#uk_politics

Grauniad editorial. "The first-past-the-post model used to elect local authorities in England is ill-suited to multiparty politics. It was already flawed in the era when political competition was defined by the rivalry between Labour and the Conservatives. Smaller parties were locked out. Too many voters felt their ballots counted for nothing in safe seats. But there is an additional perversity when four or five parties have poll ratings somewhere between the high teens and high twenties. The threshold for victory drops. The winning candidate might have been opposed by a clear majority. The average winner’s vote share in last year’s local elections was 40.7% – the lowest on record. About 75 candidates were elected on vote shares lower than 30%." #Elections2026 #UK_Politics https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/06/the-guardian-view-on-britains-multiparty-politics-the-westminster-voting-system-needs-to-catch-up

From our bribery correspondent. "The government has also said it will give WECA £15m to spend on “short-term projects” if North Somerset joins." #UK_Politics #WECA https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/north-somerset-rectify-decade-long-mistake-join-weca/

"It was quite an eye-opener peering into the misinformation that surrounds these bubbles, with Reformers fuming over a Sikh kebab owner arrested for refusing to sell Halal meat (he wasn’t), championing the Japanese government for banning Islam (they didn’t), and seething over bizarre AI-generated images of a taxpayer-funded water park in Croydon (there isn’t one)." #ReformUK #UK_politics #Elections2026 https://bylinetimes.com/2026/05/01/i-set-up-a-fake-far-right-news-channel-to-interview-reform-uk-candidates-and-this-is-what-they-told-me/

Scottish #ReformUK apologies for politicians seek to link sexual violence against women to forrins. #UK_politics https://www.thenational.scot/news/26071771.letter-offord-kerr-violence-women-comments/

I can think of many individuals far more deserving of an 'unconditional gift' than the frog-faced #fascist. 🐸 #UK_Politics #ReformUK #Corruption https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/01/election-watchdog-investigation-nigel-farage-undisclosed-donation

Hannah, our apology for a legislative assembly is like the US military. It runs on booze and incompetence. #UK_Politics https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/27/green-mp-hannah-spencer-attacks-parliament-drinking-culture

No doubt #ReformUK's 'patriotic' history lessons will teach that the British Empire was a glorious force for good in the world rather than the centuries-long series of crimes against humanity it actually was. #UK_Politics #Elections2026 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/reform-uk-union-flag-school-policies-b2963196.html

'Ingrowing Mandelson' reads the diagnosis on Starmer's medical chart. Also note the DNR. Thank you, Mr Rowson. #UK_Politics US_Politics https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2026/apr/22/martin-rowson-ailing-leaderships-trump-starmer-cartoon

History does not happen in nice, neat chronological sequences. It's also subject to two other major factors: 1) new evidence of what happened being discovered; and 2) interpretation. Politics doesn't come with much more ignorance than it does from the #Farage 🐸 #Fascist Fan Club. #Senedd #Elections2026 #UK_Politics https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ceqww40gv19o

The prime minister addresses MPs on Mandelson on Monday. He’s expected to lay out what was known about the former US ambassador’s vetting. The former head of the Foreign Office, Olly Robbins, has also been invited to testify to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday. It’s another week of last-stage bills. Plenty for MPs to pass before the King’s Speech on 13 May, which kicks off the new parliamentary session. And we have a couple of ten minute rule motions. One is on quieter road surfaces, the other on juries in criminal proceedings. MONDAY 20 APRIL Victims and Courts Bill – consideration of Lords message Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland A broad set of measures that aim to restore faith in the justice system. Allows judges to require offenders to attend sentencing, restricts parental rights for child abusers, and expands access to the Victim Contact Scheme so more victims can stay updated about offenders’ cases, among other things. Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing Crime and Policing Bill – consideration of Lords message Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland (part), Northern Ireland (part) A wide-ranging bill that aims to tackle antisocial behaviour, knife crime, assaults on shop workers, and violence against women and girls, among other things. Changes include giving the police powers to tackle antisocial behaviour by introducing respect orders, creating a power to seize blades found on private property, introducing a new offence of assaulting a retail worker, and banning AI models optimised to produce child sexual abuse material. Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing TUESDAY 21 APRIL Road Surfaces (Maximum Noise Levels) Bill Bans road surfacing materials that generate in-vehicle noise above a certain level. Requires roads that already exceed that threshold to be resurfaced. Ten minute rule motion presented by Melanie Onn. English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill – consideration of Lords amendments Applies to: England and Wales A wide-ranging bill introducing more devolution in England. Introduces the concept of strategic authorities – a new, larger tier of local authorities areas – and gives them more decision-making powers. Returns mayoral elections to the supplementary vote system, reversing the move to first past the post under the previous government. Bans mayors from also being MPs. Introduces a Community Right to Buy, giving local residents the first chance to bid for community assets that come up for sale before developers can buy them, among other things. Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing WEDNESDAY 22 APRIL Criminal Proceedings (Juror Absence) Bill Allows criminal trials to continue where a juror is absent or discharged, as long as the jury doesn’t fall below nine members. Under current rules, trials can be adjourned when juror numbers fall, which causes delays and increases costs. Ten minute rule motion presented by Sally Jameson. Pension Schemes Bill – consideration of Lords message Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland A wide-ranging bill reforming the pensions system. Requires defined contribution schemes to prove they’re value for money so savers don’t get stuck in underperforming schemes. Merges small pension pots worth £1,000 or less into one pension scheme. Creates multi-employer ‘megafunds’ in an aim to drive down costs, among other things. Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill – consideration of Lords message Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland (part), Northern Ireland (part) Aims to remove barriers to opportunity in schools and make the education system more consistent for children. Measures include free breakfast clubs for primary schools in England, a limit on branded school uniform items, and strengthening regulation around social care. Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing THURSDAY 23 APRIL No votes scheduled FRIDAY 24 APRIL No votes scheduled PREVIOUS WEEK’S VOTES Passed Type 1 Diabetes Screening (Children) Bill – goes to second reading Crime and Policing Bill – goes back to the Lords Creative Arts and Culture (Broadcasting Requirements) Bill – goes to second reading Pension Schemes Bill – goes back to the Lords Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill – goes back to the Lords Click here to read details of the bills in last week’s newsletter.

The UK has quickly distinguished itself as having one of the most effective and adaptive air defense capabilities of any nation on earth. I have said it before, but I think one of the reasons for this are the close ties between the UK military and Ukraine.