Here is what happened in every Cambridgeshire district in this year’s elections

The 2026 local elections saw a loss of leadership for a party in one part of Cambridgeshire, as well as a continued stronghold for another party. Residents turned out across Cambridgeshire on Thursday (May 7) to cast their votes in this year’s local elections.

Elections this year took place for Cambridge City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and Peterborough City Council. They didn’t take place in Fenland or East Cambridgeshire.

Here are the full results of the local elections in each Cambridgeshire district:

Cambridge City Council

The Labour party lost its majority of seats after 12-years in control. While it remained the largest party after winning 17 seats, the party lost six seats.

Leader of the council Cameron Holloway lost out on his seat to Green member Kathryn Fisher. The Green party made a triumphant win by gaining 12 seats, compared to its previous six seats.

The Liberal Democrats were the third biggest party by winning 11 seats, followed by one Conservative win and one win for the Your Party.

South Cambridgeshire District Council

The Liberal Democrats retained control of South Cambridgeshire District Council. Described as a “stonking” win by Liberal Democrat MP Pippa Heylings, the party won 43 out of 45 seats.

As a result of the Lib Dems triumphant win, the Conservatives lost out on some of its previously elected seats, leaving the party with just two seats in this year’s election.

This was a seven-seat loss for the Conservatives. The Independents also lost its one seat in the council.

Huntingdonshire District Council

While there was no party that gained an overall control in Huntingdonshire, the Liberal Democrats were also triumphant here. The Lib Dems won 20 seats, compared to its previous hold of 16 seats.

The Conservatives came out as the second largest party with 15 seats, however the party lost out on three seats in this year’s elections. Reform gained the biggest win in Huntingdonshire, as it was elected to 10 seats, compared to zero before.

The Independents won four seats, but lost out on nine seats compared to previously, followed by the Greens retaining its two seats. Labour only won one seat, losing two from the previous election.

Peterborough District Council

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There was also no overall win for a party in Peterborough. However, the Independents came out the best by winning 17 seats.

However, this resulted in a loss of five seats. The second largest party was the Conservatives who won 13 seats, gaining three more seats in this year’s elections.

Labour were the third largest party with a win of 11 seats, but it resulted in a loss of three seats. The Liberal Democrats won eight seats, followed by the Green party with a win of six seats, gaining one more seat from the previous election.

The Reform party won five seats, increasing its seats by four compared to the previous election.

The homes will be built in a ‘limited growth village’

Plans to build nearly 20 new homes have been approved, despite concerns over potential “ traffic chaos”. In July 2023, Postland Developments proposed to build 18 new homes along Coates Road in Coates.

The homes proposed included a mix of two, three and four-bedded homes of different storey sizes, as well as three six-bedded homes. Two self-build plots also form part of the plans, as well as new access points and a new pedestrian footpath.

The applicant proposed the homes in Coates as the village is described as a “limited growth village” in the Fenland Local Plan. The applicant also said it would “extend the built-up part of the village”.

Fenland District Council has approved the plans, despite objections from some residents and Natural England. Some residents raised concerns about the impact on traffic.

A resident in Coates Road said the development could lead to “traffic chaos” during peak times. They added: “Speeding motorists currently have no deterrent through the villages – ensure safe road crossing areas and footpaths [are] in place.”

Another resident in Coates Road said the road was already “extremely busy” with traffic. They added: “It takes a long while to exit from our property, which is directly opposite this proposed development.” The highways department of Cambridgeshire County Council found the development to be acceptable.

Natural England objected as it raised concerns that there was “insufficient information to determine the impact on protected sites”. However, planning officers said regard had been to the “extant permission on site that could be built out without the submission of further information in this regard”, therefore officers found it to be acceptable.

Section 106 financial contributions were requested from the applicant due to the “demonstrated lack of viability”, meaning the proposed development is not financially or economically feasible to deliver.

However, in their reasoning for approving the plans, the planning officer’s report said: “It is considered that the proposal provides sufficient contributions to mitigate against its impacts on healthcare, education and affordable housing, in exceeding the position applied by the LPA to applications submitted prior to November 2024 in requesting a contribution of £2,000 per plot.”

The applicant now must begin to construct the development within three years of the plans being approved.

For Rangers, the title is almost out of reach. Only a staggering run of results would see them leapfrog both Celtic and Hearts, but today’s visitors will no doubt be keen to detail their rivals’ own title ambitions. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis.

John Cena had promised a ‘history-making’ announcement for WWE Backlash, and he didn’t disappoint.

Before the main event on Saturday night’s premium live event, the 17-time world champion hit the ring to reveal some news that truly lived up to the billing.

It’s official: the John Cena Classic is coming, complete with a brand-new namesake championship, with the power in the hands of the fans.

After reflecting on his last match at Saturday Night’s Main Event in December 2025, Cena unveiled plans to build on the spirit of that night.

Before GUNTHER retired the wrestler-turned-Hollywood star, fans saw rising NXT stars like Oba Femi and Sol Ruca taking on the likes of Cody Rhodes and Bayley, while Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater teamed up against AJ Styles and Dragon Lee.

At the Cena Classic, the stars of tomorrow from NXT will take on huge names from Raw and SmackDown.

The star vowed to do ‘everything’ to make it special, adding that fans will have their voices heard ‘louder than ever before’.

The fans will get to vote for the champion of the John Cena Classic, and he made sure to clarify that everyone on the card will qualify.

That means a superstar could lose their match but still win the fan vote to be the crowd champion.

Cena promised the night will be a ‘single event that embodies everything I stand for, and everything I value’.

Why is the John Cena Classic so special for WWE?

Metro’s WWE expert Alistair McGeorge breaks down the big reveal at Backlash.

Hours before the show, Cena had teased something truly special.
‘My time in @WWE has been filled with defining moments. We’re hours away from what will certainly be another,’ he promised.

He wasn’t lying.

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Many, including me, expected the announcement to be a simple plug for the upcoming Club WWE membership launch, but this was played brilliantly.

Of course, it seems obvious Club WWE will play into the John Cena Classic as the platform used to vote for the champion on the night, but that didn’t need mentioning there.

Cena was right to highlight how his retirement show introduced main roster fans to the likes of Oba, Je’Von and Sol Ruca, who have since become fixtures on Raw.

We’ve already lost the likes of Cena, AJ Styles and Brock Lesnar in the past six months, with Rey Mysterio, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins not getting any younger.

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This is a smart and vital way to highlight the future and fast-track them to superstardom.

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What’s more, he suggested the ‘crazy idea’ could run for decades if it proves to be a success.

While it wasn’t confirmed, it seems likely fans will vote for their champion through Club WWE, with the new platform likely launching alongside the invitational.

Not surprisingly, fans instantly got behind the idea.

‘The new John Cena classic is going to be epic. I love that the fans decide who advances, and it’s a great spotlight for young and up-and-coming wrestlers,’ wrote @bowling23 on X.

‘I love that John is trying to help WWE’s future and making it a point to have a yearly event to spotlight them! I absolutely love it,’ added @ImDUstinKyle, while others hailed the idea as ‘genius’.

What happened at WWE Backlash?

It was a special reveal on a fantastic night for WWE fans.

The night began with Bron Breakker beating Seth Rollings in a brilliant opening match despite a misstep from The Visionary as they played off their history.

Lil Yatchy proved to be a difference maker next, as Sami Zayn couldn’t focus on Trick Williams, who retained his United States Championship.

Up next, Danhausen had promised a mystery partner and a close, and delivered as a Minihausen came out (later followed by several) to help him to victory over The Miz and Kit Wilson in a ludicrously entertaining bout.

Just before Cena’s announcement, Iyo Sky beat Asuka in an emotionally charged bout, which delivered even as the fans hijacked moments with ‘We want Kairi’ chants.

In the main event, Michael Cole put it best. Roman Reigns ‘survived’ against Jacob Fatu, who barely came up short against the World Heavyweight Champion.

Enraged after the loss, the Samoan Werewolf decimated the Tribal Chief (plus the referee, Adam Pearce and more) to end the show standing tall, even if he didn’t get the gold this time.

WWE Backlash results

Bron Breakker pinned Seth Rollins
US Title: Trick Williams (c) beat Sami Zayn
Danhausen and Minihausen defeated The Miz and Kit Wilson
Iyo Sky beat Asuka
World Heavyweight Title: Roman Reigns (c) defeated Jacob Fatu

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Owen Hargreaves has named Manchester United’s signing of the season with the Red Devils enjoying a promising campaign and qualifying for the Champions League.

United spent over £200m last summer, bringing Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens to Old Trafford.

All four of those signings have enjoyed encouraging first seasons in Manchester, with Sesko scoring ten goals in 15 appearances since Ruben Amorim was sacked in January.

Cunha and Mbeumo have brought some much-needed flair to United’s attack, sharing 19 goals in all competitions, while Lammens has helped tighten up a previously leaky defence.

Hargreaves has praised the impact of Cunha, Mbeumo and Sesko but singled out Lammens as Manchester United’s standout summer signing.

The Belgian goalkeeper was expected to compete with Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir for a place in the team but quickly leapfrogged both to become the No. 1 at Old Trafford.

‘I’ll tell you who’s probably been the best signing of all of them: Senne Lammens,’ Hargreaves told TNT Sports. ‘What did he cost? Not a lot so he’s been value for money.

‘I think United looked at it and thought, “what gets us up the table and gets us into the Champions League places?” It’s not a new midfield player or a goalkeeper, it’s goals.

‘So they added Cunha and Mbeumo, guys with Premier League experience who can get you 20-odd goals and United are third right now so I think that’s been proven correct.

‘But I do think if they hadn’t have sorted the goalkeeper out, they wouldn’t be in the top-four.’

Ally McCoist agreed with Hargreaves’ assessment, adding: ‘I don’t think you can underestimate that.

‘If you look at United defensively, they had no confidence at all in what was behind them.

‘All of a sudden they have someone who they do have confidence in and I just think that makes such a big difference.’

Lammens has barely put a foot wrong this season and earned more praise for his performance in Manchester United’s goalless draw with Sunderland on Saturday.

‘I think I can be proud of the season I’ve been having,’ said Lammens, who completed an £18m move from Royal Antwerp.

‘I had the perfect opportunity and it was the perfect time to come into the team and to grow.

‘I had a lot of things to learn and still have but in this squad, I also get the opportunity to show myself and to help the team out.

‘It’s been a very good season for me personally. As a team as well, we’ve been growing and now it’s about the next step.

‘Next season is going to be a big one. Everyone’s going to step up again because while this season was okay, it’s not our end goal.

‘We have to keep building on this and try to get better.’

Manchester United’s final two Premier League games of the season are against Nottingham Forest and Brighton.

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Herbert House, 77 Walmgate and 60 Goodramgate are some of the city’s most well-preserved structures.

They were opened as part of York Conservation Trust’s 50th anniversary, in partnership with York Unlocked, on Saturday (May 9).

Recommended reading:

The historic timber-framed buildings each tell a story about York’s rich heritage and the enduring craftmanship of centuries gone by.

Queues outside 77 Walmgate on the open day for York Conservation Trust’s 50th anniversary (Image: Newsquest)

Speaking about this, a representative for York Conservation Trust said: “The aim of the open day was to raise awareness, encourage public enjoyment and share knowledge about the careful conservation these buildings require to survive for future generations.”

Below are descriptions of the buildings, provided by The Trust.

Outside Herbert House today – whose lower floor is occupied by York Gin (Image: Newsquest)

77 Walmgate

A medieval hall and adjoined 15th-century cross-wing complex, this Grade II* Listed building is one of only two surviving buildings of its kind in the street.

It went on to serve as a lodging house in the 1800s, when Walmgate was the poorest parish in York.

The site was extensively restored by architects Brierley & Rutherford in 1935-36 and is still a home today.

The Trust explained: “A modern rear extension has been added in a way that allows the historic building to function well today, while keeping its character at the forefront.”

Herbert House

Dating in part back to 1545, the building which was home to generations of the Herbert family, still stands strong today in Pavement and Lady Peckett’s Yard.

The breath-taking fireplace, which warmed generations of the Herbert family (Image: Newsquest)

The Herbert family were linen merchants and prominent figures – four of whom were Lord Mayors of York.

The Trust added: “Lady Peckett’s Yard was named after Alice Peckett, wife of John Peckett, Lord Mayor in 1701.

“She lived at the site, and is reputed to haunt the adjacent Golden Fleece pub.”

A heritage craft session was held at Herbert House for the open day (Image: Newsquest)

An ongoing study by the Trust is exploring how the building can be repaired to its former glory and reused in the modern world.

60 Goodramgate

The building is part of, Lady Row, one of the oldest surviving rows of timber-framed homes in the UK today.

Lady Row dates back to 1316 and has been the subject of centuries of repairs, commercial use and extensions.

A surviving piece from the former occupiers of 60 Goodramgate (Image: Newsquest)

The Trust added: “Over the years it has been used by gunsmiths, watchmakers and jewellers, including Catherine Bates, one of York’s few known female gunmakers, who lived and worked here from 1844 until around 1870.

“A small fire broke out in the upstairs living quarters in 1888 which became part of the building’s story and helped shape later repairs and changes you can still spot today.”

Conservation work in 2021 uncovered historic painted walls and finishes, which had been hidden for generations.

For more on this, please visit here.

National Rail have said that customers can travel on the next Northern service where available. Northern passengers can travel on alternative services via Darwen and Blackburn from Manchester Victoria.

Tickets may be used at no extra cost on the following routes:

Bee Network bus services on the following bus routes at no extra cost: 8, 36, 37, 533, 541TransPennine Express services between Manchester Oxford Road and Preston

Imagine being tasked with counting every blade of grass in a field, noting every single species as you go. This is not far from the challenge many scientists face when analysing microscopic samples packed with thousands of tiny particles.

Imaging flow cytometry (IFC) solves this by guiding particles single-file past a camera and lasers, capturing detailed images of tens of thousands per second. It records the particles’ size, shape and optical properties, turning what was once painstaking manual work into automated analysis.

IFC has become a staple of biomedical research, with scientists using it to study blood viruses or classify tumour cells. It’s also increasingly used in environmental science – for example, to monitor water quality and detect microplastics.

Now, we’re using this medical tech on ancient mud, peat and lake sediments. It may help us identify exactly when ancient climate tipping points were crossed.

Blood to mud

To predict future climate change, we need to understand how things changed in the past. To do this, scientists use natural archives such as sediment found at the bottom of lakes or oceans, long “cores” drilled into peat or ice, or stalagmites and stalactites found in caves.

These archives effectively work as layered climate logbooks, recording environmental change over hundreds to thousands of years. As researchers dig deeper into sediment, peat or ice, they move further back in time. Each layer captures conditions at the time it was formed, from temperature and precipitation to the strength of ocean currents and wind belts.

Microscopic fossils and climate change

The abundance of certain microscopic fossils can be used to reconstruct these past conditions. For instance, the presence of certain species of pollen in peat or algae in lake sediments reflects changes in the climate system.

Pollen preserved in Amazon rainforest mud today is very different from that in Arctic tundra. In the far future, geologists will be able to tell from the fossilised form of this pollen which region once had tropical trees, and which had cold-weather shrubs.

This approach to reconstruction underpins a large portion of palaeoclimate research. Traditionally, however, it has involved counting thousands of particles by eye under a microscope. Because this is so time-consuming, only a small fraction of the total sample is analysed, while the rest is estimated by scaling up those results.

IFC dramatically speeds up counting, meaning climate reconstructions that previously took months can now be done much faster.

This makes it possible to produce higher-resolution records by analysing more samples, and to quantify rare species. Scientists using this technology can focus on questions that were previously too time-consuming to address, such as exactly when a certain environmental change occurred in the deep past.

Also, IFC digitises each sample, making results easier to share, reproduce and reanalyse, promoting more robust, open science.

Hidden patterns and tipping points

As IFC makes it feasible to count a much larger fraction of any given sample, it allows us to detect subtle changes that would have taken too long to detect manually.

Uncovering these small shifts in the particles found in a given place could provide early warning signals of abrupt climate change. For example, we can trace the migration of wind belts via the abundance of non-native pollen species at particular locations. Such movement of the winds may be responsible for triggering sudden change, perhaps by melting ice sheets or drying out a rainforest.

As a result, we may be able to precisely date the timing of past climate tipping points – and with that, the order in which these thresholds were crossed. This could let us distinguish between cause and consequence, as we can determine which changes happened first.

This approach also has the potential to uncover entirely new data, such as the presence of rare species at particular sites. These new records can then act as novel proxies for climate change – leading to more detailed reconstructions and deeper insights into how the climate works.

A tool designed to scan blood now offers us an exciting opportunity to read Earth’s history in finer detail and decipher hidden mechanisms. It could also help us predict abrupt changes in the near future.

The boss of a drug group known as the ‘Tupperware Gang’ has been jailed for supplying £1.3 million of cocaine throughout Suffolk.

Marc Kane, 43, was in charge of the large-scale drug group which distributed cocaine throughout Great Yarmouth by hiding the drugs in plastic containers in hedgerows along quiet country lanes.

Police body cam footage showed the moments before Kane’s arrest, in which he was clambering over two fences while trying to escape an armed officer and his dog on foot.

He was later found hiding behind a rolled-up rug and chair cushions inside a shed.

A complex operation by Norfolk Police’s Serious Organised Crime Unit seized cocaine estimated to be worth over £1.3 million.

Kane, of Coronilla Green, Gorleston, was sentenced to 10 years in prison at Norwich Crown Court after previously pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Judge Anthony Bate said he found the defendant had been performing a ‘leading role’ in the operation and was ‘well acquainted in class A drug dealing’.

Prosecutor Lori Tucker said Kane had been buying and selling drugs on a ‘commercial scale’, and his sentencing makes him the seventh person to be arrested from the drug gang after six other members of the group admitted their part in the conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Ashley Youngman, 34, Dominic Wilkins, 25, Hayder Gilgil, 20, Joe Drysdale, 31, Ben French, 49, and Michael Rushmer, 34, were jailed for a combined total of 25 years and 8 months between them.

The heads of that group were Marc Kane and Ashley Youngman, with Kane having ultimate control and whose number was saved in another drug dealer’s phone as ‘Corleone’ – a reference to ‘The Godfather’ novels and films.

The group used hedgerows in quiet country to stash cocaine in plastic pots, which they could later retrieve and sell.

Danielle O’Donovan, mitigating, said that Kane was ‘not a lone actor’ or ‘the lead actor in this enterprise’.

During the course of the investigation, surveillance of Kane and Youngman revealed the lengths the pair would go to evade detection – including hiding drugs in remote ‘stash sites’ until they were needed.

Police recovered cocaine worth hundreds of thousands of pounds from these sites. Both Kane and Youngman lived lavish lifestyles despite having no significant legitimate income.

Kane in particular flaunted his wealth, and following his arrest, his home address was searched, and designer clothing valued at £20,530 was seized.

Kane also used hire vehicles to move the drugs, and between January 2024 and his arrest in August 2024, had spent £5981 on car hire.

Following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Eddie Hammond said: ‘Kane and Youngman saw themselves as ‘untouchable’ – the fact that they are both now behind bars is testament to months of hard work by dedicated officers.’

Six others were also sentenced.

Ashley Youngman, 34, of Cliff Hill, Gorleston, was sentenced to 8 years and 6 months imprisonment.Dominic Wilkins, 25, of South Quay, Great Yarmouth, was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment.

Hayder Gilgil, 20, of Anchor Court, Great Yarmouth, was sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment. Joe Drysdale, 31, of Beavans Court, Great Yarmouth, was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months imprisonment.

Ben French, 49, of Fritton Close, Lowestoft, was sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment. Michael Rushmer, 34, of HMP Norwich, was sentenced to 2 years and 8 months imprisonment.

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A Labour MP who has vowed to topple Keir Starmer has said what the Prime Minister needs to do to make her change her mind.

Catherine West sparked chaos in the Labour Party by saying she will launch a leadership bid if a Cabinet member does not put themselves forward.

The backbencher will listen to Starmer’s make-or-break speech on Monday before sending an email to all her fellow MPs asking for their support.

She told Metro what she needs to hear in his address to stop her pulling the trigger – and revealed that no Cabinet contenders have messaged her in support of her intervention.

The Prime Minister is facing mutiny in the wake of disastrous local election results, which saw the party ousted from power in Wales and lose more than 1,400 council seats in England.

Although a wave of MPs called for Starmer to resign, no senior Labour figures have said they will challenge him.

So West – who once backed Jeremy Corbyn for leader – announced yesterday she would put her name forward if no one in the Cabinet makes a move over the weekend.

The Hornsey and Friern Barnet MP said: ‘We are heading towards electoral disaster in two years time.

‘We have to turn the Labour Party into a fighting machine for the next general election, so we can get a second term.

‘We need a better communicator. I would have expected the Cabinet to have met over the weekend to ask the Prime Minister to step aside.’

Education Secretary Bridget Philipson called West’s plan ‘completely wrong’ this morning, but the veteran MP is undeterred.

The only thing left in her way is Sir Keir’s do-or-die speech on Monday, setting out how he will reset his premiership.

West said: ‘Once he has spoken, I will decide whether he is convincing or whether we need to move to put out the timetable to elect a new leader.’

Asked what the prime minister has to do to win her over, the left-wing MP responded: ‘I want to see Keir Starmer fighting. He is not fighting. He has got to fight for working people.’

What would show that he’s fighting? ‘His demeanor,’ she said.

‘He’s got to wake up every morning thinking, “Why am I awake? I’m awake to make this country fairer and to help working people in their daily lives.”‘

The north London MP also suggested Starmer pledge to expand his top team to include areas of the country where they are losing voters.

West explained: ‘We have Members of Parliament in seaside towns, in the cities, in Scotland and Wales, and yet there’s no attempt to use them to get the message out.’

The backbencher insisted she would ‘rather not’ put herself forward and hopes that the media frenzy around her bid will encourage the Cabinet to act first.

However, West revealed that no Cabinet politician had been in touch to say they supported her plan.

The only Minister she has even spoken to since her announcement has been the Chief Whip Jonathan Reynolds, who she encouraged to stand.

‘I did suggest to him he might be good. He’s done a lot of good things on bringing steel back into public ownership. He’s from a working family background in the northeast.’

Despite silence from the Cabinet, West said a lot of backbenchers had texted her to say ‘Well done’.

She added: ‘That’s not the same as saying that they want to see me as the Prime Minister. What they are saying is we need change.’

West refused to disclose if she would back out if other contenders eventually came forward. ‘It is far too early to say,’ West insisted.

The parliamentarian also won’t say if she backs any of the leading contenders to replace the PM – thought to be Wes Streeting, Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham. Instead, called on female MPs to have a go.

She said: ‘Everybody has an idea of their perfect candidate. There is no perfect candidate. I have said to all the women in the party, “Stand up,” because I think that could be the sort of thing that we need.

Keir Starmer vowed to stay on in Number 10 for another eight years in an interview with The Observer over the weekend, saying he would fight any leadership challenges.

He told the paper his government was a ’10-year project of renewal’ and has pledged to set out ‘with clarity’ his values and convictions during his speech on Monday.

He added: ‘I’m not going to walk away from the job I was elected to do in July 2024,” he said. “I’m not going to plunge the country into chaos.’

West accepted that any leadership contest to find a new Labour leader would bring ‘an element of uncertainty’ but said that was ‘worth it’ to find a more suitable Prime Minister.

Starmer also used his interview to address to rise of Reform and the Greens, who stole voters from Labour at the ballot box on Thursday.

He said: ‘I have a strong belief that there aren’t many people who actually want Zack Polanski or Nigel Farage as prime minister.

‘I think that the mainstream majority actually want to know that we, the government, have progressive answers to the challenges that they face on a daily basis, and we need to spell out in terms and with conviction that we do have those progressive answers.’

West’s challenge to Starmer has also been criticised by other Labour MPs.

Richard Burgon, also a former ally of Jeremy Corbyn, said there ‘a real danger that, whatever her good intentions, her move will be exploited by people on the right of the party who want a coronation and not a proper democratic contest in the party.;

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