Versuchen GOLD - Frei

Labour and Tories could be swept away by a turquoise wave

The Observer

|

May 04, 2025

A turquoise tidal wave broke across England this week.

- Robert Ford

Labour and Tories could be swept away by a turquoise wave

Reform UK took hundreds of council seats, seized control of 10 councils, won two new mayoralties, and defeated Labour in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, the first Westminster seat Nigel Farage's parties have ever taken from Labour.

No third party has ever been so dominant in a local election round, and Reform's surge drove both Labour and the Conservatives to record lows, with both parties losing a large majority of their councillors up for election. The Liberal Democrats and the Greens also gained ground, completing an emphatic rejection of the duopoly that has dominated Westminster for a century.

WEITERE GESCHICHTEN VON The Observer

The Observer

Trump lets Orbán avoid sanctions on Russian oil

The Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, emerged victorious from the White House after securing an exemption from sanctions on imports of Russian oil that were designed to punish Moscow for the war in Ukraine.

time to read

1 mins

November 09, 2025

The Observer

The Observer

Reeves will raise tax to 'transfer wealth between generations'

The chancellor's plan for a 2p tax increase while cutting national insurance will benefit younger working people, writes Rachel Sylvester

time to read

3 mins

November 09, 2025

The Observer

The Observer

Wave of British B Corps shows firms can be a 'force for good' and still turn a profit

The list of companies meeting strict ethical criteria is growing fast in Britain, but the largest firms have yet to take the plunge, writes Matthew Bishop

time to read

6 mins

November 09, 2025

The Observer

In the mass grave of Gaza, anguished families hunt for their lost loved ones

Civil defence teams and doctors are racing to unearth and identify tens of thousands of bodies buried under rubble. Ruth Michaelson and Aseel Mousa report

time to read

4 mins

November 09, 2025

The Observer

Removing flags costs councils over £70,000

Local councils have spent at least £70,000 removing or taking down unauthorised flags, according to freedom of information (Fol) requests sent to more than 380 local authorities.

time to read

1 mins

November 09, 2025

The Observer

Tesla shareholders bow at the $1tn shrine of Musk

The pope’s “big trouble” couldn't stop Tesla shareholders from voting last week to award Elon Musk a potentially $1tn pay package.

time to read

1 mins

November 09, 2025

The Observer

The Observer

Hope won in New York – together, we can do the same here in Britain

Zohran Mamdani's election victory in New York isn't just an American story - it's a global moment of hope. A beacon of light visible right across the Atlantic. A signal that bold, compassionate, people-powered politics can cut through cynicism and capture the imagination of a generation tired of being told that nothing can change.

time to read

3 mins

November 09, 2025

The Observer

The Observer

Firms lose £53.8m a year by refusing fertility leave

Stephanie Costello, an event manager, was at a crucial point in her IVF cycle when she was made redundant.

time to read

1 mins

November 09, 2025

The Observer

Clicking online... but clocking off at work

A key report says economic inactivity in 16-34-year-olds has links to online-generated mental health problems

time to read

2 mins

November 09, 2025

The Observer

Nigeria feels Trump's wrath over escalating killing of Christians

The US president is threatening to end aid and send in the army if a divided country does not curb religious violence, writes Seun Matiluko

time to read

2 mins

November 09, 2025

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size