In his new year message, Prime Minister Keir Starmer says his government will "defeat the decline and division offered by others" and that 2026 will see people feeling "positive change" in their lives.[1]
In her new year message, the leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch says that in 2025 there was "no growth, higher taxes and record unemployment" and that the plan for her party would "back business and fix our economy so we can fund our armed forces, police, schools, NHS and build something that we feel proud of".[1]
The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, says that his party could "win again in 2026" after their "record-breaking success" in the previous local elections. He also said he would "stop Trump's America becoming Farage's Britain" and "change our country for the better".[1]
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, which has led in national opinion polls since early 2025, says that his party is offering "hope" and "change", predicting that May would be "the single most important set of elections between now and the next general election" and that the country is getting "gloomier" and "poorer", and that with higher unemployment and debt is "running completely out of control".[1]
Rachel Millward, the Green Party's co-deputy leader, says they would "do everything" they can "to stop Nigel Farage getting anywhere near Downing Street". Mothin Ali, the other co-deputy, said the party had gained 110,000 new members since the summer and that they are "here to replace Labour".[1]
Starmer says that the future of Greenland is up to the Danish territory after President Donald Trump suggests the US could invade it.[4]
Dame Emily Thornberry, who chairs the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, describes the US action in Venezuela as a breach of international law, and says that the UK should make clear it is "unacceptable".[5]
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper tells the House of Commons she has reminded her US counterpart of that country's obligations under international law following the capture of Maduro.[6]
6 January –
A Scottish Parliamentary investigation finds that Justice Secretary Angela Constance broke the ministerial code after making controversial comments about a grooming gangs expert in parliament.[7]
The Scottish Parliament confirms that MSPs will receive a 4.3% pay rise from April, taking their annual income from £74,507 to £77,710.[8]
9 January – Liberal Democrat councillor George Percival for Shirley on Southampton City Council resigns his seat 15 months after winning a by-election.[13]
The UK government drops plans to require people to sign up to their digital ID card scheme in order to prove their eligibility to work in the UK.[21]
Finance Secretary Shona Robison delivers the 2026 Scottish budget, which includes changes to tax thresholds, an increase in taxation on residential properties worth over £1m and an increase in the Scottish Child Payment.[22]
14 January – Reform UK announces that 20 local councillors – 14 Conservatives, five independents and one from the Green Party – have joined its number.[23]
Jon Burrows is the only candidate for the Ulster Unionist Party leadership election after deputy leader Robbie Butler announces he will not seek election to the post.[27]
17 January
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is among a number of high profile figures to be named by the US Trump administration as members of Gaza's Board of Peace.[28]
Downing Street says that Starmer has told Trump in a phone call that it would be wrong for the United States to impose tariffs on countries for opposing his wish to annexe Greenland.[30]
Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Farage says that Reform UK will not become the "Conservative Party 2.0" following the defection of Robert Jenrick.[31]
Shadow minister Andrew Rosindell resigns from the Conservative Party to join Reform UK in anger at his former party's handling of the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands when it was in government.[32]
20 January – Member of the Senedd and shadow cabinet James Evans is expelled from the Welsh Conservatives after telling leader Darren Millar he is involved in talks to join Reform UK. Reform's leader, Nigel Farage, later says he has held no such talks with Evans.[33]
21 January –
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards rules that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage breached MPs' rules 17 times by failing to register financial interests totalling £384,000 within the 28-day limit, but concludes that the breaches were "inadvertent" and do not require sanctions.[34]
Peers vote 251–150 to amend the UK government's Schools Bill to include a social media ban for under 16s.[35]
MPs at Westminster vote to remove from the Troubles Legacy Act that a measure providing conditional immunity from prosecutions for Troubles-era crimes.[36]
Secretary of State for Local Government Steve Reed confirms that 29 councils in England planning elections for May 2026 will have these postponed until May 2027.[39]
Chris Watkins is removed as leader of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council following a vote of no confidence over a disagreement about the postponement of local elections.[40] Steve Hey is voted in to replace him.[41]
23 January –
A BBC News report suggests that with election delays due to local government reorganisation, around 250 councillors could end up serving terms of seven years, rather than the usual four.[42]
Belfast City Council's strategic and resources committee votes to suspend its use of X over concerns about the Grok AI tool, with the proposal to be put to the full council on 2 February.[44]
A Sinn Féin billboard near Newry that bears a pro-Palestine slogan is under investigation by council planners after being erected without permission.[46]
25 January – Andy Burnham is blocked by Labour's National Executive Committee from standing as a candidate in the forthcoming Gorton and Denton by-election.[47]
29 January – Edward Harris announces his resignation as chair of Warwickshire County Council, and as a member of Reform UK, after illegally running two unsafe rental properties in Tamworth.[60]
30 January –
Chinese authorities lift travel bans imposed on seven senior Labour politicians, including Baroness Helena Kennedy, for their criticism of China's human rights against the Uyghur minority.[61]
Jackie Pearcey is chosen as the Liberal Democrats candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election.[62]
Peter Mandelson resigns his membership of the Labour Party saying he does not want to "cause further embarrassment" after documents released as part of the Epstein files suggest Jeffrey Epstein paid him $75,000 over three separate payments during 2003 and 2004.[67]
Speaking to Sky's Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill says there should be a referendum for the people of Northern Ireland to decide whether they want to be part of a United Ireland by 2030.[69]
2 February –
Former minister Tulip Siddiq is sentenced in her absence to four years in prison by a Bangladesh court for charges of corruption.[70]
The Scottish Government says it will not support the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill, a bill tabled by Independent MSP Ash Regan that would criminalise payment for sex.[72]
3 February
Peter Mandelson resigns from the House of Lords following allegations he leaked sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein.[73]
MSPs reject the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill by 64 votes to 54.[75]
The Senedd approves Welsh Government proposals to increase the minimum unit price of alcohol by 30%, from 50p to 65p, from October.[76]
4 February – After Labour MPs force a government u-turn over plans to withhold some material relating to Peter Mandelson's appointment as the United Kingdom's ambassador to the United States, MPs approve the amended proposal for the release of government documents .[77]
5 February –
MSPs back the Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill, which would see the introduction of restrictions on cosmetic procedures including botox injections and non-surgical Brazilian butt lifts.[78]
It is confirmed that Senedd Member James Evans has joined Reform UK after being expelled from the Conservatives after telling the party he was talking to Reform about defecting.[79]
The Liberal Democrats suspend peer Chris Rennard from the party after launching a fresh investigation into allegations he sexually harassed female colleagues.[81]
Jo Monk, the leader of the Reform UK-led Worcestershire County Council, warns that the authority faces bankruptcy without financial assistance from central government or a sharp increase in council tax.[82]
7 February – The Foreign and Commonwealth Office announces a review into a pay-off given to Peter Mandelson after he was dismissed as the UK's ambassador to the United States.[83]
David Taylor, a Worcestershire County Councillor for Redditch East, announces his resignation from Reform UK over the council's plan to increase council tax by 10% from April. Taylor will sit as an independent.[85]
The UK government says it will spend £5bn paying off 90% of debts built up by local authorities in England covering the cost of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.[88]
Bangor University's Debating and Political Society refuses a request for a question and answer session from Reform UK campaigner Jack Anderton and MP Sarah Pochin, citing "zero tolerance for any form of racism, transphobia or homophobia displayed by the members of Reform". The University distances itself from the decision.[90]
The Scottish Government has paid around £400,000 to the campaign group For Women Scotland after it lost a legal case brought by the group over the definition of a woman.[92]
11 February –
The Liberal Democrats announce they would break up HM Treasury and create a new Department of Growth if they form the next government, with the new department based in Birmingham.[93]
Speaking on Sky News, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United and founder of Ineos, says that the UK has been "colonised by immigrants" and suggests Starmer is "too nice" to do "difficult things" to stabilise the country's economy. Starmer rejects the comments as "offensive and wrong".[94]
Reform UK's Francesca O'Brien says the party will not defund Bangor University after the party's Head of Policy, Zia Yusuf, suggested they would remove £30m of funding from the university after its debating society rejected a request for a Q&A session by two Reform politicians.[95]
Two senior parliamentary aides to Welsh Conservatives leader Darren Millar – former deputy chief of staff Zak Weaver and senior communications officer Tomos Llewelyn – defect to Reform UK on the eve of the Welsh Conservative Party conference in Llandudno.[97]
Sir Jim Ratcliffe apologises for "offending some people" over his comments on Sky News.[98]
13 February –
A US Congress hearing into Jeffrey Epstein urges Peter Mandelson to attend to answer questions about his links to the convicted paedophile.[99]
It emerges that former Scottish National Party chief executive Peter Murrell is to face charges of embezzling £459,000 from the party over a period of twelve years.[100]
14 February – Starmer addresses the 62nd Munich Security Conference, telling delegates Europe must be ready to fight to protect its people, values and way of life.[103]
16 February –
The UK government abandons plans to delay local elections in 30 local authorities following legal advice, and ahead of a proposed legal challenge to the delays.[104]
An amendment to the Crimes and Policing Bill proposes making hate crimes targeted at members of the LGBTQ community and people with disabilities aggravated offences.[105]
Warrington Borough Councillor John Roddy, elected as a Reform UK councillor in an August 2025 by-election, defects to the Conservatives.[106]
17 February –
Reform UK unveils what Farage describes as its shadow cabinet, with former Conservative ministers Robert Jenrick as financial spokesman and Suella Braverman taking charge of education and skills.[107]
Seven ex-Reform councillors on Kent County Council join Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain, and form their own group on the council.[108]
Warwickshire County Councillors Scott Cameron and Luke Cooper are expelled from the council's Reform UK group amid accusations they were about to defect to Restore Britain.[112]
MLA's at Stormont are to receive a £14,200 pay increase from April, taking their annual salaries to £67,200.[114]
The UK government refuses to allow military bases in the UK to be used to support potential United States strikes on Iran[115].
20 February – The UK government confirms is considering introducing legislation to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal line of succession.[116]
in a letter to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says that his government would back plans to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal line of succession.[119]
Lord Mandelson is arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following an investigation over allegations he shared market-sensitive government information with Jeffrey Epstein while a government minister.[120]
24 February –
Parliament backs a motion proposed by the Liberal Democrats to release documents relating to the appointment of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as a trade envoy.[121]
A spokesman for New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the New Zealand government backs plans to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal line of succession.[122]
Mandelson says he was arrested following "baseless" information passed to the police that he was about to permanently leave the UK for the British Virgin Islands.[123]
Reform UK suspends Adam Mitula, who was helping the party in its campaign in the Gorton and Denton by-election, for making racist and antisemitic comments on social media.[124]
MSPs reject the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill, which would have introduced a recall system for MPs suspended from parliament for ten days or longer.[125]
The Senedd votes to give its approval to the provision of assisted dying services in Wales.[126]
25 February –
Sir Lindsay Hoyle confirms he passed on information to the police suggesting Peter Mandelson was a flight risk prior to Mandelson's arrest. The Metropolitan Police subsequently apologises for "inadvertently revealing information" relating to the case.[127]
The High Court rules that Gorton and Denton by-election candidate Matt Goodwin and his election agent will not face sanctions for the absence of a "statutory imprint" on leaflets. The judge said the two had taken "appropriate steps to put it right" and that the "error occurred due to a change of font" during the production of the leaflets that "was neither requested nor authorised by the claimants".[128]
MSPs vote 66–29 to approve the £68bn 2026 Scottish budget, which includes changes to income tax rates and levies on properties.[129]
Allies of Jeremy Corbyn, dubbed "The Many" win 14 of the 21 seats on the central executive committee of Your Party, paving the way for Corbyn to become the party's leader.[132]
27 February –
Reform UK contacts Greater Manchester Police over reports of "family voting" (where family members enter a polling booth and collude or discuss with or influence others over how to vote) at the Gorton and Denton by-election.[133]
A number of Christian groups have expressed their disgust that Reform UK were allowed to use the Assembly Hall of Church House for a press conference in which Nigel Farage announced his frontbench team. The groups say Reform's immigration policy is against Church teachings and beliefs.[134]
28 February – Labour MP Josh Simons resigns as Cabinet Office minister, following allegations that his former think tank investigated the background of journalists.[135]
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