NewsBeat
London local elections: What were the results in Richmond?
The Liberal Democrats secured a clean sweep, seizing all 54 seats on Richmond Council in a landslide victory that saw every Green Party councillor ousted from the South West London borough.
Sir Ed Davey’s party not only maintained but expanded its control, gaining five seats from the Greens.
The Lib Dems will now lead the council for a third term, after winning control of the authority from the Conservatives in 2018. Prior to Thursday’s election, the party held 49 seats, following a Conservative by-election loss in January 2024.
Following the announcement of the results, Twickenham and Richmond Lib Dems thanked voters on X for trusting the party to run the borough for another four years, after the results were announced, and pledged to make every vote count.
The party wrote: “To every voter, every volunteer, every canvasser, every delivery hero and every teller who stood outside the polling station. Thank you.”
Former Green Party Group Leader on the council, Andrée Frieze, said it had been a “difficult” night for the local party, but she promised it would continue to scrutinise the Lib Dem administration.
The Lib Dems pledged in their manifesto to “protect what matters most – by transforming how the council works, focussing on early help and prevention, and using every pound wisely to reinvest in a fairer, greener and more resilient Richmond”.
It promised to protect vital services from Government cuts, tackle the cost of living, lead on climate action, invest in early help for children and adults and deliver thriving town centres and cultural life.
The party’s victory comes after it stood a full slate of 54 candidates in the borough, along with Labour, the Conservatives and the Greens. Reform put forward 45 candidates, while three Independent candidates also battled for a seat.
Here are the full results in Richmond upon Thames
Richmond upon Thames (Total number of seats: 54)
NewsBeat
Khadija Shaw: Manchester City striker named Football Writers’ Association women’s player of the year
Shaw looks set to leave City this summer after talks stalled over a new contract.
Chelsea, who won six titles in a row before City’s recent success, are favourites to sign Shaw, who previously had no desire to leave the club.
But a breakdown in communications led to her exploring other options and Chelsea are understood to have offered at least one more year on a contract than City were willing to agree to.
Reports suggest Chelsea are ready to pay Shaw up to £1m a year and while boss Sonia Bompastor gave no hint as to whether Shaw’s future lying with the club, she admitted in a news conference on Thursday that signing a number nine is high on the Blues’ priority list.
Speaking on Friday, City manager Andree Jeglertz said: “I still hope she’s signing a new contract with Manchester City, definitely, but that’s more of a discussion for the player and for people at the club.
“Right now, the most important thing is to enjoy our player, and she’s here to compete with us, and do everything she can.”
City face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday (15:30 BST), with the winner playing either Liverpool or Brighton at Wembley on 31 May.
NewsBeat
Reform candidate who called Holocaust a ‘hoax’ wins seat in local election | News UK
A Reform UK candidate who allegedly said the Holocaust was a hoax has won a seat in the local elections.
Jay Cooper, who won one of three seats in the Sefton Council for the Bootle West ward, has been accused of spewing out conspiracy theories and labelling the genocide of millions of Jewish people ‘propaganda.’
The earlier social media comments made by the newly elected councillor from Merseyside Reform have come under scrutiny following his win with 705 votes.
In a since-deleted Facebook post made last September, Cooper referred to the death of US right-wing activist Charlie Kirk with caption ‘Heartbreaking. Murdered for having an opinion,’ the Liverpool Echo reported.
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A comment made by another user said that Adolf Hitler had an opinion and asked ‘did he deserve to die?’
Coope responded: ‘I don’t agree with him murdering innocent people. But the Hallocaust [sic] is a hoax.
‘There wasn’t [sic] even 6 million Jews in Europe at the time. Propaganda.’
He has made a series of other conspiracy theory-fuelled comments online since, including claiming a link between the Labour government and the Southport attacks.
A post made in February, which is still online, said along with a link to a poll: ‘These polls have got to be wrong about Liverpool how are people in the right mind still thinking it’s acceptable to vote for Labour.
‘The 3 young girls in Southport slaughtered by the hands of Labour should have been the turning point. Makes me ashamed to be from Liverpool.’
In March, he reposted an AI image from a local page depicting Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a hijab with text with it: ‘Labour have given up winning elections with policies. They focus on demographics instead.
They import votes because the public hate their policies. Import the 3rd world and bribe them with taxpayer benefits.Terror comes with it and they don’t care.’
In January 2024 he shared a video suggesting that the 9/11 terror attacks in the US were not real.
The video repost, which is still up on Cooper’s profile, said: ‘Ultimate proof. 9/11 is not what we thought it was.’
Reform’s leader Nigel Farage hinted that the newly elected councillor would not be welcome in the party.
Farage told the Echo today: ‘When you are putting up 5,000 people, do some slip through the net because they don’t tell you their social media handles or tell you the truth? Yes. Do we welcome people with these ideas? No, we absolutely don’t.’
When told that Cooper was now elected, he said he ‘could not speak to that’ before adding ‘But I tell you what, he’s not welcome.’
Metro approached Cooper and Reform UK for a comment.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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NewsBeat
Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan Loses Her Seat As Labour’s Nightmare Continues
The first minister of Wales Eluned Morgan has just lost her seat as Labour’s day of historic losses continues.
Morgan has led the Welsh devolved government since 2024, while Labour has been in control of the Senedd since devolution in 1999.
Plaid Cymru’s Elin Jones won the seat with 35.8% of the vote, while Labour came in fourth on just 7.3%.
Reform UK came in second, on 25.8%, and the Conservatives came in third on 16.6%.
The Greens were hot on Labour’s heels in fifth place on 7.1% and the Lib Dems on 5.2%.
Morgan said today’s results have been “catastrophic” and urged the party to take a long hard look at itself.
She confirmed she would be stepping down as leader and took full responsibility for the decline in support.
The loss of Labour’s most senior representative in Wales comes on top of an already gruelling day for the party.
It has already taken major losses in the local elections in England amid Reform UK’s surge, while Plaid Cymru has eaten into Labour strongholds in Wales.
Morgan, who is also in the House of Lords, refused to back Starmer as Labour leader beyond “this point in time” earlier this week.
While the full results for the 96 seats in the Senedd are yet to be announced Labour warned after counting began that it expects to take just 10 seats – out of 96.
Forty-nine seats are required for a majority.
Labour held 29 seats out of 60 before the Senedd expanded ahead of this current election.
The party has also been a dominant political force in the country for more than a century but major dissatisfaction with Keir Starmer’s government meant forecasters had predicted a bloodbath for Labour support in Wales.
Labour’s deputy first minister Huw Irranca-Davies, who has kept his seat in Afan Ogwr Rhondda, predicted it was going to be an “exceptionally tough day” early on Friday.
He said he would take defeat personally, adding: “All of us come into politics to do things and change the country, our community, the nation, to be better, to improve people’s lives, and to be rejected in that way is hard to take.
“But I think that is part of politics as well.”
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NewsBeat
Downing Street has ‘a lot of listening to do’ after election, says Swinney
He added: “So my message to Downing Street tonight is very, very clear – they have got a lot of listening to do to the fact that Labour have been hammered here in Scotland and an SNP Government, after 19 years in office, has just been emphatically returned to office, and Scotland needs respect as a consequence of that election outcome.”
NewsBeat
Many of us feel unprepared to host in our gardens – Here's 7 expert hosting hacks
Hosting season is on the horizon, and homeowners are transforming their gardens into stylish, functional spaces for entertaining and whiling away the hours together, but according to new survey from Furniturebox in conjunction with YouGov, 17% of Brits admit their garden isn’t in good enough condition to host guests.
NewsBeat
Skincare clinic’s conversion to house gets green light
The Jill Kelly Skincare Clinic, located near the town centre and Scarborough Railway Station, can be converted into a three-bed house after plans were approved by the council.
The owner, who is approaching retirement age, has “owned the building for several years and has run a successful skincare business within it”.
According to submitted plans, the owner has been “winding the business down for several years, allowing previous employees to take some of her clientele” and is hoping to sell the building as a dwelling.
The Grade-II listed property, at 53 Falsgrave Road, is part of a group of terraced properties, constructed around 1830-1840 from red brick and with slate tiled roofs.
According to submitted plans, there will be no changes to the fabric of the building or its external appearance.
“The only change externally is to remove the signage from above the door and the small panel adjacent to the front door,” the applicant said.
Scarborough’s conservation officer raised no objections and said the proposal would “not result in structural alteration or loss of historic fabric and would not result in a detrimental impact to the designated heritage asset”.
According to the owner of the skincare clinic, the property is suitable for conversion and can “easily be adapted to a dwelling, as there is an existing kitchen and bathroom and the other rooms have no fixed furniture”.
North Yorkshire Council said the proposal was “acceptable and would not result in harm to the designated heritage asset”.
The application was approved subject to conditions.
NewsBeat
Jack Cornwell walking from Durham to Darlington for his nan
Jack Cornwell, 21, will leave Durham Cathedral with his sister and three friends tomorrow at 9.30am, with the aim to be in Darlington town centre between 6pm and 6.30pm.
The 21-year-old is raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and is walking in memory of his nan, Valerie Bland.
Valerie sadly died two years ago from cancer.
Jack’s nan, Valerie Bland (Image: JACK CORNWELL)
Jack explained why he is doing the walk.
“In the later stages of my life, my nan was supported by nurses from Macmillan,” he said.
“But they were also really supportive to us. They were fantastic and support as many people as they can throughout the country.
“I think the work they do is amazing.”
Jack on a previous fundraising event (Image: JACK CORNWELL)
Jack lived with his nan since the age of four and said she always helped him with whatever he needed.
He added: “Some people these days may not be that close with their nan, but I was incredibly close to her.”
This is the fourth fundraising event Jack has done in memory of his nan and to raise funds for Macmillan.
Jack as a child with his nan, Valerie (Image: JACK CORNWELL)
He said: “I did a walk from Middlesbrough to Darlington, raising just short of £1,000. Then I did an event where I had my head in a hole and people threw wet sponges at me, which was horrible.
“And I did two cake sales as well. The events were really positive and raised more than £2,000 for a great charity.”
So far, Jack has raised £1,250 for charity ahead of his walk tomorrow, which he is really looking forward to.
He said: “We are stopping in Ferryhill and Newton Aycliffe on the way. The walk is 20 miles; it’s not a short walk.
“We have t-shirts ready for tomorrow; it’s going to be amazing.”
You can donate to Jack’s fundraiser by visiting: https://www.gofundme.com/f/macmillan-walk-saturday-9th-may-durham-to-darlington
NewsBeat
Ian shocked by Bea’s fiery reaction to being dumped | Soaps
One person in EastEnders that surely does not take rejection well is the unsettlingly unhinged Bea Pollard (Ronni Ancona)… as Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) is about to learn.
The bizarre bunny-boiler has developed an unhealthy fixation on Honey Mitchell (Emma Barton), worming her way into her and her husband Billy’s (Perry Fenwick) home and manipulating them so she can stay under their roof. Worse still, she’s been funding her time on the Square by using a fraudulent credit card in Honey’s name.
During her time in Walford, Bea has also sparked up an unexpected romance with Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), getting in the way of his spiky will-they won’t-they relationship with frenemy Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe).
She’s usethe money she defrauded from Honey to buy Ian drinks and charm him with dates, and has even helped him in his campaign battle against Harriet in the local council elections.
Unfortunately, Bea doesn’t play nice.
The deranged newcomer hatched an underhanded plan to launch a smear campaign video about Elaine to bolster Ian’s chances.
Although reluctantly allowing Bea to the post the video online, apparently there are some things even Ian Beale finds morally reprehensible and as soon as Elaine wished him luck, he suddenly had a change of heart.
Despite Ian’s best attempts to to delete that video, Elaine soon learns of the video’s existence from Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins).
Cue a confrontation between a raging Elaine and a guilt-ridden Ian, who tried to reverse his smear campaign.
After Bea’s dirty tactics damaged his reputation, upcoming scenes of Eastenders will see Ian decide to call time on his relationship with his girlfriend… with explosive consequences.
Bea fusses around Ian , he’s Ian distracted to pay attention.
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Later, Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) lectures Ian for his underhanded actions as he tries to smooth things over with Elaine.
Meanwhile, Honey continues to worry that her identity has been stolen and later, after encouragement from Billy, asks Bea to confirm when she’s moving out. Bea reassures Honey she’s hoping to move in with Ian,
However, her plans are scuppered when Cindy shows Ian Bea’s article in the gazette… which names them as husband and wife. Spooked by his beau’s intensity, Ian decides to call time on their relationship.
When he tries to let Bea down gently, it goes even worse than any EastEnders viewer migh exepect and Ian is left well and truly shaken by Bea’s reaction.
But that’s just the tip of the crazy iceberg. When Bea gets home, Billy’s furious to learn about her latest antics and kicks her out on the spot…
… which leads a vengeful Bea to tamper with his ladder.
Don’t mess with Bea. You’ll get stunng.
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NewsBeat
Keir Starmer Under Pressure After Labour Election Loss
Keir Starmer appears to be living on borrowed time as prime minister following Labour’s latest election nightmare.
MPs broke ranks to demand he set out when he plans to quit No.10 after the party suffered humiliation in England, Wales and Scotland.
Hundreds of Labour councillors have already lost their seats in English town halls, with hundreds more set to join them as results continue to be announced.
Worryingly for Labour MPs, the right-wing Reform UK made huge gains in traditional Labour areas like Sunderland, Tameside, Hartlepool and Preston.
The party has also been squeezed on the left by the Greens, who also made hundreds of gains across England.
In Wales, Labour has been booted out of power for the first time since the Senedd was established in 1999.
Eluned Morgan, who was Welsh first minister until today, also became the first British head of government to ever lose their seat.
She said the Labour government had to “change course” as she announced she was resigning as the party’s leader in Wales.
Meanwhile, the SNP has been returned to power yet again, with Labour in a fight with Reform UK to come a distant second.
Starmer said he took personal responsibility for Labour’s disastrous performance, but insisted he was “not going to walk away” from No.10.
Labour leadership hopefuls like health secretary Wes Streeting and former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner kept a low profile as the full extent of the party’s devastation became clear.
But a steady stream of MPs said it was clear that the PM could not lead Labour into the next general election and called on him to set out a timetable for when he plans to stand down.
Sarah Owen told The Times: “The public’s message to the prime minister is clear – and it is now do or die for the Labour leadership.
“The Labour government at its best has made some headway on reversing austerity, bringing in new rights for workers and renters, and taking children out of poverty, but that has not been fast or far enough for people to really feel it in their pockets, and see it their communities.
“Unless Keir Starmer delivers tangible change and truly connects with the public on a human level, he can’t lead us into another election, locally or nationally.”
Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgeley said: “The results here and across the north are beyond our worst expectations. It’s truly devastating.
“Unless that changes significantly and quickly it’s clear the PM can’t lead us into another election.”
Simon Opher, the Labour MP for Stroud, said it was “an existential moment for both our party and our country.
“The message from voters could not be clearer: things have to change,” he said.
“The government is beginning to deliver in some important areas, but the leadership is now deeply unpopular, and I fear that this loss of confidence is now terminal.
“The prime minister cannot take our party into the next general election. We owe it to our members, elected representatives, and the country to set aside pride and ambition.
“We need an orderly transition that brings together the very best talents across the Labour Party to deliver the change this country so desperately needs and to stop the far right from entering No.10.”
Leeds East MP Richard Burgon, a frequent critic of the PM, said Labour’s defeat “has Keir Starmer’s name written all over it”.
“It is clear that Keir has fought his last election as Labour leader and, deep down, he will know it,” he said.
“The party should now work towards a timetable for an orderly transition to a new leader by the end of this year.:
Olivia Blake, the Labour MP for Sheffield Hallam, told The Independent that Starmer “needs to think about his position”.
She said there needed to be an “orderly plan” for the PM to be replaced by someone else.
A senior Labour source told HuffPost UK: “In the same way Starmer has no compunction in pushing people off a cliff to save his own skin, the cabinet should now show him the same loyalty and give him the shove.”
Labour peer and former minister Lord Dave Watts called for Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to return to Westminster with a view to becoming PM.
Writing for HuffPost UK, he said: “It’s clear we need a change, and many MPs and Labour voters are looking to the most successful and popular Labour politician, Andy Burnham, to provide that change.
“I believe that Andy should be allowed to stand in a by-election to boost Labour’s prospects and to provide the leadership needed.”
But a Labour MP said that following the party’s disastrous showing in local elections across the north west of England “there’s absolutely no way anybody is going to want to campaign in a by-elections in Greater Manchester any time soon”.
“There’s not a cat in hell’s chance of Andy finding a seat to stand in,“the MP said.
Cabinet loyalists and Labour grandees also rallied behind the prime minister as Downing Street launched a campaign to save his job.
Technology secretary Liz Kendall told BBC News: “He’s not gonna go, and he not gonna set a timetable. People want us focused on their jobs and their future not our jobs and our future.”
Housing secretary Steve Reed posted on X: “The last thing the country wants is the Labour Party to talk about the Labour Party. The British public don’t want to hear about timelines, backroom deals and navel-gazing. Let’s get on with the job.”
Also posting on X, business secretary Peter Kyle said: “Reversing these results requires a collective effort, not just blaming the boss.
“We can’t do that by turning in on ourselves. We do it by rebuilding faith in Labour’s ability to inspire and lead our country. Losing our prime minister is the very opposite of that.”
Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.
NewsBeat
Tess Daly And Vernon Kay Split After 22 Years Of Marriage
Tess Daly and Vernon Kay have shared that they are parting ways after more than two decades of marriage.
On Friday evening, the former Strictly Come Dancing host and Radio 2 broadcaster announced the split in a joint statement shared on their respective Instagram pages.
“After much consideration, and with a deep sense of care and respect for one another, we have made the decision to separate amicably,” they said in their post.
“This has not been an easy choice, but it comes from a place of mutual understanding and a shared desire for what is best for both of us. We remain great friends and most importantly, fully committed to our roles as loving and supportive parents, which will always be our priority.”
Vernon and Tess then added: “There are no other parties involved in this decision. We kindly ask for privacy during this time as we navigate this transition together.
“We will not be making any further public comments.”
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