About our Labour Party news
Latest news on the Labour Party, covering the Labour leadership contest, Keir Starmer's resignation, the party in government, key figures and policies.
The Labour Party is one of the two dominant forces in British politics and, since its landslide win at the 2024 general election, the party of government. Founded as the political voice of the trade union and labour movement, it sits on the centre-left of British politics. Its senior figures include Chancellor Rachel Reeves and deputy leader Lucy Powell, alongside a cabinet drawn from across the parliamentary party.
The party is at a defining moment following Keir Starmer's resignation on 22 June 2026, which has triggered a leadership contest. Pressure had built for months as poor election results, economic difficulties and internal division eroded confidence in his leadership. A by-election victory by Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, intensified calls for change. Contenders to succeed Starmer include Burnham, Wes Streeting, Angela Rayner, David Lammy and Ed Miliband, with the outcome resting on a ballot of MPs, affiliates and party members.
Labour faces serious challenges as it chooses its next leader. The party has been losing ground to a resurgent Reform UK, which has surged in national polls, while also shedding support to the Greens. Heavy losses in the 2026 local elections, a fall in membership from its 2019 peak and recurring questions of factionalism have all added to the strain. Restoring unity and a clear sense of direction is widely seen as the central task facing whoever takes over.
At its heart, Labour remains a movement as much as a party, rooted in trade unionism, co-operative societies and a tradition of collective action. Its annual conference, local constituency parties and affiliated unions give hundreds of thousands of members a direct voice in its direction. That broad coalition, spanning trade unionists, social democrats and the party's left, is both a source of strength and a frequent cause of internal debate.
Labour's history stretches back to 1900, when it emerged from the trade union movement, with Keir Hardie as its first parliamentary leader, to give working people a political voice. The post-war government of Clement Attlee built the National Health Service and the modern welfare state, while Tony Blair won three successive general elections under New Labour before Gordon Brown succeeded him. The 2024 victory returned the party to power after 14 years in opposition, placing its current difficulties within a long and often turbulent story.
Our NewsNow feed on the Labour Party gathers the latest headlines from a wide range of reliable sources, updated around the clock. Whether you are tracking the leadership contest, following government policy, or keeping up with the wider movement, this feed is your one-stop source for everything that matters in Labour politics.