Tommy Robinson’s 2026 Unite the Kingdom rally ended up being a big step down from last year in terms of the numbers. This is obviously embarrassing for Robinson, and he’s responded exactly how you’d expect – i.e. by lying about the numbers:

Millions of patriots hit the capital of England today in the largest patriotic display the world has ever seen.

All happy, smiling, singing unity.

We came, we saw, we conquered.

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Against all establishment attacks.

We United The Kingdom and the West pic.twitter.com/02ZKsid86S

— Tommy Robinson (@TRobinsonNewEra) May 16, 2026

Interestingly, there’s no community note on the above despite it being blatantly wrong. We wonder if that’s got anything to do with Robinson being friends with Elon Musk – the owner of X/Twitter?

Tommy Robinson: not even close

Calling someone ‘ten men’ implies they’re a real hard case. We’re sure Robinson thinks many ten men attended his march, but for the ‘millions’ figure to work, each attendee would have needed to be at least forty men apiece:

“The Met estimated Saturday’s event drew 60,000 people, still a sizeable crowd for a British protest but well short of the million or more organisers were hoping for.”https://t.co/Cb1BzOEjpL

— Kaino (@KainoKivi) May 17, 2026

Robinson’s supporters got around the low turnout by sharing images from last year’s event:

pic.twitter.com/DN6q66BACU
Unite the Kingdom rally.

Met Police estimate: 50K.
Aerial footage: clearly more.
Media headline: "10K."

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The gap is the trade.

— BRKT (@BRKTgg) May 16, 2026

They also shared crowd pictures from what some said is a Shakira concert and what others claimed is AI. Whoever’s correct, the image certainly isn’t from London on 16 May:

You’re clearly not a geography wonk either.. this is a Shakira crowd in Rio. I’d like my country at least correctly identified.. https://t.co/awwbi7Baog

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 17, 2026

Given the above, the following is only slightly more ridiculous than what people are claiming:

5 million proud British Patriots gathered for Tommy Robinson's absolutely not racist Unite The Kingdom March in London. The Looney Leftists will tell you those numbers are fake, but photos never lie. pic.twitter.com/9alWOKg35S

— Sam (@SamCKx) May 17, 2026

Oh, and here’s the actual event for reference:

8 billion! pic.twitter.com/SIKWypnUkg

— Mukhtar (@I_amMukhtar) May 17, 2026

And the crowd numbers aren’t the only thing Robinson is lying about:

The march footage is from last year. This arrest from last month. Nothing is real. All slop for the consumption of American grifters selling “London has Fallen” t shirts at CPAC https://t.co/hDLObV8XCI

— Alonso Gurmendi (@Alonso_GD) May 17, 2026

Still too many

As one commenter highlighted:

50,000 are too many, we need to get alternatives in front of people who are desperate for change.

The media silencing voices is throttling our democracy, but offshore owners get what they pay for. https://t.co/bIHNQvZvqI

— Up_Again ItWasAScam (@up_again) May 16, 2026

For reference, the following demonstrates the unfettered racism that was on display at the march:

The police would’ve arrested a pro-Palestine protester if they had held up a placard saying the exact same thing about Judaism. pic.twitter.com/FOVyR9XbC3

— Mukhtar (@I_amMukhtar) May 16, 2026

Tommy Robinson Unite the Kingdom.
It was a matter of time before the Islamophobia would start. It’s sickening behaviour.

As Muslims, we shouldn’t have to tolerate this in our home…… England. pic.twitter.com/CP2h3LNcBi

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— Zara Hussain (@zarahussain999) May 16, 2026

60,000 is less than half of what the previous Unite the Kingdom attracted. Let’s aim for zero next year.

Featured image via Getty Images (Mario Tama) 

By Willem Moore

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UK politics is an absolute mess right now – everyone knows Keir Starmer is finished, but he’s still in power, and he hasn’t announced a plan to step down. Andy Burnham, meanwhile, is running to become an MP in Makerfield, with everyone understanding he intends to give Starmer the boot once he’s in office.

As a result of all this, the media is now just openly taking the piss out of Labour Cabinet ministers:

Sophy Ridge asks David Lammy, if you live in Makerfield and quite like Keir Starmer, who should you vote for in the by-election? pic.twitter.com/OSJG1YrnYb

— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) May 18, 2026

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The Starmer question

In the video above, Sophy Ridge asks deputy PM David Lammy:

My question on this by-election is if you quite like Keir Starmer, who should you vote for?

It’s a fair question. And it’s one which Lammy avoided answering:

Oh, look. This is a Labour by-election. We’ve got to fight for every vote. Reform will be challenging hard.

I’ve known Andy Burnham for over a quarter of a century. We were both protégés of the wonderful Tessa Jowell. We worked together all those years ago under Tony Blair.

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That’s right, isn’t it, Burnham did indeed rise through the ranks as a Blairite. People have largely forgotten this because Burnham has moved leftwards as the mayor of Greater Manchester – particularly when it comes to public transport initiatives.

Given that Tony Blair and his neoliberal privatisation politics are both incredibly unpopular, we wonder if Lammy brought this up to put people off Burnham?

It would certainly make sense. After all, the deputy PM will be a deputy nothing once Starmer is gone, and Starmer’s only path to remaining in position is for Burnham to lose.

Before we get back to the interview, we should note that Burnham might not be as progressive as people are hoping. He’s already said Labour shouldn’t pursue proportional representation in this parliament, and there’s reason to suspect he wouldn’t pursue full re-nationalisation (emphasis added):

The country gave away its control of basic things people depend upon every day. And that was a big mistake in my view.

Put more things back under public, stronger public control: energy, housing, water, transport.

Why not full public control, Andy?

From experience, we know that once private companies have their foot in the door, they’ll eventually take over the house.

Full support

Lammy continued:

He will be a great addition to Parliament for Makerfield. He has my full support. I will be up there. Much of the Cabinet will be up there, of course.

Sending the full Starmer Cabinet, are they?

Once again, this seems like a plan to turn voters off given the popularity of this current government.

When she didn’t get a proper answer, an amused Ridge asked:

The reason I ask the question, though, it is a little bit confusing because, in a way, a vote for the Labour candidate in Makerfield is a vote to get rid of Keir Starmer. So if you kind of like Keir Starmer… Should you vote for Andy Burnham? Because we know, as soon as he gets back to Parliament, he’s going to challenge the leadership.

Lammy responded:

Let’s step back. I’m not going to sugarcoat this. I thought that the Labour Party, over the last 10 days, had a spectacular own goal after those local election results. We now need to unite and pull together. We have a by-election to fight.

It’s true that he didn’t sugarcoat it, but he also didn’t answer.

How could he?

The Starmer administration is truly one of the most farcical governments this country has ever endured, and that’s really saying something given the past two decades.

Featured image via Sky News

By Willem Moore

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UK authorities let far right voices publicly incite anti-Muslim hatred in London at the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally, once again highlighting their extreme double standards on different forms of prejudice.

The British state has already waged an intense campaign to censor and crack down on activists opposing Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Such activism hurts the feelings of people who support the Israeli apartheid state or defend its crimes.

And people are rightly asking why the authorities don’t seem to care about the incitement of hate against Muslims.

At yesterday's Unite the Kingdom rally one speaker said:

"It's not too late to get Islam out of that building (Parliament)"

"It is not to late to get Islam out of every single official office in this country"

"It is absolutely vital, if we want to save this country, we have to… pic.twitter.com/EKo7fgBBVt

— Farrukh (@implausibleblog) May 17, 2026

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Muslim Council of Britain: ‘Apply the law equally’

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) responded to the “openly Islamophobic rhetoric“:

Statements such as Tommy Robinson’s calls that “it’s time for many Muslims to leave this country,” that he “would stop Islam,” are not political speech – they are incitement. History teaches us, painfully and repeatedly, that language demanding the removal of an entire group from its home is the language that precedes ethnic cleansing and genocide.

Considering this, it wasn’t surprising that the rally proudly displayed the flag of Israel — a country currently committing genocide against a largely Muslim population in Gaza — alongside the Union Jack, English, and other flags.

Addressing UK “authorities, political leaders, and broadcasters”, the MCB asked:

…why is this rhetoric tolerated and even defended when it comes to Muslims when the equivalent, directed at any other group, would rightly be met with prosecution, condemnation, and unequivocal political consequence?

Just imagine, for example, if someone publicly said “It’s time for many Jews to leave this country” or “It’s absolutely vital to remove Judaism from every single place of authority”. As the MCB stressed, such discriminatory rhetoric would rightly attract tough consequences.

The MCB then said:

We call on the Government, the Home Secretary and the Metropolitan Police to apply the law equally, to investigate these statements as clear speeches inciting hatred, and to make clear that the dehumanisation of British Muslims has no place in our country.

How fascists benefit from scapegoating

As the MCB highlighted:

British Muslims have helped build this country, served it, taught in its schools, healed in its hospitals, and protected it in uniform.

Indeed, British Muslims — like people from other religions and cultures — play a big role in the UK today.

Some Muslims settled in port towns about 300 years ago, having worked for the massive British colonial force of the East India Company. But after the devastation of the Second World War, in which hundreds of thousands of Muslims had served, many people from former colonies came to help rebuild the UK.

British Muslims have made a big economic contribution to the UK, consistently donate much more than average to charities, and offer £622 million worth of volunteer time every year. They have also, along with all other religious groups, enriched British culture.

However, the far right has increasingly weaponised the crimes of a tiny number of Muslims to paint the entire religious community as the cause of the UK’s ills. The far right has always used the hatred of people who are different as a distraction from the real issues, whether it was Irish people, Jewish people or Black people.

Meanwhile, corporate elites (and their friends in parliament), benefit from ordinary people focusing on religious, cultural or physical differences. Why? This distracts us from focusing on the increasing transfer of wealth and power from us to a handful of obscenely wealthy individuals.

By failing to treat all prejudice as equally destructive and unacceptable, the current government is enabling and empowering fascism.

London pic.twitter.com/N8Qg0etMe8

— Jamie Kay (@TheRealJamieKay) May 16, 2026

Featured image via Yahoo! News

By Ed Sykes

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We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, HuffPost UK may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

Dads famously love a practical gift. No fuss, nothing lavish, and don’t even think about cooking him breakfast.

But that doesn’t mean they’re not worthy of the best. And with Father’s Day fast approaching, there’s no time like the present to start thinking of just the thing that’ll make your old man feel loved and appreciated for being him.

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We’re sure yours is already insisting you don’t have to get him anything, but if the thought of your sibling showing up with a better gift than you isn’t enough motivation to find something life-changing, we don’t know what is.

Whether your dad is an explorer of the great outdoors, enjoys getting his grill on, or feels more fulfilment quizzing over a puzzle, we’ve found 29 gifts for every kind of dad this Father’s Day.

When is Father’s Day 2026?

This year, the big day falls on Sunday 21 June. And while there’s still over a month to go, time will fly as soon as the sun comes out again, so there’s no time like the present to start perusing.

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Experiences especially need to be booked early, and if you’re going halfsies with your mum or one of your siblings, you’ll want to start getting that cash flowing now.

No ideas? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back with our selection of presents from under £10.

29 Father’s Day gift ideas to shop now

Can’t get him away from the grill? This butcher set will give him more of an excuse to hover. While you might want to offer to cook him Father’s Day lunch, the multiplicity of meat in this box will last him and the family for weeks – so it’s time to get freezing!

Tell me this Japanese knife is a blade of beauty. Bet you you can’t. Crafted with a curved stainless steel blade, it’s ideal for everyday chopping, and can be used to achieve a razor-thin slice on anything from fish to vegetables.

Pickles and ferments are the perfect accompaniment to every kind of ‘dad’ food: burgers, cheese, and even sausages. Instead of stocking his cupboard with store-bought jars, send him off on this cooking class so he can learn how to make his own, inspired by techniques from all around the world. That’ll be his Christmas gifts for the next 10 years sorted.

When it comes to cookware, it really gets no better than Le Creuset. The lid for this pan is actually… another pan! As a lid, it locks in moisture for braises and stews, but when used separately becomes an enamel pan for even searing. Plus, both can be popped in the oven, or used on the grill or hob.

Breakfast is serious business, so if you can’t make it home to spend it with him, you might as well send this fancy Fortnum box so he can’t start his day right. Loaded with everything from streaky bacon to sourdough bread, this box has the makings of a fry up worthy of a king (which he is, after all).

There’s not a man who doesn’t love cheese. As well as giving him his own farmhouse cheddar to snack on, this box comes with all the accoutrements for many an astounding charcuterie board to come, including crackers, honey-mixed nuts, chutney, and salami sticks.

New dads need to celebrate Father’s Day, too! To give the happy couple a helping hand when their little one arrives, this cook set covers a week’s worth of meals, with classics like fish pie, macaroni cheese, and risotto to help them ease into their new role.

You are what you drink, so get him all the ingredients for an Old Fashioned! This whisky is brewed in a 15th century distillery just outside of Inverness (talk about ancient). Aged over 14 years in Tawny Port casks, you even catch a whiff of once the notes of honey, butterscotch, and berries wear off. Plus, it’s available for next day delivery in case you leave it last minute.

For the dad whose proudest achievement is (sorry) their drinks cabinet, this eight-year aged rum will prove a hug-worthy addition. Straight from a Paraguay-based French oak cask, it balances spicy notes of cinnamon and clove with caramelised sugarcane, and a hint of smoky wood.

What’s the point in walking if you can’t crack open a cold one at the end of it? This packpack doubles as a cool bag that can house up to 24 cans, which should be enough for him and, what, three friends to get through a day of walking? For longer trips, the brand’s large ice sheet will keep cans cold for up to three days. Cool!

There’s something undeniably cool about tools with multiple uses, and this pocket knife has everything he could need for any conceivable situation. Designed with camping and fishing trips in mind, it includes everything from pliers to a wire cutter and saw (along with 16 other functions, too, of course). Even better, it can be operated with one hand, and comes with its own lanyard so he won’t lose it in the wilderness, never to be seen again.

Made from breathable, ergonomic mesh, this flattering style is inspired by the athleticism of Roger Federer. But don’t worry, it works just as well for sessions on the tennis court as it does for lounging around on a sunny day.

Add this to the list of things he’ll love, but would never buy himself. This sleek day rucksack from Berghaus has everything he needs for a day of adventure: walking pole holders, and plenty of space for packing everything from his lunch, to a hydration bladder.

If he never quite got the hang of tennis, padel is the fastest-growing sport in the UK, and it’s much easier to learn to play. Just don’t tell him that. This beginner-friendly racket comes in at only £25, but buy yourself one so you can learn all its variety of underarm serves together.

Whether they admit to it or not, every dad wants a pair of running shoes from On. These ones are loaded with the brand’s signature CloudTec cushioning system, for a footfeel that bounces off the road and makes runs feel easier and lighter. But don’t worry, even if he’s not a runner, the design is stylish enough for supportive every day wear, too.

Pottering around the house is one of life’s greatest joys, so it’s an activity worthy of its very own pair of shoes. The cigar of shoes, to be precise. These slip-on ones will do the job, and they’re finished with a rubber sole if he loves them so much he can’t bear to take them off when they go outside.

If he can name his Bookends from his Baez, this book will take him on a trip down memory lane. Ochs travels back through the decades, showcasing era-defining album covers that’ll make vinyl heads nostalgic for the night.

There’s no better way to spend Father’s Day than making him prove his knowledge for the thing he’s professed to be an expert in your whole life. This book has over 20 quizzes in a range of formats to settle, once and for all, whether he’s a big screen buff or a film flop.

LEGO is not a toy, it’s a lifestyle: repeat. Car connoisseur will instantly recognise this classic model – and then they’ll get to build it! In nearly 800 pieces, they’ll get to relish in the tiny details, and once they’re done it’ll be a new model to add to their collection.

Give him a home away from home with a gift card to Everyman cinemas. They’re all over the country, and make watching something on the big screen feel like a treat. Depending on how generous you’re being, he can order restaurant-quality food to his luxurious sofa-sized seat, or even call for a top-up of red wine mid-viewing.

Well the baby’s not gonna buy him something, are they?! This sleep suit will give him a smile every time he sees it, and that’s the best gift any of us can ask for, really.

We can almost guarantee there’s no one in the family with more tech than your dad. To help him stay organised for his next trip, this pouch is stuffed full of pockets and compartments so he knows for sure where everything is – and most importantly, won’t have an embarrassing panic in the middle of the airport.

Can’t tear him away from YouTube? He’ll finally be able to watch hands-free while he’s on the go thanks to this clever phone case, which has a pop-open phone stand that can prop his screen up wherever he is. Oh, and then there’s the fact that it’ll protect your phone from cracks, too – but who cares about that when it has a feature as cool as this one?

Whether he’s well into his yoga journey or just starting out, this mat will provide the foundation for everything from the forward fold to the flying crow. It’s double sided, so it can be used for either yoga or high-intensity workouts, and its super non-slip stability in some of the more compromising, sweaty poses.

Dads famously never want to go to the doctor’s, but if he’s been complaining of a sore back, this LED wrap could be just what he needs to ease some of that post-workout pain. It’s loaded with four kinds of therapy, including LED, heat, vibration, and infrared, which all help to boost blood flow to the back and ease recovery along.

This might be one to split with the siblings, but this personalised poker set is a luxury he’ll use forever. It comes in a leather case lined with velvet, which can be monogrammed for an extra special touch. Plus, you can challenge him to a game of poker to win your money’s worth back!

Your old man deserves to feel like he’s one of the world’s best dart players, even if he only ever plays down the pub. If he’s half decent, though, this’ll be his lucky day, because this board is the official dartboard of the Profession Darts Corporation. Made with a low compression outer surface, the board has less bounce than previous iterations, making for a satisfying land (sound included) and longer last-time, which is backed by a five-year warranty. Throw in a personalised set of darts for a gift he’ll never forget.

Don’t ask us why, but men’s skin simply runs different. For the skincare-conscious dad, this LED face mask stimulates collagen production, while reducing fine lines and wrinkles for smoother, more radiant look. Just make sure he’s not gonna take offence to this one first, yeah?

Make it clear you’re not telling him he smells, but this shower kit is the ideal gift for the dad on the go. Choose from Bob’s four applicator colours, and four soap scents, to create a shower pack that can be mounted to your shower at home, and just as easily taken on holiday or to the gym. It’s refillable, so all he’ll have to do when this one runs out is buy another bar of soap, which can be used for face, body, and hair washes via the applicator’s bristly top for added exfoliation.

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Patrick Brammall’s wife has spoken out in his defence following a debate over the significance of her husband’s role in The Devil Wears Prada 2.

A newcomer to the Devil Wears Prada franchise, Patrick portrays Peter, a New York contractor who becomes the love interest of Runway magazine editor Andy Sachs (played by Anne Hathaway) in the new sequel.

Over the course of the film, Peter gets sidelined as Andy’s professional ambitions in the cutthroat world of fashion journalism consume her.

Reviews of The Devil Wears Prada 2 have been mostly positive – however, since its release, a number of dissenting voices have emerged, with many questioning whether Patrick’s character was necessary in a narrative about career-focused women.

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A recent article in Cosmopolitan, for instance, deemed Peter “one-dimensional”, and “an insult to single women everywhere”, with writer Megan Wallace opining that the character’s “sole function is to remind us that employed, single men do exist”.

Cosmopolitan teased the article on Instagram earlier this week, further describing Peter as “useless”. The post, however, drew a swift rebuttal from Patrick’s real-life wife, fellow actor Harriet Dyer, who called the comments “mean”.

“They cut scenes out. The edit is brutal,” she wrote. “The scene all these pictures are from was cut.”

She went on to note: “I liked him. And I married him.”

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As of Friday, Harriet’s post had received more than 6,100 likes and a plethora of responses, many of them supportive.

“Bloody amazing actor and personality. This is just a snide editorial piece,” one person wrote.

Added another: “I loved him in the movie. He added humour and is bloody handsome as well.”

Patrick and representatives for 20th Century Studios, which distributed The Devil Wears Prada 2, did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.

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As Harriet pointed out, however, photographers snapped images of Patrick and Anne on the New York set of The Devil Wears Prada 2 last summer in which they appear to be shooting scenes that did not make the final cut.

Brendon Thorne via Getty Images

In many respects, Peter’s arc in The Devil Wears Prada 2 is similar to that of actor Adrian Grenier’s character, Nate, in the original 2006 film.

In the 20 years since the first movie’s release, Nate has come to be regarded by many viewers as its “true villain,” a point which Adrian ― who, notably, does not appear in The Devil Wears Prada 2 ― has supported.

“I might’ve been as immature as him at the time, so I personally couldn’t see his shortcomings,” he told Entertainment Weekly in 2021. “But after time to reflect and much deliberation, I’ve come to realize the truth in that perspective.”

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The scope of Patrick’s role aside, The Devil Wears Prada 2 looks poised to be a breakout moment for the actor, who has appeared in an array of film and television projects in his native Australia but is a relative newcomer in the U.S.

As of this week, the movie has raked in a reported $435.2 million at the box office worldwide, surpassing the 2006 original.

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Xabi Alonso has agreed a four‑year contract to become Chelsea’s new manager, a bold hire that signals Stamford Bridge is betting on a modern, tactical leader with a rapid rise through Europe’s top leagues.

Chelsea has been searching for stability since the BlueCo takeover. The club has gone through a rapid turnover of managers — Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior — and Alonso’s appointment is the fifth permanent choice under the current ownership. That churn has cost continuity.

Alonso’s four‑year deal is a clear attempt to stop the carousel and build something longer term.

Chelsea sold by Alonso’s standout career history

Alonso’s coaching CV is compact but striking. He led Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga title in his first full season as head coach, a campaign that announced him as one of Europe’s most promising young managers. Before that he took charge at Real Madrid, a role that ended earlier this year. His own playing career includes two Champions League wins. Chelsea is buying both pedigree and potential.

Immediate challenge for the Blues

Chelsea sits ninth in the Premier League and face the real possibility of missing out on European competition next season after the FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City. That context matters: Alonso inherits a squad low on momentum and high on expectation. Turning a mid‑table run into a title challenge is unrealistic in year one. The immediate task is to restore identity, defensive solidity and a coherent style that can be built on.

Tactical fit and what to expect

Alonso’s teams have shown a preference for control, structured pressing and intelligent ball progression.

At Leverkusen, he blended positional discipline with fluid attacking patterns. At Real Madrid, he faced the pressure cooker of elite expectations.

Chelsea’s squad is young, expensive and still finding its spine. That could suit Alonso’s methodical approach, provided the club backs him in the transfer market and resists knee‑jerk changes. Expect a focus on midfield control and a clearer identity on both phases of play.

The recruitment context

Chelsea reportedly considered other candidates, including Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Fulham’s Marco Silva. Oliver Glasner, Cesc Fàbregas and Felipe Luis were also names floated. The decision to go with Alonso suggests the board prioritised a coach with recent elite experience and a demonstrable track record of improving teams quickly.

What could success look like?

The short-term aim will be to stabilise results, climb the table and reintroduce a recognisable playing style. Medium term: qualify for Europe and develop a squad that blends academy talent with smart signings. Long term: challenge for domestic trophies and re‑establish Chelsea as a tactical benchmark in the Premier League.

The four‑year horizon gives Alonso time, but patience will be tested by fans and media.

Daring to believe

Alonso’s high ceiling comes with caveats. He was sacked by Real Madrid earlier this year, and the Premier League’s intensity and scrutiny are different from the Bundesliga. Chelsea’s recent instability, managerial turnover, inconsistent recruitment and the pressure of expectation could undermine even the best plans. The club must provide coherent support: transfer clarity, a stable sporting structure and realistic timelines.

This is a statement hire: Chelsea has chosen a young, ambitious coach with elite experience and a clear footballing philosophy.

The four‑year contract buys time. However, the real test will be whether Alonso can translate his Leverkusen blueprint to the Premier League and whether Chelsea can finally stop treating managers as short‑term fixes.

For now, Stamford Bridge has a plan and a coach with the credentials to make it work.

Featured image via Getty Images

By Faz Ali

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Labour’s Andy Burnham is hoping to return to parliament to challenge Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership. Should he succeed, he will then become the British PM. The question is whether this will be enough to turn Labour’s fortunes around given that said fortunes are squarely in the toilet:

POLL | Reform lead by 6pts

Ref: 25% (-)
Con: 19% (-1)
Grn: 18% (-2)
Lab: 15% (-1)
Lib: 13% (+2)

– Seats –
Ref: 280
Grn: 104
Con: 97
Lib: 80
SNP: 46
Plaid: 11
Lab: 7

Poll: @FindoutnowUK, 13 May (+/- vs 6 May) pic.twitter.com/kHzxKcJoIu

— Stats for Lefties (@LeftieStats) May 18, 2026

Burnham wipeout

The above poll asked people how they’d vote if there was an election today. Of course, this means asking people how they’d vote with Keir Starmer as the Labour leader. As such, the poll may not tell us much about Burnham’s chances in the Makerfield by-election. It also might not tell us much about how popular Labour could prove with Burnham as leader.

While the above poll doesn’t tell us how Burnham might do in Makerfield, other polls give us an idea. Firstly, we have his popularity in comparison to other Labour figures:

POLL | Net favourability of potential leaders:

Burnham +8
—
Streeting -18
Cooper -18
Miliband -26
Rayner -29
Starmer -38

Source: @Ipsos, 8-12 May pic.twitter.com/nV2aoZmqc0

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— Stats for Lefties (@LeftieStats) May 14, 2026

Given this, we can assume voters will see Burnham more favourably than the current Labour Party. We can also predict some will vote Burnham purely to get rid of the hated Starmer.

There’s also Burnham’s popularity in the North West compared to rival parties (important, because Makerfield is in Greater Manchester):

POLL | Net favourability in North West:

Burnham +26
—
Davey -9
Polanski -16
Farage -22
Badenoch -24
Starmer -42

Source: @Ipsos, March – May 2026 pic.twitter.com/Ytut5bnnsQ

— Stats for Lefties (@LeftieStats) May 15, 2026

Getting even more specific, there are polls on the Makerfield by-election itself:

NEW | Burnham narrowly leads in Makerfield

Lab: 45% (-)
Ref: 42% (+10)

Source: @Survation estimate, 15 May 2026
—
+/- vs 2024 general election pic.twitter.com/wwgueC9uDP

— Stats for Lefties (@LeftieStats) May 16, 2026

The question will be who can run the best campaign.

In a sense, Reform’s actions up until now work in Burnham’s favour. Farage & co have been shouting about how terrible Starmer is, and how we need to get him out. The only guaranteed path to that happening, though, is to get Burnham in.

Even if a person plans on voting Reform UK in the next election, you could possibly convince them to vote for the Manchester mayor now, if only to be rid of Starmer.

Make or breakerfield

Burnham is currently the mayor of Greater Manchester, where he enjoys tremendous popularity. Makerfield is within his mayoral constituency, which should put him in good stead. As Stats for Lefties highlighted, however, the Burnham bounce is less in Makerfield than in other areas:

Burnham does outperform Labour in elections, but in Wigan that "Burnham bonus" is not as large as you might think.

{ 2021 }
Burnham: 70%
Labour: 50%
Bonus: +20

{ 2024 }
Burnham: 66%
Labour: 52%
Bonus: +14

By comparison, across GM the Burnham bonus was +19.4 in 2024.

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— Stats for Lefties (@LeftieStats) May 15, 2026

In other words, this isn’t going to be a cakewalk for Burnham. And nor should it be. As we’ve reported, Burnham has already said Labour shouldn’t pursue proportional representation in this parliament, and there’s reason to suspect he wouldn’t pursue full re-nationalisation. Reform won’t challenge him on any of this, obviously, but the Green Party will, and they’re right to do so.

Labour have proven to be a massive failure under Keir Starmer. If Burnham wants voters to believe things will be different under him, he needs to do more than just show up.

Featured image via Getty Images (WPA Pool)

By Willem Moore

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Over the years, there’s been much research, discussion and debate surrounding firstborn children and what their position in a family involves.

The pressure, the expectations, the complicated feelings about having received undivided attention from parents are all considered fairly common issues for oldest children as they become adults.

Firstborns (sometimes jokingly referred to as PFBs or “precious firstborns”) certainly have some experiences or advantages that their siblings may not.

And, in a lot of cases, their experiences as the first child in the family help them nurture specific talents.

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“The oldest child experience often comes with a unique mix of strengths that are quietly developed over time, often out of necessity rather than by choice,” Eleecia Myers, a counsellor at Key Counseling Group, a practice that specialises in working with kids, teens, adults and families, told HuffPost.

But there is one skill, in particular, that older siblings are more inclined to excel at. And you may be able to guess what it is.

Gary John Norman via Getty Images

They tend to be strong leaders – or, at least, they are used to stepping up first

There are a variety of traits common among firstborn children, but the one experts point to most consistently is leadership. It’s a skill that’s often an outgrowth of the firstborn’s position in the family, rather than a personality trait that all firstborns are, well… born with. In other words, their birth order shapes certain strengths over time.

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“In many families, the oldest sibling learns early on how to step up. They’re given responsibility sooner, whether that looks like helping with younger siblings, managing expectations, or navigating adult dynamics before they’re fully ready,” said Myers. “Over time, this can cultivate a strong internal identity as ‘the reliable one’ or ‘the strong one.’ Because of this, the oldest sibling tends to develop a natural ability to lead.”

Sophie Schauermann, a licensed clinical social worker and co-founder of Rooted Rhythm, which offers therapy for children, teens and adults, offered a similar analysis about why leadership skills are so common in firstborns.

“Birth order doesn’t determine personality, but it does influence experience,” explained Schauermann. “And for oldest children, they often grow up in an environment where they’re tracking more, holding more, and being asked to step into responsibility earlier than their siblings.”

Because of that, Schauermann suggests the oldest child in a family typically develops what she calls “responsibility with relational awareness.”

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“They tend to be very attuned not just to what needs to get done, but also to how others are doing. They’re often scanning for both tasks and people,” she said.

“This can show up as leadership, follow-through, organisation, and a strong sense of accountability. Many oldest children become the ones who naturally step in, anticipate needs, and help hold things together.”

This might relate to some of the other apparent firstborn traits

Leadership may be the most talked-about firstborn characteristic, but it’s hardly the only one.

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Research published by The University of Edinburgh in 2017 found that “firstborn children’s thinking skills outperform their siblings because they receive more mental stimulation from their parents in their early years”.

The same research found that firstborns score higher than their siblings on IQ tests starting around age one.

Why would this be, exactly? According to the researchers who followed 5,000 subjects from pre-birth through age 14, everyone generally received the same amount of emotional support, but firstborn children ultimately received more support in tasks that helped them develop thinking skills.

“Research clearly shows that the oldest sibling in a family has a distinct advantage in verbal ability, including larger vocabularies and stronger language skills,” J. Ryan Fuller, Ph.D., executive director of New York Behavioural Health, told HuffPost. “The result is higher IQ scores and greater academic achievement.”

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The important detail here is why this happens to be the case. Fuller explained that “before they have siblings, oldest children receive more concentrated parental attention and richer exposure to adult language”.

Moreover, the University of Edinburgh researchers also found that parents “changed their behaviour as subsequent children were born,” noting that they “offered less mental stimulation to younger siblings [and] also took part in fewer activities such as reading with the child, crafts and playing musical instruments”.

They may be able to see the “big picture” when others can’t

While it may not be as well-researched a trait as IQ, experts said firstborns also tend to excel at a sort of “natural inclusivity,” along with the ability to think in terms of systems and see the bigger picture, rather than getting lost in individual details.

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“They tend to ‘see the forest through the trees,’” said Avigail Lev, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Bay Area CBT Center, a behavioural therapy and counselling practice.

“As the first child, they’ve spent years observing family dynamics unfold. They’ve lived through patterns, watched younger siblings move through the same developmental stages, and developed a unique vantage point: part participant, part quiet analyst,” added Lev.

“Because of this, they often carry a broader, almost narrative-level awareness of how things connect over time.”

This can make firstborn children especially drawn to roles in which integration matters, such as product management or strategy, rather than highly specialised roles like coding or marketing in isolation, Lev suggested.

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Being inclined toward leadership doesn’t mean firstborn life is easy

Sure, having these skills and talents can certainly be helpful in life. But that doesn’t mean firstborns don’t struggle. (Just ask any oldest daughter.)

For example, Schauermann notes, gravitating toward leadership in the family unit and other aspects of life can have less-beneficial side effects.

“Like any strength, it has a shadow side. These traits are most supportive when the child also feels held, supported, and allowed to not always be ‘the responsible one,’” Schauermann said. “Without that balance, it can turn into pressure, over-functioning, or perfectionism.”

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And those are things firstborns might need to work out – either in therapy or on their own – later in life.

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