggested today’s children are facing an “ultra-globalised childhood swarming with the dark voices of online hate.”
In a speech at the Association of School and College Leaders’ (ASCL) annual conference, Bridget Phillipson said childhood is “changing beyond all recognition”.
She urged headteachers to respond to the Government’s consultation on a social media ban for under-16s, as she promised to rebuild support services around schools.
A girl growing up today will reach her teenage years with a smartphone in her pocket, Ms Phillipson said, providing a source of connection but also disinformation.
She said: “For her, the constant buzz of comparison and competition, the slide towards an always-online, ultra-globalised childhood swarming with the dark voices of online hate.”
Labour vote collapses in by-election washout as Reform and Greens breach rival heartlands
Zack Polanski and Nigel Farage’s parties came out on top
| PALabour has suffered a gruesome defeat in a sweep of local council by-elections across Britain this week, as Reform UK and the Greens secure seats from Liberal Democrat heartlands.
From Lincolnshire to Liverpool, the Lib Dems were defending three of five available seats – holding onto two whilst gaining one from the Greens, as well as losing another to the same party.
Our reporter Oliver Partridge has the full story here.
Petrol retailers withdraw from crisis talks with Rachel Reeves after ‘inflammatory language’ sparks ‘abuse’ at pumps
Petrol retailers have pulled out of a meeting with Rachel Reeves after being met with “inflammatory language” by Government ministers.
The meeting, which was due to take place in just hours between the Chancellor and the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), was cancelled by the body over fears ministers’ language could lead to “incidents of retail staff being abused by members of the public”.
The PRA, a group representing both large and small independent petrol retailers across the UK, said: “The PRA wrote to the Chancellor for reassurance that the scheduled meeting be held in private, without media present to allow a conversation to explain how the fuel market works.
“As her office could not provide this, Gordon Balmer has withdrawn from the meeting.”
Andrew, Lord Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein’s first known photograph together uncovered
An uncovered photograph depicting Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Lord Peter Mandelson dressed in bathrobes alongside convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein represents the first known picture capturing all three men in the same frame. | US Department of JusticeAn uncovered photograph depicting Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Lord Peter Mandelson dressed in bathrobes alongside convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein represents the first known picture capturing all three men in the same frame.
The photograph was taken at Martha’s Vineyard, appearing to show the trio seated around a wooden table on decking, each holding mugs decorated with the American flag.
While no precise date accompanies the image, it is believed to have been captured sometime between 1999 and 2000, according to ITV.
This predates Epstein’s 2008 imprisonment for soliciting prostitution from a minor by several years.
Keir Starmer was not ‘required’ to speak to Lord Mandelson during vetting process, No10 says
Sir Keir Starmer was not required to speak to Lord Mandelson during the vetting process of his appointment as the UK’s man in Washington, Downing Street has claimed.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said that there was “no requirement for a formal interview” between Sir Keir and Lord Mandelson.
The confirmation came just hours after The Times revealed the Prime Minister delegated the conversations with Lord Mandelson to two prominent No10 aides.
PM: We need to put collective pressure on Russia
Sir Keir Starmer wants to maintain pressure on Russia despite the US lifting sanctions on Moscow.
A No10 spokesman said: “It’s obviously a decision for the US, but our position is clear.
“All partners should maintain pressure on Russia and its war chest.
“The best way to continue to stop Russia supporting hostile actors is to continue our collective pressure and end the war in Ukraine.”
He added: “The Prime Minister is proactively engaging in collective action against Russia.”
Keir Starmer risks new row with Donald Trump over Russia sanctions
Sir Keir Starmer has been warned he risks a new row with Donald Trump after refusing to follow the US’s decision to lift sanctions on Russia.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks said the UK would not change its position on Russian sanctions despite the move from the US.
“The UK has been really clear that our sanctions on Russia stay in place,” he told Sky News.
“And look, this is a moment where I suspect in the Kremlin they are looking at this as an opportunity to fix some of their ailing economy.
“That is a great shame, because we have to do everything that we possibly can to make sure that we are bringing all pressure to bear on Russia so that we can win this war in Ukraine.”
READ IN FULL: ‘It’s too late now!’ Donald Trump slams Keir Starmer in front of G7 leaders in tense Iran row, officials claim
Sir Keir Starmer was called out by Donald Trump in front of other G7 leaders at a virtual meeting on Wednesday, two officials have claimed.
The Prime Minister, who was in the call with the likes of French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, was reportedly mocked for initially refusing to allow the US to use British bases for strikes on Iran.
Despite Sir Keir later reversing his decision to enable the US to carry out “defensive” strikes on Iranian missile sites, Axios reported Mr Trump said: “You should have proposed it before the war — now it is too late.”
However, there is no indication of the tense exchange from No10’s readout of the call on March 11.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister spoke to G7 leaders this afternoon to discuss the latest situation in the Middle East and action to manage the economic impacts of the conflict and support regional partners.
“He reaffirmed the long-standing position that Iran must abandon its nuclear ambitions and set out how the UK had authorised the US to use British bases for defensive operations to target Iranian missiles at source.”
Keir Starmer faces sleaze probe over Lord Mandelson ‘cover-up’ as PM accused of ‘telling lie after lie’
Sir Keir Starmer has come under growing pressure over his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as the UK’s man in Washington after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called for an ethics probe.
The Prime Minister issued a grovelling apology during a visit to Northern Ireland yesterday.
However, the Tories and Reform UK have now put pressure on Sir Keir to resign over the scandal.
Mrs Badenoch last night doubled down on her criticisms of the Prime Minister, with the Tories last night sending a letter demanding an investigation into the release of a 147-page dossier on Wednesday.
She said: “I am astonished the Prime Minister can actually look himself in the mirror right now.
“It is very clear that he told lie after lie after lie about the appointment of Peter Mandelson.
“He has been dishonest with Parliament and with the country.”
“And Labour MPs, in good conscience, should be looking at whether or not this man should be leading our country.”
The Leader of the Opposition is also calling on the Prime Minister’s ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus to investigate “serious deficiencies in the released material”.
Shadow Minister Alex Burghart wrote to Sir Laurie just 36 hours after the first batch of documents concerning Lord Mandelson’s appointment was released on Wednesday.
“There is no document disclosing whether these reservations were communicated to the Prime Minister,” Mr Burghart said.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has also suggested Sir Keir should refer himself to Sir Magnus.
No10 consistently denies there has been a cover-up.
‘This is on him!’ James Cleverly warns PM’s credibility ‘undermined’ by Mandelson scandal
Sir James Cleverly has warned the Prime Minister’s credibility has been “undermined” by the scandal surrounding Lord Mandelson’s appointment as the UK’s man in Washington.
Speaking to GB News, Sir James said: “He always tries to blame other people, this is on him.”
“The Prime Minister told us that he was lied to by Peter Mandelson.
“We now find out, in reporting in The Times, that he didn’t even speak to Peter Mandelson before appointing him.
“The Prime Minister is changing his story over and over again.”
He added: “He always tries to blame other people, this is on him.”
Lib Dems join calls for PM to face ethics probe
Lib Dems join calls for the Prime Minister to face an ethics probe
| GB NEWS
Sir Keir Starmer should face a probe from his independent ethics adviser, the Liberal Democrats have said.
Speaking to GB News this morning, Liberal Democrat MP Lisa Smart said: “The evidence that came out in the Mandelson files this week shows that Peter Mandelson was receiving very high-level briefings before the vetting had been concluded.
“I suggested that the Prime Minister should refer himself to his ethics adviser because what he has said doesn’t quite match up with what the evidence suggests.”
UK economy records zero growth – and that’s before the Iran war energy shock hits
The UK economy failed to grow in January, raising fresh concerns about the strength of the recovery.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show GDP was unchanged during the month, disappointing economists who had expected growth of around 0.2 per cent.
The data follows modest expansions of 0.1 per cent in December and 0.2 per cent in November 2025.
Within the figures, the services sector showed no growth, production fell by 0.1 per cent and construction rose by 0.2 per cent in January.
Economists have warned the outlook could deteriorate further as rising energy costs threaten to weigh on activity. Brent crude remains above $100 a barrel after climbing sharply since the conflict involving Iran began almost two weeks ago.
PM receives resignation warning over imminent release of Mandelson messages
Sir Keir Starmer has been warned a deluge of resignations could rock No10 following the imminent release of WhatsApp messages concerning Lord Mandelson’s appointment as the UK’s ambassador in the US.
The Guardian last night revealed that officials believe some of the exchanges to be released in the next tranche of Lord Mandelson files will be damaging enough to lead to further departures.
Senior ministers, civil servants and special advisers have been asked to have their phone messages examined, including ex-Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
Morgan McSweeney had a “back and forth” with former communications director Matthew Doyle over Lord Mandelson’s appointment.
Both men have since left Downing Street.
