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02.05.2025

Reform Earthquake Reshapes Electoral Map

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This page is an archive of main headlines from the UK for 02.05.2025.

It displays 148 headlines from many sources chronologically, as they appeared throughout the day, accompanied by AI overviews that were written in real time.

02.05.2025 โ‡ข Reform Earthquake Reshapes Electoral Map
โŒจThe UK political landscape underwent significant transformation as Reform UK delivered a shock victory in the Runcorn by-election, winning by just six votes after a tense recount process that dominated early morning coverage. This represented Reform's first parliamentary seat gained directly through election rather than defection.

By mid-morning, Reform's electoral surge expanded as they captured control of multiple councils in what newspapers described as an "avalanche" or "Reform-quake," with Andrea Jenkyns becoming the party's first elected mayor. Both Labour and Conservative parties suffered heavy losses, with Keir Starmer acknowledging his party's "disappointing" performance.

Prince Harry lost his legal challenge over UK security arrangements, facing a potential ยฃ1.5m legal bill. In a subsequent BBC interview, Harry revealed King Charles "won't speak to him" while still expressing desire for reconciliation, prompting a rare Buckingham Palace response by evening.
02.05.2025
03.05.2025
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The Guardian

English local elections: votes counted in Runcorn byelection, mayoral contests and council races

02:09 (01:09 in your timezone)
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The Guardian

Full recount in Runcorn byelection race; Labour holds North Tyneside mayoralty

04:10 (03:10 in your timezone)
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04:12 (03:12)โ‡ขLabour Clings To Seats As Reform UK Surges

โŒจThe newspapers report extensively on the local election results emerging across the UK, with Labour facing unexpected challenges from Reform UK (Daily Mail, The Guardian, The Independent, The Mirror, The Times). A full recount has been ordered in the Runcorn by-election as Reform threatens to upset Labour in what was considered a safe seat (The Mirror, The Guardian, The Times). In international news, Trump has removed National Security Adviser Mike Waltz following the Signal chat scandal, nominating him instead for UN Ambassador (BBC News, Channel 4 News). Sports headlines highlight controversy around biological men competing in women's football, with calls for the FA to apologize (The Sun).
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The Guardian

Full recount ordered in extremely tight Runcorn byelection between Labour and Reform

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06:05 (05:05)โ‡ขReform Wins Runcorn By Four Votes

โŒจThe newspapers extensively report on Reform UK's apparent victory in the Runcorn by-election, with multiple sources confirming they've won by just four votes after a full recount (Daily Mail, The Guardian, The Independent, The Mirror, The Spectator, The Sun, The Times). This represents a dramatic upset in what was considered a safe Labour seat, prompting widespread discussion about the political implications for Keir Starmer's leadership. In other news, BBC Verify has tracked a smuggler responsible for a deadly migrant crossing in the Atlantic (BBC News), while concerns about digital ID systems and government data handling are also being raised (Spiked).
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The Guardian

Reform UK wins Runcorn byelection by six votes

06:12 (05:12 in your timezone)
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BBC

Reform wins Runcorn by-election by just six votes, while Labour wins three mayoral races

The dramatic victory in Runcorn and Helsby came after a recount - the Labour and Reform candidates were initially separated by just four votes.
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BBC

Nigel Farage's Reform UK wins Runcorn by-election by just six votes

The dramatic victory in Runcorn and Helsby came after a recount - the Labour and Reform candidates were initially separated by just four votes.
06:55 (05:55 in your timezone)
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The Guardian

English local elections: Reform UK wins byelection by six votes as Labour says result means it must โ€˜move fasterโ€™ with plans

06:55 (05:55 in your timezone)
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The Guardian

English local elections: Reform UK wins Runcorn byelection by six votes as Andrea Jenkyns becomes partyโ€™s first mayor

07:13 (06:13 in your timezone)
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07:32 (06:32)โ‡ขReform UK Wins Runcorn By Six Votes

โŒจThe newspapers extensively report on Reform UK's shock victory in the Runcorn by-election, winning by just six votes after a full recount (Daily Mail, The Guardian, HuffPost UK, The Independent, Metro, The Mirror, The Spectator, The Sun, The Times). This represents a seismic upset in what was considered a safe Labour seat, with Nigel Farage's party also winning a key mayoral race as Andrea Jenkyns becomes Reform's first mayor (Daily Mail, The Guardian). In international news, Trump has ousted National Security Adviser Mike Waltz following criticism over mistakenly adding a journalist to a sensitive military chat, nominating him instead for UN Ambassador (BBC News).
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Novara Media

Whatโ€™s It Like to Love a Political Prisoner?

Just Stop Oilโ€™s jailed activists were willing to pay the price for their actions. But what does their imprisonment mean for their partners? Clare Hymer reports.
08:06 (07:06 in your timezone)
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The Guardian

Trump administration readies first sale of military equipment to Ukraine

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BBC

Nigel Farage's Reform makes breakthrough in UK local elections

Meanwhile, Labour narrowly holds onto three other mayoralties - with Reform second place in each.
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10:21 (09:21)โ‡ขReform UK Captures First Mayor In Electoral Tsunami

โŒจThe newspapers extensively report on Reform UK's electoral breakthrough, with the party winning the Runcorn by-election by just six votes in a historic upset (BBC News, Breitbart London, Daily Mail, The Guardian, The Independent, New Statesman, The Mirror, The Sun, The Times). Reform also secured its first mayor and gained more councillors than all other parties combined in early results, prompting warnings for both Labour and Conservative parties (Breitbart London, Daily Mail, New Statesman). In other news, Russell Brand has appeared in court facing rape and sexual assault charges (Metro, The Sun), while a Gaza activist ship was reportedly attacked by drones off Malta's coast (BBC News).
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The Guardian

Gaza humanitarian aid ship bombed by drones in waters off Malta

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HuffPost UK

'I GET IT'

Starmer Responds To By-Election Blow
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13:15 (12:15)โ‡ขReform UK Seizes First Council Control

โŒจThe newspapers report extensively on Reform UK's electoral breakthrough, with Nigel Farage's party winning control of Staffordshire county council and making significant gains across England (Daily Mail, The Spectator, Spiked, The Times). Labour leader Keir Starmer admitted his party's performance was "disappointing," acknowledging voter concerns (Daily Mail, HuffPost UK). In other news, a humanitarian ship heading to Gaza was reportedly attacked by drones off Malta's coast (BBC News, The Guardian), while Russell Brand appeared in court facing serious sexual assault allegations (Metro, The Sun).
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BBC

Judgement expected in Prince Harry's legal battle over UK security downgrade

The Duke of Sussex had his UK security arrangements downgraded after stepping back from royal duties in 2020.
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New Statesman

Does Farage own the future?

Keir Starmer must prove he understands the fury of many voters with his government.
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BBC

Judgement being delivered in Prince Harry's legal battle over UK security downgrade

The Duke of Sussex had his UK security arrangements downgraded after stepping back from royal duties in 2020.
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BBC

Prince Harry loses legal challenge over security he receives when in UK

The Duke of Sussex had his UK security arrangements downgraded after stepping back from royal duties in 2020.
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The Times

Reform wins three councils with huge swing

Reform UK has taken control of Staffordshire, Lincolnshire and Durham county councils in major victories for Nigel Farageโ€™s party
14:32 (13:32 in your timezone)
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The Guardian

Gaza humanitarian aid ship โ€˜bombed by dronesโ€™ in waters off Malta

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14:59 (13:59)โ‡ขPrince Harry's Security Appeal Rejected

โŒจThe newspapers report extensively on Prince Harry losing his legal challenge over UK security arrangements after stepping back from royal duties, potentially leaving him with a ยฃ1.5m legal bill (BBC News, Daily Mail, The Mirror, The Sun). Meanwhile, political coverage focuses on Reform UK's continued electoral gains, winning the Runcorn by-election from Labour and taking control of three county councils (The Independent, The Times, Breitbart London, New Statesman, Spiked). In international news, a Gaza humanitarian aid ship was reportedly bombed by drones in waters off Malta (The Guardian).
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BBC

Canada's PM Carney speaks for first time after election

Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal Party will form a minority government after winning Monday's election.
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BBC

Canada's PM Carney holds first news conference after election

Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal Party will form a minority government after winning Monday's election.
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BBC

Canada's Carney says he will meet Donald Trump next week

Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal Party will form a minority government after winning Monday's election.
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18:18 (17:18)โ‡ขHarry Seeks Royal Reconciliation Despite Father's Silence

โŒจThe newspapers report extensively on Prince Harry's latest BBC interview where he revealed his father, King Charles, is not speaking to him over his security legal challenge, while expressing desire for "reconciliation" with the Royal Family (BBC News, Daily Mail, Metro, The Mirror, The Sun, The Times). The coverage highlights Harry's claim that he has "forgiven" his family, despite blaming them for his court defeat (Daily Mail, The Sun). Meanwhile, political news continues to focus on Reform UK's electoral gains, with Nigel Farage declaring it "the beginning of the end" for the Conservatives, and Labour leader Starmer reportedly "channeling Thatcher" following losses (The Independent, HuffPost UK, Spiked).
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The Guardian

Trump unveils 2026 budget blueprint that includes deep cuts to non-defense spending

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The Guardian

Trump proposes cutting $163bn in non-defense funds and boosting military

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The Guardian

Trump proposes $163bn cuts to non-defense spending while increasing military budget

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Channel 4

Is Reform UK an existential threat for the Conservatives?

A Reform rout, a council massacre, a redrawing of the political landscape. Call it what you like. Yesterdayโ€™s local elections in England were a triumph for Reform UK, a disaster for the Tories and a massive emergency warning to Labour.
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23:06 (22:06)โ‡ขReform UK Sweeps Councils As Farage Declares Tories "Finished"

โŒจThe newspapers report extensively on Reform UK's dramatic electoral gains, with Nigel Farage gloating that the Conservatives are "finished" after his party won multiple councils in what's described as a "rout" and "redrawing of the political landscape" (Channel 4 News, The Independent, The Spectator). Meanwhile, Prince Harry's relationship with the Royal Family dominates coverage, following his "scathing" BBC interview where he claimed King Charles "won't speak to him" over his security challenge, while simultaneously expressing desire for "reconciliation" (BBC News, Daily Mail, The Mirror, Sky News, The Sun, The Times).
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