2024 In British Politics
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

A list of events relating to politics and government in the United Kingdom during 2024.


Events


January

* 1 January – ** In his New Year address,
Archbishop of Canterbury The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the Primus inter pares, ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the bishop of the diocese of Canterbury. The first archbishop ...
Justin Welby Justin Portal Welby (born 6 January 1956) is an Anglican bishop who served as the 105th archbishop of Canterbury in the Church of England from 2013 to 2025. After an 11-year career in the oil industry, Welby trained for ordination at St John ...
urges politicians to treat their opponents as human beings rather than enemies. **
Secretary of State for Defence The secretary of state for defence, also known as the defence secretary, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with responsibility for the Ministry of Defence. As a senior minister, the incumbent is a member of the ...
Grant Shapps Sir Grant Shapps (born 14 September 1968) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Defence from August 2023 to July 2024. Shapps previously served in various Cabinet of the United Kingdom, cabinet posts, including Chairman of ...
says that British forces are ready to act against Houthi rebels targeting cargo ships in the
Red Sea The Red Sea is a sea inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. Its connection to the ocean is in the south, through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden. To its north lie the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and th ...
. ** Writing on X,
Doug Barrowman Douglas Alan Barrowman (born March 1965) is a Scottish businessman. He founded the Knox Group of Companies and has invested in Ve Interactive, Aston Ventures, and Equi Capital. He is married to Michelle Mone. In 2022, in a series of investiga ...
, husband of Michelle, Baroness Mone, said it "suits the agenda" of ministers to "scapegoat" him and his wife as a means of distracting from government "incompetence" at failing to procure
personal protective equipment Personal protective equipment (PPE) is protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other garments or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body from injury or infection. The hazards addressed by protective equipment include physical, elect ...
during the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
. * 2 January – The
Home Office The Home Office (HO), also known (especially in official papers and when referred to in Parliament) as the Home Department, is the United Kingdom's interior ministry. It is responsible for public safety and policing, border security, immigr ...
says it has fulfilled a pledge to clear a "legacy" backlog of 92,000 asylum applications lodged before July 2022. But after it subsequently emerges that over 4,000 cases are still waiting for a decision, the
Office for Statistics Regulation The UK Statistics Authority (UKSA, ) is a non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for oversight of the Office for National Statistics, maintaining a national code of practice for official statist ...
(OSR) announces an examination of the figures the next day. * 3 January – **
Sir Ed Davey Sir Edward Jonathan Davey (born 25 December 1965) is a British politician who has served as the leader of the Liberal Democrat party since 2020. He served in the Cameron–Clegg coalition as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change f ...
, leader of the Liberal Democrats, launches the party's election campaign by targeting constituencies with Conservative MPs. ** Former
Chancellor of the Exchequer The chancellor of the exchequer, often abbreviated to chancellor, is a senior minister of the Crown within the Government of the United Kingdom, and the head of HM Treasury, His Majesty's Treasury. As one of the four Great Offices of State, t ...
Nadhim Zahawi Nadhim Zahawi (; ; born 2 June 1967) is an Iraqi-born British former politician who served in various ministerial positions under prime ministers Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak from 2018 to 2023. He most recently served ...
makes a guest appearance in the
ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: Television TV stations/networks/channels ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network and company, including: **ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network in the United Kingd ...
drama ''
Mr Bates vs The Post Office ''Mr Bates vs The Post Office'' is a four-part British television drama series for ITV, written by Gwyneth Hughes, directed by James Strong and starring an ensemble cast led by Toby Jones. The series is a dramatisation of the British Post Of ...
'' as himself, questioning
Post Office A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail services, such as accepting letter (message), letters and parcel (package), parcels, providing post office boxes, and selling postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. Post o ...
chief executive
Paula Vennells Paula Anne Vennells (born 21 February 1959) is a British former businesswoman who was the chief executive officer (CEO) of Post Office Limited from 2012 to 2019. She is also an ordained Anglican priest who ceased her clerical duties in 2021. V ...
in a 2015
House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...
committee inquiry into the
Horizon computer system The British Post Office scandal, also called the Horizon IT scandal, involved the Post Office pursuing thousands of innocent subpostmasters for apparent financial shortfalls caused by faults in Horizon, an accounting software system developed by ...
. **
Richard Tice Richard James Sunley Tice (born 13 September 1964) is a British businessman and politician who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Boston and Skegness and Deputy Leader of Reform UK since 2024, having previously been the chairman of the p ...
, leader of
Reform UK Reform UK is a right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Nigel Farage has been Leader of Reform UK and Richard Tice deputy leader since 2024. It has five members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons and one membe ...
, rules out a pact with the Conservative Party at the next general election. * 4 January –
Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...
Rishi Sunak Rishi Sunak (born 12 May 1980) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from 2022 to 2024. Following his defeat to Keir Starmer's La ...
says his "working assumption" is that the
general election A general election is an electoral process to choose most or all members of a governing body at the same time. They are distinct from By-election, by-elections, which fill individual seats that have become vacant between general elections. Gener ...
will take place in the second half of this year. * 5 January –
Chris Skidmore Christopher James Skidmore (born 17 May 1981) is a British former Conservative Party politician and author of popular history who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Kingswood in South Gloucestershire from 2010 to 2024. Skidmore was fir ...
, MP for Kingswood, announces his intention to stand down from Parliament "as soon as possible" in protest at the UK government's decision to issue more oil and gas licences. His decision triggers another
by-election A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, or a bypoll in India, is an election used to fill an office that has become vacant between general elections. A vacancy may arise as a result of an incumben ...
. * 6 January – ** Government papers seen by the BBC indicate Sunak had significant doubts about sending migrants to Rwanda when he was chancellor, and wanted to scale back the plans. **
Jeremy Miles Jeremy Miles (born August 1971) is a Welsh Labour Co-op politician serving as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care since September 2024. He previously served in the Welsh Government as Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh L ...
rules out reversing Wales's 20 mph speed limit if he becomes first minister. * 7 January – ** Sunak describes the Post Office scandal as "an appalling miscarriage of justice" and says the government is looking at ways to clear the names of those convicted because of faulty IT software. ** Helen Harrison, the partner of former Conservative MP
Peter Bone Peter William Bone (born 19 October 1952) is a British former politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wellingborough from 2005 until his removal in 2023. A member of the Conservative Party, he had sat as an independent in the Hou ...
, is chosen by the Conservatives to contest the
2024 Wellingborough by-election A by-election took place on Thursday 15 February 2024 in the Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, UK Parliament constituency of Wellingborough (UK Parliament constituency), Wellingborough. This followed a recall petition held ...
. ** The
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) is a public body in the United Kingdom created by the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009, largely as a response to the parliamentary expenses scandal of 2009. It establishes and monitors t ...
is to investigate allegations that Pensions Minister
Paul Maynard Paul Maynard (born 16 December 1975) is a British politician who served from 2010 until 2024 as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Blackpool North and Cleveleys. A member of the Conservative Party, he served Parliamentary Under-Secretary of ...
breached Parliamentary rules by using public funds to pay for Conservative Party work and campaigns. **
Sir Keir Starmer Sir Keir Rodney Starmer (born 2 September 1962) is a British politician and lawyer who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024 and as Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party since 2020. He previously ...
admits he worries about the toll of a
general election A general election is an electoral process to choose most or all members of a governing body at the same time. They are distinct from By-election, by-elections, which fill individual seats that have become vacant between general elections. Gener ...
year on his two teenage children as he and his wife try to keep them out of the public eye. * 8 January – **
Green Party A green party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of green politics, such as environmentalism and social justice. Green party platforms typically embrace Social democracy, social democratic economic policies and fo ...
co-leader
Carla Denyer Carla Suzanne Denyer (born 24 September 1985) is a British politician who has been the Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales alongside Adrian Ramsay since 2021 and the Member of Parliam ...
confirms the party intends to stand a candidate in every constituency in England and Wales at the forthcoming general election, the first time it has fielded a full list of candidates at an election. ** SNP MP
Joanna Cherry Joanna Catherine Cherry (born 18 March 1966) is a Scottish lawyer and former politician who was the Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Edinburgh South West (UK Parliament constituency), Edinburgh South West fr ...
demands an apology from colleague
Mhairi Black Mhairi Black (; born 12 September 1994) is a Scottish politician who served as Deputy Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons from 2022 to 2024, and as a Member of Parliament ( ...
, who suggested some members of the party are "too comfortable" at Westminster. ** Former Minister Sir Alok Sharma announces he would vote against the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill, describing plans to guarantee annual oil and gas licensing rounds as "a total distraction" that reinforce the idea the UK is "not serious" about tackling climate change. **
British Post Office scandal The British Post Office scandal, also called the Horizon IT scandal, involved the Post Office pursuing thousands of innocent subpostmasters for apparent financial shortfalls caused by faults in Horizon, an accounting software system developed b ...
: Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, who was Director of Public Prosecutions during the scandal, faces questions over why he failed to intervene in the prosecution of innocent sub-postmasters at the time. * 9 January ** Economists say that funding the student loans system in
England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
is expected to cost the
government A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a State (polity), state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive (government), execu ...
an extra £10 billion a year. **
British Post Office scandal The British Post Office scandal, also called the Horizon IT scandal, involved the Post Office pursuing thousands of innocent subpostmasters for apparent financial shortfalls caused by faults in Horizon, an accounting software system developed b ...
: *** Secretary of State for Justice
Alex Chalk Alexander John Gervase Chalk (born 8 August 1976) is a British politician and barrister. He served as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice from April 2023 to July 2024. A member of the Conservative Party, he served as the Memb ...
tells Parliament the UK government is giving "serious consideration" to introducing legislation to quash the convictions of the 700 or so sub post masters who were prosecuted as a result of the Horizon IT scandal. *** Former Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells announces that she would hand back her CBE after more than a million people signed a petition calling for her to do so. *** Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, who was Post Office minister during the scandal, comes under pressure to return his knighthood. ** Downing Street confirms that
Akshata Murty Akshata Narayana Murty (born 25 April 1980) is an Indian heiress, businesswoman, fashion designer, and venture capitalist. She is married to former prime minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak and is the daughter of N. R. Narayana Murthy, ...
, the wife of the prime minister, has donated her shares in a childcare company to charity. The shares were at the centre of a conflict-of-interest controversy. * 10 January – **
British Post Office scandal The British Post Office scandal, also called the Horizon IT scandal, involved the Post Office pursuing thousands of innocent subpostmasters for apparent financial shortfalls caused by faults in Horizon, an accounting software system developed b ...
: *** Prime Minister
Rishi Sunak Rishi Sunak (born 12 May 1980) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from 2022 to 2024. Following his defeat to Keir Starmer's La ...
announces that emergency legislation would be brought through Parliament to "swiftly exonerate and compensate victims" of the Post Office scandal in England and Wales. *** First Minister of Scotland
Humza Yousaf Humza Haroon Yousaf (; born 7 April 1985) is a Scottish politician who served as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from March 2023 to May 2024. He served under his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon as Scottish ...
confirms those in Scotland convicted because of the scandal would also be cleared, and that he would work with the UK government to bring this about. * 11 January – ** The Liberal Democrats ask
Ofcom The Office of Communications, commonly known as Ofcom, is the government-approved regulatory and competition authority for the broadcasting, internet, telecommunications and mail, postal industries of the United Kingdom. Ofcom has wide-rang ...
to investigate
GB News GB News is a British free-to-air, editorial, opinion-orientated television and radio news channel. The channel is available on Freeview (UK), Freeview, Freesat, Sky UK, Sky, YouView, Virgin Media and via the internet on Samsung TV Plus, LG web ...
over alleged bias in its coverage of the Post Office scandal, including what the party's deputy leader,
Daisy Cooper Daisy Cooper (born 29 October 1981) is a British Liberal Democrats (UK), Liberal Democrat politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for St Albans (UK Parliament constituency), St Albans s ...
, describes as "a fictitious monologue"
Nigel Farage Nigel Paul Farage ( ; born 3 April 1964) is a British politician and broadcaster who has been Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Clacton (UK Parliament constituency), Clacton and Leader of Reform UK since 20 ...
delivered about Sir Ed Davey, which she says contained "a number of factual inaccuracies". ** First Minister of Scotland
Humza Yousaf Humza Haroon Yousaf (; born 7 April 1985) is a Scottish politician who served as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from March 2023 to May 2024. He served under his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon as Scottish ...
confirms that the Scottish Government would "in essence replicate" the law in England and Wales banning unlicensed ownership of American XL bully dogs. ** Sunak authorises joint UK–US air strikes against Houthi rebels following attacks against cargo shipping targets in the Red Sea. * 12 January – ** The Liberal Democrats,
Scottish National Party The Scottish National Party (SNP; ) is a Scottish nationalist and social democratic party. The party holds 61 of the 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament, and holds 9 out of the 57 Scottish seats in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, ...
and
Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru ( ; , ; officially Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales, and often referred to simply as Plaid) is a centre-left, Welsh nationalist list of political parties in Wales, political party in Wales, committed to Welsh independence from th ...
call for a
recall of parliament A recall of parliament is a parliamentary procedure involving an extraordinary sitting of a parliament, occurring outside the time when that parliament would usually meet, such as over a weekend, or when the parliament would normally be in recess ...
to enable a vote on RAF involvement in the air strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, since Parliament had already risen for the weekend when Sunak authorised the UK's participation. ** Sunak authorises talks between the Labour Party and the civil service ahead of a general election later in the year to ensure a smooth transition if Labour becomes the party of government. **
British Post Office scandal The British Post Office scandal, also called the Horizon IT scandal, involved the Post Office pursuing thousands of innocent subpostmasters for apparent financial shortfalls caused by faults in Horizon, an accounting software system developed b ...
: *** Court documents reveal that Fujitsu, the company at the centre of the Post Office scandal, won a £184m contract by the
Foreign and Commonwealth Office The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is the ministry of foreign affairs and a Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom, ministerial department of the government of the United Kingdom. The office was created on 2 ...
in 2021, despite concerns the system it was offering was "unfit for purpose". *** Court documents show that former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair was warned the Horizon IT system could be "possibly unreliable" before it was rolled out, and raised concerns about it, but gave it the green light after receiving reassurance from others, including his
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry The secretary of state for business and trade (business secretary), is a Secretary of State (United Kingdom), secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with responsibility for the Department for Business and Trade. The incumb ...
Peter Mandelson Peter Benjamin Mandelson, Baron Mandelson, (born 21 October 1953) is a British politician, lobbyist and diplomat who has served as British Ambassador to the United States since February 2025. A member of the Labour Party, Mandelson serve ...
. * 13 January – Yvonne Tracey, a former deputy postmistress from
New Malden New Malden is a suburban area in southwest London, England. It is within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and the London Borough of Merton, and is from Charing Cross. Neighbouring localities include Kingston upon Thames, Kingston, Norb ...
, south London, announces her intention to stand in the Parliamentary constituency of
Kingston and Surbiton Kingston and Surbiton () is a Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, constituency in Greater London created in 1997 United Kingdom general election, 1997 and represented in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of C ...
, Sir Ed Davey's seat, at the next general election. * 14 January – Foreign Secretary
David Cameron David William Donald Cameron, Baron Cameron of Chipping Norton (born 9 October 1966) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016. Until 2015, he led the first coalition government in the UK s ...
tells the BBC that military action was taken against Houthi rebels because the strikes were needed after months of attacks against cargo ships, and that the UK is "prepared to back our words with actions". * 15 January – ** Sunak tells Parliament that air strikes against Houthi targets were meant as a "limited, single action" but that the UK "will not hesitate to protect our security, our people and our interests where required". ** James Stockan announces he is stepping down from the post of leader of
Orkney Islands Council The Orkney Islands Council, is the local authority for the Orkney Islands, one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It was established in 1975 by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and was largely unaffected by the Scottish local governme ...
, as well as relinquishing his council seat, after six years in the role. * 16 January – ** Analysis shows that Labour would need a record swing of 12.7% in votes at the next general election to win a majority in the
House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...
. **
Lee Anderson Lee Anderson (born 6 January 1967) is a British politician and television presenter who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashfield since 2019. A member of Reform UK, he has served as its Chief Whip since July 2024. Anderson was ...
and
Brendan Clarke-Smith Brendan Clarke-Smith (born 17 August 1980) is a British former politician and teacher. A member of the Conservative Party, he served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bassetlaw from 2019 to 2024. Clarke-Smith served under Rishi Sunak as ...
resign their positions as Deputy Chairmen of the Conservative Party, after saying they would back rebel amendments on the Rwanda bill.
Jane Stevenson Jane Stevenson may refer to: * Jane Stevenson (historian) (born 1959), British historian, literary scholar, and author * Jane Stevenson (politician) (born 1971), British politician, MP for Wolverhampton North East {{hndis, Stevenson, Jane ...
also resigns as a Parliamentary Private Secretary so she can vote for the amendment. ** The fifteen-year time limit on voting eligibility for British citizens living abroad is abolished under the
Elections Act 2022 The Elections Act 2022 (c. 37) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that was introduced to the House of Commons in July 2021, and received royal assent on 28 April 2022. The act made photo identification compulsory for in-person vo ...
, enabling a further two million people to register to vote in UK elections. * 17 January – ** The UK government is seeking legal expenses from the Scottish Government over its challenge against the veto of the
Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill is a bill passed by the Scottish Parliament. The bill seeks to amend the Gender Recognition Act 2004 of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, making it simpler for people to change their legal gen ...
. ** The current session of the
7th Northern Ireland Assembly This is a list of the 90 members of the seventh Northern Ireland Assembly, the unicameral devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. The 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election, election took place on 5 May 2022, with counting continuing the fol ...
is suspended following the failure of
Democratic Unionist Party The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is a Unionism in Ireland, unionist, Ulster loyalism, loyalist, British nationalist and national conservative political party in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1971 during the Troubles by Ian Paisley, who ...
to support nominations to elect
Mike Nesbitt Michael Nesbitt, Member of the Legislative Assembly (Northern Ireland), MLA (born 11 May 1957) is a Northern Irish politician and former broadcaster
( UUP) or Patsy McGlone (
SDLP The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP; ) is a social democratic and Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. The SDLP currently has eight members in the Northern Ireland Assembly ( MLAs) and two members of Parliament (MPs ...
) to the role of
Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly The speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly () (originally having the title of Presiding Officer) is the presiding officer of the Northern Ireland Assembly, elected on a cross-community vote by the Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly. ...
. ** The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill passes its third reading in the
House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...
with MPs voting 320–276 in favour of the bill. * 18 January – The
UK Statistics Authority The UK Statistics Authority (UKSA, ) is a non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for oversight of the Office for National Statistics, maintaining a national code of practice for official statist ...
rebuked the prime minister for misleading the public over the backlog of asylum applications, which he said in a social media post had been cleared, while several thousand still remained. The UKSA said the allegation could have affected public trust in the government. * 19 January – ** The
European Court of Human Rights The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), also known as the Strasbourg Court, is an international court of the Council of Europe which interprets the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The court hears applications alleging that a co ...
announces that Ireland launched legal action against the United Kingdom on 17 January over the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. ** The UK government gives its backing to the Pet Abduction Bill, a
private member's bill A private member's bill is a bill (proposed law) introduced into a legislature by a legislator who is not acting on behalf of the executive branch. The designation "private member's bill" is used in most Westminster system jurisdictions, in wh ...
that makes it illegal to steal cats and dogs in England and Northern Ireland. * 20 January – A speech to the
Fabian Society The Fabian Society () is a History of the socialist movement in the United Kingdom, British socialist organisation whose purpose is to advance the principles of social democracy and democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist effort in ...
conference by Shadow Foreign Secretary
David Lammy David Lindon Lammy FRSA (born 19 July 1972) is a British politician who has served as Foreign Secretary since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, he has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Tottenham since 2000. Lammy previously held vario ...
is interrupted by pro-Palestinian protestors. * 21 January – Scotland's First Minister,
Humza Yousaf Humza Haroon Yousaf (; born 7 April 1985) is a Scottish politician who served as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from March 2023 to May 2024. He served under his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon as Scottish ...
, tells the BBC's ''
Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg ''Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg'' is a BBC Sunday morning talk show presented by Laura Kuenssberg, broadcast on BBC One. It is also simulcast by the BBC News (British TV channel), UK feed and occasionally by the BBC News (international TV channe ...
'' he is willing to work with
Sir Keir Starmer Sir Keir Rodney Starmer (born 2 September 1962) is a British politician and lawyer who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024 and as Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party since 2020. He previously ...
if he becomes prime minister after the next general election. * 22 January – ** The
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
votes 214–171 in favour of an amendment to the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill that calls for the delay of ratification of the bill until Rwanda improves its asylum procedures. ** The UK government rejects calls from Welsh MPs to add the
Six Nations Championship The Six Nations Championship (known as the Six Nations, branded as Guinness M6N) is an annual international rugby union competition by the teams of England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. It is the oldest sports tournament conte ...
to the list of guaranteed free-to-air sporting events on British television. * 23 January – ** Following more air strikes against Houthi targets, Sunak tells Parliament the UK would not hesitate to launch further strikes if the rebel group continue to attack shipping targets in the Red Sea, but does not seek confrontation with them. **
Chris Heaton-Harris Christopher Heaton-Harris (born 28 November 1967) is a British former politician who served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from September 2022 to July 2024, and as Chief Whip of the House of Commons and Parliament ...
, the
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland The secretary of state for Northern Ireland (; ), also referred to as Northern Ireland Secretary or SoSNI, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with overall responsibility for the Northern Ireland Office. The offi ...
, announces the deadline to call the
next Northern Ireland Assembly election A Northern Ireland Assembly election will be held to elect 90 members to the Northern Ireland Assembly on or before 6 May 2027. After the Northern Ireland Assembly election on 5 May 2022, the DUP (the largest unionist party in the legislatur ...
would be extended until 8 February to allow the DUP to hold further talks about restarting the
Northern Ireland Executive The Northern Ireland Executive (Irish language, Irish: ''Feidhmeannas Thuaisceart Éireann'', Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster Scots: ''Norlin Airlan Executive'') is the devolution, devolved government of Northern Ireland, an administrative branc ...
. * 24 January – ** In a BBC interview, Conservative MP Simon Clarke calls for Rishi Sunak to be ousted as prime minister, then later says he is acting alone in his comments. ** Retired British Army officer Colonel Tim Collins is selected to run as the UUP candidate for North Down at the next general election. **
Andy Street Sir Andrew John Street CBE (born 11 June 1963) is a British businessman and Conservative Party politician who was the managing director of John Lewis from 2007 to 2016 and Mayor of the West Midlands from 2017 to 2024. He was Britain's first o ...
, the
Mayor of the West Midlands The mayor of the West Midlands is a directly elected political post who chairs the West Midlands Combined Authority, covering the local authorities serving Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton. The most ...
, announces that he and his Manchester counterpart,
Andy Burnham Andrew Murray Burnham (born 7 January 1970) is a British politician who has served as Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017 Greater Manchester mayoral election, 2017. He served in Gordon Brown's Brown ministry, Cabinet as Chief Secretary to th ...
, are to meet
Mark Harper Mark James Harper, Baron Harper (born 26 February 1970) is a British politician who served in the Cabinet as Chief Whip of the House of Commons from 2015 to 2016 and as Secretary of State for Transport from 2022 to 2024. A member of the Cons ...
, the
Secretary of State for Transport The secretary of state for transport, also referred to as the transport secretary, is a Secretary of State (United Kingdom), secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with overall responsibility for the policies of the Departm ...
, to discuss proposals for a privately funded alternative to the abandoned Manchester leg of
HS2 High Speed 2 (HS2) is a high-speed railway which has been under construction in England since 2019. The line's planned route is between Handsacre – in southern Staffordshire – and London, with a branch to Birmingham. HS2 is to be Britain ...
. * 25 January – The UK has walked away from trade deal negotiations with Canada after failing to agree on how much access UK producers should have to the Canadian cheese market. * 26 January – ** The
Crown Prosecution Service The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is the principal public agency for conducting criminal prosecutions in England and Wales. It is headed by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The main responsibilities of the CPS are to provide legal adv ...
has frozen assets belonging to former Conservative peer
Michelle Mone Michelle Georgina Mone, Baroness Mone, (''née'' Allan; born 8 October 1971) is a Scottish businesswoman and life peer. She has set up several businesses, including MJM International Ltd in 1996 and the lingerie company Ultimo along with her ...
and her husband
Doug Barrowman Douglas Alan Barrowman (born March 1965) is a Scottish businessman. He founded the Knox Group of Companies and has invested in Ve Interactive, Aston Ventures, and Equi Capital. He is married to Michelle Mone. In 2022, in a series of investiga ...
, a spokesman for the couple says. ** Wales's Education Minister,
Jeremy Miles Jeremy Miles (born August 1971) is a Welsh Labour Co-op politician serving as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care since September 2024. He previously served in the Welsh Government as Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh L ...
, criticises the way Wales' largest trade union,
Unite Unite may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music Albums * ''Unite'' (1GN album), 2016 * ''Unite'' (A Friend in London album), 2013 * ''Unite'' (Kool & the Gang album), 1992 * ''Unite'' (The O.C. Supertones album), 2005 Songs *"Unite!" ...
, declared its preferred candidate for the Welsh Labour leadership election. The union held a hustings with the two candidates before announcing its support for
Vaughan Gething Humphrey Vaughan ap David Gething (born 15 March 1974) is a Welsh Labour Co-op politician who served as First Minister of Wales from March to August 2024, and served as leader of Welsh Labour from March to July 2024, making him the first blac ...
. ** Michael Keegan, husband of Education Secretary
Gillian Keegan Gillian Keegan (née Gibson; born 13 March 1968) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Education from 2022 to 2024. She previously served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Apprenticeships and Skills from 2020 to ...
and former chief executive of Fujitsu UK during the Post Office scandal, resigns from a part-time role with the
Cabinet Office The Cabinet Office is a Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom, ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for supporting the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, prime minister and Cabinet ...
. ** The Shared Parental Leave and Pay (Bereavement) Bill, which guarantees parents immediate leave upon starting a job if their partner dies in childbirth, passes its first stage in the House of Commons. ** The UK government announces a fresh investigation into the sale of the ''
Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was foun ...
'' after UAE-based RedBird IMI made an eleventh-hour change to the details of its bid to purchase the newspaper. * 27 January –
Kemi Badenoch Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch (' Adegoke; born 2 January 1980) is a British politician who has served as Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom), Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservati ...
, the business secretary, asks Henry Staunton to step down as chair of
Post Office Limited Post Office Limited, formerly Post Office Counters Limited and commonly known as the Post Office, is a state-owned retail post office company in the United Kingdom that provides a wide range of postal and non-postal related products including po ...
after 13 months in the role, as the government moves to strengthen governance at the Post Office in the wake of the long-running Horizon IT scandal. * 28 January – Former MP and cabinet minister
Nadine Dorries Nadine Vanessa Dorries (' Bargery; born 21 May 1957) is a British author and a former politician who served as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from 2021 to 2022. She was Member of Parliament (MP) for Mid Bedfordshire ...
says she would repay £16,876 in severance pay she received by mistake, as she was too old to qualify for the payment. * 29 January – ** Labour MP
Kate Osamor Ofunne Kate Osamor (; born 15 August 1968) is a British Labour and Co-operative politician who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Edmonton and Winchmore Hill, previously Edmonton, since 2015. She was Shadow Secretary of State for Internatio ...
is suspended from the party after saying the Gaza conflict should be remembered as genocide in a post about
Holocaust Memorial Day A Holocaust memorial day or Holocaust remembrance day is an annual observance to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust, the genocide of six million Jews and of millions of other Holocaust victims by Nazi Germany and its allies. Many countries ...
. ** George Freeman, the Conservative MP for
Mid Norfolk Mid Norfolk is a List of United Kingdom Parliament constituencies, constituency represented in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, UK Parliament since 2010 by George Freeman (po ...
, says that he resigned from his role in the
Sunak ministry The Sunak ministry began on 25 October 2022 when Rishi Sunak was invited by King Charles III to succeed Liz Truss as prime minister of the United Kingdom. October 2022 United Kingdom government crisis, Truss resigned as Leader of the Conserv ...
in November 2023 because he could not afford to pay his mortgage on the £118,300 ministerial salary after his mortgage increased from £800 to £2,000 per month. **
Colum Eastwood Colum Eastwood (born 30 April 1983) is an Irish nationalism, Irish nationalist politician who served as Social Democratic and Labour Party, Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) from 2015 to 2024. He has served as the Member o ...
, the leader of the
Social Democratic and Labour Party The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP; ) is a social democratic and Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. The SDLP currently has eight members in the Northern Ireland Assembly ( MLAs) and two members of Parliament (M ...
, says he "cannot in good conscience" attend this year's
St Patrick's Day Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick (), is a religious and cultural holiday held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (), the foremost patron saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick's Day was made an official Chris ...
celebration at
White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...
because of the US response to the
Gaza war The Gaza war is an armed conflict in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel fought since 7 October 2023. A part of the unresolved Israeli–Palestinian conflict, Israeli–Palestinian and Gaza–Israel conflict, Gaza–Israel conflicts dating ...
. ** Following the first debate of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill in the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
, Peers vote 206–84 to move the bill on to the next stage of its passage through the House. ** The Democratic Unionist Party endorses a deal aimed at restoring the
Northern Ireland Executive The Northern Ireland Executive (Irish language, Irish: ''Feidhmeannas Thuaisceart Éireann'', Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster Scots: ''Norlin Airlan Executive'') is the devolution, devolved government of Northern Ireland, an administrative branc ...
. * 30 January – ** During a visit to the Middle East, Foreign Secretary
David Cameron David William Donald Cameron, Baron Cameron of Chipping Norton (born 9 October 1966) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016. Until 2015, he led the first coalition government in the UK s ...
says that the UK is ready to bring forward the moment when it is ready to recognise a Palestinian state. ** Members of the Senedd vote 39–14 to back the Senedd Reform Bill which expands the legislature to 96 members at the 2026 Senedd election and change the way members are elected. ** The Media Bill, which proposes changes to radio in the United Kingdom such as reducing regulations for commercial radio and improving access through smart devices, passes its third reading in the
House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...
. * 31 January – **
2024 Northern Ireland Executive Formation The 2024 Northern Ireland Executive formation followed on from the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election, but was delayed to February 2024. The 22 months delay in the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive resulted from a boycott of the ...
: Details of a deal between the UK government and Democratic Unionist Party aimed at restoring the Northern Ireland Executive are published. It includes reducing checks and paperwork on goods moving between
Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...
and
Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...
. ** Shadow Chancellor
Rachel Reeves Rachel Jane Reeves (born 13 February 1979) is a British politician who has served as Chancellor of the Exchequer since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, she has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Leeds West and Pudsey, formerly Leed ...
confirms that Labour would not reintroduce the cap on bankers' bonuses if they form a government after the next general election.


February

* 1 February – ** A Statutory Instrument paving the way for the Northern Ireland Executive to be re-established is passed by the House of Commons. ** Conservative MP
Mike Freer Michael Whitney Freer (born 29 May 1960) is a British Conservative Party politician and former banker who served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Courts and Legal Services from September 2022 to July 2024. He was first elected as ...
announces he is standing down from Parliament at the next election following death threats and an arson attack on his constituency office. Downing Street describes the situation as "an attack on democracy". ** Addressing a meeting of business leaders, Shadow Chancellor
Rachel Reeves Rachel Jane Reeves (born 13 February 1979) is a British politician who has served as Chancellor of the Exchequer since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, she has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Leeds West and Pudsey, formerly Leed ...
says that Labour would not increase
corporation tax A corporate tax, also called corporation tax or company tax or corporate income tax, is a type of direct tax levied on the income or capital of corporations and other similar legal entities. The tax is usually imposed at the national level, but i ...
if elected, but may cut it to boost "competitiveness". **
Penny Mordaunt Dame Penelope Mary "Penny" Mordaunt (; born 4 March 1973) is a British former Conservative Party (UK), Conservative politician who served as Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons from 2022 until 2024. She was the Memb ...
, the
Leader of the House of Commons The Leader of the House of Commons is a minister of the Crown of the Government of the United Kingdom whose main role is organising government business in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons. The Leader is always a memb ...
, has argued plans to expand the
Senedd The Senedd ( ; ), officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and () in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, Its role is to scrutinise the Welsh Government and legislate on devolve ...
from 60 to 96 MSs would be the equivalent of expanding the House of Commons from 650 to 2,000 MPs. ** MP
Christina Rees Christina Rees (born 21 February 1954) is a Welsh politician who served as Member of Parliament for Neath from 2015 to 2024. She is a member of the Labour and Co-operative parties. Early life Rees was born on 21 February 1954, in the South ...
is readmitted to the Labour Party but announces her retirement at the next general election. * 2 February – Senior Labour MP
Darren Jones Darren Paul Jones (born 13 November 1986) is a British politician who has served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury since July 2024, having previously been Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury from September 2023 to July 2024. A member of ...
confirms that the party has ditched its commitment to spend £28bn a year on green investment schemes if it wins the next general election. * 3 February – **
2024 Northern Ireland Executive Formation The 2024 Northern Ireland Executive formation followed on from the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election, but was delayed to February 2024. The 22 months delay in the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive resulted from a boycott of the ...
: *** The
Northern Ireland Assembly The Northern Ireland Assembly (; ), often referred to by the metonym ''Stormont'', is the devolved unicameral legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliam ...
meets to elect a new
Speaker Speaker most commonly refers to: * Speaker, a person who produces speech * Loudspeaker, a device that produces sound ** Computer speakers Speaker, Speakers, or The Speaker may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * "Speaker" (song), by David ...
.
Edwin Poots Edwin Poots (born 27 May 1965) is a British politician from Northern Ireland, serving as Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly since February 2024. He served as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) from May to June 2021. He was fir ...
, a former leader of the DUP, is chosen to be the Assembly's 7th Speaker. *** The
Northern Ireland Executive The Northern Ireland Executive (Irish language, Irish: ''Feidhmeannas Thuaisceart Éireann'', Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster Scots: ''Norlin Airlan Executive'') is the devolution, devolved government of Northern Ireland, an administrative branc ...
is restored after the DUP ends its two year boycott;
Sinn Féin Sinn Féin ( ; ; ) is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The History of Sinn Féin, original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffit ...
's
Michelle O'Neill Michelle O'Neill ( Doris; born 10 January 1977) is an Irish politician who has been First Minister of Northern Ireland since February 2024 and President of Sinn Féin#Vice Presidents, Vice President of Sinn Féin since 2018. She has also been ...
is nominated as
First Minister A first minister is any of a variety of leaders of government cabinets. The term literally has the same meaning as "prime minister" but is typically chosen to distinguish the office-holder from a superior prime minister. Currently the title of ' ...
, becoming the first nationalist politician to hold the post, while the DUP's
Emma Little-Pengelly Emma Little-Pengelly ( Little; born 31 December 1979) is a Northern Irish barrister and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician serving as the First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, deputy First Minister of Northern ...
is appointed deputy. ***
SDLP The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP; ) is a social democratic and Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. The SDLP currently has eight members in the Northern Ireland Assembly ( MLAs) and two members of Parliament (MPs ...
MLA
Matthew O'Toole Matthew John O'Toole MLA (born 18 May 1983) is an Irish nationalist politician, former civil servant, and journalist, serving as leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) in the Northern Ireland Assembly and leader of the opposit ...
is nominated as
Leader of the Opposition The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the Opposition (parliamentary), largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the ...
. ***
Justin McNulty Justin McNulty MLA (born 15 November 1974) is an Irish politician, a Gaelic football manager, and a former player at senior level for the Armagh county team. He has served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Newry and Armagh si ...
is suspended from the SDLP for leaving the Assembly sitting early to manage
Laois GAA The Laois County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) () or Laois GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Laois. The county board is also responsible for the Laois county ...
at a
Gaelic football Gaelic football (; short name '')'', commonly known as simply Gaelic, GAA, or football, is an Irish team sport. A form of football, it is played between two teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass pitch. The objective of the sport is to score ...
match in Wexford. ** Sir
Bob Neill Sir Robert James MacGillivray Neill KC (Hon) (born 24 June 1952) is a British barrister and Conservative Party politician. He served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bromley and Chislehurst from 2006 to 2024. He served as a Parliame ...
, MP for
Bromley and Chislehurst Bromley and Chislehurst was a Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, constituency in Greater London represented in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons of the UK Parliament from 2006 Bromley and Chislehur ...
, announces he is stand down at the next election to spend more time with his wife, who has suffered a stroke. * 4 February – **
Dafydd Wigley Dafydd Wynne Wigley, Baron Wigley, (born David Wigley; 1 April 1943) is a Welsh politician who served as the leader of Plaid Cymru from 1981 to 1984 and again from 1991 to 2000. He served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Caernarfon from 19 ...
, a former leader of
Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru ( ; , ; officially Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales, and often referred to simply as Plaid) is a centre-left, Welsh nationalist list of political parties in Wales, political party in Wales, committed to Welsh independence from th ...
, warns that reforms to Wales's political system pose "a very great danger" since it would destroy the relationship between voters and the people they elect. ** Prime Minister
Rishi Sunak Rishi Sunak (born 12 May 1980) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from 2022 to 2024. Following his defeat to Keir Starmer's La ...
arrives in Northern Ireland to visit ministers following the restoration of the Executive. * 5 February – ** Sunak visits Stormont along with
Taoiseach The Taoiseach (, ) is the head of government or prime minister of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The office is appointed by the President of Ireland upon nomination by Dáil Éireann (the lower house of the Oireachtas, Ireland's national legisl ...
Leo Varadkar Leo Eric Varadkar ( ; born 18 January 1979) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as Taoiseach from 2017 to 2020 and from 2022 to 2024, as Tánaiste from 2020 to 2022, and as leader of Fine Gael from 2017 to 2024. A Teachta Dála, ...
to mark the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive. ** Sunak is criticised by opposition parties after appearing to agree to a £1,000 bet on the
Rwanda asylum plan The UK and Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership was an immigration policy proposed by the governments of Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak whereby people whom the United Kingdom identified as illegal immigrants or asylu ...
, that the first flight to Rwanda would take off before the election. He subsequently says the challenge, put forward by
TalkTV Talk TV may refer to: * MTV (Canadian TV channel), a lifestyle and entertainment channel in Canada previously known as Talk TV * Talk TV (Philippine TV network), a defunct all-news channel in the Philippines (2011 to 2012) * Talk TV (Philippine TV ...
presenter
Piers Morgan Piers Stefan Pughe-Morgan (; O'Meara, born 30 March 1965) is an English journalist and media personality. He began his career in 1988 at the tabloid ''The Sun (United Kingdom), The Sun''. In 1994, at the age of 29, he was appointed editor of ...
, took him by surprise, but that it was not a mistake to accept it. ** Sunak says the government has "not made enough progress" on cutting NHS waiting lists in England, but that industrial action "has had an impact". ** The UK government sets out its Disability Action Plan, which includes measures to protect people with assistance dogs from being illegally refused entry to businesses. ** The UK government launches a six-week consultation on plans for Martyn's Law, which would make provisions to better protect the public against potential acts of terrorism. * 6 February – ** Former Chancellor of the Exchequer
Kwasi Kwarteng Akwasi Addo Alfred Kwarteng (born 26 May 1975) is a British politician who served as the Chancellor of the Exchequer from September to October 2022 under Liz Truss and the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy from 202 ...
announced he is stepping down from Parliament at the next election. ** The UK government gives
Birmingham City Council Birmingham City Council is the local authority for the city of Birmingham in the West Midlands, England. Birmingham has had an elected local authority since 1838, which has been reformed several times. Since 1974 the council has been a metropo ...
to go-ahead to increase its Council Tax by 10% from April. ** Welsh Government minister
Hannah Blythyn Hannah Blythyn (born 17 April 1979) is a Welsh politician who served as the Minister for Social Partnership in the Welsh Government from 2021 to 2024. She was previously the Environment Minister from 2017 to 2018 and the Deputy Minister for H ...
announces that the Welsh Government is taking over
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS; ) is the Fire service in the United Kingdom, fire and rescue service covering the ten Welsh Subdivisions of Wales, principal areas of Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend (county borough), Bridgend, Caerphilly (c ...
after it was found to have a culture of harassment and misogynism. **
Elena Whitham Elena Whitham (Birth name, née McLeod, born 9 July 1974) is a Scottish National Party (SNP) Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP). She was elected in 2021 to represent Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Scottish Parliament constituency), Car ...
resigns from the post of Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy for health reasons. ** Former Prime Minister
Liz Truss Mary Elizabeth Truss (born 26 July 1975) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from September to October 2022. On her fiftieth da ...
launches a campaign to "galvanise" the UK's "secret Conservatives" and fight back against the "left wing extremists" she says have taken over the UK's institutions. * 7 February – ** Sunak faced a call from a Labour MP to apologise after he ridiculed Starmer over his U-turn on "defining a woman" at Prime Minister's Questions. **
Met Office The Met Office, until November 2000 officially the Meteorological Office, is the United Kingdom's national weather and climate service. It is an executive agency and trading fund of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and ...
data obtained by BBC Verify raises questions over UK government suggestions that poor weather conditions had no impact on a fall in English Channel migrant crossings during 2023. The number of crossings were fewer than during the previous year, which the government had said was nothing to do with the weather, but the figures suggest there were fewer days during 2023 when compared to 2022 when migrants could successfully cross the Channel. * 8 February – ** Labour scraps its plans for a £28bn annual green investment, with Sir Keir Starmer saying the policy is unaffordable because of the Conservatives' economic record. In response, Sunak says Starmer "U-turns on major things, he can't say what he would do differently".
Momentum In Newtonian mechanics, momentum (: momenta or momentums; more specifically linear momentum or translational momentum) is the product of the mass and velocity of an object. It is a vector quantity, possessing a magnitude and a direction. ...
says the announcement "represents yet another capitulation to right-wing interests". ** Michael Matheson resigns as Scotland's Health Secretary ahead of the publication of a report into £11,000 of data roaming charges accrued by his Parliamentary iPad. He is replaced by
Neil Gray Neil Charles Gray (born 16 March 1986) is a Scottish politician serving as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care since 2024. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), he has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Airdr ...
. ** Northern Ireland Health Minister
Robin Swann Robert Samuel Swann (born 24 September 1971) is a Northern Irish politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for South Antrim since 2024. He previously served twice as Minister of Health, first from January 2020 to October 2022 an ...
confirms he is the
Ulster Unionist Party The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) is a Unionism in Ireland, unionist political party in Northern Ireland. The party was founded as the Ulster Unionist Council in 1905, emerging from the Irish Unionist Alliance in Ulster. Under Edward Carson, it l ...
candidate for the Westminster constituency of South Antrim at the next general election. * 9 February – ** 2024 Special Honours: *** The 2024 Special Honours are announced. They include
Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru ( ; , ; officially Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales, and often referred to simply as Plaid) is a centre-left, Welsh nationalist list of political parties in Wales, political party in Wales, committed to Welsh independence from th ...
nominee Carmen Smith, a former public affairs adviser for the party, who at 27, becomes the youngest member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
. *** Donald Cameron, a Conservative list MSP for the
Highlands and Islands The Highlands and Islands is an area of Scotland broadly covering the Scottish Highlands, plus Orkney, Shetland, and the Outer Hebrides (Western Isles). The Highlands and Islands are sometimes defined as the area to which the Crofters' Act o ...
, announces he is standing down from the Scottish Parliament to take up a seat in the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
and a junior ministerial post in the
Scottish Office The Scottish Office was a department of the Government of the United Kingdom from 1885 until 1999, exercising a wide range of government functions in relation to Scotland under the control of the Secretary of State for Scotland. Following the es ...
. ** Details of Sunak's earnings for 2023 are published, showing he paid £508,308 in tax on earnings of around £2.2m. ** The
Mayor's and City of London Court The Mayor's and City of London Court is a sitting of the County Court (England and Wales), County Court in the City of London. It is located at Guildhall Buildings, Basinghall Street. History The current court is the successor to courts pre-dati ...
rules that the
Green Party A green party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of green politics, such as environmentalism and social justice. Green party platforms typically embrace Social democracy, social democratic economic policies and fo ...
discriminated against former deputy leader Dr
Shahrar Ali Mohammad Shahrar Ali, known as Shahrar Ali (), is a British politician and university manager who served as deputy leader of the Green Party of England and Wales from 2014 to 2016. He stood for election to be leader of the Green Party in 2018, ...
after dismissing him during a row over his gender critical beliefs. ** The Conservatives unexpectedly gain Crewe Central from Labour in a Cheshire East Council by-election. * 11 February –
Azhar Ali Azhar Ali (Punjabi:اظہر علی; born 19 February 1985) is a Pakistani former international cricketer. He is former captain of ODI and test side of Pakistan national team. He is a member of the Men's National Selection Committee of the Pak ...
, Labour's candidate in the Rochdale by-election, apologises after a recording of him reportedly saying that Israel had "allowed" the deadly attack by Hamas gunmen on 7 October was obtained by ''
The Mail on Sunday ''The Mail on Sunday'' is a British conservative newspaper, published in a tabloid format. Founded in 1982 by Lord Rothermere, it is the biggest-selling Sunday newspaper in the UK. Its sister paper, the ''Daily Mail'', was first published i ...
''. Labour condemns his remarks but continues to offer its support to his candidacy. * 12 February – ** Labour withdraws its support for Rochdale candidate
Azhar Ali Azhar Ali (Punjabi:اظہر علی; born 19 February 1985) is a Pakistani former international cricketer. He is former captain of ODI and test side of Pakistan national team. He is a member of the Men's National Selection Committee of the Pak ...
. **
Tracey Crouch Dame Tracey Elizabeth Anne Crouch (born 24 July 1975) is a British Conservative Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Chatham and Aylesford from 2010 to 2024. Crouch was appointed as Minister for Sport, Civil Soc ...
, MP for
Chatham and Aylesford Chatham and Aylesford is a constituency in Kent represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Tris Osborne of the Labour Party. Constituency profile Most of the population lives in two distinct areas divided by the Nor ...
, announces she is standing down from Parliament at the next general election. ** Prime Minister
Rishi Sunak Rishi Sunak (born 12 May 1980) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from 2022 to 2024. Following his defeat to Keir Starmer's La ...
appears on an hour long GB News ''People's Forum'', where a selected audience of undecided voters are invited to ask him questions. The programme is presented by Stephen Dixon. * 13 February – Labour withdraws its support for Graham Jones, the former MP for
Hyndburn Hyndburn is a Non-metropolitan district, local government district with borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in Lancashire, England. Its council is based in Accrington, the largest town, and the borough also covers the outlying ...
, who was going to contest the seat at the next general election, after it emerges he attended a meeting at which Azhar Ali made comments about Israel. * 14 February – ** Former Labour Party leader
Neil Kinnock Neil Gordon Kinnock, Baron Kinnock (born 28 March 1942) is a Welsh politician who was Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom), Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party from 1983 Labour Party le ...
endorses
Vaughan Gething Humphrey Vaughan ap David Gething (born 15 March 1974) is a Welsh Labour Co-op politician who served as First Minister of Wales from March to August 2024, and served as leader of Welsh Labour from March to July 2024, making him the first blac ...
to lead
Welsh Labour Welsh Labour (), formerly known as the Labour Party in Wales (), is an autonomous section of the United Kingdom Labour Party (UK), Labour Party in Wales and the largest party in modern Welsh politics. Welsh Labour and its forebears have won a p ...
as the next First Minister of Wales. ** Conservative MP
Tobias Ellwood Lieutenant Colonel Tobias Martin Ellwood (born 12 August 1966) is a former British Conservative Party politician and soldier who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bournemouth East from 2005 to 2024. He chaired the Defence Select ...
tells
BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. The station replaced the BBC Home Service on 30 September 1967 and broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes from the BBC's headquarters at Broadcasti ...
's '' PM'' programme that politicians cannot be viewed as "fair game" after a large-scale pro-Palestinian protest outside his family home. * 15 February – ** By-elections take place in
Wellingborough Wellingborough ( ) is a market town in the North Northamptonshire, Unitary Authority area, England, from London and from Northampton, north of the River Nene. Originally named "Wendelingburgh" (the stronghold of Wændel's people), the Anglo ...
and Kingswood. Labour's
Gen Kitchen Genevieve Victoria Kitchen (born 5 May 1995) is a British politician who has served as Assistant Government Whip since 2024. She is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wellingborough and Rushden (formerly named Wellingborough) since the 2024 W ...
takes Wellingborough, the Conservative
Peter Bone Peter William Bone (born 19 October 1952) is a British former politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wellingborough from 2005 until his removal in 2023. A member of the Conservative Party, he had sat as an independent in the Hou ...
's former seat, which he had held with a majority of more than 18,000. The swing of 28.5% is the second largest swing from Conservative to Labour at a by-election since the Second World War. Labour's
Damien Egan Damien James Egan (born 8 July 1983) is a British Labour Party (UK), Labour politician serving as the Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Bristol North East (UK Parliament constituency), Bristol North East, previo ...
overturns an 11,220 Conservative majority in Kingswood to win
Chris Skidmore Christopher James Skidmore (born 17 May 1981) is a British former Conservative Party politician and author of popular history who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Kingswood in South Gloucestershire from 2010 to 2024. Skidmore was fir ...
's former seat. ** Atiqul Hoque, the Conservative
Mayor of Salisbury The following were mayors of Salisbury, Wiltshire, England: 14th–16th centuries *1387: John Hethe, MP for Salisbury, 1388 *1388, 1391: John Moner, MP for Salisbury, 1397 *1395–1397: Richard Spencer, four times MP for Salisbury, 1395–14 ...
, is expelled from the Conservative Party over antisemitic remarks made on social media and WhatsApp. * 16 February – ** The Labour Party releases a summary of the tax paid by Sir Keir Starmer during 2023, showing he paid just under £100,000 in tax. ** The ballot to elect the next leader of Welsh Labour opens. ** Craig Browne resigns as deputy leader of
Cheshire East Council Cheshire East Council is the local authority for Cheshire East, a local government district with borough status in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The council is a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs th ...
, saying he can no longer afford to do the role on the £30,000 annual salary. * 17 February – Delegates at the Scottish Labour Party conference pass a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. * 18 February – ** Henry Staunton, the former chairman of the Post Office, tells ''
The Sunday Times ''The Sunday Times'' is a British Sunday newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of N ...
'' that Business Secretary
Kemi Badenoch Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch (' Adegoke; born 2 January 1980) is a British politician who has served as Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom), Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservati ...
told him "Someone's got to take the rap" when he was dismissed from the post. In response Badenoch describes his comments as a "disgraceful misrepresentation" of their conversation. ** Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer calls for a "ceasefire that lasts" in Gaza. * 19 February – ** GOV.UK updates the
Royal Cypher In modern heraldry, a royal cypher is a monogram or monogram-like device of a country's reigning Monarch, sovereign, typically consisting of the initials of the monarch's name and title, sometimes interwoven and often surmounted by a Crown (heral ...
Crown A crown is a traditional form of head adornment, or hat, worn by monarchs as a symbol of their power and dignity. A crown is often, by extension, a symbol of the monarch's government or items endorsed by it. The word itself is used, parti ...
, replacing
Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...
s
St Edward's Crown St Edward's Crown is the coronation crown of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. Named after Saint Edward the Confessor, versions of it have traditionally been used to crown English and British monarchs at their coronations since the 13t ...
with the
Tudor Crown The Tudor Crown was a crown created in the early 16th century for either Henry VII of England, Henry VII or Henry VIII, the first House of Tudor, Tudor monarchs of Kingdom of England, England, and destroyed in 1649 during the English Civil War. ...
used by
King Charles III Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. Charles was born at Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, and ...
. ** Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch tells the House of Commons that allegations by Henry Staunton, the former chair of the Post Office, that he was told to delay compensation payments for sub-postmasters are "completely false". ** The UK government announces plans for new measures on holiday homes in England to stop local people being priced out of being able to live in their community. ** Ofcom launches an impartiality investigation into GB News's Q&A session with prime minister Rishi Sunak. ** The UK government announces that a scheme allowing Ukrainian nationals to join relatives in the UK has closed to new applicants. **
Birmingham City Council Birmingham City Council is the local authority for the city of Birmingham in the West Midlands, England. Birmingham has had an elected local authority since 1838, which has been reformed several times. Since 1974 the council has been a metropo ...
announces plans to raise council tax by 21% over the next two years as part of £300m in budget cuts. * 20 February – ** BBC News reports that the Cameron government were aware that the Post Office had ended a 2016 investigation that could have helped several sub-postmasters wrongly convicted as a result of the Horizon IT scandal. ** Labour calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, the first time it has called for a ceasefire since the Israel–Hamas conflict began. ** In a statement on the Israel–Hamas conflict, the
Prince of Wales Prince of Wales (, ; ) is a title traditionally given to the male heir apparent to the History of the English monarchy, English, and later, the British throne. The title originated with the Welsh rulers of Kingdom of Gwynedd, Gwynedd who, from ...
calls for an "end to the fighting as soon as possible". ** David Neal is dismissed from the post of Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration after he was quoted in articles criticising the immigration system in both ''
The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...
'' and the ''
Daily Mail The ''Daily Mail'' is a British daily Middle-market newspaper, middle-market Tabloid journalism, tabloid conservative newspaper founded in 1896 and published in London. , it has the List of newspapers in the United Kingdom by circulation, h ...
''. ** An independent panel upholds the
Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is an officer of the British House of Commons. The work of the officer is overseen by the Commons Select Committee on Standards. The current commissioner is Daniel Greenberg. Duties The commissio ...
' decision that Scott Benton, MP for Blackpool South, should face a 35-day suspension from Parliament. The suspension will now be voted on by MPs and could trigger another by-election. ** Heather Woodbridge, aged 29, is appointed as leader of
Orkney Islands Council The Orkney Islands Council, is the local authority for the Orkney Islands, one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It was established in 1975 by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and was largely unaffected by the Scottish local governme ...
, becoming Scotland's youngest council leader and the first woman to lead Orkney Islands Council. * 21 February – ** An
Opposition day An opposition day is a day in a legislature using the Westminster system in which an opposition party sets the agenda. Most days the parliamentary agenda is set by the government; opposition days allow the smaller parties to choose the subject for ...
House of Commons debate calling for a ceasefire in Gaza descends into chaos after Speaker
Sir Lindsay Hoyle Sir Lindsay Harvey Hoyle (born 10 June 1957) is a British politician who has served as Speaker of the House of Commons since 2019 and as Member of Parliament (MP) for Chorley since 1997. Before his election as speaker, he was a member of the ...
breaks with Parliamentary convention to allow a vote on a Labour amendment calling for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" over the scheduled SNP motion calling for an "immediate ceasefire". The decision leads to protests from both Conservative and SNP MPs, who walk out of the House, leaving Labour's motion to be nodded through when the other two parties do not take part in the vote. Amid calls for his resignation, Hoyle says that he allowed the House to vote on the Labour motion so MPs could express their view on "the widest range of propositions", and to protect MPs' safety. ** King Charles III is seen back at work and meeting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the first time he has been seen back at work since his cancer diagnosis. ** Senior civil servant Sarah Munby writes to the Business Secretary to reject allegations by former Post Office chairman Henry Staunton that he was told to delay compensation payments to victims of the Horizon scandal. * 22 February – ** More than 60 MPs have signed a House of Commons motion calling for the resignation of Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle. ** The
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) is a public body in the United Kingdom created by the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009, largely as a response to the parliamentary expenses scandal of 2009. It establishes and monitors t ...
launches an investigation into allegations that Pensions Minister
Paul Maynard Paul Maynard (born 16 December 1975) is a British politician who served from 2010 until 2024 as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Blackpool North and Cleveleys. A member of the Conservative Party, he served Parliamentary Under-Secretary of ...
used public funds to finance his campaign. ** The UK government announces that legislation will be introduced to clear hundreds of sub-postmasters in England and Wales who were wrongly convicted as a result of the Horizon IT scandal. **
Argyll and Bute Council Argyll and Bute Council (Scottish Gaelic: ''Comhairle Earra Ghàidheal is Bhòid'') is one of the 32 local authorities of Scotland, covering the Argyll and Bute council area. Thirty-six representative members make up the council, elected, sin ...
votes to raise its council tax by 10%, and rejects the Scottish Government's council tax freeze by doing so. ** Former Prime Minister
Liz Truss Mary Elizabeth Truss (born 26 July 1975) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from September to October 2022. On her fiftieth da ...
addresses the
Conservative Political Action Conference The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC ) is an annual political conference attended by Conservatism in the United States, conservative Activism, activists and officials from across the United States. CPAC is hosted by the American ...
in the United States, where she said Western civilisation is at risk if Conservatives do not develop a louder voice, and attributes the downfall of her administration to "antagonism" from the establishment. She subsequently appears on a podcast with former Trump strategist
Steve Bannon Stephen Kevin Bannon (born November 27, 1953) is an American media executive, political strategist, and former investment banker. He served as the White House's chief strategist for the first seven months of president Donald Trump's first ...
, where she remains silent as Bannon describes the far-right political activist
Tommy Robinson Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon (' Yaxley; born 27 November 1982), better known as Tommy Robinson, is a British anti-Islam sentiment, anti-Islam campaigner and one of the UK's most prominent far-right activists. Robinson has been active in ...
as a "hero". * 23 February – ** A UK government commissioned report prepared by Lord Walney recommends giving police extra powers to tackle protests outside Parliament in order to protect politicians against "intimidation" that could influence the way they vote. ** Sammy Wilson announces his resignation as DUP
Chief Whip The Chief Whip is a political leader whose task is to enforce the whipping system, which aims to ensure that legislators who are members of a political party attend and vote on legislation as the party leadership prescribes. United Kingdom I ...
at Westminster. ** The UK agrees a deal with the
European Border and Coast Guard Agency European, or Europeans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe ** Ethnic groups in Europe ** Demographics of Europe ** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe and other West ...
(Frontex) to work more closely to prevent migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats. ** Bob Stewart, MP for Beckenham, has his conviction for a racially aggravated public order offence quashed following an appeal. * 24 February –
Lee Anderson Lee Anderson (born 6 January 1967) is a British politician and television presenter who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashfield since 2019. A member of Reform UK, he has served as its Chief Whip since July 2024. Anderson was ...
is suspended from the Conservative Party after "refusing to apologise" for saying "Islamists" had "got control" of London Mayor
Sadiq Khan Sir Sadiq Aman Khan (, ; born 8 October 1970) is a British politician serving as Mayor of London since 2016. He was previously Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Tooting (UK Parliament constituency), Tooting ...
during an edition of his GB News show the previous day. * 25 February – ** Sunak warns of the dangers of polarisation and hatred in politics following a week of political friction at Westminster. **
Preet Gill Preet Kaur Gill (born 21 November 1972) is a British Labour Co-op politician who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Birmingham Edgbaston since 2017. She served as Shadow Secretary of State for International Development between April 2020 ...
, Labour MP for
Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham Edgbaston is a constituency, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2017 by Preet Gill, a Labour Co-op MP. The most high-profile MP for the constituency was former Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain (1937–19 ...
, tells ''BBC Politics Midlands'' that receiving death threats appears to have become the "norm" and that her job worries her "in a way I've never been worried before". ** The SNP announces plans to apply for another parliamentary debate on Gaza in the coming week. ** The Scottish Government confirms that Economy Secretary
Màiri McAllan Màiri Louise McAllan (born 14 February 1993) is a Scottish politician serving as Cabinet Secretary for Housing since 2025. She has previously served as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy from 2024 to 2025, Cabinet Secretary for Transp ...
, who is pregnant, will take maternity leave during the summer, becoming the second Scottish Government minister to do so. * 26 February – ** House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle rejects the SNP's request for an emergency debate on Gaza. ** Lee Anderson says that his words were clumsy, but refuses to apologise for his comments about Sadiq Khan. * 27 February – ** A statement from
10 Downing Street 10 Downing Street in London is the official residence and office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, prime minister of the United Kingdom. Colloquially known as Number 10, the building is located in Downing Street, off Whitehall in th ...
says that the prime minister believed Lee Anderson's comments were wrong because they conflated "all Muslims with Islamist extremism". ** Conservative MP and former minister
Paul Scully Paul Stuart Scully (born 29 April 1968) is a former British politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sutton and Cheam from 2015 to 2024. A member of the Conservative Party, he served as Minister for London from February 20 ...
apologises for suggesting there are "no-go" areas in parts of the
London Borough of Tower Hamlets The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a London boroughs, borough in London, England. Situated on the north bank of the River Thames and immediately east of the City of London, the borough spans much of the traditional East End of London and ...
. ** MSPs vote 68–55 in favour of the 2024 Scottish budget, which includes a council tax freeze and 45% and 48% income tax rates for higher earners. **
Fergus Ewing Fergus Stewart Ewing (born 23 September 1957) is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician who served as the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism from 2016 to 2021, having previously held two junior ministerial ...
loses his appeal against a week-long suspension from the SNP group at Holyrood in September 2023 after he criticised the party leadership. ** MPs vote to suspend Scott Benton from Parliament for 35 days, triggering a recall petition. * 28 February – ** The UK government announces a £31m financial package to improve MPs security. ** Pro-Palestinian groups say they will continue to march after Home Secretary James Cleverly questioned whether holding regular marches "adds value" to calls for a ceasefire in Gaza during an interview with ''
The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...
''. ** The High Court in Belfast rules that conditional immunity from prosecutions for Troubles-era crimes, contained in the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, is in breach of the
European Convention on Human Rights The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR; formally the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms) is a Supranational law, supranational convention to protect human rights and political freedoms in Europe. Draf ...
. ** Addressing a meeting of police leaders, Sunak warns of a "growing consensus that mob rule is replacing democratic rule" and says that "a pattern of increasingly violent and intimidatory icbehaviour" cannot be allowed to stop elected representatives doing their job. * 29 February – **
2024 Rochdale by-election A by-election took place on 29 February 2024 in the UK Parliament constituency of Rochdale (UK Parliament constituency), Rochdale following the death of Labour Party (UK), Labour MP Sir Tony Lloyd. The winner was George Galloway of the Workers P ...
: In an unusually chaotic by-election,
George Galloway George Galloway (born 16 August 1954) is a British politician, broadcaster, and writer. He has been leader of the Workers Party of Britain since he founded it in 2019, and is a former leader of the Respect Party. Until 2003, he was a member ...
wins for the
Workers Party of Britain The Workers Party of Britain (WPB), also called the Workers Party of Great Britain (WPGB) or Workers Party GB, is a Socialism, socialist and Social conservatism, socially conservative political party in the United Kingdom, strongly identified ...
, marking his return to parliament. Independent candidate David Tully comes second, with the
Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...
candidate Paul Ellison coming third. Both the Labour and
Green Party A green party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of green politics, such as environmentalism and social justice. Green party platforms typically embrace Social democracy, social democratic economic policies and fo ...
candidates were disowned by their respective parties. **
Michael Gove Michael Andrew Gove, Baron Gove (; born Graeme Andrew Logan, 26 August 1967) is a British politician and journalist who served in various Cabinet of the United Kingdom, Cabinet positions under David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Rish ...
is placed under investigation by the
Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is an officer of the British House of Commons. The work of the officer is overseen by the Commons Select Committee on Standards. The current commissioner is Daniel Greenberg. Duties The commissio ...
, in relation to his register of financial interests. ** MP Julian Knight is told by
Essex Police Essex Police is a territorial police force responsible for policing the county of Essex, in the East of England. Essex Police is responsible for a population of over 1.8 million people and an area of . The chief constable is Ben-Julian Harring ...
he will face no criminal charges following an investigation into allegations of serious sexual assault that were made against him. ** Figures published by the Home Office show a reduction in the backlog of asylum applications, driven by an increase in decisions, with 74,172 initial decisions on asylum applications made during 2023, an almost fourfold increase on the 2022 figure.


March

* 1 March – **
2024 Rochdale by-election A by-election took place on 29 February 2024 in the UK Parliament constituency of Rochdale (UK Parliament constituency), Rochdale following the death of Labour Party (UK), Labour MP Sir Tony Lloyd. The winner was George Galloway of the Workers P ...
: *** Sir Keir Starmer apologises to the voters of Rochdale for disowning the Labour Party's candidate, but says it was "the right decision". *** In a statement outside 10 Downing Street, Sunak warns that Islamists and far-right extremists, which he describes as "two sides of the same extremist coin", are trying to "deliberately" undermine the UK's "multi-faith democracy", and says the UK must face them down. ** Figures from the National Audit Office show the UK government will pay Rwanda a total of £350m for the agreement to take asylum seekers, with £150,000 also being paid to Rwanda for each person sent there. ** Conservative peer
Lord Bamford Anthony Paul Bamford, Baron Bamford (born 23 October 1945), is a British billionaire Businessperson, businessman who is the chairman of JCB (heavy equipment manufacturer), J.C. Bamford Excavators Limited (JCB). He succeeded his father, Joseph Cy ...
, chairman of JCB, retires from the House of Lords. * 2–3 March – The
London Labour London Labour is the devolved, regional part of the Labour Party in Greater London. It is the largest political party in London, currently holding a majority of the executive mayoralties, a majority of local councils, council seats and parli ...
conference is held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in Tower Bridge. * 4 March – ** Sunak says the UK economy is "getting on the right track" ahead of what is expected to be the last budget before the next election. **
George Galloway George Galloway (born 16 August 1954) is a British politician, broadcaster, and writer. He has been leader of the Workers Party of Britain since he founded it in 2019, and is a former leader of the Respect Party. Until 2003, he was a member ...
is sworn in as an MP at Westminster. **
Paul Scully Paul Stuart Scully (born 29 April 1968) is a former British politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sutton and Cheam from 2015 to 2024. A member of the Conservative Party, he served as Minister for London from February 20 ...
, MP for
Sutton and Cheam Sutton and Cheam is a constituency in Greater London represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Luke Taylor, a Liberal Democrat. Political history The area's voters produced a 32.6% swing to the Liberal Party in ...
, announces he is standing down from Parliament at the next general election. **
Lee Waters Lee Waters (born 12 February 1976) is a Welsh Labour and Co-operative politician who served as Deputy Minister for Climate Change from 2021 to 2024. He has served as the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Llanelli since 2016. Early life Waters gre ...
announces he is stepping down as Wales's Transport Minister when the new First Minister of Wales is elected. * 5 March – A bid by the
Welsh Conservatives The Welsh Conservatives (), also known as the Welsh Conservative Party (), is the branch of the United Kingdom Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party that operates in Wales. At United Kingdom general elections, Westminster elections, it is ...
and
Welsh Liberal Democrats The Welsh Liberal Democrats () is a Liberalism, liberal, Federalism, federalist political party in Wales, part of UK Liberal Democrats (UK), Liberal Democrats. The party is led by Jane Dodds, who has served as an Member of the Senedd, MS for Mid ...
to change planned reforms to the way Senedd members are elected from the 2026 election is rejected by the parliament. * 6 March – ** Chancellor
Jeremy Hunt Sir Jeremy Richard Streynsham Hunt (born 1 November 1966) is a British politician who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2022 to 2024 and Foreign Secretary from 2018 to 2019, having previously served as Secretary of State for Health a ...
delivers the 2024 United Kingdom budget. ** Information published by the
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is a ministerial department of the government of the United Kingdom. It was established on 7 February 2023 by a cabinet reshuffle under the Rishi Sunak premiership. The departm ...
reveals that £15,000 in damages was paid to academic Kate Sand after Science Minister
Michelle Donelan Michelle Emma May Elizabeth Donelan (born 8 April 1984) is a British former politician who served as Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology from July 2023 to July 2024, having previously served in the position from February to ...
described her as a
Hamas The Islamic Resistance Movement, abbreviated Hamas (the Arabic acronym from ), is a Palestinian nationalist Sunni Islam, Sunni Islamism, Islamist political organisation with a military wing, the Qassam Brigades. It has Gaza Strip under Hama ...
supporter in 2023; Donelan retracted the allegations on 5 March. ** ''
University Challenge ''University Challenge'' is a British television quiz programme which first aired in 1962. ''University Challenge'' aired for 913 episodes on ITV from 21 September 1962 to 31 December 1987, presented by quizmaster Bamber Gascoigne. The BBC ...
'' contestant Melika Gorgianeh accepts substantial damages from Conservative peer
Jacqueline Foster Jacqueline Foster, Baroness Foster of Oxton, (''née'' Renshaw, born 30 December 1947) is a British Conservative politician and a former Member of the European Parliament for the North West England region. In October 2019 she was appointed D ...
after Foster accused her of being antisemitic following her appearance on the quiz show in November 2023. ** Senedd member Rhys ab Owen is to be banned from the Senedd for six weeks after an investigation by the
Senedd Commission The Senedd Commission () is the corporate body for the Senedd of Wales. The commission is responsible for ensuring the property, staff and services are provided for the Senedd. The commission consists of the Llywydd of the Senedd and four memb ...
found he inappropriately touched two women during a night out in June 2021. * 7 March – Blur drummer
Dave Rowntree David Alexander De Horne Rowntree (born 8 May 1964) is an English musician, politician, solicitor, composer and animator. He is best known as the drummer for the rock band Blur (band), Blur. In his political career, Rowntree served on the Norf ...
is selected as the Labour Party candidate for Mid Sussex. * 8 March – ** Former prime minister
Theresa May Theresa Mary May, Baroness May of Maidenhead (; ; born 1 October 1956), is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2016 to 2019. She previously served as Home Secretar ...
announces she is stepping down from Parliament at the next general election. **
Brenda Dacres Brenda Vanessa Dacres (born November 1966) is a British Labour and Co-operative Party politician who is Mayor of Lewisham. In 2024 she became the first black woman to be elected Mayor of Lewisham, and the second black woman directly elected mayo ...
is elected
Mayor of Lewisham The mayor of Lewisham is a directly elected mayor responsible for the executive function of Lewisham London Borough Council in London. The role was established in 2002 following a referendum the previous year. Damien Egan resigned the post ...
becoming the first black woman directly elected mayor in England. **
Robin Simcox Robin Simcox (born March 1983) is a political researcher who is the current Commissioner for Countering Extremism (CCE) at the United Kingdom's Home Office. Education Simcox graduated from the University of Leeds with a Bachelor of Arts degr ...
, the UK government's Commissioner for Countering Extremism, warns that London has become a "no-go zone for Jews" at weekends because of pro-Palestinian protests. * 9 March – ** In an article posted on
LinkedIn LinkedIn () is an American business and employment-oriented Social networking service, social network. It was launched on May 5, 2003 by Reid Hoffman and Eric Ly. Since December 2016, LinkedIn has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft. ...
, senior UK government ministers
Anne-Marie Trevelyan Anne-Marie Belinda Trevelyan (née Beaton; born 6 April 1969) is a British politician who served as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (United Kingdom), Minister of State for Indo-Pacific under Rishi Sunak between October 2022 to July 2024. ...
and
Tom Tugendhat Thomas Georg John Tugendhat (born 27 June 1973) is a British politician who has been the Member of Parliament (UK), Member of Parliament (MP) for Tonbridge (UK Parliament constituency), Tonbridge, previously Tonbridge and Malling (UK Parliamen ...
urge Sunak to increase defence spending to above 2.5% of
GDP Gross domestic product (GDP) is a monetary measure of the total market value of all the final goods and services produced and rendered in a specific time period by a country or countries. GDP is often used to measure the economic performance o ...
, arguing that the UK needs to "lead the way" on defence spending and invest at a "much greater pace". ** A ''
Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was foun ...
'' report alleging a conflict-of-interest involving First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf after the Scottish Government donated £250,000 to the UN agency
UNRWA The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA, pronounced ) is a UN agency that supports the relief and human development of Palestinian refugees. UNRWA's mandate encompasses Palestinians who fl ...
, which supports Palestinian refugees, is rejected by Yousaf as an "outrageous smear" and a "far right conspiracy". * 10 March – BBC News reports that former Prime Minister
Boris Johnson Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (born 19 June 1964) is a British politician and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from 2019 to 2022. He wa ...
flew to Venezuela during February for an unofficial private meeting with President
Nicolás Maduro Nicolás Maduro Moros (; born 23 November 1962) is a Venezuelan politician and former union leader serving as the 53rd president of Venezuela since 2013. Previously, he was the 24th Vice President of Venezuela, vice president from 2012 to 20 ...
. * 11 March – ** Ashfield MP
Lee Anderson Lee Anderson (born 6 January 1967) is a British politician and television presenter who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashfield since 2019. A member of Reform UK, he has served as its Chief Whip since July 2024. Anderson was ...
defects from the
Conservatives Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilizati ...
to
Reform UK Reform UK is a right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Nigel Farage has been Leader of Reform UK and Richard Tice deputy leader since 2024. It has five members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons and one membe ...
, becoming the party's first sitting Member of Parliament. ** Addressing the
Institute for Government The Institute for Government (IfG) is a British independent think tank which aims to improve government effectiveness through research and analysis. Based at 2 Carlton Gardens in central London and founded as a charity in 2008, it was initiall ...
, former prime minister Sir John Major criticises his recent Conservative successors for the attitude towards the civil service, and describes the quick succession of prime ministers in recent years as "not conducive to good government". ** As the UK government prepares to redraw the definition of extremism, former Home Secretaries
Priti Patel Dame Priti Sushil Patel (born 29 March 1972) is a British politician who has served as Shadow Foreign Secretary since November 2024, having previously served as Home Secretary from 2019 to 2022. A member of the Conservative Party, she was Secr ...
,
Sajid Javid Sir Sajid Javid (; born 5 December 1969) is a British former politician who served as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care from June 2021 to July 2022, having previously served as Home Secretary from 2018 to 2019 and Chancellor of the ...
and
Amber Rudd Amber Augusta Rudd (born 1 August 1963) is a British former politician who served as Home Secretary from 2016 to 2018 and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from 2018 to 2019. She was a Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Pa ...
warn against attempting to politicise extremism at the next election. ** After the Welsh Government publishes plans to require parties in the Senedd to draw up lists of candidates composing of 50% of women, presiding officer
Elin Jones Elin Jones (born 1 September 1966), is a Welsh politician who has served as the Llywydd of the Senedd since 2016. A member of Plaid Cymru, Jones has been the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Ceredigion since 1999. Background Jones atten ...
says that the Senedd does not have the power to enforce gender quotas. ** Conservative Party donor Frank Hester apologises after ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'' reported comments he is alleged to have made in 2019 about Labour MP
Diane Abbott Diane Julie Abbott (born 27 September 1953) is a British Labour Party (UK), Labour Party politician who has been serving as Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987 Unit ...
, when he is said to have suggested she made him "want to hate all black women" and that she "should be shot". ** David Neal, the former Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, has described the Home Office is dysfunctional and in urgent need of reform, citing problems with immigration as an example. * 12 March – ** A spokesman for the prime minister describes the remarks allegedly made by Frank Hester about Diane Abbott as "racist and wrong". ** A
recall petition A recall election (also called a recall referendum, recall petition or representative recall) is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a referendum before that official's term of office has ended. Recalls ...
opens in the Blackpool South constituency following Scott Benton's 35 day suspension from Parliament. * 13 March – ** Sunak tells
Prime Minister's Questions Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs, officially known as Questions to the Prime Minister, while colloquially known as Prime Minister's Question Time) is a constitutional convention (political custom), constitutional convention in the United Kingd ...
he will not return £10m donated to the Conservative Party by Frank Hester, because he has apologised and "his remorse should be accepted". ** The UK government announces a scheme to offer failed asylum seekers £3,000 if they agree to move to Rwanda voluntarily. ** The UK government announces a ban on foreign state ownership of British newspapers and news magazines following controversy over a potential purchase of ''
The Telegraph ''The Telegraph'', ''Daily Telegraph'', ''Sunday Telegraph'' and other variant names are often names for newspapers. Newspapers with these titles include: Australia * The Telegraph (Adelaide), ''The Telegraph'' (Adelaide), a newspaper in Adelaid ...
'' by a consortium backed by the United Arab Emirates. ** Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald regains the Labour whip. * 14 March – ** Russia is reported to have jammed the GPS signal of an RAF plane carrying Defence Secretary
Grant Shapps Sir Grant Shapps (born 14 September 1968) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Defence from August 2023 to July 2024. Shapps previously served in various Cabinet of the United Kingdom, cabinet posts, including Chairman of ...
back to the UK from Poland the previous day for around 30 minutes as the plane flew near the border of the Russian territory of
Kaliningrad Kaliningrad,. known as Königsberg; ; . until 1946, is the largest city and administrative centre of Kaliningrad Oblast, an Enclave and exclave, exclave of Russia between Lithuania and Poland ( west of the bulk of Russia), located on the Prego ...
. ** Speaking in the House of Commons, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Michael Gove Michael Andrew Gove, Baron Gove (; born Graeme Andrew Logan, 26 August 1967) is a British politician and journalist who served in various Cabinet of the United Kingdom, Cabinet positions under David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Rish ...
outlines the UK government's new definition of extremism, and names five groups that would be assessed against the new criteria. They are the
British National Socialist Movement The British Movement (BM), later called the British National Socialist Movement (BNSM), is a British neo-Nazi organisation founded by Colin Jordan in 1968. It grew out of the National Socialist Movement (NSM), which was founded in 1962. Frequen ...
,
Patriotic Alternative Patriotic Alternative (PA) is a British far-right, fascist, neo-Nazi and white nationalist hate group which states that it has active branches nationwide. ''The Times'' described it in 2023 as "Britain's largest far-right white supremacist movem ...
, the
Muslim Association of Britain The Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) is a British Sunni Muslim organisation founded in 1997. MAB has been well known for its participation in the protests opposing the Iraq War. More recently, it has been known for promoting Muslim particip ...
,
CAGE A cage is an enclosure often made of mesh, bars, or wires, used to confine, contain or protect something or someone. A cage can serve many purposes, including keeping an animal or person in captivity, capturing an animal or person, and displayi ...
and Muslim Engagement and Development. The new definition is criticised by civil liberties and community groups, while most of the groups named by Gove threaten legal action if they are added to the list. ** Speaking to ''
ITV News West Country ''ITV News West Country'' is a British television news service broadcast and produced by ITV West Country. It is broadcast from studios in Brislington, Bristol, with district reporters and camera crews based in newsrooms at Plymouth, Exeter, Tru ...
'', Sunak rules out 2 May as the date of the next general election. ** The news website ''
Tortoise Media ''Tortoise Media'' is a British news website co-founded in 2018 by former BBC News director and ''The Times'' editor James Harding and former US ambassador to the United Kingdom Matthew Barzun. Tortoise produces podcasts and holds live discussio ...
'' reports that the Conservatives have received a further £5m in donations from Frank Hester that are yet to be declared. ** Sir Brandon Lewis, a former Conservative Party Chairman, announces he is standing down from Parliament at the next general election. ** The
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) is a public body in the United Kingdom created by the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009, largely as a response to the parliamentary expenses scandal of 2009. It establishes and monitors t ...
confirms that MPs annual salaries will increase by 5% to £91,346 from April. ** Government papers show that former prime minister Liz Truss accepted a £20,000 trip to the United States in February paid for by the Green Dragon Coalition, an obscure group that takes its name from the Green Dragon Tavern in Boston, Massachusetts, and is believed to support US Presidential candidate
Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...
. The trip was to attend a three-day conference at a hotel on
Sea Island, Georgia Sea Island is a privately-owned, seaside resort island in Glynn County, Georgia, part of the Golden Isles of Georgia, which include St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island, Little St. Simons Island, and the mainland city of Brunswick. Since 2016, S ...
. ** The Scottish Parliament Corporate Body finds Michael Matheson in breach of the Ministerial Code over his £1,000 iPad bill. ** Former Conservative MP
Guto Bebb Guto ap Owain Bebb (born 9 October 1968) is a Welsh politician and former business consultant who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Aberconwy from 2010 to 2019, having previously lost elections to the Welsh Assembly and the House of Com ...
is appointed interim chair of
S4C S4C (, ''Sianel Pedwar Cymru'', meaning ''Channel Four Wales'') is a Welsh language free-to-air public broadcast television channel. Launched on 1 November 1982, it was the first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speakin ...
. * 15 March – ** Armed Forces Minister
James Heappey Major (United Kingdom), Major James Stephen Heappey (born 30 January 1981) is a British politician and former soldier who served as Minister of State for the Armed Forces from 2020 to 2024. A member of the Conservative Party (UK), Conservative ...
, MP for Wells, announces he will not stand at the next general election. ** A report by the
Public Accounts Committee A public accounts committee (PAC) is a committee within a legislature whose role is to study public audits, invite ministers, permanent secretaries or other ministry officials to the committee for questioning, and report on their findings subseque ...
finds that only 10% of the money promised to reduce inequality under the Levelling Up scheme had actually been spent. ** The Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, introduced as a private member's bill, passes its first reading in the House of Commons after securing the backing of the UK government. The bill aims to ban the import of puppies, kittens and ferrets under the age of six months into the UK. **
Apple An apple is a round, edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus'' spp.). Fruit trees of the orchard or domestic apple (''Malus domestica''), the most widely grown in the genus, are agriculture, cultivated worldwide. The tree originated ...
agrees to pay a £385m settlement on a lawsuit led by
Norfolk County Council Norfolk County Council is the upper-tier Local government in England, local authority for Norfolk, England. Below it there are seven second-tier district councils: Breckland District, Breckland, Broadland, Borough of Great Yarmouth, Great Yarmo ...
, which was started over allegations Apple CEO
Tim Cook Timothy Donald Cook (born November 1, 1960) is an American business executive who is the current chief executive officer of Apple Inc. Cook had previously been the company's chief operating officer under its co-founder Steve Jobs. Cook joined ...
defrauded shareholders in a pension company administered by the Council by covering up lower demand for iPhones in China. * 16 March – **
Vaughan Gething Humphrey Vaughan ap David Gething (born 15 March 1974) is a Welsh Labour Co-op politician who served as First Minister of Wales from March to August 2024, and served as leader of Welsh Labour from March to July 2024, making him the first blac ...
is
elected Elected may refer to: * "Elected" (song), by Alice Cooper, 1973 * ''Elected'' (EP), by Ayreon, 2008 *The Elected, an American indie rock band See also *Election An election is a formal group decision-making process whereby a population ch ...
to lead
Welsh Labour Welsh Labour (), formerly known as the Labour Party in Wales (), is an autonomous section of the United Kingdom Labour Party (UK), Labour Party in Wales and the largest party in modern Welsh politics. Welsh Labour and its forebears have won a p ...
, and will become
First Minister of Wales The first minister of Wales () is the leader of the Welsh Government and keeper of the Welsh Seal. The first minister chairs the Welsh Cabinet and is primarily responsible for the formulation, development and presentation of Welsh Government po ...
. He will be Wales's first
black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...
leader, and the first black person to lead a country in Europe. With Gething's win it means that three of the four governments in the UK will have non-white leaders. ** A group calling itself the South Devon Primary, which aims to unseat Conservative MPs in South Devon at the next election, chooses Liberal Democrat
Caroline Voaden Caroline Jane Voaden (born 22 November 1968) is a British politician and international journalist, who has served as Member of Parliament for South Devon since 2024 for the Liberal Democrats, having previously served as the party's leader in t ...
as a candidate for one of its constituencies. **
Traditional Unionist Voice The Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) is a unionist political party in Northern Ireland. In common with all other Northern Irish unionist parties, the TUV's political programme has as its '' sine qua non'' the preservation of Northern Ireland's pl ...
leader
Jim Allister James Hugh Allister (born 2 April 1953) is a Northern Irish unionist politician and barrister who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for North Antrim since the 2024 general election. He founded the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) in 20 ...
announces a formal "partnership" with
Reform UK Reform UK is a right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Nigel Farage has been Leader of Reform UK and Richard Tice deputy leader since 2024. It has five members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons and one membe ...
at the next general election. * 17 March – ** Transport Secretary
Mark Harper Mark James Harper, Baron Harper (born 26 February 1970) is a British politician who served in the Cabinet as Chief Whip of the House of Commons from 2015 to 2016 and as Secretary of State for Transport from 2022 to 2024. A member of the Cons ...
tells the BBC that the Conservative Party welcomes members "whatever their race". **
Pete Wishart Peter Wishart (born 9 March 1962) is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician and musician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Perth and Kinross-shire since 2024. He previously served as the MP for Perth and North Perthshir ...
, the SNP's longest-serving MP at Westminster, distances himself from the party's election message of making Scotland "Tory-free", describing it as unhelpful. * 18 March – ** Amendments to the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill tabled in the House of Lords are overturned again in the House of Commons. The changes included allowing courts to question Rwanda's safety as a country. ** Former US President
Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who was the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African American president in American history. O ...
arrives at 10 Downing Street for talks with Sunak. ** Ofcom finds that five episodes of GB News shows presented by Jacob Rees Mogg, Esther McVey and Phillip Davies broke their rules, and warns the channel about its use of Conservative MPs to host news content. ** Business Secretary
Kemi Badenoch Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch (' Adegoke; born 2 January 1980) is a British politician who has served as Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom), Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservati ...
dismisses rumours of a plot to unseat Sunak as Conservative leader as the party continues to fair badly in the polls. * 19 March – ** While speaking to a House of Lords Committee, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt hints that the next general election may take place in October. ** Labour's Clive Lewis, MP for
Norwich South Norwich South is a constituency in Norfolk represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, since 2015 by Clive Lewis, of the Labour Party. History The constituency was created by the Representation of the People ...
, apologises for swearing in Parliament after he was overheard to use the word "shit" while voting on the government's Rwanda legislation the previous evening. ** The Football Governance Bill, which aims to establish an independent football regulator for England, is introduced into Parliament. **
Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford (born 19 September 1954) is a Welsh politician who has served as Cabinet Secretary for Finance since September 2024, having previously held the position from 2016 to 2018. He previously served as First Minister of Wales and L ...
attends his final First Minister's Questions as First Minister of Wales. * 20 March – ** The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which would make it illegal for anyone born after 2009 to purchase cigarettes by raising the minimum age by a year starting in 2027, begins its process through Parliament. ** The Senedd approves Vaughan Gething as the next First Minister of Wales. * 21 March – ** Carmen Smith is sworn in as the youngest member of the House of Lords. ** The
Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) is a body of the Scottish Parliament responsible for the administration of the parliament. It also has a role in provision of services to commissioners and other statutory appointments made by the ...
confirms that members of Scottish Parliament staff will no longer be allowed to wear
rainbow A rainbow is an optical phenomenon caused by refraction, internal reflection and dispersion of light in water droplets resulting in a continuous spectrum of light appearing in the sky. The rainbow takes the form of a multicoloured circular ...
lanyards, or any other badge or jewellery associated with social issues, while at Holyrood. ** The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill passes its final vote in the Scottish Parliament. Among measures it introduces is a licensing scheme for land where grouse shooting takes place, and regulations for traps. **
Vaughan Gething Humphrey Vaughan ap David Gething (born 15 March 1974) is a Welsh Labour Co-op politician who served as First Minister of Wales from March to August 2024, and served as leader of Welsh Labour from March to July 2024, making him the first blac ...
announces his cabinet. Appointments include
Jeremy Miles Jeremy Miles (born August 1971) is a Welsh Labour Co-op politician serving as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care since September 2024. He previously served in the Welsh Government as Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh L ...
, who becomes Economy and Environment Minister and
Lynne Neagle Lynne Neagle (born 18 January 1968) is a Welsh Labour & Co-operative politician serving as Cabinet Secretary for Education since 2024. Born in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Wales, Neagle has been the Member of the Senedd (MS) for the constituency ...
, who becomes Education Minister. ** Dan Barker, selected in December 2023 as the Conservative candidate for the
2024 Greater Manchester mayoral election The 2024 Greater Manchester mayoral election was held on 2 May 2024 to elect the mayor of Greater Manchester. The election took place alongside local elections across England and Wales, including council elections within the city region and for t ...
, defects to
Reform UK Reform UK is a right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Nigel Farage has been Leader of Reform UK and Richard Tice deputy leader since 2024. It has five members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons and one membe ...
, accusing the Conservatives of giving up on the north of England. ** BBC News reports that officials have raised concerns about the role of Secretary of State for the Environment
Steve Barclay Stephen Paul Barclay (born 3 May 1972) is a British politician who served in various cabinet positions under prime ministers Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak between 2018 and 2024, lastly as the Secretary of State for Environment, ...
in a proposed waste incinerator in his constituency, which he opposes, and he will consequently no longer have a role in the decision-making process. * 22 March – **
West Yorkshire Police West Yorkshire Police, formerly the West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police, is the territorial police force responsible for policing the metropolitan county of West Yorkshire, England. It is the fourth largest territorial police force in England ...
launches an investigation into the alleged comments made about Diane Abbott by Conservative Party donor Frank Hester. ** A private member's bill introduced to Parliament by Conservative MP
Gareth Johnson Gareth Alan Johnson (born 12 October 1969) is a British politician and former lawyer who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Dartford from 2010 to 2024. A member of the Conservative party, he served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary o ...
that aimed to prevent the expansion of London's
Ultra Low Emission Zone The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is an area in London, England, where an European emission standards, emissions standard based charge is applied to non-compliant road vehicles. Plans were announced by London Mayor Boris Johnson in 2015 for ...
runs out of Parliamentary time. **
Penny Mordaunt Dame Penelope Mary "Penny" Mordaunt (; born 4 March 1973) is a British former Conservative Party (UK), Conservative politician who served as Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons from 2022 until 2024. She was the Memb ...
dismisses rumours of a potential leadership challenge against Rishi Sunak as "nonsense". ** MPs in the House of Commons give their backing to a private member's bill that will ban the import of hunting trophies into the UK if it becomes law. * 24 March – Chancellor Jeremy Hunt says the Conservatives will keep the triple lock mechanism for deciding the rise in the
state pension A pension (; ) is a fund into which amounts are paid regularly during an individual's working career, and from which periodic payments are made to support the person's retirement from work. A pension may be either a "defined benefit plan", wher ...
if they win the next election. * 25 March – ** Former Conservative MP Scott Benton resigns his Parliamentary seat, triggering a
by-election A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, or a bypoll in India, is an election used to fill an office that has become vacant between general elections. A vacancy may arise as a result of an incumben ...
in the Blackpool South constituency. ** The UK formally accuses China of being behind a "malicious" cyberattack against MPs and the
Electoral Commission An election commission is a body charged with overseeing the implementation of electioneering process of any country. The formal names of election commissions vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and may be styled an electoral commission, a c ...
. * 26 March – ** Education Minister
Robert Halfon Robert Henry Halfon (; born 22 March 1969) is a British Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party politician and was the Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Harlow (UK Parliament constituency), Harlow from 2010 ...
and Armed Forces Minister
James Heappey Major (United Kingdom), Major James Stephen Heappey (born 30 January 1981) is a British politician and former soldier who served as Minister of State for the Armed Forces from 2020 to 2024. A member of the Conservative Party (UK), Conservative ...
announce their resignations from the
Sunak ministry The Sunak ministry began on 25 October 2022 when Rishi Sunak was invited by King Charles III to succeed Liz Truss as prime minister of the United Kingdom. October 2022 United Kingdom government crisis, Truss resigned as Leader of the Conserv ...
, having decided to stand down from Parliament at the next election. **
BBC News BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broad ...
reports that
HM Treasury His Majesty's Treasury (HM Treasury or HMT), and informally referred to as the Treasury, is the Government of the United Kingdom’s economic and finance ministry. The Treasury is responsible for public spending, financial services policy, Tax ...
sent members of staff to work at
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank and international financial institution that aims to collectively improve economic and social outcomes in Asia. It is the world's second largest multi-lateral d ...
, which is accused of being "dominated" by the
Chinese Communist Party The Communist Party of China (CPC), also translated into English as Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is the founding and One-party state, sole ruling party of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Founded in 1921, the CCP emerged victorious in the ...
. ** The first meeting of the
East–West Council The East–West Council was established in 2024 as part of the 2024 Northern Ireland Executive formation, Northern Ireland Executive reformation with a purpose to improve links between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, rest of the United Kingd ...
, established as part of the restoration of government in Northern Ireland, is held in London. * 27 March – A report clears Conservative MP
Bernard Jenkin Sir Bernard Christison Jenkin (born 9 April 1959) is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Harwich and North Essex, previously Colchester North then North Essex, since 1992. He also served as ...
of breaching COVID-19 laws over his attendance at a "wine and nibbles" event on the Parliamentary estate in December 2020, which the report describes as socially-distanced with "business and social elements". * 28 March – **
Keir Starmer Sir Keir Rodney Starmer (born 2 September 1962) is a British politician and lawyer who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024 and as Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party since 2020. He previously ...
and
Angela Rayner Angela Rayner (' Bowen; born 28 March 1980) is a British politician who has served as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government since 2024 United Kingdom general election, Jul ...
launch Labour's campaign for the
2024 United Kingdom local elections The 2024 United Kingdom local elections took place on 2 May 2024 to choose 2,658 councillors on 107 councils in England, 11 directly elected mayors in England, the 25 members of the London Assembly, and 37 police and crime commissioners in ...
at an event in
Dudley Dudley ( , ) is a market town in the West Midlands, England, southeast of Wolverhampton and northwest of Birmingham. Historically part of Worcestershire, the town is the administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley. In the ...
. ** Honours are conferred on businessman and senior Conservative Party treasurer Mohamed Mansour, Farming Minister Mark Spencer and Shipley MP
Philip Davies Sir Philip Andrew Davies (born 5 January 1972) is a British Conservative politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Shipley in West Yorkshire following the 2005 general election until 2024. He voted against the Conservativ ...
, all of who receive knighthoods, while former ministers
Tracey Crouch Dame Tracey Elizabeth Anne Crouch (born 24 July 1975) is a British Conservative Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Chatham and Aylesford from 2010 to 2024. Crouch was appointed as Minister for Sport, Civil Soc ...
and
Harriett Baldwin Dame Harriett Mary Morison Baldwin (; born 2 May 1960), is a British Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party politician who has served as Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for West Worcestershire since 2010 Un ...
are awarded damehoods. The announcement comes as part of an honours list published at the start of the Parliamentary recess. ** The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, a bill to legalise assisted dying in Scotland and drafted by Liberal Democrat MSP
Liam McArthur Liam Scott McArthur (born 8 August 1967) is a Scottish politician serving as Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, alongside Annabelle Ewing, since May 2021. A member of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, he has been the Member of t ...
, is introduced into the Scottish Parliament. * 29 March –
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson Sir Jeffrey Mark Donaldson (born 7 December 1962) is a Northern Irish former politician, who served as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) from 2021 to 2024 and leader of the DUP in the UK House of Commons from 2019 to 2024. He was t ...
resigns as leader of the
Democratic Unionist Party The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is a Unionism in Ireland, unionist, Ulster loyalism, loyalist, British nationalist and national conservative political party in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1971 during the Troubles by Ian Paisley, who ...
after being charged with rape and other historical sexual offences.
Gavin Robinson Gavin James Robinson (born 22 November 1984) is a Northern Irish unionist politician and barrister who has been serving as Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) since March 2024. He served as Deputy DUP Leader from June 2023 to May 2024 ...
is appointed interim leader until a new leader can be elected. * 30 March – First Minister of Northern Ireland
Michelle O'Neill Michelle O'Neill ( Doris; born 10 January 1977) is an Irish politician who has been First Minister of Northern Ireland since February 2024 and President of Sinn Féin#Vice Presidents, Vice President of Sinn Féin since 2018. She has also been ...
says she is determined the Stormont Assembly and Executive will continue to function following the resignation of Jeffrey Donaldson as DUP leader. * 31 March – ** The UK government says it will work alongside the Northern Ireland Executive to maintain stability at Stormont. ** A
Survation Survation is a polling and market research agency based in London, England. Survation have been conducting research surveys since 2010. Surveys are conducted via telephone, online panel and face to face as well as omnibus research for a broad ...
poll of 15,000 people suggests the Conservatives could win fewer than 100 seats at the next election, forecasting Labour with 468 seats, the Conservatives with 98 seats, the Scottish National Party with 41 seats and the Liberal Democrats with 22 seats.


April

* 1 April – ** The
Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 is an Act of the Scottish Parliament. Background The ''Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill'' was introduced to the Scottish Parliament in April 2020, following an independent review ...
, which creates a new crime of "stirring up hatred" relating to age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or being intersex, comes into force in Scotland. ** Twenty Labour Party councillors serving on Pendle Borough Council, Nelson Town Council and Brierfield Town Council resign from the party in protest at
Sir Keir Starmer Sir Keir Rodney Starmer (born 2 September 1962) is a British politician and lawyer who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024 and as Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party since 2020. He previously ...
's leadership, which they say no longer reflects their views. This included the leader of Pendle Borough Council Asjad Mahmood. * 2 April – Education Secretary
Gillian Keegan Gillian Keegan (née Gibson; born 13 March 1968) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Education from 2022 to 2024. She previously served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Apprenticeships and Skills from 2020 to ...
says that proposed homelessness legislation will not be used against "excessive smells". The Criminal Justice Bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament, will replace the 1824 Vagrancy Act. * 3 April – ** Labour commits to the Conservatives' childcare expansion plans if it wins the next general election. ** MP Johnny Mercer (politician), Johnny Mercer announces his intention to challenge a court order to reveal names of those who had told him about alleged war crimes by British special forces in Afghanistan. * 4 April – Conservative MP William Wragg tells ''
The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...
'' he shared the phone numbers of fellow MPs with someone he met on a dating app after sending the person intimate pictures of himself. * 5 April – ** Veterans' Minister Johnny Mercer is given until 8 May to present his argument as to why he should not reveal the identity of those who told him about alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan by British Special Forces. ** The Conservative Party launches an investigation into former Foreign Office minister Alan Duncan after an appearance on LBC during which he said the Conservative Friends of Israel was "doing the bidding" of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. ** Conservative MP Luke Evans (politician), Luke Evans identifies himself to police as "a victim of cyber-flashing and malicious communication". * 8 April – ** Ofcom launches an investigation into the 29 March edition of
David Lammy David Lindon Lammy FRSA (born 19 July 1972) is a British politician who has served as Foreign Secretary since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, he has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Tottenham since 2000. Lammy previously held vario ...
's show on LBC to determine whether it broke the rules regarding politicians acting as newsreaders. ** William Wragg steps down as vice chair of the Conservative Party's 1922 Committee following revelations about the Westminster WhatsApp scam. **
Richard Tice Richard James Sunley Tice (born 13 September 1964) is a British businessman and politician who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Boston and Skegness and Deputy Leader of Reform UK since 2024, having previously been the chairman of the p ...
, leader of
Reform UK Reform UK is a right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Nigel Farage has been Leader of Reform UK and Richard Tice deputy leader since 2024. It has five members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons and one membe ...
, defends his party's vetting procedure after 12 general election candidates were deselected for offensive social media posts. * 9 April – ** William Wragg voluntarily resigns the Conservative whip and will sit in Parliament as an independent MP. He also gives up his role on the Public Administration Committee. ** The brother-in-law of First Minister of Scotland
Humza Yousaf Humza Haroon Yousaf (; born 7 April 1985) is a Scottish politician who served as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from March 2023 to May 2024. He served under his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon as Scottish ...
appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court charged with abduction and extortion following an incident where a man fell from a block of flats and later died. ** Three people are arrested after staging a protest outside the London home of
Keir Starmer Sir Keir Rodney Starmer (born 2 September 1962) is a British politician and lawyer who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024 and as Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party since 2020. He previously ...
. * 10 April – ** Figures published by the Foreign Office indicate that £4.3bn of its budget for 2023 – roughly a quarter of the overall foreign aid budget for the year – was spent on refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. ** Scottish Labour suspends Wilma Brown, its parliamentary candidate for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, following reports she liked racist and Islamophobic posts on social media. * 11 April – ** The
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is a ministerial department of the government of the United Kingdom. It was established on 7 February 2023 by a cabinet reshuffle under the Rishi Sunak premiership. The departm ...
says that the legal fees for
Michelle Donelan Michelle Emma May Elizabeth Donelan (born 8 April 1984) is a British former politician who served as Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology from July 2023 to July 2024, having previously served in the position from February to ...
came to over £19,000. ** Sally Bunce, the Green Party candidate for Mayor of the Tees Valley in the 2024 Tees Valley mayoral election, May election, drops out of the contest saying she does not want to split the vote against the Conservative candidate. **
Reform UK Reform UK is a right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Nigel Farage has been Leader of Reform UK and Richard Tice deputy leader since 2024. It has five members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons and one membe ...
apologise to the family of their dropped candidate for York Central (UK Parliament constituency), York Central Tommy Cawkwell for "inactivity" not knowing that he had died. ** Joe Haines (journalist), Joe Haines and Lord Donoughue, who were two of Harold Wilson's advisers during his time as Prime Minister, tell ''
The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...
'' that Wilson had an affair with his deputy press secretary, Janet Hewlett-Davies, during the 1970s. ** Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is refused permission to rename its town hall complex after the late
Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...
. * 12 April – ** Greater Manchester Police launch an investigation into Labour's deputy leader,
Angela Rayner Angela Rayner (' Bowen; born 28 March 1980) is a British politician who has served as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government since 2024 United Kingdom general election, Jul ...
, over the sale of her council house amid allegations she broke electoral law by giving false information about her place of residence. Rayner pledges to step down if she is found guilty of any crime. **
Keir Starmer Sir Keir Rodney Starmer (born 2 September 1962) is a British politician and lawyer who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024 and as Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party since 2020. He previously ...
says that if elected to government, Labour will raise defence spending to 2.5% of
GDP Gross domestic product (GDP) is a monetary measure of the total market value of all the final goods and services produced and rendered in a specific time period by a country or countries. GDP is often used to measure the economic performance o ...
. He also makes an "unshakable" commitment to nuclear weapons. ** Graham Stuart (politician), Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, resigns from his ministerial post of Energy Minister with the UK government to spend more time focusing on local issues. He is replaced by Justin Tomlinson. ** Bambos Charalambous, MP for Enfield Southgate, is readmitted to the Labour Party following a ten month long internal investigation. * 13 April – ** Tim Loughton, MP for East Worthing and Shoreham since 1997, announces he will stand down from parliament at the next election. He becomes the 100th MP to announce they will not seek re-election at the next election. ** An OpenDemocracy investigation reveals high level Labour politicians met with financial services firms following a £150,000 donation to the party from one of the companies. ** Simon Geraghty, the former leader of Worcester City Council, announces he will stand down at the 2024 Worcester City Council election, May election after 24 years. ** Leader of
Norfolk County Council Norfolk County Council is the upper-tier Local government in England, local authority for Norfolk, England. Below it there are seven second-tier district councils: Breckland District, Breckland, Broadland, Borough of Great Yarmouth, Great Yarmo ...
Kay Mason Billig says that Natural England is blocking the proposed Norwich Northern Distributor Road scheme by protecting a bat colony. ** Mayor of London
Sadiq Khan Sir Sadiq Aman Khan (, ; born 8 October 1970) is a British politician serving as Mayor of London since 2016. He was previously Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Tooting (UK Parliament constituency), Tooting ...
launches what he describes as a "new climate action plan" for London, which includes a Net Zero Schools target and recommitting to making London Net Zero by 2030. * 14 April – Some Conservative MPs and businesspeople are proposing to boycott Downing Street's Eid al-Fitr, Eid celebration, scheduled for the following day, because of the UK government's support for Israel. * 15 April – ** Peers living outside London become eligible to claim £100 for accommodation expenses when they attend sittings at the House of Lords. ** Sunak is absent from the Downing Street Eid celebration. ** Former Prime Minister Liz Truss endorses Donald Trump to win the 2024 United States presidential election. * 16 April – ** The Tobacco and Vapes Bill passes by 383 votes to 67, banning anyone born after 2009 from legally buying cigarettes in the UK. ** The House of Lords reinstates proposed changes to the UK government's Rwanda legislation. ** An amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill will make the creation of sexually explicit deepfake images a specific criminal offence in England and Wales if the images are created without the permission of the person. * 17 April – **
David Cameron David William Donald Cameron, Baron Cameron of Chipping Norton (born 9 October 1966) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016. Until 2015, he led the first coalition government in the UK s ...
visits Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. ** MPs overturn amendments to the UK government's Rwanda legislation made by the House of Lords only for them to be reinstated when the legislation is sent back to the Upper House for consideration. ** The Equality and Human Rights Commission warns that plans to enforce gender equality in the
Senedd The Senedd ( ; ), officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and () in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, Its role is to scrutinise the Welsh Government and legislate on devolve ...
may be unlawful because it may breach the Equality Act 2010, Equality Act if candidates can self-identify as female when that is not their legal sex. ** Leader of Devon County Council John Hart announces his resignation after 15 years in office. **
Nigel Farage Nigel Paul Farage ( ; born 3 April 1964) is a British politician and broadcaster who has been Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Clacton (UK Parliament constituency), Clacton and Leader of Reform UK since 20 ...
and Suella Braverman attend the National Conservatism Conference in Brussels. * 18 April – ** Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the
Scottish National Party The Scottish National Party (SNP; ) is a Scottish nationalist and social democratic party. The party holds 61 of the 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament, and holds 9 out of the 57 Scottish seats in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, ...
(SNP) and husband of Nicola Sturgeon, is re-arrested by Police Scotland and charged in connection with the embezzlement of funds from the SNP. Murrell also resigns his membership of the SNP. ** Mark Menzies MP resigns the Conservative whip. This as due to an ongoing internal investigation into his conduct. ** Jonathan Nunn, leader of West Northamptonshire Council, is accused of misconduct by five women. * 19 April – ** In a speech on welfare reform in the United Kingdom, welfare, Prime Minister
Rishi Sunak Rishi Sunak (born 12 May 1980) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from 2022 to 2024. Following his defeat to Keir Starmer's La ...
sets out plans to tackle what he describes as the UK's "sick note culture" by stripping GPs in England of their authority to sign people off work. ** Labour sets out plans to build more housing, with priority given to brownfield sites and poor quality greenbelt land dubbed "greybelt" land. ** It is announced that Scottish Green Party members will have a vote on the Bute House Agreement following the SNP ditching climate targets. ** Labour writes to Lancashire Police regarding allegations made against Mark Menzies. A review of information relating to the allegations is subsequently commenced. ** The Scottish Greens announce their intention to hold a vote on whether to stay in government with the
Scottish National Party The Scottish National Party (SNP; ) is a Scottish nationalist and social democratic party. The party holds 61 of the 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament, and holds 9 out of the 57 Scottish seats in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, ...
following the SNP's decision to scrap key climate targets. ** Biteback Publishing apologises over a false quote linked to an antisemitic conspiracy theory in Liz Truss's memoir, ''Ten Years to Save the West'', and says it will be removed from future copies of the book. ** The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments rules that Boris Johnson broke government rules by being "evasive" about a meeting with Venezuelan President
Nicolás Maduro Nicolás Maduro Moros (; born 23 November 1962) is a Venezuelan politician and former union leader serving as the 53rd president of Venezuela since 2013. Previously, he was the 24th Vice President of Venezuela, vice president from 2012 to 20 ...
. * 20 April – BBC News reports that the SNP will form a minority government if the Scottish Greens vote to end their power-sharing agreement. * 21 April – ** Mark Menzies quits the Conservative Party and says he will stand down from Parliament at the next election. **
Robin Swann Robert Samuel Swann (born 24 September 1971) is a Northern Irish politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for South Antrim since 2024. He previously served twice as Minister of Health, first from January 2020 to October 2022 an ...
, who is the perspective Ulster Unionist candidate for South Antrim, announces he will step down from his post as Northern Ireland's Health Minister once the general election campaign begins. * 22 April – ** Parliament passes the Safety of Rwanda Bill, with plans to deport the first asylum seekers to Kigali in July. ** Two men, including a parliamentary researcher, are charged with spying for China after providing information that could be "useful to an enemy". ** Conservative councillor Richard Solesbury-Timms, who represents Middleton Cheney on West Northamptonshire Council, leaves the party to sit as an independent citing the party's dealing with allegations against the council leader. * 23 April – ** Patrick Harvie says he will resign as co-leader of the Scottish Greens if the party votes to end its coalition agreement with the SNP. ** Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, Alliance Party MLA Patrick Brown (Northern Irish politician), Patrick Brown resigns his South Down (Assembly constituency), South Down seat in the Northern Ireland Assembly, citing personal reasons for doing so. * 24 April – **
Rishi Sunak Rishi Sunak (born 12 May 1980) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from 2022 to 2024. Following his defeat to Keir Starmer's La ...
vows to increase UK defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030. ** Labour unveils its plans for improvements to train services, which include automatic refunds for delays, a "best price" guarantee and improved internet coverage. ** Jeffrey Donaldson appears at Newry Magistrates' Court to face charges of historic child abuse. ** Johnny Timpson, the UK's inaugural disability ambassador, resigns over the UK government's policy of clawing back benefit overpayment. * 25 April – ** Bute House Agreement: *** Scotland's SNP–Green power sharing agreement is formally dissolved, meaning
Humza Yousaf Humza Haroon Yousaf (; born 7 April 1985) is a Scottish politician who served as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from March 2023 to May 2024. He served under his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon as Scottish ...
now leads a Second Yousaf government, minority government. *** The Scottish Conservatives table a vote of no confidence in Yousaf, which is scheduled for the following week. ** Labour pledge to renationalise most rail services within five years if they win the next general election. ** At the High Court (England and Wales), High Court, leader of the Reclaim Party Laurence Fox is ordered to pay £180,000 in libel damages to former Stonewall trustee Simon Blake and drag artist Crystal (drag queen), Crystal. ** Home Secretary James Cleverly says he opposes attempts to reduce the time limit for abortion. * 26 April – **
Humza Yousaf Humza Haroon Yousaf (; born 7 April 1985) is a Scottish politician who served as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from March 2023 to May 2024. He served under his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon as Scottish ...
says he will not resign as first minister of Scotland despite facing a motion of no confidence in his government. **
Sadiq Khan Sir Sadiq Aman Khan (, ; born 8 October 1970) is a British politician serving as Mayor of London since 2016. He was previously Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Tooting (UK Parliament constituency), Tooting ...
apologises to the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, Chief Rabbi over comments he made during a discussion about Islamophobia. * 27 April – ** Dan Poulter, MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich crossing the floor, defects from Conservative to the Labour Party, citing the NHS crisis as his reason for doing so. ** Traditional Unionist Voice, TUV leader
Jim Allister James Hugh Allister (born 2 April 1953) is a Northern Irish unionist politician and barrister who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for North Antrim since the 2024 general election. He founded the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) in 20 ...
, whose party agreed a formal partnership with
Reform UK Reform UK is a right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Nigel Farage has been Leader of Reform UK and Richard Tice deputy leader since 2024. It has five members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons and one membe ...
for the upcoming general election, distances himself from remarks in which Reform's deputy leader, Ben Habib, suggested some migrants travelling to the UK in small boats should be left to drown. * 28 April – ** BBC News reports that Yousaf had ruled out an electoral pact between the SNP and Alba Party after Alex Salmond suggested the party would support him in a vote of no confidence in the Scottish Parliament. ** Sunak refuses to rule out a general election in July following speculation of a summer election. * 29 April – ** 2024 Scottish government crisis: First Minister,
Humza Yousaf Humza Haroon Yousaf (; born 7 April 1985) is a Scottish politician who served as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from March 2023 to May 2024. He served under his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon as Scottish ...
, announces he will resign as both leader of the SNP and first minister of Scotland 2024 Scottish National Party leadership election, when his successor is chosen. ** The UK government launches a 12 week consultation process on changes to Personal Independence Payment benefits. ** MPs debates assisted dying in the United Kingdom, assisted dying after a petition started by Dame Esther Rantzen was signed by 200,000 people, triggering a parliamentary debate. **
SDLP The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP; ) is a social democratic and Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. The SDLP currently has eight members in the Northern Ireland Assembly ( MLAs) and two members of Parliament (MPs ...
Councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr is set to become Northern Ireland's first black people, black mayor after being selected as the next first citizen of Derry City and Strabane District Council. * 30 April – ** Officials at Holyrood confirm that Labour's motion of no confidence in the Scottish Government will be voted on by MSPs the next day. ** Former England cricketer Monty Panesar is announced as the
Workers Party of Britain The Workers Party of Britain (WPB), also called the Workers Party of Great Britain (WPGB) or Workers Party GB, is a Socialism, socialist and Social conservatism, socially conservative political party in the United Kingdom, strongly identified ...
candidate for Ealing Southall.


May

* 1 May – ** The FDA (trade union), FDA trade union announces plans to mount a legal challenge against the UK government's Safety of Rwanda Act amid concerns it breaches international law. ** MSPs vote 70–58 to defeat a motion of no confidence in the Scottish Government. * 2 May – ** 2024 United Kingdom local elections, Local elections take place for councils and mayors in England and police and crime commissioners in
England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
and Wales. The 2024 Blackpool South by-election is also held on the same day. ** John Swinney is set to become the next SNP leader and first minister after Kate Forbes confirms she will not seek the party's leadership. * 3 May – ** With 90% of council election results announced, the Conservatives have lost over 400 council seats, while Labour regains control of Hartlepool, Redditch, Rushmoor and Thurrock Councils. ** Ben Houchen wins the 2024 Tees Valley mayoral election, Tees Valley mayoral election, retaining the seat for the Conservatives, while Labour win mayoral elections in the 2024 East Midlands mayoral election, East Midlands, 2024 North East mayoral election, North East and 2024 York and North Yorkshire mayoral election, York and North Yorkshire. ** Chris Webb (politician), Chris Webb wins the 2024 Blackpool South by-election, with a 26% swing to Labour. ** 2024 Peterborough City Council election: At 18, Daisy Creedon-Blakemore becomes the UK's youngest councillor after winning a seat for Labour in Peterborough City Council's Fletton and Woodston ward. * 4 May ** 2024 London mayoral election: Labour's
Sadiq Khan Sir Sadiq Aman Khan (, ; born 8 October 1970) is a British politician serving as Mayor of London since 2016. He was previously Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Tooting (UK Parliament constituency), Tooting ...
secures a third term as Mayor of London with 44% of the vote, beating the Conservative Susan Hall on 33%. ** 2024 West Midlands mayoral election: Labour's Richard Parker (mayor), Richard Parker narrowly defeats the Conservative incumbent
Andy Street Sir Andrew John Street CBE (born 11 June 1963) is a British businessman and Conservative Party politician who was the managing director of John Lewis from 2007 to 2016 and Mayor of the West Midlands from 2017 to 2024. He was Britain's first o ...
to become
Mayor of the West Midlands The mayor of the West Midlands is a directly elected political post who chairs the West Midlands Combined Authority, covering the local authorities serving Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton. The most ...
. **
2024 Greater Manchester mayoral election The 2024 Greater Manchester mayoral election was held on 2 May 2024 to elect the mayor of Greater Manchester. The election took place alongside local elections across England and Wales, including council elections within the city region and for t ...
: Labour's
Andy Burnham Andrew Murray Burnham (born 7 January 1970) is a British politician who has served as Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017 Greater Manchester mayoral election, 2017. He served in Gordon Brown's Brown ministry, Cabinet as Chief Secretary to th ...
secures a third term as Mayor of Greater Manchester with almost two-thirds of the votes cast. ** The
SDLP The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP; ) is a social democratic and Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. The SDLP currently has eight members in the Northern Ireland Assembly ( MLAs) and two members of Parliament (MPs ...
announces that it will change the way it makes "civil leadership" appointments following the resignation from the party of two Derry City and Strabane District Council councillors over the appointment of Lilian Seenoi-Barr as the authority's next mayor. * 5 May – With all votes counted, the results from the local elections in England are: Labour 1,158 (+186), Liberal Democrat 522 (+104), Conservative 515 (−474), Independents and others 228 (+93), Green 181 (+74), Residents' Association 48 (+11), Workers Party of Britain 4 (+4), Reform UK 2 (+2). * 6 May – ** Argentina's president, Javier Milei, tells the BBC he accepts the Falkland Islands are currently "in the hands of the UK", but says his country will get them back through diplomatic channels. ** John Swinney is confirmed as Leader of the Scottish National Party after being unopposed in the 2024 Scottish National Party leadership election, leadership election, and begins his second tenure in the post. * 7 May – ** John Swinney wins the backing of the Scottish Parliament to become Scotland's seventh First Minister, and will be sworn into office the next day. ** The
Green Party A green party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of green politics, such as environmentalism and social justice. Green party platforms typically embrace Social democracy, social democratic economic policies and fo ...
's Siân Berry, who was re-elected in the 2024 London Assembly election, is criticised for resigning three days later to hand her seat to Zoë Garbett, who lost in the same election with 5.8% of the vote. Berry steps down from the post in order to run as Green candidate in Brighton Pavilion (UK Parliament constituency), Brighton Pavilion, where current MP Caroline Lucas is standing down at the next election. * 8 May – ** John Swinney is sworn in as Scotland's seventh first minister at a ceremony at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. ** Swinney appoints Kate Forbes as Scotland's Deputy First Minister of Scotland, Deputy First Minister. ** The Conservative Member of Parliament for Dover (UK Parliament constituency), Dover Natalie Elphicke defects to the Labour Party. ** The Labour whip is restored to
Kate Osamor Ofunne Kate Osamor (; born 15 August 1968) is a British Labour and Co-operative politician who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Edmonton and Winchmore Hill, previously Edmonton, since 2015. She was Shadow Secretary of State for Internatio ...
. ** Former England cricketer Monty Panesar quits the
Workers Party of Britain The Workers Party of Britain (WPB), also called the Workers Party of Great Britain (WPGB) or Workers Party GB, is a Socialism, socialist and Social conservatism, socially conservative political party in the United Kingdom, strongly identified ...
a week after being unveiled as one of its general election candidates. ** MSs vote 43–16 to approve the Senedd Reform Bill that will see the number of members increase from 60 to 96 at the Next Senedd election, next election. * 9 May – ** Former cabinet minister
Nadhim Zahawi Nadhim Zahawi (; ; born 2 June 1967) is an Iraqi-born British former politician who served in various ministerial positions under prime ministers Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak from 2018 to 2023. He most recently served ...
says he will stand down from Parliament at the next election. ** Natalie Elphicke apologises for past comments in support of her ex-husband, Charlie Elphicke, Charlie, which she made when he was convicted of sexual assault. ** Swinney confirms to the BBC that the SNP's strategy of using the next general election as a mandate for a second referendum on Scottish independence remains. ** The government announces that a ban on sex offenders in England and Wales changing their name to avoid detection will be brought in. * 10 May – The Scottish Government reaffirms its wish to see the
Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill is a bill passed by the Scottish Parliament. The bill seeks to amend the Gender Recognition Act 2004 of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, making it simpler for people to change their legal gen ...
enacted. * 11 May – The Independent Press Standards Organisation rejects a complaint by former MP Scott Benton that an article published by ''
The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...
'' in April 2023 was in breach of IPSO's editors code. * 12 May – ** Foreign Secretary
David Cameron David William Donald Cameron, Baron Cameron of Chipping Norton (born 9 October 1966) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016. Until 2015, he led the first coalition government in the UK s ...
tells the BBC's ''
Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg ''Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg'' is a BBC Sunday morning talk show presented by Laura Kuenssberg, broadcast on BBC One. It is also simulcast by the BBC News (British TV channel), UK feed and occasionally by the BBC News (international TV channe ...
'' that a ban on the sale of UK weapons to Israel would only strengthen Hamas. ** Former Chancellor
Nadhim Zahawi Nadhim Zahawi (; ; born 2 June 1967) is an Iraqi-born British former politician who served in various ministerial positions under prime ministers Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak from 2018 to 2023. He most recently served ...
tells BBC News he has paid nearly £5m to authorities to settle his tax affairs. * 13 May – ** The House of Commons approves plans to exclude MPs from the parliamentary estate if they have been arrested on suspicion of a serious offence. ** Health secretary Victoria Atkins says that more maternity care scandals are likely following a birth trauma report on maternity care services. ** Labour MP Rosie Duffield calls for the party to suspend Natalie Elphicke while investigating lobbying allegations. ** Labour MP Chris Bryant reveals he has skin cancer. ** A judge at the Courts of Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland High Court rules that the UK government's Illegal Migration Act 2023, Illegal Migration Act should not apply in Northern Ireland because of human rights laws and the Windsor Framework. ** The UK government scraps a planned amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill that would give police the power to move homeless people on because of "smells" following opposition from Conservative MPs. * 14 May – ** MSPs unanimously approve the Housing Cladding Remediation Bill with 116 votes in favour of the legislation that seeks to address problems with cladding on buildings and avoid a similar incident to the Grenfell Tower fire in Scotland. ** Defence Secretary Grant Shapps says six new warships will help fight the "conflicts of the future". * 15 May – ** Rishi Sunak is challenged in PMQs over the early release of dangerous criminals. **
David Lammy David Lindon Lammy FRSA (born 19 July 1972) is a British politician who has served as Foreign Secretary since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, he has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Tottenham since 2000. Lammy previously held vario ...
and John Healey visit Ukraine and confirm Labour support. ** Sir Robert Buckland denies that he concealed lobbying efforts of Natalie Elphicke. ** Baroness Smith of Basildon says that hereditary peers will be phased out by any new Labour government. ** Former British Liberal Democrat MEP Graham Watson announces he will be a candidate in the 2024 European Parliament election in Italy. ** The UK government agrees to make death by dangerous cycling a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison after a campaign by Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who proposed the measures as an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill, and after MPs vote in favour of the amendment. ** The Rwanda Asylum Plan is expanded to include all failed asylum seekers rather than the original plan of those arriving in the UK after 1 January 2022. * 16 May – ** The UK government announces plans to allow the use of debit cards in pub slot machines, which it argues will allow pubs, casinos and gambling venues to compete in an increasingly cashless society. ** The Green Party of England and Wales says it will take action against candidates who make or support antisemitic remarks following complaints. ** The
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) is a public body in the United Kingdom created by the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009, largely as a response to the parliamentary expenses scandal of 2009. It establishes and monitors t ...
finds that
Paul Maynard Paul Maynard (born 16 December 1975) is a British politician who served from 2010 until 2024 as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Blackpool North and Cleveleys. A member of the Conservative Party, he served Parliamentary Under-Secretary of ...
, MP for Blackpool North and Cleveleys, broke expenses rules by using public resources to produce "overtly political" material for the Conservative Party. * 17 May – **
Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru ( ; , ; officially Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales, and often referred to simply as Plaid) is a centre-left, Welsh nationalist list of political parties in Wales, political party in Wales, committed to Welsh independence from th ...
ends its 2021 Welsh Labour–Plaid Cymru agreement, co-operation deal with Welsh Labour, Labour in Wales following concerns about a donation of £200,000 to First Minister
Vaughan Gething Humphrey Vaughan ap David Gething (born 15 March 1974) is a Welsh Labour Co-op politician who served as First Minister of Wales from March to August 2024, and served as leader of Welsh Labour from March to July 2024, making him the first blac ...
's leadership campaign by a company owned by a businessman twice convicted of environmental offences. ** South Wales Police and the Senedd Commission for Standards launch investigations into allegations that Conservative MS Laura Anne Jones made false expenses claims. * 18 May –
Chris Heaton-Harris Christopher Heaton-Harris (born 28 November 1967) is a British former politician who served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from September 2022 to July 2024, and as Chief Whip of the House of Commons and Parliament ...
, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, confirms he will be standing down from Parliament at the next general election. * 20 May – ** Ofcom says it is considering imposing a statutory sanction against GB News after concluding its programme ''People's Forum: The Prime Minister'', a Q&A session with prime minister
Rishi Sunak Rishi Sunak (born 12 May 1980) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from 2022 to 2024. Following his defeat to Keir Starmer's La ...
that aired in February, broke impartiality rules. ** The Stormont Assembly endorses a Legislative Consent Motion to extend the Pet Abduction Bill, introduced at Westminster, to Northern Ireland, making the abduction of cats and dogs a criminal offence. * 21 May – ** The High Court (England and Wales), High Court rules that UK government plans to extend police powers over protests are unlawful. ** Stormont votes in favour of adopting Westminster's Tobacco and Vapes Bill that will gradually phase in a smoking ban from 2027. * 22 May – **
Rishi Sunak Rishi Sunak (born 12 May 1980) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from 2022 to 2024. Following his defeat to Keir Starmer's La ...
announces that 2024 United Kingdom general election, a general election will be held on 4 July. ** Craig Mackinlay, MP for Thanet South, returns to the House of Commons following a long absence after contracting sepsis, an illness that required him to undergo a quadruple amputation, and receives a rare standing ovation from colleagues. * 23 May – ** Sunak confirms that no asylum seekers will be sent to Rwanda before the general election under UK government deportation plans. **
Nigel Farage Nigel Paul Farage ( ; born 3 April 1964) is a British politician and broadcaster who has been Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Clacton (UK Parliament constituency), Clacton and Leader of Reform UK since 20 ...
, founder of Reform UK, confirms he will not stand as a candidate in the upcoming general election. ** Police Scotland announces that it has submitted a "standard prosecution report" concerning its investigation into SNP finances to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. ** First Minister of Scotland John Swinney announces he will not accept a parliamentary committee ruling to exclude Michael Matheson from Holyrood for 27 days over his £11,000 iPad charges bill, saying the decision is "prejudiced" due to the involvement of a Conservative MSP who previously made comments about Matheson. * 24 May – ** Sir John Redwood, MP for Wokingham (UK Parliament constituency), Wokingham, announces he will not contest the next election. ** Former Education Secretary
Michael Gove Michael Andrew Gove, Baron Gove (; born Graeme Andrew Logan, 26 August 1967) is a British politician and journalist who served in various Cabinet of the United Kingdom, Cabinet positions under David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Rish ...
announces he will not stand for parliament again at the next election. ** Junior health minister Andrea Leadsom announces she will not contest the next election. ** Craig Mackinlay decides he will not contest the new parliamentary seat of Thanet East after what he describes as "36 hours of intense soul searching" following the announcement of the election and his feeling that the work schedule would be too much to deal with while he continues to recover from sepsis. ** Greg Clark, MP for Tunbridge Wells (UK Parliament constituency), Tunbridge Wells, announces he will not contest the next general election. ** Jeremy Corbyn is ejected from the Labour Party after announcing he will stand as an independent candidate in the Islington North (UK Parliament constituency), Islington North constituency, which he has represented since 1983. ** Parliament is prorogued ahead of the general election. ** The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is not among legislation to be rushed through Parliament before its prorogation. The Renters (Reform) Bill, which would have brought in an end to no-fault evictions, is also shelved. But the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill, which quashes the convictions of sub-postmasters convicted in the Horizon scandal in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is passed, as is the Pet Abduction Bill, making the abduction of cats and dogs a criminal offence from August. The Victims and Prisoners Bill is also passed into law. ** The Media Act 2024 receives Royal assent following its approval by Parliament the previous day. ** Jonathan Buckley is selected as the
Democratic Unionist Party The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is a Unionism in Ireland, unionist, Ulster loyalism, loyalist, British nationalist and national conservative political party in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1971 during the Troubles by Ian Paisley, who ...
candidate for Lagan Valley (UK Parliament constituency), Lagan Valley following the departure of
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson Sir Jeffrey Mark Donaldson (born 7 December 1962) is a Northern Irish former politician, who served as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) from 2021 to 2024 and leader of the DUP in the UK House of Commons from 2019 to 2024. He was t ...
. * 27 May – ** Outgoing MP Lucy Allan (politician), Lucy Allan endorses
Reform UK Reform UK is a right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Nigel Farage has been Leader of Reform UK and Richard Tice deputy leader since 2024. It has five members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons and one membe ...
and is suspended from the Conservative Party. ** Barbara Keeley, MP for Worsley and Eccles South, announces her retirement from Parliament. ** John Spellar, MP for Warley (UK Parliament constituency), Warley, announces his retirement from Parliament. ** Kevin Brennan (politician), Kevin Brennan, MP for Cardiff West (UK Parliament constituency), Cardiff West, announces he is standing down from Parliament at the election. * 28 May – ** ''
The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...
'' publishes a letter signed by 121 prominent business figures endorsing the Labour Party. **
Diane Abbott Diane Julie Abbott (born 27 September 1953) is a British Labour Party (UK), Labour Party politician who has been serving as Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987 Unit ...
has the Labour Party whip restored following its suspension in April 2023. ** Greater Manchester Police confirm that, following their investigation, Labour deputy leader
Angela Rayner Angela Rayner (' Bowen; born 28 March 1980) is a British politician who has served as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government since 2024 United Kingdom general election, Jul ...
will not face any further police action over her living arrangements before her time as an MP. ** Former
Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru ( ; , ; officially Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales, and often referred to simply as Plaid) is a centre-left, Welsh nationalist list of political parties in Wales, political party in Wales, committed to Welsh independence from th ...
MP Jonathan Edwards (Welsh politician), Jonathan Edwards, who represents Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (UK Parliament constituency), Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, announces he will not contest his seat at the election; Edwards was asked to leave Plaid in 2022 after accepting a police caution for assaulting his wife. ** Stormont passes the 2024 Northern Ireland budget, its first in three years, despite opposition from the
Ulster Unionist Party The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) is a Unionism in Ireland, unionist political party in Northern Ireland. The party was founded as the Ulster Unionist Council in 1905, emerging from the Irish Unionist Alliance in Ulster. Under Edward Carson, it l ...
, and the Assembly's official opposition, the
Social Democratic and Labour Party The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP; ) is a social democratic and Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. The SDLP currently has eight members in the Northern Ireland Assembly ( MLAs) and two members of Parliament (M ...
. * 29 May – ** MSPs vote 64–0 to exclude Scotland's former Health Secretary, Michael Matheson, from the Scottish Parliament for 27 sitting days, and to suspend his salary for 54 days, after he breached expenses rules by accumulating an £11,000 bill on his parliamentary iPad. The governing SNP abstains from voting, and calls for a review of the complaints procedure, suggesting it could be open to bias. ** The
Welsh Conservatives The Welsh Conservatives (), also known as the Welsh Conservative Party (), is the branch of the United Kingdom Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party that operates in Wales. At United Kingdom general elections, Westminster elections, it is ...
table a motion of no confidence in First Minister Vaughan Gething following several weeks of controversy over donations to his leadership campaign. The motion is scheduled to face a Senedd vote on 5 June. ** Pat Cullen stands down as chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing in order to seek the nomination as
Sinn Féin Sinn Féin ( ; ; ) is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The History of Sinn Féin, original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffit ...
candidate for Fermanagh and South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency), Fermanagh and South Tyrone in the general election. **
Gavin Robinson Gavin James Robinson (born 22 November 1984) is a Northern Irish unionist politician and barrister who has been serving as Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) since March 2024. He served as Deputy DUP Leader from June 2023 to May 2024 ...
is 2024 Democratic Unionist Party leadership election, ratified as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, and announces the party will not stand a candidate in Fermanagh and South Tyrone at the general election. ** The Medicines (Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Analogues) (Emergency Prohibition) (England, Wales and Scotland) Order 2024 introduces an emergency ban on the prescription and supply of puberty blockers to minors. **
Rishi Sunak Rishi Sunak (born 12 May 1980) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from 2022 to 2024. Following his defeat to Keir Starmer's La ...
visited Cornwall having arrived via night train. He visited the rail maintenance depot in Penzance before going to neighbouring Devon. ** Nicola Sturgeon announced that she will be active in the SNP campaign in Scotland. ** Ed Davey campaigned in Wales with Jane Dodds. He said that his party was confident in winning both of the parliamentary constituencies in Powys. * 30 May – ** Parliament is dissolved in preparation for the general election. ** Mark Logan (politician), Mark Logan, the former Conservative MP for Bolton North East, tells BBC News he is backing Labour at the general election, describing the party as offering "centrist politics". ** The Plaid Crymru campaign is launched in Bangor, Gwynedd, Bangor. ** The Green campaign is launched in Bristol. * 31 May **
Keir Starmer Sir Keir Rodney Starmer (born 2 September 1962) is a British politician and lawyer who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024 and as Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party since 2020. He previously ...
says Diane Abbott is free to stand as the Labour candidate in Hackney North. ** Conservative MP Aaron Bell (politician), Aaron Bell announces he will stand down at the election. ** Former Conservative MP Julian Knight announces he will stand as an independent in Solihull West and Shirley. ** Labour confirms that Torsten Bell, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, will be its candidate for Swansea West (UK Parliament constituency), Swansea West at the general election.


June

* 2 June – **
Diane Abbott Diane Julie Abbott (born 27 September 1953) is a British Labour Party (UK), Labour Party politician who has been serving as Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987 Unit ...
confirms she will run as Labour's candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington at the general election. ** Media, including BBC News, report that Derbyshire Police are reviewing allegations of election fraud relating to "concerns around marketing material" posted on social media by Robert Largan, MP and Conservative candidate for High Peak (UK Parliament constituency), High Peak. * 3 June – **
Nigel Farage Nigel Paul Farage ( ; born 3 April 1964) is a British politician and broadcaster who has been Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Clacton (UK Parliament constituency), Clacton and Leader of Reform UK since 20 ...
announces that, contrary to his statement earlier in the campaign, he will stand for Parliament in Clacton (UK Parliament constituency), Clacton, and that he has resumed leadership of
Reform UK Reform UK is a right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Nigel Farage has been Leader of Reform UK and Richard Tice deputy leader since 2024. It has five members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons and one membe ...
. ** The Medicines (Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Analogues) (Emergency Prohibition) (England, Wales and Scotland) Order 2024 is scheduled to come into force. ** The first 2024 leaders debate takes place in Scotland, with the leaders of Scotland's four main political parties taking part in a debate on STV (TV channel), STV. ** The UK government tells the High Court it has delayed the start date for flights sending asylum seekers to Rwanda to 24 July. ** The Welsh Government shelves plans to legislate for shorter school summer holidays in Wales until after the next Senedd election. * 4 June – ** ITV (TV channel), ITV airs ''Sunak v Starmer: The ITV Debate'', a head-to-head election debate between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer presented by Julie Etchingham. During the debate Sunak says that Labour has a £38bn spending shortfall which would require it to raise taxes by £2,000 for the average household by the end of the next parliament. A letter from James Bowler (civil servant), James Bowler, the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, subsequently emerges in which he says the Conservative allegations "should not be presented as having been produced by the civil service". ** Faiza Shaheen is deselected as Labour candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green and subsequently resigns from the party. ** Two people are arrested after a milkshake is thrown at
Reform UK Reform UK is a right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Nigel Farage has been Leader of Reform UK and Richard Tice deputy leader since 2024. It has five members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons and one membe ...
leader
Nigel Farage Nigel Paul Farage ( ; born 3 April 1964) is a British politician and broadcaster who has been Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Clacton (UK Parliament constituency), Clacton and Leader of Reform UK since 20 ...
as he launches his campaign in Clacton (UK Parliament constituency), Clacton. * 5 June – ** Alba Party leader Alex Salmond confirms he will not stand in the general election, but instead plans to stand in the 2026 Scottish Parliament election in Banff and Buchan (Scottish Parliament constituency), Banff and Buchan. ** First Minister of Wales
Vaughan Gething Humphrey Vaughan ap David Gething (born 15 March 1974) is a Welsh Labour Co-op politician who served as First Minister of Wales from March to August 2024, and served as leader of Welsh Labour from March to July 2024, making him the first blac ...
loses a nonbinding vote of no confidence in the Senedd with members voting 29–27 in favour of a motion put forward by the Welsh Conservatives. It follows an investigation into the activities of a leading donor to his election campaign. Gething says he will not resign following the vote. ** Richard Holden (British politician), Richard Holden is selected as the Conservative candidate for Basildon and Billericay. ** David Duguid (politician), David Duguid is prevented from standing as the Conservative candidate in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East. Instead, Douglas Ross (Scottish politician), Douglas Ross, who had previously intended to stand down at the election, announces he will contest the constituency at a press conference the next day. * 6 June – ** The
Office for Statistics Regulation The UK Statistics Authority (UKSA, ) is a non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for oversight of the Office for National Statistics, maintaining a national code of practice for official statist ...
criticises Sunak for his comments about Labour tax rises, saying most people would have been unaware the figures related to a four year period. ** The FDA trade union which represents senior civil servants launches its High Court case against the UK government over the Rwanda asylum plan, arguing that they could be asked to break the law by ministers if they were asked to ignore a ruling from the
European Court of Human Rights The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), also known as the Strasbourg Court, is an international court of the Council of Europe which interprets the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The court hears applications alleging that a co ...
to halt a flight to Rwanda. ** Labour abandons legal action against five Labour Party leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, Corbyn-era employees who were accused of "conspiring" against Keir Starmer as Leader of the Opposition, Keir Starmer's leadership. ** It is revealed that the Conservatives accepted a further donation from Frank Hester after he was accused of making racist comments about Diane Abbott. * 7 June – ** The legal deadline for Candidates in the 2024 United Kingdom general election, candidates in the general election passes. ** Rishi Sunak apologises for leaving the D-day memorial early to return to the UK to give an ITV interview about the election. He says: "On reflection, it was a mistake not to stay in France longer – and I apologise." ** Keith Vaz, who stood down from Parliament after he was found to have "expressed willingness" to buy cocaine for male prostitutes, will stand in his old Leicester East constituency for the One Leicester Party. ** Mishal Husain moderates the first of the BBC's election debates featuring representatives from seven of the UK's political parties. Appearing on the programme are
Penny Mordaunt Dame Penelope Mary "Penny" Mordaunt (; born 4 March 1973) is a British former Conservative Party (UK), Conservative politician who served as Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons from 2022 until 2024. She was the Memb ...
(Conservative),
Angela Rayner Angela Rayner (' Bowen; born 28 March 1980) is a British politician who has served as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government since 2024 United Kingdom general election, Jul ...
(Labour),
Daisy Cooper Daisy Cooper (born 29 October 1981) is a British Liberal Democrats (UK), Liberal Democrat politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for St Albans (UK Parliament constituency), St Albans s ...
(Liberal Democrats), Stephen Flynn (Scottish politician), Stephen Flynn (SNP), Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru),
Carla Denyer Carla Suzanne Denyer (born 24 September 1985) is a British politician who has been the Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales alongside Adrian Ramsay since 2021 and the Member of Parliam ...
(Green) and
Nigel Farage Nigel Paul Farage ( ; born 3 April 1964) is a British politician and broadcaster who has been Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Clacton (UK Parliament constituency), Clacton and Leader of Reform UK since 20 ...
(Reform UK). ** The
Unite Unite may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music Albums * ''Unite'' (1GN album), 2016 * ''Unite'' (A Friend in London album), 2013 * ''Unite'' (Kool & the Gang album), 1992 * ''Unite'' (The O.C. Supertones album), 2005 Songs *"Unite!" ...
trade union says it will not endorse Labour's election manifesto because it does not go far enough on protecting the rights of workers. ** The
Green Party A green party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of green politics, such as environmentalism and social justice. Green party platforms typically embrace Social democracy, social democratic economic policies and fo ...
says it has blocked a "small number" of candidates from standing as Green candidates at the election after investigations into their online activities. **
Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru ( ; , ; officially Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales, and often referred to simply as Plaid) is a centre-left, Welsh nationalist list of political parties in Wales, political party in Wales, committed to Welsh independence from th ...
withdraws its support for Sharifah Rahman, who was scheduled to represent the party as a candidate in Cardiff South and Penarth (UK Parliament constituency), Cardiff South and Penarth, following social media posts about the "situation in the Middle East" that "do not reflect the views and values of Plaid Cymru". ** The Senedd Reform Bill, Senedd Reform Bill Committee has warned that plans for gender quotas at the next Senedd election could face legal challenges, and urges the Welsh Government to take urgent action to protect the election. * 8 June – ** Stewart Sutherland, the Reform UK candidate for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, withdraws his candidacy after allegations he reported racist content. ** Social media platform X takes action against an organisation that has been smearing British politicians with deepfake videos by removing a number of accounts. * 9 June – ''Sunday Mail (Scotland), The Sunday Mail'' reports allegations that Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross used Westminster expenses to travel in his role as a football linesman. * 10 June – ** The list of candidates standing in the 2024 general election is published, with more than 4,500 candidates setting a new record for the number of people standing at an election. ** Douglas Ross (Scottish politician), Douglas Ross announces his resignation as leader of the Scottish Conservatives, triggering a 2024 Scottish Conservatives leadership election, leadership election. Ross says he will also resign from Holyrood if he is re-elected to Westminster. ** Ian Gribbin, the Reform UK candidate for Bexhill and Battle, apologises after saying the UK would be "far better" if it had "taken Hitler up on his offer of neutrality" instead of fighting World War II. ** Reform UK leader Nigel Farage gives his personal backing to two Democratic Unionist Party candidates despite Reform UK–TUV alliance, his party's alliance with
Traditional Unionist Voice The Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) is a unionist political party in Northern Ireland. In common with all other Northern Irish unionist parties, the TUV's political programme has as its '' sine qua non'' the preservation of Northern Ireland's pl ...
. * 11 June – ** A 28-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of public order offences after objects are thrown at Nigel Farage during a campaign tour in Barnsley. ** Rishi Sunak unveils the Conservative Party's general election manifesto, which includes a further cut in National Insurance, a halving of Modern immigration to the United Kingdom, immigration, and several new housing policies. ** BBC Scotland (TV channel), BBC Scotland airs an election debate featuring the leaders of Scotland's five main political parties: John Swinney (SNP), Douglas Ross (Scottish politician), Douglas Ross (Scottish Conservatives), Anas Sarwar (Scottish Labour), Alex Cole-Hamilton (Scottish Liberal Democrats) and Lorna Slater (Scottish Greens). ** Sophie Raworth pulls out of presenting the BBC's ''The Prime Ministerial Debate'', scheduled to air on 26 June, after fracturing her ankle; Mishal Husain will present instead. ** Robin Harper, a former leader of the Scottish Greens, joins Scottish Labour, citing his former party's failure on the environment for his decision. ** Vaughan Gething tells the Senedd he regrets the "impact" of his decision to accept a £200,000 donation from a man whose company was convicted of illegally dumping waste. * 12 June – ** The Green Party launches its manifesto, with key points including increasing taxes for the better off, and higher spending on healthcare, housing and climate change. ** ''Sky News'' presenter Beth Rigby presents an election debate from Grimsby Town Hall, where Sunak and Starmer face questions from an audience. ** Craig Williams (British politician), Craig Williams, who served as Sunak's Parliamentary Private Secretary, is being investigated by the Gambling Commission after placing a bet on the date of the general election. Williams subsequently describes the bet as a "huge error of judgement". ** Dr Anne McCloskey, an independent general election candidate for Foyle (UK Parliament constituency), Foyle, is sentenced to 14 days in prison for non-payment of a COVID-19 related fine by Derry Magistrates. ** Police say they are aware of YouTuber and internet prankster Niko Omilana, who has registered himself as a general election candidate in 11 different constituencies. * 13 June – ** Keir Starmer unveils the Labour Party's Change (manifesto), general election manifesto. He says that wealth creation is the "number one priority" and that Labour will focus on economic growth. ** The Green Party is forced to temporarily remove its manifesto from its website after facing criticism for using an image of an ill man to illustrate its policy on HIV. **
Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru ( ; , ; officially Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales, and often referred to simply as Plaid) is a centre-left, Welsh nationalist list of political parties in Wales, political party in Wales, committed to Welsh independence from th ...
launches its 2024 election manifesto, which includes plans for Welsh independence, 500 extra GPs and funding from rail improvements. ** A YouGov poll for ''
The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...
'' puts Reform UK ahead of the Conservatives for the first time, with Reform on 19% and the Conservatives on 18%; the poll prompts Reform leader Nigel Farage to say his party is "now the opposition to Labour". ** ITV (TV channel), ITV holds a debate featuring senior figures from the UK's seven main political parties and moderated by Julie Etchingham. * 14 June – ** Data published by the Electoral Commission (United Kingdom), Electoral Commission indicates that Labour raised £351,990 more in donations than the Conservatives during the first week of the general election campaign. ** BBC Wales sees a series of text messages from the mobile phone of Welsh Conservative Senedd member Laura Anne Jones in which she appears to ask an employee to maximise her expenses claims. Jones is subsequently asked to step back from Wales's Shadow Cabinet of Wales, Shadow Cabinet as a result of the revelation. ** A coalition of commercial media and content businesses write to Labour to urge them not to introduce advertising on the BBC, fearing it could have a negative impact on consumers, licence fee payers and creative industries. ** The
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) is a public body in the United Kingdom created by the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009, largely as a response to the parliamentary expenses scandal of 2009. It establishes and monitors t ...
clears Douglas Ross of misusing his travel expenses following an investigation. ** Labour's Rosie Duffield, who is campaigning to be re-elected as MP for Canterbury (UK Parliament constituency), Canterbury, says she has withdrawn from hustings events because she does not feel safe; Duffield has previously faced death threats for her stance on sex and gender. ** Among those from the world of politics to be recognised in the 2024 Birthday Honours is former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is made a Companion of Honour, and former MP Wayne David, who receives a knighthood. * 16 June – ** Grant StClair-Armstrong, the Reform UK candidate for North West Essex, resigns from the party after historic blog posts emerge in which he urged people to vote for the British National Party. ** ITV Wales holds an election debate between senior figures from the three main political parties in Wales; David TC Davies (Conservative), Jo Stevens (Labour) and Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru). * 17 June – ** Nigel Farage launches Reform UK's election manifesto, which he describes as a contract, and which chiefly proposes a freeze on non-essential immigration. ** Lord Cashman is suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party for describing Rosie Duffield as "frit or lazy" in a social media post for withdrawing from hustings meetings over concerns for her safety. ** BBC Sounds launches an Election 2024 livestream, bringing together all the election news and programming, such as ''Newscast (podcast), Newscast'', ''Today (BBC Radio 4), Today'', ''Question Time (TV programme), Question Time'' and ''
Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg ''Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg'' is a BBC Sunday morning talk show presented by Laura Kuenssberg, broadcast on BBC One. It is also simulcast by the BBC News (British TV channel), UK feed and occasionally by the BBC News (international TV channe ...
''. The livestream is scheduled to run until 8 July. * 18 June – ** LBC's Nick Ferrari presents the first of two editions of ''Britain's Next PM'', a phone-in giving listeners the opportunity to speak to Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak, with Starmer appearing on the first edition and Sunak the following day. ** The deadline for people wishing to register to vote in time for the 2024 general election expires at 23:59. ** Sunak announces that former prime minister Johnson will endorse Conservative candidates by writing to constituents urging them not to vote for Reform, saying to do so will "make a difference". ** The state visit of Japan's Emperor Naruhito is to be modified to omit the usual visit to
10 Downing Street 10 Downing Street in London is the official residence and office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, prime minister of the United Kingdom. Colloquially known as Number 10, the building is located in Downing Street, off Whitehall in th ...
because it coincides with the election. ** Scottish Labour launches its general election manifesto. ** Businessman John Caudwell, the founder of Phones4U, who gave the Conservatives a £500,000 donation before the 2019 United Kingdom general election, 2019 general election, tells the BBC he will be voting Labour for the first time in his life at the 2024 election. ** During an election debate on
BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. The station replaced the BBC Home Service on 30 September 1967 and broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes from the BBC's headquarters at Broadcasti ...
's ''Woman's Hour'', representatives from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Greens and Scottish National Party express their support for making misogyny a hate crime. * 19 June – ** A police officer working as part of the prime minister's close protection team is suspended and later arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into bets on the date of the general election. ** The Scottish National Party launches its election manifesto, with plans to "end Westminster cuts" and increase investment in the NHS (Scotland), NHS. The party would also view winning a majority of Scotland's seats at Westminster as a mandate to begin Scottish independence, independence negotiations. ** Labour suspends Andy Brown, its candidate for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East after he was found to have shared pro-Russian posts online. ** The Scottish Family Party launches its election manifesto, chiefly promoting family values. ** After details of past social media posts made by two Reform UK candidates, Lee Bunker and Angela Begbie-Carter, are reported in the media, the party releases a statement in which it says candidates are free to express views that "are not shared by all their party colleagues" as they are not "political zombies". ** Secret government files seen by BBC News show work has been underway with consultants since January to limit "severe implications" to essential IT services by lining up alternative providers after Atos, the UK subsidiary of which has contracts for NHS records and disability benefit claims, is more than £3bn in debt and undergoing restructuring. **
Sinn Féin Sinn Féin ( ; ; ) is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The History of Sinn Féin, original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffit ...
launches its 2024 election manifesto, which includes plans for the transfer of fiscal powers from Westminster to Stormont and the creation of an all-Ireland national health service. ** Businessman Zia Yusuf donates an undisclosed amount of money, but reported to be several thousand pounds, to Reform UK, saying the UK has "lost control of our borders". ** The
Workers Party of Britain The Workers Party of Britain (WPB), also called the Workers Party of Great Britain (WPGB) or Workers Party GB, is a Socialism, socialist and Social conservatism, socially conservative political party in the United Kingdom, strongly identified ...
launches its election manifesto, with promises to improve "poverty pay" and provide more social housing. ** BBC News reports that Laura Saunders, the Conservative candidate for Bristol North West, has become the second Conservative candidate to face an investigation by the Gambling Commission over betting on the date of the general election. It is subsequently reported that her husband, Tony Lee, the Conservative Party's campaigns director, is also being investigated by the Commission. * 20 June – ** BBC One airs a ''Question Time (TV series), Question Time'' election special featuring the leaders of the UK's four main political parties. ** Sunak says he is "incredibly angry" to learn of allegations that members of his party have betted on the date of the election, and that he will "boot out" anyone found to have broken the law. ** Scottish Parliament authorities have launched an investigation into the potential misuse of expenses to buy postage stamps by members of the SNP in order to send letters to voters. ** The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, Alliance Party launches its general election manifesto, with plans including reform of the devolved government at Stormont, and ringfencing funding for integrated eductation. * 21 June – ** Nigel Farage tells the BBC that he believes the Russian invasion of Ukraine to have been precipitated by the West's eastward expansion of NATO and the European Union, but that the war itself is Vladimir Putin's fault. ** BBC Wales airs a televised election debate featuring
Vaughan Gething Humphrey Vaughan ap David Gething (born 15 March 1974) is a Welsh Labour Co-op politician who served as First Minister of Wales from March to August 2024, and served as leader of Welsh Labour from March to July 2024, making him the first blac ...
(Labour), Jane Dodds (Liberal Democrat), Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru) and David TC Davies (Conservative). * 22 June – ** BBC News publishes a list of eight Reform UK candidates who have made a wide range of offensive online posts about women between 2011 and 2023. ** Following criticism from other party leaders over his comments about Putin, Nigel Farage pens an op-ed in ''Daily Telegraph, The Telegraph'' in which he says he has never been an "apologist or supporter" of Putin, but that "if you poke the Russian bear with a stick, don't be surprised if he responds". * 23 June – ** 2024 United Kingdom general election date betting controversy *** ''
The Sunday Times ''The Sunday Times'' is a British Sunday newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of N ...
'' reports that Nick Mason, the Conservative Party's chief data officer, has become the fourth person to face investigation by the Gambling Commission for alleged betting on the date of the election. Mason denies any wrongdoing. *** BBC News reports that the Gambling Commission's investigation involves more people than those already named. ** The constituency office of Labour Walthamstow (UK Parliament constituency), Walthamstow candidate Stella Creasy is damaged overnight by vandals. ** UTV (TV channel), UTV airs a general election debate featuring candidates from Northern Ireland's five main political parties: The
Democratic Unionist Party The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is a Unionism in Ireland, unionist, Ulster loyalism, loyalist, British nationalist and national conservative political party in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1971 during the Troubles by Ian Paisley, who ...
's leader
Gavin Robinson Gavin James Robinson (born 22 November 1984) is a Northern Irish unionist politician and barrister who has been serving as Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) since March 2024. He served as Deputy DUP Leader from June 2023 to May 2024 ...
,
Sinn Féin Sinn Féin ( ; ; ) is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The History of Sinn Féin, original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffit ...
's John Finucane,
Social Democratic and Labour Party The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP; ) is a social democratic and Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. The SDLP currently has eight members in the Northern Ireland Assembly ( MLAs) and two members of Parliament (M ...
leader
Colum Eastwood Colum Eastwood (born 30 April 1983) is an Irish nationalism, Irish nationalist politician who served as Social Democratic and Labour Party, Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) from 2015 to 2024. He has served as the Member o ...
, Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, Alliance Party leader Naomi Long and
Ulster Unionist Party The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) is a Unionism in Ireland, unionist political party in Northern Ireland. The party was founded as the Ulster Unionist Council in 1905, emerging from the Irish Unionist Alliance in Ulster. Under Edward Carson, it l ...
deputy leader Robbie Butler. * 24 June – ** Sunak says that he is "not aware of any other" Conservative candidates being investigated by the Gambling Commission. ** The Institute for Fiscal Studies says that it will be a "considerable surprise" if UK taxes do not rise in the next five years and says the two main parties are "ducking" the issue in their manifestos. ** The Scottish Conservatives launch their election manifesto, which includes plans to improve teachers' pay, cut the backlog of NHS waiting lists, and to beat the SNP. ** The Democratic Unionist Party launches its 2024 election manifesto, with policies including greater access to healthcare, opposition to assisted suicide and the removal of trade barriers within the UK. ** Claire Darke, former mayor of Wolverhampton and a longtime Labour councillor, resigns from the Labour Party, citing disillusionment with its direction under Keir Starmer. She specifically criticizes the party's stance on austerity and its "morally wrong" position on Gaza, which she sees as neglecting the suffering of the Palestinian people. * 25 June – ** Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan begin their state visit to the United Kingdom. ** 2024 United Kingdom general election date betting controversy: *** The Conservative Party withdraws its support for Craig Williams and Laura Saunders as election candidates. *** Cabinet minister Alister Jack, who previously said he had won £2,100 by betting on the date of the election, then said he was joking, issues a statement in which he says he did not place a bet on the election. *** Russell George (Welsh politician), Russell George, the Senedd member for Montgomeryshire (Senedd Cymru constituency), Montgomeryshire, becomes the fifth Conservative politician to be investigated by the Gambling Commission for election betting. *** The Metropolitan Police confirms that the Gambling Commission are investigating a further five police officers for placing bets on the date of the election. *** Labour suspends Kevin Craig (politician), Kevin Craig, their candidate for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, after the Gambling Commission launches an unrelated investigation into him for placing a bet against himself losing in his constituency. ** LBC's Nick Ferrari moderates an immigration policy debate between Home Secretary James Cleverly and Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. * 26 June – ** 2024 United Kingdom general election betting scandal *** Alex Cole-Hamilton, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, admits to placing bets on Scottish Liberal Democrat election candidates, but says he did not place bets on the date of the election itself. *** ''The Sun (United Kingdom), The Sun'' reports that Philip Davies, Sir Philip Davies, the Conservative candidate for Shipley, allegedly placed an £8,000 bet on whether he would lose his seat at the election, which has a majority of 6,242. ** Police arrest a woman in her 20s in connection with the Westminster "honeytrap" scandal in which a number of MPs were sent unsolicited text messages, some of them explicit. ** Mishal Husain moderates ''The Prime Ministerial Debate'', the BBC's head-to-head debate between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer. **
Welsh Labour Welsh Labour (), formerly known as the Labour Party in Wales (), is an autonomous section of the United Kingdom Labour Party (UK), Labour Party in Wales and the largest party in modern Welsh politics. Welsh Labour and its forebears have won a p ...
suspends Rhianon Passmore, the Senedd member for Islwyn (Senedd constituency), Islwyn, pending investigation following an allegation she was seen driving a car with two different number plates. ** The
Social Democratic and Labour Party The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP; ) is a social democratic and Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. The SDLP currently has eight members in the Northern Ireland Assembly ( MLAs) and two members of Parliament (M ...
(SDLP) launches its election manifesto, which includes a "Marshall Plan" to address the backlog in Northern Ireland's health service, reforms to Stormont, and a repeal of the Troubles Legacy Act. * 27 June – ** The Metropolitan Police says that at least seven police officers are now being investigated for placing bets on the date of the general election. ** Reform UK condemns campaigners in Clacton (UK Parliament constituency), Clacton who were filmed by an undercover reporter for ''Channel 4 News'' making racist, homophobic and Islamophobic comments, including one who used a racial slur to describe Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The party says those involved will no longer be involved in the election campaign. ** Prominent Conservative donor John Hall (English businessman), Sir John Hall endorses Reform UK. ** The final televised debate of the 2024 general election takes place on BBC One Northern Ireland and features representatives from Northern Ireland's five main parties. ** Labour lifts its suspension of Rhianon Passmore after police say they had found no offence was committed regarding the number plates on her car. * 28 June – ** Sunak speaks of his hurt and anger at his daughters having to hear a racial slur used about him by Reform UK activists. **
Essex Police Essex Police is a territorial police force responsible for policing the county of Essex, in the East of England. Essex Police is responsible for a population of over 1.8 million people and an area of . The chief constable is Ben-Julian Harring ...
say they are urgently trying to establish whether any criminal offences have been committed as a result of comments made by the Reform campaigners. ** Mark Hoath, the Reform UK candidate for Sutton Coldfield (UK Parliament constituency), Sutton Coldfield, is referred to the police after saying that a rival candidate, the Liberal Democrats' John Sweeney (journalist), John Sweeney, "loved" the Provisional IRA, IRA. ** Edinburgh City Council establishes an emergency polling booth at City Chambers, Edinburgh, City Chambers after a number of people across Scotland reported not receiving their postal votes. The emergency polling booth, which allows those who did not receive a postal vote to cast their vote in person, will operate until 30 June. Fife Council also announces an emergency polling booth at Fife House, Glenrothes that will be open on 29 June. ** The Green Party of Northern Ireland launches its manifesto, which includes plans to take Lough Neagh into public ownership, reforms to Stormont, a tax on the richest one percent of people and protecting public services from cuts. * 29 June – ** A spokesman for Reform UK confirms the party has dropped three candidates for making offensive comments. They are Edward Oakenfull (Derbyshire Dales (UK Parliament constituency), Derbyshire Dales), Robert Lomas (Barnsley North), and Leslie Lilley (Southend East and Rochford), but the candidates will still appear on the ballot paper as Reform candidates because it is too late for them to be removed. ** East Lothian Council becomes the third local authority to establish an emergency facility for people who have not received their postal votes. ** The Northern Ireland Conservatives launch their election manifesto with the help of
Chris Heaton-Harris Christopher Heaton-Harris (born 28 November 1967) is a British former politician who served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from September 2022 to July 2024, and as Chief Whip of the House of Commons and Parliament ...
, the
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland The secretary of state for Northern Ireland (; ), also referred to as Northern Ireland Secretary or SoSNI, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with overall responsibility for the Northern Ireland Office. The offi ...
. Policies include upholding the Good Friday Agreement and continuing to invest in Northern Ireland. The Conservatives are fielding five candidates in Northern Ireland. * 30 June – ** ''
The Sunday Times ''The Sunday Times'' is a British Sunday newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of N ...
'' endorses the Labour Party for the first time since the 2001 United Kingdom general election, 2001 general election. ** Liam Booth-Isherwood, the Reform UK candidate for Erewash (UK Parliament constituency), Erewash, disowns the party, citing a "significant moral issue" following recent reports of "widespread racism and sexism", and gives his backing to the Conservatives.


July

* 2 July – ** Georgie David, the Reform UK candidate for West Ham and Beckton becomes the party's second candidate to suspend their campaign and defect to the Conservatives, and says the "vast majority" of her fellow Reform candidates are "racist, misogynistic and bigoted". ** The Welsh Government says it plans to bring in a ban on Welsh politicians telling lies before the 2026 Senedd election. * 3 July – ** ''The Sun (United Kingdom), The Sun'' endorses the Labour Party ahead of the general election. ** Essex Police announce that no offences were committed by the Reform UK campaigners recorded making racist comments by ''Channel 4 News''. ** An investigation concludes that former Conservative government minister Owen Paterson acted as a lobbyist for a healthcare company without being registered to do so. ** Mick Antoniw, the Counsel General for Wales, apologises after being formally reprimanded by the Senedd for tweeting "Tories so happy to see people and particularly children killed and injured on our roads". ** A hearing at Newry Magistrates Court rules there is sufficient evidence for former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to stand trial on charges of historical sexual abuse. * 4 July – ** The 2024 United Kingdom general election takes place. ** 2024 Dissolution Honours: Nominations for peerages include
Theresa May Theresa Mary May, Baroness May of Maidenhead (; ; born 1 October 1956), is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2016 to 2019. She previously served as Home Secretar ...
(former Prime Minister), Chris Grayling (former Justice Secretary), Sir Graham Brady (chair of the 1922 Committee), Craig Mackinlay (Conservative MP), Harriet Harman (former deputy leader of the Labour Party), Margaret Beckett (former Foreign Secretary), Margaret Hodge (former Labour MP), and Dr Hilary Cass (chair of the Cass Review). * 5 July ** Results of the 2024 United Kingdom general election: ***
Sir Keir Starmer Sir Keir Rodney Starmer (born 2 September 1962) is a British politician and lawyer who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024 and as Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party since 2020. He previously ...
becomes the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, following a landslide victory for Labour in the general election. *** The
Conservatives Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilizati ...
are reduced to just 121 seats, the lowest number of MPs in their 190-year history. Among the high-profile losses are former Prime Minister
Liz Truss Mary Elizabeth Truss (born 26 July 1975) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from September to October 2022. On her fiftieth da ...
, former cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, Commons leader
Penny Mordaunt Dame Penelope Mary "Penny" Mordaunt (; born 4 March 1973) is a British former Conservative Party (UK), Conservative politician who served as Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons from 2022 until 2024. She was the Memb ...
, and Defence Secretary
Grant Shapps Sir Grant Shapps (born 14 September 1968) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Defence from August 2023 to July 2024. Shapps previously served in various Cabinet of the United Kingdom, cabinet posts, including Chairman of ...
. *** The Liberal Democrats, led by
Sir Ed Davey Sir Edward Jonathan Davey (born 25 December 1965) is a British politician who has served as the leader of the Liberal Democrat party since 2020. He served in the Cameron–Clegg coalition as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change f ...
, achieve their best ever result with 71 seats. *** The
Green Party A green party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of green politics, such as environmentalism and social justice. Green party platforms typically embrace Social democracy, social democratic economic policies and fo ...
achieve their best ever result, quadrupling their number of seats to four. ***
Reform UK Reform UK is a right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Nigel Farage has been Leader of Reform UK and Richard Tice deputy leader since 2024. It has five members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons and one membe ...
gain their first seats in Parliament, which includes party leader
Nigel Farage Nigel Paul Farage ( ; born 3 April 1964) is a British politician and broadcaster who has been Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Clacton (UK Parliament constituency), Clacton and Leader of Reform UK since 20 ...
taking the constituency of Clacton (UK Parliament constituency), Clacton. *** The SNP suffers heavy losses, going from 48 seats to just nine. ***
Sinn Féin Sinn Féin ( ; ; ) is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The History of Sinn Féin, original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffit ...
wins seven seats, making it the largest party across Northern Ireland. ** Starmer ministry: Starmer appoints his first cabinet. This includes
Angela Rayner Angela Rayner (' Bowen; born 28 March 1980) is a British politician who has served as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government since 2024 United Kingdom general election, Jul ...
as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Deputy Prime Minister and
Rachel Reeves Rachel Jane Reeves (born 13 February 1979) is a British politician who has served as Chancellor of the Exchequer since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, she has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Leeds West and Pudsey, formerly Leed ...
as
Chancellor of the Exchequer The chancellor of the exchequer, often abbreviated to chancellor, is a senior minister of the Crown within the Government of the United Kingdom, and the head of HM Treasury, His Majesty's Treasury. As one of the four Great Offices of State, t ...
, making her the first woman to hold the office. * 6 July – ** Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire becomes the final constituency to declare its election results, and sees the number of Liberal Democrat MPs rise to 72 after they defeat the SNP to win the seat. ** At his first press conference since taking office, Starmer announces that he wants to cut instances of re-offending to reduce the prison population. ** James Timpson is appointed as Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation. ** Starmer announces the Rwanda asylum plan is "dead and buried". * 7 July – ** Starmer makes his first visit to Scotland as prime minister, for a meeting with First Minister of Scotland, First Minister John Swinney. ** Jacqui Smith is appointed as Minister of State for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education, while Douglas Alexander becomes Business Minister. ** The Starmer administration announces that the final two migrants due to be deported to Rwanda will be released on bail in the next few days; a further 218 are confirmed to have been released on bail by the Sunak administration before the election. ** Home Secretary Yvette Cooper outlines plans to establish a UK Border Security Command whose task it will be to reduce small boat crossings in the English Channel. * 8 July – ** Chancellor Rachel Reeves announces plans to bring back compulsory housebuilding targets as part of plans to reboot the UK economy. ** Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson writes to all teachers in the education sector saying she wants to "reset the relationship" with the sector as part of plans to recruit an extra 6,500 teachers. ** Sunak reshuffles Shadow Cabinet of Rishi Sunak, his shadow cabinet, with Andrew Mitchell replacing
David Cameron David William Donald Cameron, Baron Cameron of Chipping Norton (born 9 October 1966) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016. Until 2015, he led the first coalition government in the UK s ...
as Shadow Foreign Secretary after the latter resigns. Richard Fuller (Conservative politician), Richard Fuller replaces Richard Holden (British politician), Richard Holden as Conservative Party Chairman after Holden resigns from the role. * 9 July – ** Starmer meets England's 12 regional mayors to discuss "a major programme of devolution" of powers from Westminster to local government. ** The first meeting of the new 2024 Parliament of the United Kingdom takes place. ** The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Levelling Up reverts to its pre-Johnson era name of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. ** New Health Secretary Wes Streeting begins talks with junior doctors in England aimed at ending their pay dispute. ** Starmer makes the unusual move of appointing five newly elected MPs to government posts: Georgia Gould (politician), Georgia Gould is appointed as a parliamentary secretary in the
Cabinet Office The Cabinet Office is a Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom, ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for supporting the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, prime minister and Cabinet ...
, Miatta Fahnbulleh (politician), Miatta Fahnbulleh is appointed as a junior minister in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Alistair Carns is appointed as Minister of State for Veterans' Affairs, Sarah Sackman is appointed as Solicitor General for England and Wales, Solicitor General, and Kirsty McNeill is appointed as a junior minister in the Scotland Office. ** In an open letter to SNP members following the party's defeat in Scotland, former deputy leader Jim Sillars has described John Swinney's leadership as "a busted flush" and Nicola Sturgeon as "Stalin's wee sister". * 10 July – ** Starmer travels to Washington, D.C., his first foreign trip as UK Prime Minister, to attend the 2024 Washington summit, 75th NATO summit. ** The following retirements from the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
are announced by Lord McFall of Alcluith by virtue of non-attendance: John Prescott, Conrad Black and Jeffrey Archer. * 11 July – ** The SNP confirms it will have to make the majority of its Westminster staff redundant after Parliament reduces its "Short Money" – the annual amount paid to opposition parties – by pound sterling, £1million, m. ** Peter Martin (Northern Ireland politician), Peter Martin becomes the DUP MLA for North Down (Assembly constituency), North Down after the previous incumbent, Alex Easton was elected to Westminster. ** A week after Clacton in the 2024 United Kingdom general election, his election to Parliament, GB News announces that
Nigel Farage Nigel Paul Farage ( ; born 3 April 1964) is a British politician and broadcaster who has been Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Clacton (UK Parliament constituency), Clacton and Leader of Reform UK since 20 ...
is returning to his show on the channel, presenting on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 16 July. * 12 July – Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirms that thousands of prisoners in England and Wales will be released early from their sentences at the beginning of September, warning of the "total collapse" of the prison system and a "total breakdown of law and order" without steps being taken to ease prison overcrowding. * 14 July – ** Leading UK political figures, including
Sir Keir Starmer Sir Keir Rodney Starmer (born 2 September 1962) is a British politician and lawyer who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024 and as Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party since 2020. He previously ...
and
Nigel Farage Nigel Paul Farage ( ; born 3 April 1964) is a British politician and broadcaster who has been Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Clacton (UK Parliament constituency), Clacton and Leader of Reform UK since 20 ...
, condemn the previous day's Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, attempted assassination of Donald Trump in the United States. ** Foreign Secretary
David Lammy David Lindon Lammy FRSA (born 19 July 1972) is a British politician who has served as Foreign Secretary since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, he has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Tottenham since 2000. Lammy previously held vario ...
makes his first visit to Israel and the Palestinian territory to hold talks with leaders. ** Lord Walney, the UK government's adviser on political violence, writes to the Home Secretary urging an inquiry into potential intimidation of candidates at the general election by groups in different constituencies. ** Buckingham Palace announces that
King Charles III Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. Charles was born at Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, and ...
and Queen Camilla will visit Australia and Samoa in October. * 15 July – ** Records show the Conservative Party accepted a £50,000 from Westminster Development Services Limited, a company established in 2015 by a consortium led by the Hinduja Group shortly after its chairman, Prakash Hinduja, was sent to prison for exploiting domestic staff. ** Records show that Labour received £9.5m in donations during the general election campaign, more than the other parties combined. ** Mark Innes is given a three-year restraining order for sending aggressive and threatening messages to
Sir Lindsay Hoyle Sir Lindsay Harvey Hoyle (born 10 June 1957) is a British politician who has served as Speaker of the House of Commons since 2019 and as Member of Parliament (MP) for Chorley since 1997. Before his election as speaker, he was a member of the ...
, the Speaker of the House of Commons. * 16 July – ** Deputy Prime Minister
Angela Rayner Angela Rayner (' Bowen; born 28 March 1980) is a British politician who has served as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government since 2024 United Kingdom general election, Jul ...
dismisses remarks from J. D. Vance,
Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...
's running mate in the 2024 United States presidential election, that Britain under Labour could become the first "truly Islamist" country with nuclear weapons. **
Vaughan Gething Humphrey Vaughan ap David Gething (born 15 March 1974) is a Welsh Labour Co-op politician who served as First Minister of Wales from March to August 2024, and served as leader of Welsh Labour from March to July 2024, making him the first blac ...
resigns as
First Minister of Wales The first minister of Wales () is the leader of the Welsh Government and keeper of the Welsh Seal. The first minister chairs the Welsh Cabinet and is primarily responsible for the formulation, development and presentation of Welsh Government po ...
after cabinet members Mick Antoniw, Lesley Griffiths, Julie James (politician), Julie James and
Jeremy Miles Jeremy Miles (born August 1971) is a Welsh Labour Co-op politician serving as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care since September 2024. He previously served in the Welsh Government as Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh L ...
resign from the Welsh Government and call on him to quit. * 17 July – 2024 State Opening of Parliament: Labour sets out its legislative programme for its first parliamentary session in the King's Speech. Proposals include Bill (law), bills to Renationalisation of British Rail, renationalise the railways, to strengthen the rights of workers, tackle Illegal immigration to the United Kingdom, illegal immigration, reform the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
, and undertake a programme to speed up the delivery of "high quality infrastructure" and housing. * 18 July – Starmer pledges £84m in funding for education, employment and humanitarian projects in Africa and the Middle East designed to stop illegal migration "at source". * 19 July – ** Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky visits Downing Street and addresses the cabinet, becoming the first foreign leader to address a British cabinet since 1997, and urges
Keir Starmer Sir Keir Rodney Starmer (born 2 September 1962) is a British politician and lawyer who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024 and as Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party since 2020. He previously ...
to "show your leadership" by helping to remove restrictions on on the use of weapons supplied to Ukraine. ** Sunak makes junior appointments to his shadow frontbench team, including some newly elected MPs, meaning 51 of the 121 Conservative MPs in parliament now have shadow ministerial posts. ** Foreign Secretary
David Lammy David Lindon Lammy FRSA (born 19 July 1972) is a British politician who has served as Foreign Secretary since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, he has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Tottenham since 2000. Lammy previously held vario ...
confirms the UK will resume funding
UNRWA The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA, pronounced ) is a UN agency that supports the relief and human development of Palestinian refugees. UNRWA's mandate encompasses Palestinians who fl ...
, the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees. ** Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Victoria Atkins is criticised by House of Commons Deputy Speaker Christopher Chope for her behaviour during a parliamentary debate after she loudly interrupted Steve Reed (politician), Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as he addressed the House. * 20 July – ** Figures produced by the Institute for Fiscal Studies suggest the UK government would need to spend an extra £3bn to implement a 5.5% pay rise for teaching and NHS staff. ** July 2024 Welsh Labour leadership election: *** Welsh Labour officials agree a timeline for the election, with a new leader to be in place on 14 September. *** Nominations open for candidates entering the leadership contest. * 21 July – ** Writing in the ''Sun on Sunday'', Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announces that car washes and beauty salons will be targeted by immigration officials over the summer in a bid to crack down on businesses illegally hiring workers from overseas. ** Former Chancellor
Jeremy Hunt Sir Jeremy Richard Streynsham Hunt (born 1 November 1966) is a British politician who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2022 to 2024 and Foreign Secretary from 2018 to 2019, having previously served as Secretary of State for Health a ...
, Jeremy Hunt's tenure as Health Secretary, who was Health Secretary for a number of years before the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
, apologises "unreservedly" to the families of people who died from the illness after a report prepared by the COVID-19 Inquiry found significant flaws in the government's strategy for dealing with the pandemic. * 22 July – ** Home Secretary Yvette Cooper confirms the UK government will resume processing asylum applications, including those from people who arrived in the UK illegally. She also tells the House of Commons the previous government's
Rwanda asylum plan The UK and Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership was an immigration policy proposed by the governments of Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak whereby people whom the United Kingdom identified as illegal immigrants or asylu ...
cost £700m, with only four people being removed to the country voluntarily. The shadow home secretary, James Cleverly, says Cooper's words are "hyperbole" and "made up numbers", adding that Labour had scrapped scheme on "ideological grounds" and that its purpose was as a deterrent. ** Launch of Skills England, a government body whose objective will be to reduce the need for overseas employees by improving skills training for people in England. ** 2024 Conservative Party leadership election (UK), 2024 Conservative Party leadership election: The Conservative Party's 1922 Committee sets out a timeline for the election of the next leader, with the successful candidate scheduled to be announced in early November. ** July 2024 Welsh Labour leadership election: Eluned Morgan becomes the first candidate to enter the leadership race. **
Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru ( ; , ; officially Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales, and often referred to simply as Plaid) is a centre-left, Welsh nationalist list of political parties in Wales, political party in Wales, committed to Welsh independence from th ...
expels Senedd member Rhys ab Owen after he was found to have inappropriately touched and sworn at two women while drunk at a party. ** Former Chancellor
Nadhim Zahawi Nadhim Zahawi (; ; born 2 June 1967) is an Iraqi-born British former politician who served in various ministerial positions under prime ministers Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak from 2018 to 2023. He most recently served ...
, who stood down from Parliament at the general election, is reported to be seeking financial backers in order to bid for the ''
Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was foun ...
'' and ''The Spectator''. * 23 July – ** Seven Labour MPs, including former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and former shadow minister Rebecca Long-Bailey, have the Labour whip suspended for six months after voting against the government and in favour of an SNP amendment to scrap the two-child benefit cap. McDonnel said, "I'm following Keir Starmer's example as he said put country before party". ** The Home Office confirms that contract for the ''Bibby Stockholm'', the vessel used to house asylum seekers, will not be renewed after January 2025. ** Documents released by The National Archives (United Kingdom), The National Archives reveal that former prime minister Harold Wilson agreed to sell his private papers late in life in order to provide funds for his care. A deal agreed with Canada's McMaster University in 1990 attracted concern from the
Cabinet Office The Cabinet Office is a Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom, ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for supporting the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, prime minister and Cabinet ...
because documents relating to his time in office remained private under the thirty year rule, which would not apply if they went to Canada. They were eventually sold to Oxford's Bodleian Library. ** 2024 Conservative Party leadership election (UK), 2024 Conservative Party leadership election: James Cleverly, who served as Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary in the Sunak government, announces his intention to run for the post of Conservative Party leader. * 24 July – ** Starmer attends his first PMQs as Prime Minister. ** 2024 Conservative Party leadership election (UK), 2024 Conservative Party leadership election: Nominations open for the first round of the leadership election. ** July 2024 Welsh Labour leadership election: *** Eluned Morgan is elected unopposed as the new leader of Welsh Labour after nominations close at midday. *** The
Senedd The Senedd ( ; ), officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and () in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, Its role is to scrutinise the Welsh Government and legislate on devolve ...
will be Recall of parliament, recalled on 6 August to choose a new First Minister of Wales following the resignation of Vaughan Gething and the subsequent Welsh Labour leadership election. * 25 July – 2024 Conservative Party leadership election (UK), Conservative Party leadership election:
Tom Tugendhat Thomas Georg John Tugendhat (born 27 June 1973) is a British politician who has been the Member of Parliament (UK), Member of Parliament (MP) for Tonbridge (UK Parliament constituency), Tonbridge, previously Tonbridge and Malling (UK Parliamen ...
and Robert Jenrick enter the race to become the next Conservative leader. * 26 July – ** Labour peer Lord Falconer introduces the Assisted Dying Bill into the House of Lords. The bill would allow anyone with a terminal illness and less than six months left to live to get medical assistance to end their life. ** Following a critical report on the Care Quality Commission, Health Secretary Wes Streeting describes the body as not fit for purpose. ** 2024 Conservative Party leadership election (UK), Conservative Party leadership election: Former Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride becomes the fourth candidate to announce his intention to run for the Conservative Party leadership election. * 27 July – 2024 Conservative Party leadership election (UK), Conservative Party leadership election: Priti Patel becomes the fifth candidate to put their name forward for the election, standing as a unity candidate. * 28 July – Labour accuses the previous Conservative government of "covering up" "catastrophic" problems in the public sector and creating a multi-billion pound gap in public finances. The Conservatives say Labour are "lying" and "peddling nonsense" as all the detail of public finances has been put into the public domain by the Office for Budget Responsibility since 2010. Former chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, says "the books have been wide open and what they show is a healthy, growing economy – not the fiction Labour is now peddling which is widely rejected by independent commentators" and that "trying to scam the British people so soon after being elected is a high-risk strategy doomed to fail". * 29 July – ** The UK government and the British Medical Association (BMA) reach agreement on an improved pay deal for junior doctors in England worth 22% on average over two years, which the BMA will put to its members. ** 2024 United Kingdom Spending Review: *** Chancellor Rachel Reeves conducts a 2024 United Kingdom Spending Review, spending review in which she axes winter fuel payments for pensioners not receiving pension credit (roughly around 10 million people), while also announcing the cancellation of several infrastructure projects. Reeves argues she has had to make "necessary and urgent decisions" because of an "unfunded" and "undisclosed" overspending of £21.9bn by the previous government. Shadow Chancellor Jeremy Hunt dismisses her allegations as "spurious". *** The new Labour government scraps the controversial proposed Stonehenge road tunnel. *** Reeves confirms 30 October as the date of the October 2024 United Kingdom budget, Autumn budget. *** In response to Reeves' allegations about public services, Hunt writes to Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, who heads the civil service, to dispute Labour's allegations and request an "immediate answer" to "conflicting claims" that risk "bringing the civil service into disrepute". ** 2024 Conservative Party leadership election (UK), 2024 Conservative Party leadership election: ***
Kemi Badenoch Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch (' Adegoke; born 2 January 1980) is a British politician who has served as Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom), Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservati ...
becomes the sixth person to enter the leadership race. *** Nominations close for candidates to be included in the first round of the leadership contest. ** The UK government drops its appeal against a court ruling against the Troubles Legacy Act that found part of the legislation to be unlawful. * 30 July – Housing Secretary
Angela Rayner Angela Rayner (' Bowen; born 28 March 1980) is a British politician who has served as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government since 2024 United Kingdom general election, Jul ...
reintroduces mandatory local housing targets in an overhaul of planning rules; the new Labour government has pledged to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029. * 31 July – ** Energy Secretary Ed Miliband announces an increase in the budget for the annual renewable energy auction, which will rise to £1.5bn, up by £500m from 2023. ** Tulip Siddiq, Economic Secretary to the Treasury and Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate (UK Parliament constituency), Hampstead and Highgate, becomes the first MP of the new Parliament to be placed under investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Standards Commissioner, over a failure to register rental income on a London property.


August

* 2 August – The BBC reports that Labour has shelved £1.3bn of funding promised by the Conservatives for tech and artificial intelligence (AI) projects, including an Exascale computing, exascale supercomputer at Edinburgh University. * 6 August – ** The UK government begins the process of drawing up legislation to abolish the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023, which required striking workers such as teachers, firefighters and railway staff to provide a minimum level of service. ** The
Senedd The Senedd ( ; ), officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and () in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, Its role is to scrutinise the Welsh Government and legislate on devolve ...
is Recall of parliament, recalled to choose a new First Minister of Wales, with Eluned Morgan (politician), Eluned Morgan nominated to become the first woman to hold the post. * 7 August – ** Ofcom have received more than 8,200 complaints about two interviews during the 5 August edition of ''Good Morning Britain (2014 TV programme), Good Morning Britain'' – the first involving presenter Ed Balls who spoke to his wife, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, and the second involving an interview Balls and Kate Garraway did with Labour MP Zarah Sultana. **
Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford (born 19 September 1954) is a Welsh politician who has served as Cabinet Secretary for Finance since September 2024, having previously held the position from 2016 to 2018. He previously served as First Minister of Wales and L ...
, Wales's former First Minister, returns to government after he is appointed Health Secretary by Eluned Morgan. * 8 August – ** The
Northern Ireland Assembly The Northern Ireland Assembly (; ), often referred to by the metonym ''Stormont'', is the devolved unicameral legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliam ...
is recalled to discuss the 2024 United Kingdom riots. ** Nominations open for the 2024 Scottish Conservatives leadership election. ** Ricky Jones, a Labour councillor in Dartford, is suspended by his party and arrested over comments made at an anti-racism rally the previous day in which he suggested far-right protestors who took part in the 2024 UK riots should have their throats cut. ** Lauren Edwards, the Labour MP for Rochester and Strood (UK Parliament constituency), Rochester and Strood, apologises after, what she describes as "a small number of", offensive tweets posted by her in 2009 resurface. * 9 August – ** Dartford councillor Ricky Jones is charged with encouraging violent disorder. ** Conservative Senedd member Laura Anne Jones apologises for her use of an ethnic slur about Chinese people during a WhatsApp discussion about TikTok. * 12 August – 2024 United Kingdom riots: Downing Street confirms that Starmer has cancelled his planned summer holiday in order to continue to address the violence. * 14 August – ** The Scottish Government confirms it will follow the UK government by scrapping universal winter fuel payments for pensioners, with the benefit to be means tested. ** Jess Phillips apologises for a tweet she made regarding the 2024 United Kingdom riots, summer riots. * 15 August – Chancellor
Rachel Reeves Rachel Jane Reeves (born 13 February 1979) is a British politician who has served as Chancellor of the Exchequer since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, she has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Leeds West and Pudsey, formerly Leed ...
faces questions about the appointment of a Labour Party donor to a senior role at
HM Treasury His Majesty's Treasury (HM Treasury or HMT), and informally referred to as the Treasury, is the Government of the United Kingdom’s economic and finance ministry. The Treasury is responsible for public spending, financial services policy, Tax ...
. * 16 August – **
David Lammy David Lindon Lammy FRSA (born 19 July 1972) is a British politician who has served as Foreign Secretary since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, he has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Tottenham since 2000. Lammy previously held vario ...
visits Israel with his French counterpart Stéphane Séjourné, and they release a joint statement calling for a ceasefire. ** 2024 Scottish Conservatives leadership election: *** Four of the six candidates running for the position of Scottish Conservative leader call for the race to be paused after allegations about Douglas Ross's behaviour as leader. The allegations concern a report that in July 2023 Ross had asked for the leader of Moray Council, Moray council, Kathleen Robertson, to stand down as the prospective parliamentary candidate for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey (UK Parliament constituency), Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey. *** Meghan Gallacher resigns as the party's deputy leader, citing a "potential risk to the reputation of our party and the leadership contest" after reports that Ross had previously suggested Russell Findlay should succeed him. ** The government faces questions about the appointment of Emily Middleton to a senior civil service role, as she has been previously linked to previous donations to the Labour Party. ** A group of MPs call on the government of Azerbaijan to free an academic from the London School of Economics and Political Science who was detained after writing articles critical of the country's environmental policies. ** British American academic Alan M. Taylor is appointed to the Bank of England's interest rate-setting committee. ** The UK government confirms that victims of the Contaminated blood scandal in the United Kingdom, contaminated blood scandal will begin receiving compensation before the end of the year, with some being entitled to more than £2.5m. * 17 August – ** It is reported that the Register of Members' Interests shows
Reform UK Reform UK is a right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Nigel Farage has been Leader of Reform UK and Richard Tice deputy leader since 2024. It has five members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons and one membe ...
leader
Nigel Farage Nigel Paul Farage ( ; born 3 April 1964) is a British politician and broadcaster who has been Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Clacton (UK Parliament constituency), Clacton and Leader of Reform UK since 20 ...
as Britain's highest earning MP, with a monthly salary of £96,000 on top of what he is paid as an MP. The majority of his earnings come from his presenting role on
GB News GB News is a British free-to-air, editorial, opinion-orientated television and radio news channel. The channel is available on Freeview (UK), Freeview, Freesat, Sky UK, Sky, YouView, Virgin Media and via the internet on Samsung TV Plus, LG web ...
. Farage subsequently says the amount is not a monthly sum, but represents presenting and consultancy work done since April. ** SNP MSP John Mason (Scottish politician), John Mason is stripped of the party whip (politics), whip after a Twitter post in which he said that Israel's actions in Gaza did not amount to "genocide", something a party spokesperson describes as "completely unacceptable". * 18 August – ** The Home Office announces that new plans by the UK government will see extreme misogyny treated as a form of extremism. ** Mark Smith, an official with the Foreign Office and based at the Embassy of the United Kingdom, Dublin, British Embassy in Dublin, resigns in protest at arms sales to Israel, and suggests the UK government "may be complicit in war crimes". * 19 August – ** The UK government activates Operation Early Dawn, its measures to ease prison overcrowding, as more people are given custodial sentences over their roles in the riots. The measures, in place in the north of England and the Midlands, will see defendants waiting to appear in court held at police stations until a prison space is available for them. Jo Stevens, the Secretary of State for Wales, subsequently says that the measures will be in force for "a very short period", typically "a matter of days, or at the most months". ** The Scottish Government announces it will hold no further talks with Israeli ambassadors until there is "real progress" in resolving the Gaza conflict. ** Christina McKelvie, the Scottish Government's Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy, announces she will step back from the role while receiving treatment for secondary breast cancer. Her duties will be assumed by fellow ministers
Neil Gray Neil Charles Gray (born 16 March 1986) is a Scottish politician serving as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care since 2024. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), he has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Airdr ...
and Jenni Minto. ** First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan (politician), Eluned Morgan holds her first meeting with Prime Minister
Keir Starmer Sir Keir Rodney Starmer (born 2 September 1962) is a British politician and lawyer who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024 and as Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party since 2020. He previously ...
since taking office. ** Doug Beattie resigns as leader of the
Ulster Unionist Party The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) is a Unionism in Ireland, unionist political party in Northern Ireland. The party was founded as the Ulster Unionist Council in 1905, emerging from the Irish Unionist Alliance in Ulster. Under Edward Carson, it l ...
, triggering a 2024 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election, leadership election. * 20 August – 2024 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election: Nominations open to elect the next leader of the Ulster Unionist Party. * 21 August – 2024 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election: Doug Beattie rules himself out of running for re-election as UUP leader. * 22–23 August – **2024 United Kingdom general election betting scandal: The Metropolitan Police ends its investigation into the betting scandal, saying that the offences being investigated have not met the "high bar" to prove misconduct in public office. The matter remains under investigation by the Gambling Commission. **The UK government authorises the Infected Blood Compensation Authority to begin making payments to affected patients. *26 August – ** Keir Starmer cancels the appointment of Gwyn Jenkins as national security adviser. ** Questions are raised over Waheed Alli, Baron Alli, Waheed Alli and his temporary pass to Number 10. * 27 August – ** Keir Starmer delivers his first major speech a speech since becoming prime minister, and warns that the October 2024 United Kingdom budget, October budget will be "painful". ** The UK government cancels a £40m helicopter contract agreed by former Prime Minister
Rishi Sunak Rishi Sunak (born 12 May 1980) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from 2022 to 2024. Following his defeat to Keir Starmer's La ...
. **The UK government announces an extra £10.5m of funding to prepare for new EU border checks, with major ports receiving extra funding to prepare for the changes. ** The Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC) warns the SNP government that “difficult decisions” are needed to balance its budget. * 28 August – **Starmer meets with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin to discuss United Kingdom–European Union relations, UK–EU relations, before attending the 2024 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony, Paralympics opening ceremony in Paris. **First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan is appointed a Privy Council (United Kingdom), Privy Councillor. * 29 August – **Starmer confirms that the UK government is considering introducing tougher measures on outdoor smoking in order to reduce the number of tobacco-related deaths. **
Colum Eastwood Colum Eastwood (born 30 April 1983) is an Irish nationalism, Irish nationalist politician who served as Social Democratic and Labour Party, Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) from 2015 to 2024. He has served as the Member o ...
announces he will resign as leader of the
Social Democratic and Labour Party The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP; ) is a social democratic and Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. The SDLP currently has eight members in the Northern Ireland Assembly ( MLAs) and two members of Parliament (M ...
, triggering a 2024 Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership election, leadership election. * 30 August – **A review is launched into Starmer's appointments of Labour donors to senior civil service jobs following allegations of cronyism. **Conservative MP Esther McVey is criticised as "repugnant" by Jewish groups for sharing part of "First They Came", Martin Niemoller's 1946 poem about the Holocaust, in a tweet voicing her opposition to proposed new bans on outdoor smoking. McVey insists she was not equating the bans with Nazi persecution of the Jews, and says "no offence was ever intended". **It is reported that Starmer has moved a portrait of Margaret Thatcher from her former 10 Downing Street study to elsewhere in the building. He subsequently says that he moved the portrait because he "didn’t want a picture of anyone" in his study and prefers landscapes. **2024 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election: After nominations close,
Mike Nesbitt Michael Nesbitt, Member of the Legislative Assembly (Northern Ireland), MLA (born 11 May 1957) is a Northern Irish politician and former broadcaster
is the only candidate to put their name forward, and will be ratified as the party's next leader at a meeting on 14 September. ** During a closed-door session at the SNP Party Conference, leader John Swinney tells delegates the party's losses at the election occurred because it spent too much time focusing on the "process of independence". The comments are recorded and leaked to ''
The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...
'', which publishes them the following day.


September

* 1 September – ** Labour MP Jas Athwal sacks the letting agent managing his properties after a BBC investigation found they were infested with mould and ants. ** John Swinney gives his keynote speech to the SNP Annual Conference, saying that he will put the "people's priorities" at the heard of the Scottish Government, and that he will work to convince voters that Scottish independence is the "route" to delivering a fairer and stronger country. ** 2024 Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership election: Claire Hanna, the MP for Belfast South and Mid Down (UK Parliament constituency), Belfast South and Mid Down, confirms her intention to run as SDLP leader. * 2 September – ** 2024 Conservative Party leadership election:
Kemi Badenoch Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch (' Adegoke; born 2 January 1980) is a British politician who has served as Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom), Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservati ...
launches her leadership campaign with a speech in central London during which she says the Conservatives need to "stop acting like Labour". ** Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn unites with four other independent MPs to create the Independent Alliance (United Kingdom), Independent Alliance, a pro-Gaza war, Gaza group and the joint fifth largest group in Parliament. * 3 September – ** The Medicines (Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Analogues) (Emergency Prohibition) (England, Wales and Scotland) Order 2024 ceases to have effect. ** A leaked letter penned by Cabinet Secretary Simon Case describes the previous Conservative government's failure to hold a spending review in its final years in office as a contributing factor towards uncertainty over the state of public finances. Case also disputes the Conservative stance that Labour's allegation that they have inherited an economic "black hole" is bringing the civil service into disrepute. ** 2024 Conservative Party leadership election:
Tom Tugendhat Thomas Georg John Tugendhat (born 27 June 1973) is a British politician who has been the Member of Parliament (UK), Member of Parliament (MP) for Tonbridge (UK Parliament constituency), Tonbridge, previously Tonbridge and Malling (UK Parliamen ...
launches his leadership bid, and says he would take the UK out of the
European Convention on Human Rights The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR; formally the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms) is a Supranational law, supranational convention to protect human rights and political freedoms in Europe. Draf ...
if he could not reform it. ** In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Finance Secretary Shona Robison outlines £500m of spending cuts. She argues the cuts are needed because of an additional £800m in financial costs brought about by public sector pay deals, austerity from Westminster, inflation, the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland, COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. * 4 September – ** 2024 Conservative Party leadership election: *** Former Home Secretary
Priti Patel Dame Priti Sushil Patel (born 29 March 1972) is a British politician who has served as Shadow Foreign Secretary since November 2024, having previously served as Home Secretary from 2019 to 2022. A member of the Conservative Party, she was Secr ...
is knocked out of the leadership content in the first round of voting by Conservative MPs. *** BBC News reports that the 2024 Conservative Party Conference will not have a leader's speech from Rishi Sunak, but will instead be dedicated to showcasing its leadership candidates. ** The Scottish Government abandons an unfulfilled commitment to expand free school meals to all primary school pupils. * 5 September – ** The UK government sets out its plan to abolish hereditary peers in the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
. ** The Northern Ireland Executive agrees a draft programme of government, seven months after the return of Stormont. * 6 September – ** BBC News reports that Estonia's Justice Minister, Liisa Pakosta, discussed the possibility of housing foreign prisoners, including those from the UK, in one of its prisons with UK Justice Minister Shabana Mahmood at an AI summit in Vilnius the previous day. ** Pallavi Devulapalli, health spokesperson for the Green Party of England and Wales, is suspended for calling reports of LGBTQ hate crime "mischievous" and saying she is "yet to meet anyone" who denied a person's right to "dress" and "be addressed as they please". * 7 September – ** In a joint article published by ''The Financial Times'', Sir Richard Moore, the chief of MI6, and William J. Burns (diplomat), William Burns, the director of the CIA, warn that the world is "under threat in a way we haven't seen since the Cold War". ** United Kingdom–Ireland relations: Keir Starmer travels to Ireland and meets Taoiseach Simon Harris, becoming the first British Prime Minister to visit Ireland for five years. He describes the occasion as a chance to reset the UK's relationship with Ireland. ** Former First Minister of Wales
Vaughan Gething Humphrey Vaughan ap David Gething (born 15 March 1974) is a Welsh Labour Co-op politician who served as First Minister of Wales from March to August 2024, and served as leader of Welsh Labour from March to July 2024, making him the first blac ...
confirms he will not stand for re-election at the 2026 Senedd election. * 8 September – Stephen Farry resigns as Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, Deputy Leader of the Alliance Party, triggering a 2024 Alliance Party of Northern Ireland deputy leadership election, deputy leadership election. * 9 September – ** Starmer chairs the inaugural meeting of a group dedicated to tackling knife crime, made up of police officers, figures from technology companies and the families of victims of knife crime. They are also joined by actor Idris Elba, who has campaigned against knife crime. ** Stormont unveils its Programme for Government, a document titled ''Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most'', which sets out nine "immediate priorities" to be worked on for the duration of the government. A public consultation on the document is also launched. * 10 September – ** MPs vote 348–228 to restrict winter fuel payments to pensioners receiving Pension Credit. ** 2024 Conservative Party leadership election: Mel Stride is eliminated from the leadership contest in the second round of voting. * 11 September – ** The Scottish Government loses a non-binding vote calling for the rollout of free school meals to all primary school pupils, with MSPs voting 64–2 for the motion. ** First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan carries out her first cabinet reshuffle, which includes appointing
Jeremy Miles Jeremy Miles (born August 1971) is a Welsh Labour Co-op politician serving as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care since September 2024. He previously served in the Welsh Government as Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh L ...
as Health Minister and
Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford (born 19 September 1954) is a Welsh politician who has served as Cabinet Secretary for Finance since September 2024, having previously held the position from 2016 to 2018. He previously served as First Minister of Wales and L ...
as Finance Minister. * 12 September – 2024 Alliance Party of Northern Ireland deputy leadership election, 2024 Alliance Party deputy leadership election: Alliance's party executive meeting will set the timescale for election of a new deputy leader. * 13 September – ** Starmer visits the
White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...
to hold talks with US President Joe Biden. ** The Green Party of England and Wales is ordered to pay £90,000 in compensation after former deputy leader
Shahrar Ali Mohammad Shahrar Ali, known as Shahrar Ali (), is a British politician and university manager who served as deputy leader of the Green Party of England and Wales from 2014 to 2016. He stood for election to be leader of the Green Party in 2018, ...
won a discrimination case against them. * 14 September – ** Former Conservative immigration minister Timothy Kirkhope says he "regrets" his government's "Stop the Boats" rhetoric, which he believes helped to inflame the 2024 United Kingdom riots. ** UEFA warns the UK government that Britain could be prevented from hosting Euro 2028 over plans for a football regulator (outlined in the Football Governance Bill) because of concerns about "government interference" in the sport. * 15 September – ''
The Sunday Times ''The Sunday Times'' is a British Sunday newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of N ...
'' reports that Starmer may have broken parliamentary rules by failing to declare clothes bought for his wife, Victoria Starmer, Victoria, by Labour donor Lord Waheed Alli. * 16 September – **Downing Street confirms that the Parliamentary Commissioner on Standards will not investigate whether Starmer broke parliamentary rules by not declaring a gift of clothes for his wife. **The Welsh Government scraps plans to force parties in the Senedd to ensure 50% of their candidates are women. * 18 September – **Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey unveils an expanded 2024 Liberal Democrats Frontbench Team reshuffle, 33-member frontbench team following the party's gains at the general election. **Former Prime Minister Sir John Major criticises the Sunak government's Rwanda asylum plan, describing it as "un-Conservative and un-British". **Ofcom announces it will not investigate Ed Balls' interview with his wife, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, on ''Good Morning Britain (2014 TV programme), Good Morning Britain'' on 5 August despite receiving over 16,000 viewer complaints. ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall defends the interview's impartiality, but says the broadcaster would not do it again. * 20 September – Downing Street confirms that Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves will no longer accept donations for clothing following controversy over gifts given to Starmer's wife. * 22–25 September – The 2024 Labour Party Conference is scheduled to take place at the ACC Liverpool. * 24 September – **Starmer gives his keynote conference speech, setting out plans for "national renewal" but telling delegates there are no "easy answers". **Starmer pledges to give all veterans, young care leavers and victims of domestic abuse a "guaranteed roof over their head". **Senedd members vote to withdraw proposals to require parties to ensure 50% of their candidates are women. * 25 September – **Unions win a nonbinding vote at the Labour Party Conference calling on the government to reverse its cuts to winter fuel payments. **Former Conservative MP and government minister
Michael Gove Michael Andrew Gove, Baron Gove (; born Graeme Andrew Logan, 26 August 1967) is a British politician and journalist who served in various Cabinet of the United Kingdom, Cabinet positions under David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Rish ...
is appointed as editor of ''The Spectator'', and will take up the post in early October. **Conservative Senedd member Natasha Asghar is reprimanded by Senedd authorities for calling Wales' 20 mph speed limit a "blanket" policy on social media, while signing off a report advising her party to refrain from using the term. * 26 September – **Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy hold their first meeting with Donald Trump, attending a two-hour dinner with the Republican presidential candidate in New York. **Former Conservative Party chairwoman Baroness Saeeda Warsi resigns from the party in the House of Lords, saying it has lurched to the "far-right". * 27 September – **2024 Scottish Conservatives leadership election: Russell Findlay is elected as the new leader of the Scottish Conservatives, succeeding Douglas Ross (Scottish politician), Douglas Ross. **The
Senedd Commission The Senedd Commission () is the corporate body for the Senedd of Wales. The commission is responsible for ensuring the property, staff and services are provided for the Senedd. The commission consists of the Llywydd of the Senedd and four memb ...
forecasts it will need an extra £1.2m in 2025–26 to prepare for a larger Senedd at the 2026 election. * 28 September – **Rosie Duffield, MP for Canterbury (UK Parliament constituency), Canterbury, resigns from the Labour Party, citing what she describes as it "cruel" policies and Keir Starmer's "staggering hypocrisy" over his acceptance of gifts. In her resignation letter to Starmer she said, "The sleaze, nepotism and apparent avarice are off the scale. I am so ashamed of what you and your inner circle have done to tarnish and humiliate our once proud party". **Charles III marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Scottish Parliament at an event in Edinburgh. **Rachael Hamilton is appointed deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives. **2024 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election:
Mike Nesbitt Michael Nesbitt, Member of the Legislative Assembly (Northern Ireland), MLA (born 11 May 1957) is a Northern Irish politician and former broadcaster
is confirmed as the UUP's new leader at the party's annual conference. **
Sinn Féin Sinn Féin ( ; ; ) is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The History of Sinn Féin, original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffit ...
president Mary Lou McDonald tells her party's annual conference in the Republic of Ireland that the next Irish government will include a Minister for Reunification if Sinn Féin are part of the administration. * 29 September – **Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden confirms that ministers will be required to declare hospitality linked to their government posts following weeks of headlines about Starmer and other senior ministers receiving gifts from major Labour donor Lord Alli. **The Conservative Party Conference begins in Birmingham, with the first day dominated by a row over comments made by leadership candidate
Kemi Badenoch Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch (' Adegoke; born 2 January 1980) is a British politician who has served as Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom), Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservati ...
, who said maternity pay had "gone too far". Badenoch says her comments have been "misrepresented" and refer to the broader issue of cutting red tape for businesses. **Sunak makes his farewell speech as Conservative Party leader, urging the party to unite behind his successor. * 30 September – Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, the UK's most senior civil servant, announces he will step down by the end of the year due to health grounds.


October

* 1 October – In a televised address from Downing Street, Prime Minister
Sir Keir Starmer Sir Keir Rodney Starmer (born 2 September 1962) is a British politician and lawyer who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024 and as Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party since 2020. He previously ...
condemns 2024 Iran–Israel conflict, Iran's missile attack on Israel and says that Britain "stand[s] with Israel and ... [recognises] her right to self-defence in the face of this aggression". * 2 October – **Starmer makes his first visit to Brussels as prime minister, where he is attempting to rebuild UK–EU relations. **It is reported that Starmer has repaid £6,000 in gifts and hospitality received since becoming prime minister. **The Parliamentary Commission on Standards has launched an investigation into Labour peer Lord Alli over allegations of failing to register interests. * 3 October – **The UK announces that it will give up sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, subject to finalisation of a treaty. **BBC presenter Laura Kuenssberg cancels a scheduled televised interview with Boris Johnson after accidentally sending him her briefing notes. **Labour MP Kim Leadbeater announces plans to introduce a bill on Assisted suicide in the United Kingdom, assisted dying after earlier being selected to put forward a
private member's bill A private member's bill is a bill (proposed law) introduced into a legislature by a legislator who is not acting on behalf of the executive branch. The designation "private member's bill" is used in most Westminster system jurisdictions, in wh ...
. * 4 October – **GB News loses a High Court (England and Wales), High Court challenge against Ofcom in which it hoped to temporarily block the regulator from sanctioning it over its ''People's Forum'' programme featuring
Rishi Sunak Rishi Sunak (born 12 May 1980) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from 2022 to 2024. Following his defeat to Keir Starmer's La ...
in February, while Sunak was prime minister. GB News is given permission to challenge the ruling, with Ofcom agreeing to hold off publication of its findings until the case is heard. **A blue plaque is installed at a branch of Tesco in Walthamstow to mark the October 2022 purchase of the Liz Truss lettuce, which famously outlived Premiership of Liz Truss, her premiership. * 6 October – After what ''The Guardian'' describes as "months of sniping and criticism" of her, including that her salary was £3,000 higher than that of the prime minister, Sue Gray (political adviser), Sue Gray resigns as Downing Street Chief of Staff. In her resignation statement, Gray says she "risked becoming a distraction". Morgan McSweeney, a person with whom Gray is said to have disagreed in government, is chosen by Starmer to replace her. * 7 October – ** Foreign Secretary
David Lammy David Lindon Lammy FRSA (born 19 July 1972) is a British politician who has served as Foreign Secretary since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, he has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Tottenham since 2000. Lammy previously held vario ...
says that the UK's decision to relinquish sovereignty of the Chagos Islands does not mean it has changed its position on the sovereignty of other overseas territories, such as the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar. ** Chagossians opposed to the government's decision to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius protest outside Parliament. Chagossians living in the UK complain that they were not consulted on the decision, with one saying "We don’t have a say, it’s as if we don’t count. We are just like their puppets. Where are our human rights?". * 8 October – 2024 Conservative Party leadership election:
Tom Tugendhat Thomas Georg John Tugendhat (born 27 June 1973) is a British politician who has been the Member of Parliament (UK), Member of Parliament (MP) for Tonbridge (UK Parliament constituency), Tonbridge, previously Tonbridge and Malling (UK Parliamen ...
is eliminated from the leadership race in the latest round of voting, leaving three candidates to go forward to the next round. * 9 October – **2024 Conservative Party leadership election: James Cleverly is knocked out of the leadership race, leaving
Kemi Badenoch Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch (' Adegoke; born 2 January 1980) is a British politician who has served as Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom), Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservati ...
and Robert Jenrick to through to the final round, with the new leader chosen in a ballot of party members. **Leena Sarah Farhat, a member of Llanfairfechan Town Council, is suspended by the Liberal Democrats after sharing a social media post that appeared to celebrate the 7 October attacks. * 10 October – **Starmer holds talks with Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky in Downing Street as Zelensky seeks ongoing support for the war against Russia. **Starmer chairs the inaugural meeting of the Council of the Nations and Regions in Edinburgh, bringing together the leaders of the UK's devolved nations and regional mayors. **Steve Davies, a former councillor with Ceredigion County Council and Aberystwyth Town Council, is disqualified from holding public office for three years after sending unwanted love letters and gifts to a number of women. * 11 October – At the
Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru ( ; , ; officially Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales, and often referred to simply as Plaid) is a centre-left, Welsh nationalist list of political parties in Wales, political party in Wales, committed to Welsh independence from th ...
Annual Conference, the party's four Westminster MPs back a motion calling for a sporting and economic boycott of Israel over the war in Gaza. * 12 October – Plaid Cymru votes to adopt the motion calling for a sporting and economic boycott of Israel. * 13 October – **Flags are lowered to half-mast at the Scottish Parliament following the death of former First Minister Alex Salmond the previous day. **MSP John Mason (Scottish politician), John Mason is expelled from the SNP after posting on Twitter that there was "no genocide" in Gaza. * 14 October – **
David Lammy David Lindon Lammy FRSA (born 19 July 1972) is a British politician who has served as Foreign Secretary since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, he has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Tottenham since 2000. Lammy previously held vario ...
becomes the first UK Foreign Secretary to attend a meeting of EU foreign ministers since Brexit as part of Labour's wish to "reset" the UK's relationship with the EU. **Monarchists in Australia have criticised a decision by the country's state premieres to be absent from a reception held by Charles III when he visits the country later in the month, describing it as a snub. * 16 October – The Assisted Dying Bill is introduced into Parliament, criticised by
Archbishop of Canterbury The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the Primus inter pares, ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the bishop of the diocese of Canterbury. The first archbishop ...
Justin Welby Justin Portal Welby (born 6 January 1956) is an Anglican bishop who served as the 105th archbishop of Canterbury in the Church of England from 2013 to 2025. After an 11-year career in the oil industry, Welby trained for ordination at St John ...
as "dangerous" and a "slippery slope". * 17 October – **Former Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay is formally introduced into the House of Lords as Lord Mackinlay of Richborough. Now affectionately known as the 'bionic lord', he is the first quadruple amputee to sit in the Lords. **2024 Conservative Party leadership election: Conservative Party leadership candidates Robert Jenrick and
Kemi Badenoch Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch (' Adegoke; born 2 January 1980) is a British politician who has served as Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom), Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservati ...
take part in a leadership debate on GB News, but Badenoch has turned down an invitation to take part in a ''Question Time (TV series), Question Time'' special on BBC One, and a planned online debate organised by ''The Sun (United Kingdom), The Sun''. * 18 October – **
King Charles III Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. Charles was born at Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, and ...
and Queen Camilla arrive in Australia for their royal tour, Charles's first visit to the country since becoming King. **10 Downing Street says there will be no apology for the UK's role in the transatlantic slave trade when Charles III and Starmer attend the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Commonwealth summit in Samoa. **Former ''Daily Record (Scotland), Daily Record'' editor Murray Foote announces he is standing down as chief executive of the SNP after 14 months in the post. * 19 October – The SNP appoints Carol Beattie, a former chief executive of Stirling Council, as interim chief executive following the resignation of Murray Foote. * 20 October – **The UK government announces plans to appoint a minister to oversee the building of HS2, as well as confirming it will not reinstate the route's Birmingham to Manchester leg. **The ''Sunday Times'' reports that Rushanara Ali has given up responsibility for managing building safety after survivors of the Grenfell tower fire called for her to stand down following an article that highlighted her attendance at the Franco-British Colloque, a conference that brings together senior politicians, civil servants and business leaders. * 21 October – A Freedom of Information request reveals that Suella Braverman sent government documents to her private email account 127 times while she was Attorney General, potentially breaching the ministerial code. * 22 October – The Welsh Government pays a £19m tax bill for the environment agency, Natural Resources Wales, following a HM Revenue and Customs investigation into how the agency hired specialist contractors. **The UK signs what it has described as a "landmark defence agreement" with Germany. * 23 October – **Charles III and Camilla arrive in Samoa for a state visit, where the King will preside over the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. **The Senedd votes 26–19 to defeat a motion calling for a new law to allow assisted dying in England and Wales. **The Parliamentary Commission on Standards finds that Lord Waheed Alli committed four minor breaches in the register of members' interests. * 24 October – **Chancellor
Rachel Reeves Rachel Jane Reeves (born 13 February 1979) is a British politician who has served as Chancellor of the Exchequer since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, she has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Leeds West and Pudsey, formerly Leed ...
announces the UK government is to change its self-imposed debt rules in order to make an extra £50bn available for spending at the October 2024 United Kingdom budget, forthcoming budget. **
Lee Waters Lee Waters (born 12 February 1976) is a Welsh Labour and Co-operative politician who served as Deputy Minister for Climate Change from 2021 to 2024. He has served as the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Llanelli since 2016. Early life Waters gre ...
announces he will step down from the Senedd at the 2026 election. * 26 October – **Commonwealth leaders agree the "time has come" for a conversation about reparations for the slave trade, despite the UK's wish to keep the topic off the agenda at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. **Buckingham Palace announces that Charles III is expected to return to a "normal" schedule in 2025 after his trip to the Commonwealth summit proved to be a "perfect tonic". **A video emerges that appears to show Mike Amesbury, the MP for Runcorn and Helsby (UK Parliament constituency), Runcorn and Helsby, shouting and swearing at a man who is lying on the ground during an apparent disturbance. **Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens is accused by the Conservatives of bringing her office into disrepute after recording a political interview on its premises, something which they say breaches the civil service code. *28 October – The Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom), speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, reprimands the Chancellor of the Exchequer, chancellor,
Rachel Reeves Rachel Jane Reeves (born 13 February 1979) is a British politician who has served as Chancellor of the Exchequer since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, she has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Leeds West and Pudsey, formerly Leed ...
, in the Commons for giving information to journalists in the US about the upcoming Budget, in potential contravention of the Ministerial Code, ministerial code, which expects major government announcements to be made in the Commons before to the news media. Hoyle said the early revelations were a "supreme discourtesy to the House". * 30 October – October 2024 United Kingdom budget. * 31 October – 2024 Conservative Party leadership election (UK), 2024 Conservative Party leadership election: Voting closes for the election of the Conservative Party's next leader.


November

* 2 November –
Kemi Badenoch Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch (' Adegoke; born 2 January 1980) is a British politician who has served as Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom), Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservati ...
wins the 2024 Conservative Party leadership election, Conservative leadership election, defeating rival Robert Jenrick after securing the support of party members. * 3 November – Police Scotland say they have received a fresh allegation concerning a non-recent sexual assault against former First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond. * 5 November – **The Office for Budget Responsibility said that
HM Treasury His Majesty's Treasury (HM Treasury or HMT), and informally referred to as the Treasury, is the Government of the United Kingdom’s economic and finance ministry. The Treasury is responsible for public spending, financial services policy, Tax ...
should have disclosed a £9.5bn overspend before the March 2024 United Kingdom budget, budget in March "by law". A Treasury spokesperson said it had acted "within the law". **It is announced that Northern Ireland First Minister
Michelle O'Neill Michelle O'Neill ( Doris; born 10 January 1977) is an Irish politician who has been First Minister of Northern Ireland since February 2024 and President of Sinn Féin#Vice Presidents, Vice President of Sinn Féin since 2018. She has also been ...
will become the first senior Sinn Féin figure to take part in an official Remembrance Sunday ceremony in Belfast, which is scheduled to take place on 10 November. * 6 November – **Following the 2024 Labour Party freebies controversy, freebies scandal, Prime Minister
Sir Keir Starmer Sir Keir Rodney Starmer (born 2 September 1962) is a British politician and lawyer who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024 and as Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party since 2020. He previously ...
announces a tightening of the rules regarding ministers' acceptance of gifts and hospitality. **Starmer congratulates
Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...
on his 2024 United States presidential election, election as President of the United States, and says that a strong UK–US relationship is "crucial". **John Swinney, the First Minister of Scotland, also offers Trump his congratulations. **Kemi Badenoch attends her first
Prime Minister's Questions Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs, officially known as Questions to the Prime Minister, while colloquially known as Prime Minister's Question Time) is a constitutional convention (political custom), constitutional convention in the United Kingd ...
as Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom), Leader of the Opposition. **Welsh Labour MP Steve Witherden apologises after he was reprimanded for drinking from a carton of milk in the House of Commons. * 7 November – **Foreign Secretary
David Lammy David Lindon Lammy FRSA (born 19 July 1972) is a British politician who has served as Foreign Secretary since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, he has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Tottenham since 2000. Lammy previously held vario ...
dismisses previous criticism of Donald Trump as "old news". He had described Trump as a "tyrant" and "a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath". He says he will be able to find "common ground" with the US president-elect. **MP for Runcorn and Helsby, Mike Amesbury, is to be charged with common assault, following a police investigation into video footage that appeared to show him punching a man to the ground in the street. Amesbury was suspended from the Labour Party after the video emerged. * 8 November – Jonathan Powell (civil servant), Jonathan Powell, a former Chief of Staff to Tony Blair, is appointed as the UK's National Security Adviser (United Kingdom), national security adviser, replacing Sir Tim Barrow. * 9 November – Former Health Secretary Alan Milburn, who served in the Blair government, is appointed as a non-executive director on the board of the Department of Health. * 10 November – **Treasury minister Darren Jones (politician), Darren Jones tells BBC One's ''
Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg ''Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg'' is a BBC Sunday morning talk show presented by Laura Kuenssberg, broadcast on BBC One. It is also simulcast by the BBC News (British TV channel), UK feed and occasionally by the BBC News (international TV channe ...
'' the UK government's commitment to Ukraine is "resolute" amid concerns Donald Trump could push the country into giving up territory to Russia once he becomes president. **First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill becomes the first senior Sinn Féin figure to take part in an official Remembrance Sunday ceremony, held in Belfast. * 11 November – **The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would allow terminally ill people in England and Wales with less than six months to live to seek assistance in ending their lives, with the consent of two doctors and a High Court judge, is published. **At the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, Starmer travels to France to mark Armistice Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (France), Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, then holds talks with Macron to affirm the UK and France's commitment to supporting Ukraine. * 12 November – **Downing Street confirms that Sue Gray (civil servant), Sue Gray will not take up a role as the prime minister's envoy to the nations and regions. **The government sends a contingency of 470 delegates to the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan, with an estimated carbon dioxide footprint of at least 338 tons. The delegation is reported to comprise 354 government officials or ministers and 116 others including representatives from British overseas territories and crown dependencies, journalists, business figures and policy experts. By comparison, Italy sends 437, the US 405 and France 115. **Starmer tells the COP29 climate conference that the UK will aim to reduce its emissions by 8% by 2035. **Stephen Flynn, the SNP's leader at Westminster, announces his intention to stand at the 2026 Scottish Parliament election. **Former Welsh government legal advisor Mick Antoniw and ex-minister Julie Morgan tell BBC News that subject to being passed at Westminster, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill would require a vote in the
Senedd The Senedd ( ; ), officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and () in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, Its role is to scrutinise the Welsh Government and legislate on devolve ...
to become legal in Wales. * 13 November – **Health Secretary Wes Streeting orders a review into the potential cost to the NHS of implementing changes to the law regarding assisted dying. **A report published by the
Electoral Commission An election commission is a body charged with overseeing the implementation of electioneering process of any country. The formal names of election commissions vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and may be styled an electoral commission, a c ...
reveals that over half the 2024 United Kingdom general election, 2024 general election candidates faced some kind of abuse. * 14 November – **Chancellor
Rachel Reeves Rachel Jane Reeves (born 13 February 1979) is a British politician who has served as Chancellor of the Exchequer since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, she has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Leeds West and Pudsey, formerly Leed ...
is reported to be planning the "biggest pension reform in decades" by merging council pension schemes into "pension megafunds" hoping they will boost economic growth. **In a speech to Mansion House, London, Mansion House, Andrew Bailey (banker), Andrew Bailey, the Governor of the Bank of England, says the UK must "rebuild relations" with the EU "while respecting the decision of the British people" who voted for Brexit. **
Neil Gray Neil Charles Gray (born 16 March 1986) is a Scottish politician serving as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care since 2024. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), he has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Airdr ...
, Scotland's Health and Social Care Secretary, apologises to the Scottish Parliament for not attending a "wider range" of football matches after he used a chauffeur driven vehicle to attend four games at Aberdeen F.C., something he says gave the impression he was acting "more as a fan and less as a minister". * 15 November – **A report by the National Audit Office reveals that the
Home Office The Home Office (HO), also known (especially in official papers and when referred to in Parliament) as the Home Department, is the United Kingdom's interior ministry. It is responsible for public safety and policing, border security, immigr ...
"cut corners" and made "poor decisions", while under pressure to stop housing migrants in hotels, when it purchased the former HM Prison Northeye for £15m in 2023; the site was derelict and contaminated with asbestos. **10 Downing Street apologises after meat and alcohol were served at a Diwali celebration held there in October. **Stephen McCabe resigns as leader of Inverclyde Council after appearing in court charged with assault and threatening behaviour. **Northern Ireland Communities Minister Gordon Lyons attends a football match between Northern Ireland national football team, Northern Ireland and Belarus national football team, Belarus despite UK government guidance that the game should not go ahead because of sanctions against Belarus over its stance over the Ukraine War. **The
Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is an officer of the British House of Commons. The work of the officer is overseen by the Commons Select Committee on Standards. The current commissioner is Daniel Greenberg. Duties The commissio ...
launches an investigation into
Democratic Unionist Party The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is a Unionism in Ireland, unionist, Ulster loyalism, loyalist, British nationalist and national conservative political party in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1971 during the Troubles by Ian Paisley, who ...
MP Sammy Wilson for an alleged breach of lobbying rules after he failed to declare an interest when tabling a question on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and following a visit to the area. * 16 November – **The SNP's National Executive Committee proposes cutting the number of staff at its headquarters from 26 to 16. **Ruth Maguire, MSP for Cunninghame South (Scottish Parliament constituency), Cunninghame South, announces she will not seek re-election at the 2026 Scottish Parliament election because she is to undergo treatment for cancer. **Protesters gather outside
Welsh Labour Welsh Labour (), formerly known as the Labour Party in Wales (), is an autonomous section of the United Kingdom Labour Party (UK), Labour Party in Wales and the largest party in modern Welsh politics. Welsh Labour and its forebears have won a p ...
's party conference to oppose changes to inheritance tax for farmers outlined in the October 2024 United Kingdom budget, October budget as Prime Minister
Sir Keir Starmer Sir Keir Rodney Starmer (born 2 September 1962) is a British politician and lawyer who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024 and as Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party since 2020. He previously ...
defends the government's changes. * 17 November –
Sir Ed Davey Sir Edward Jonathan Davey (born 25 December 1965) is a British politician who has served as the leader of the Liberal Democrat party since 2020. He served in the Cameron–Clegg coalition as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change f ...
, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, says that Jane Dodds, who leads the party in Wales, should reflect on her position after a report found she made a "grave error of judgement" in her handling of a sexual abuse scandal when she worked for the Church of England. * 18 November – At the 2024 G20 Rio de Janeiro summit, Starmer holds talks with Chinese president Xi Jimping and emphasises the importance of a "strong UK–China relationship" for both countries. * 19 November – **Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar says his party will expand the eligibility for winter fuel payments in Scotland if they win the 2026 Scottish Parliament election. **First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan offers
Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru ( ; , ; officially Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales, and often referred to simply as Plaid) is a centre-left, Welsh nationalist list of political parties in Wales, political party in Wales, committed to Welsh independence from th ...
an open invitation to support the Welsh Government's budget, scheduled to be delivered by Finance Secretary
Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford (born 19 September 1954) is a Welsh politician who has served as Cabinet Secretary for Finance since September 2024, having previously held the position from 2016 to 2018. He previously served as First Minister of Wales and L ...
on 10 December. **Wales's Health Secretary,
Jeremy Miles Jeremy Miles (born August 1971) is a Welsh Labour Co-op politician serving as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care since September 2024. He previously served in the Welsh Government as Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh L ...
announces that private healthcare will be used to help reduce the patient backlog in the NHS in Wales, NHS, with £50m allocated for health to be given to Wales's health boards to provide more appointments, tests and treatments. * 20 November – Peter Kyle, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, tells the BBC that a ban on social media for under-16s in the UK is "on the cards". * 21 November – Stephen Flynn, the SNP's leader at Westminster, says he will not seek a dual mandate by standing for the Scottish Parliament while he remains an MP. * 22 November – **Downing Street indicates that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would face arrest if he travelled to the UK following the issuing of an international arrest warrant for war crimes by the International Criminal Court. **Former prime minister Gordon Brown publicly declares his opposition to a new law on assisted dying. * 23 November – **The UK government advertises for a new negotiator which it hopes will deliver a "reset" of the UK's relationship with the European Union. **Secretary of State for Justice Shabana Mahmood writes to her constituents saying she is "profoundly concerned" about the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, not only for religious reasons but because of what it would mean for the state if one of its roles became helping people to die. She also describes the legislation as a "slippery slope towards death on demand". * 24 November – Alex Cole-Hamilton, the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats says his party will vote down the Scottish Government's upcoming budget if it contains even a "penny" promoting Scottish independence. * 25 November – **In an attempt to reassure industry there will not be further tax rises for business, Chancellor
Rachel Reeves Rachel Jane Reeves (born 13 February 1979) is a British politician who has served as Chancellor of the Exchequer since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, she has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Leeds West and Pudsey, formerly Leed ...
tells the Confederation of British Industry, CBI conference she is "not coming back with more borrowing or more taxes". **An online petition calling for another general election reaches two million signatures, the third largest since 2010; in response, Starmer says he is "not that surprised" that people who did not vote for Labour would want an election re-run. **South Wales politicians, including MP Sir Chris Bryant and MS Heledd Fychan, have criticised what they describe as a lack of preparation and insufficient warnings ahead of the arrival of Storm Bert. **The Welsh Government publishes the Levy and Registration bill to allow councils in Wales to raise a tax from visitor accommodation, with the £1.25 per person per night levy expected to be introduced from 2027. * 27 November – **The UK government announces an overhaul of gambling laws, which will restrict the amount people can bet online with each bet to £5 for those aged over 25 and £2 for those aged 18 to 24. **A Parliamentary Commission for Standards investigation is launched into Birmingham Yardley MP and Home Office minister Jess Phillips after she failed to register an interest on time. **Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch outlines her party's immigration policy, which reaffirms its commitment to a "strict migration cap"; she also says that her party got it "wrong" on immigration while in government. **MPs will debate an online petition calling for a re-run of the 2024 United Kingdom general election, 2024 general election in Westminster Hall, a secondary debating chamber, on 6 January 2025 after the petition attracted 2.8 million signatures. * 28 November – **Former Prime Minister
David Cameron David William Donald Cameron, Baron Cameron of Chipping Norton (born 9 October 1966) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016. Until 2015, he led the first coalition government in the UK s ...
announces his support for an assisted dying law in the UK. **Transport Secretary Louise Haigh reveals that she pleaded guilty to falsely saying a mobile phone had been stolen during a mugging before she became an MP and was given an absolute discharge by magistrates. **Unite the Union announces plans to proceed with a legal challenge to overturn the UK government's cuts to Winter Fuel Payments. **The Scottish Government announces that all pensioner households will receive a Winter Fuel Payment from Winter 2025–26, with those on Pension Credit receiving £200 or £300 dependent on age and the rest receiving £100. **Former Conservative MP Andrea Jenkyns defects to Reform UK, and announces plans to run as Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire in 2025 Greater Lincolnshire mayoral election, May 2025. **BBC News Wales reports that Senedd Conservatives will hold a vote of confidence in Welsh Conservatives, Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies on 3 December following a series of criticisms about his leadership. **Mauritian prime minister Navin Ramgoolam asks for an independent review of the UK's deal with his country over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands. * 29 November – **MPs vote 330 to 275 in favour of proposals to allow Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, assisted dying in England and Wales. The bill passes the first stage in the Commons but will be followed by months of parliamentary activity before needing the approval of both houses of parliament for it become law. **Louise Haigh resigns as
Secretary of State for Transport The secretary of state for transport, also referred to as the transport secretary, is a Secretary of State (United Kingdom), secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with overall responsibility for the policies of the Departm ...
after a past fraud offence comes to light. She is replaced by Heidi Alexander.


December

* 2 December – **Sir Chris Wormald is appointed as the new Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, succeeding Simon Case, and will take up the role later in December. **The Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), Ministry of Defence begins a week-long series of war games to "stress test" how the United Kingdom's military resources would cope in the event of war. It is the first such exercise to involve representatives of the defence industry, alongside military commanders and officials. **Addressing the Lord Mayor's Banquet, Prime Minister
Sir Keir Starmer Sir Keir Rodney Starmer (born 2 September 1962) is a British politician and lawyer who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024 and as Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party since 2020. He previously ...
rejects any suggestion that the UK must choose between closer ties with the EU and the US when
Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...
becomes president. * 3 December – **''The Financial Times'' reports that South Western Railway will become the first rail operator to be renationalised when its franchise expires after Parliament passed the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024 the previous week. **Andrew RT Davies resigns as leader of the
Welsh Conservatives The Welsh Conservatives (), also known as the Welsh Conservative Party (), is the branch of the United Kingdom Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party that operates in Wales. At United Kingdom general elections, Westminster elections, it is ...
shortly after narrowly surviving a vote of confidence by
Senedd The Senedd ( ; ), officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and () in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, Its role is to scrutinise the Welsh Government and legislate on devolve ...
members by nine votes to seven. **Kevin Craig, who was suspended as Labour's election candidate for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich (UK Parliament constituency), Central Suffolk and North Ipswich after placing a bet that he would lose, is cleared of wrongdoing by the Gambling Commission. **A proportional representation bill to replace First-past-the-post voting, first-past-the-post introduced by Liberal Democrat Sarah Olney passes on a symbolic vote. **Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar blames an "administrative mess" after one of his party's newly elected councillors was disqualified from the job. Mary McNab won a by-election in Glasgow on 22 November, but failed to comply with legislation requiring her to stand down from her Glasgow City Council job the next working day. **A Second World War veteran who has moved to Canada says she is "angry" and "heartbroken" after a meeting with minister Emma Reynolds regarding the freezing of pensions for some pensioners who now live overseas. **Charities call for urgent support from both the UK and Scottish governments to prevent public services from collapse. * 4 December – ** The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has forecast that UK interest rates will fall less quickly over the next two years because of the budget. ** Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Angela Rayner Angela Rayner (' Bowen; born 28 March 1980) is a British politician who has served as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government since 2024 United Kingdom general election, Jul ...
insists that councils must meet the government's housing target after local authorities called them impossible to meet. **
Secretary of State for Transport The secretary of state for transport, also referred to as the transport secretary, is a Secretary of State (United Kingdom), secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with overall responsibility for the policies of the Departm ...
Heidi Alexander announces that South Western Railway, C2c, C2C and Greater Anglia will be nationalised by autumn 2025 pending new legislation. ** Defence minister Alistair Carns says that British Armed Forces could be wiped out in six months if they were forced to fight a war on the scale of the Ukraine conflict. ** The former prime minister,
Boris Johnson Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (born 19 June 1964) is a British politician and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from 2019 to 2022. He wa ...
, accuses Starmer of misleading the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons and says he should correct the record immediately. This follows an exchange in the House during PMQs when Starmer, answering a question from the Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom), leader of the opposition,
Kemi Badenoch Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch (' Adegoke; born 2 January 1980) is a British politician who has served as Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom), Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservati ...
, said that "two of her predecessors had convictions for breaking the Covid rules". Although the former Conservative prime ministers, Johnson and
Rishi Sunak Rishi Sunak (born 12 May 1980) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from 2022 to 2024. Following his defeat to Keir Starmer's La ...
had received fixed penalty notices for breaking Covid-19 regulations, neither had any criminal convictions. ** Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison delivers the 2024 budget, which includes planned changes to taxation and a pledge to scrap the two child benefit cap in Scotland. ** Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies tells BBC News Wales there has been "plotting" among Conservative Senedd members to oust him since April. ** Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn begins the process of repealing the controversial Legacy Act. ** 27-year-old Sam Smith is announced as the new leader of Nottinghamshire County Council. ** Karen Kilgour, leader of Newcastle City Council, faces a vote of no confidence. * 5 December – **Starmer Plan for Change, delivers a major speech in which he sets out six objectives which he says "give the British people the power to hold our feet to the fire"; the objectives cover the economy, housebuilding, the NHS, policing, pre-school education and green energy. **Questions are raised over whether Henry Tufnell (Welsh politician), Henry Tufnell, the MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire (UK Parliament constituency), Mid and South Pembrokeshire, gave his parents advanced knowledge of plans to change inheritance tax rules after they transferred ownership of farm land to one of their sons days before the budget. **Darren Millar is 2024 Welsh Conservatives leadership election, elected unopposed as leader of the
Welsh Conservatives The Welsh Conservatives (), also known as the Welsh Conservative Party (), is the branch of the United Kingdom Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party that operates in Wales. At United Kingdom general elections, Westminster elections, it is ...
following the resignation of Andrew RT Davies. * 6 December – ** Keir Starmer becomes the third UK prime minister to attend a meeting of the British–Irish Council, British-Irish Council in 17 years. ** First Minister of Scotland John Swinney and Prime Minister
Keir Starmer Sir Keir Rodney Starmer (born 2 September 1962) is a British politician and lawyer who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024 and as Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party since 2020. He previously ...
hold private talks about the Scottish Government's plans to scrap the two child benefit cap, which are later described as "helpful". ** Labour MPs Jeevun Sandher and Louise Jones (British politician), Louise Jones announce their engagement. ** Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union, accuses the prime minister of using "Trumpian language" in his criticism of the civil service. ** The Labour leader of Bolsover District Council, Steve Fritchley, is cleared over accusations of homophobia. ** Conservative peer Lord Rami Ranger is stripped of his Commander of the British Empire, CBE after a report by the Parliamentary Commission for Standards found he harassed and bullied a journalist via social media. * 7 December – Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince William meets US President-elect
Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...
for talks while visiting France to attend the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral. * 8 December – **Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomes the Fall of the Assad regime in Syria, which he describes as "barbaric", and calls for the restoration of "peace and stability". **Scottish Labour suspends Cammy Day, the leader of Edinburgh City Council, pending the outcome of a police investigation into alleged inappropriate behaviour. * 9 December – **In a speech to European finance leaders in Brussels, Chancellor
Rachel Reeves Rachel Jane Reeves (born 13 February 1979) is a British politician who has served as Chancellor of the Exchequer since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, she has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Leeds West and Pudsey, formerly Leed ...
says that closer relations between the UK and the European Union will boost economic growth. **The UK and German governments agree a new deal aimed at prosecuting those who smuggle migrants. **Cammy Day confirms he has stepped down as leader of Edinburgh City Council after Police Scotland launched an investigation into allegations he bombarded Ukrainian refugees with questions, including those of a sexual nature. * 10 December – **A Scottish Government spokesman confirms that First Minister John Swinney has spoken by phone with US President-elect
Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...
for the first time since his re-election, and described the 20 minute discussion as "positive". **The Scottish Government backs plans to bar dual mandates – MSPs who also sit as MPs or members of the House of Lords – from sitting at Holyrood after the 2026 Scottish Parliament election. * 10 December – The Stormont Assembly debates Northern Ireland's post-Brexit trade agreement, and votes to extend it for a further four years. **Billionaire property developer and former Conservative donor Nick Candy is appointed as
Reform UK Reform UK is a right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Nigel Farage has been Leader of Reform UK and Richard Tice deputy leader since 2024. It has five members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons and one membe ...
's treasurer. * 11 December – A Parliamentary committee is established to examine the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. * 12 December – **The House of Lords Conduct Committee recommends Conservative peer Catherine Meyer, Baroness Meyer, Baroness Meyer should be suspended for three weeks for calling a peer of Indian origin "Lord Poppadum" after an investigation found her comments amounted to harassment. **Welsh Conservatives leader Darren Millar unveils his Shadow Cabinet of Darren Millar, Shadow Cabinet. * 13 December – The UK unveils plans to achieve 95% clean energy by 2030, including giving powers to ministers to have the final say in the approval of onshore windfarms. * 15 December – **Foreign Secretary
David Lammy David Lindon Lammy FRSA (born 19 July 1972) is a British politician who has served as Foreign Secretary since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, he has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Tottenham since 2000. Lammy previously held vario ...
confirms the UK government has had "diplomatic contact" with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Syrian rebel group that overthrew the Assad regime. **The UK joins the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trade agreement involving several Asian and Pacific countries, including Japan and Australia. * 16 December – Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner outlines proposals to redesign local government, with plans for every region in England to have a directly-elected mayor. * 17 December – **British diplomats have held talks with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani) in Damascus. **Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson introduces the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, legislation that will ensure teachers and schools are involved in decisions concerning the safeguarding children in their area, and local authorities the power of intervention if a child's home environment is assessed as unsuitable or unsafe. **Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall rejects a parliamentary ombudsman recommendation to pay financial compensation to the estimated 3.6 million women born in the 1950s who were adversely affected by changes to the state pension age back in the 2010s. Starmer says he has taken account of whether it would be right "to impose a further burden on the taxpayer". **MSPs vote unanimously in favour of plans to ban dual mandates. **Following an external review into the use of messaging services, Scotland's Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes announces that Scottish Government ministers and staff will be banned from using WhatsApp for official business. **Former First Minister of Scotland
Humza Yousaf Humza Haroon Yousaf (; born 7 April 1985) is a Scottish politician who served as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from March 2023 to May 2024. He served under his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon as Scottish ...
announces he will step down as an MSP at the 2026 Scottish Parliament election. **Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru unveils the Senedd constituencies and electoral regions#Revised proposals (December 2024), names of the 16 constituencies that will make up the enlarged
Senedd The Senedd ( ; ), officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and () in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, Its role is to scrutinise the Welsh Government and legislate on devolve ...
from 2026, with all but four of them known by exclusively Welsh language names. **The Welsh Conservatives reaffirm their commitment to devolution following a social media post by MS Joel James (politician), Joel James, who said he wanted to get "rid" of the Senedd; the post, in response to the announcement of the constituencies for the 2026 election, was swiftly deleted. **
Nigel Farage Nigel Paul Farage ( ; born 3 April 1964) is a British politician and broadcaster who has been Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Clacton (UK Parliament constituency), Clacton and Leader of Reform UK since 20 ...
says that
Reform UK Reform UK is a right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Nigel Farage has been Leader of Reform UK and Richard Tice deputy leader since 2024. It has five members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons and one membe ...
are in "open negotiations" with US billionaire Elon Musk about him donating to the party after the pair met at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. * 18 December – **
Reform UK Reform UK is a right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Nigel Farage has been Leader of Reform UK and Richard Tice deputy leader since 2024. It has five members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons and one membe ...
confirms that Craig Campbell, a party official in Scotland, has been removed from his post after revelations his family has links to Ulster Loyalists and has a relatives who was convicted of murdering a Celtic fan. **Police are called to what is described as a heated meeting of Oldham Council. * 19 December – **UK government minister Tulip Siddiq is named in an investigation into allegations her family embezzled up to £3.9bn from infrastructure projects in Bangladesh. **Jane Meagher is voted to replace Cammy Day as leader of Edinburgh City Council, and will lead a Labour minority administration. **The Stormont Executive agrees to release its draft budget for the 2025/26 financial year for public consultation, with much of the £19bn budget earmarked for health and education. * 20 December – **Labour appoint 30 new peers, including former Downing Street chief of staff Sue Gray (civil servant), Sue Gray, while the Conservatives appoint six, including former deputy prime minister Therese Coffey. **
Peter Mandelson Peter Benjamin Mandelson, Baron Mandelson, (born 21 October 1953) is a British politician, lobbyist and diplomat who has served as British Ambassador to the United States since February 2025. A member of the Labour Party, Mandelson serve ...
is appointed as the next List of ambassadors of the United Kingdom to the United States, UK ambassador to the United States. * 21 December – US President-elect Donald Trump appoints British TV executive Mark Burnett as the inaugural United States Special Envoy to the United Kingdom. * 23 December – **Sir Keir Starmer holds talks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky during which they agreed on the "importance of refining" the UK's training of Ukrainian forces to "bolster" Ukraine's defence. **Conservative leader
Kemi Badenoch Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch (' Adegoke; born 2 January 1980) is a British politician who has served as Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom), Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservati ...
says there is no "quick fix" for the Conservative Party following its election loss, and that she will not be rushed into making policy announcements. * 26 December – The Reform UK website, and its leader, Nigel Farage, have said that party membership has passed the 131,680 declared by the Conservatives. In response, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accuses Farage of "manipulating" the publish by publishing "fake" figures and using an automated ticker to falsely inflate membership numbers. The following day, Farage threatens to "take some kind of action in the next couple of days", while the Reform website says the membership figure has increased to above 143,000. * 27 December – Former Conservative Justice Secretary David Gauke, who is leading a review into sentencing and prison overcrowding, calls for greater use of open prisons in order to ease the pressure on closed category prisons. * 29 December – **Reform UK says it has notched up a further 20,000 members since the Kemi Badenoch row, reaching 150,000 members. **Conservative Party allies of Kemi Badenoch reject claims she asked
GB News GB News is a British free-to-air, editorial, opinion-orientated television and radio news channel. The channel is available on Freeview (UK), Freeview, Freesat, Sky UK, Sky, YouView, Virgin Media and via the internet on Samsung TV Plus, LG web ...
to reduce Nigel Farage's airtime on the channel. * 30 December – **The King and the Prime Minister pay tribute to Jimmy Carter, following the former US president's death at the age of 100. **Conor Murphy, a Minister in the
Northern Ireland Executive The Northern Ireland Executive (Irish language, Irish: ''Feidhmeannas Thuaisceart Éireann'', Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster Scots: ''Norlin Airlan Executive'') is the devolution, devolved government of Northern Ireland, an administrative branc ...
, announces he will contest the 2025 Seanad election in the Republic of Ireland for
Sinn Féin Sinn Féin ( ; ; ) is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The History of Sinn Féin, original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffit ...
, saying he will resign as a member of the Stormont Assembly if successful. **2025 New Year Honours: Those from the world of politics recognised in the New Year Honours include
Sadiq Khan Sir Sadiq Aman Khan (, ; born 8 October 1970) is a British politician serving as Mayor of London since 2016. He was previously Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Tooting (UK Parliament constituency), Tooting ...
, Nick Gibb and
Andy Street Sir Andrew John Street CBE (born 11 June 1963) is a British businessman and Conservative Party politician who was the managing director of John Lewis from 2007 to 2016 and Mayor of the West Midlands from 2017 to 2024. He was Britain's first o ...
, who receive knighthoods, and Emily Thornberry, who receives a damehood. * 31 December – **Senior Conservatives, including Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, have criticised the awarding of a knighthood to Mayor of London
Sadiq Khan Sir Sadiq Aman Khan (, ; born 8 October 1970) is a British politician serving as Mayor of London since 2016. He was previously Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Tooting (UK Parliament constituency), Tooting ...
, describing it as a "reward for failure". **The The National Archives (United Kingdom), National Archives releases three volumes of
10 Downing Street 10 Downing Street in London is the official residence and office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, prime minister of the United Kingdom. Colloquially known as Number 10, the building is located in Downing Street, off Whitehall in th ...
visitors' books signed by world figures, the first time these have been released. The books cover the years 1970 to 2003. **Newly released government files reveal that Tony Blair was urged by senior ministers, including Jack Straw and John Prescott, to delay granting employment rights to citizens from Eastern and Central Europe when the EU expanded in 2004. **Darryl Wilson, a councillor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, resigns from the Ulster Unionist Party following a controversy over the selection for an Assembly seat, and will continue as an independent.


Publications

* 16 April – ''Ten Years to Save the West'' by
Liz Truss Mary Elizabeth Truss (born 26 July 1975) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from September to October 2022. On her fiftieth da ...
* 19 September – ''A Woman Like Me: A Memoir'' by
Diane Abbott Diane Julie Abbott (born 27 September 1953) is a British Labour Party (UK), Labour Party politician who has been serving as Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987 Unit ...
* 10 October – ''Unleashed (memoir), Unleashed'' by
Boris Johnson Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (born 19 June 1964) is a British politician and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from 2019 to 2022. He wa ...


Deaths

* 3 January – Derek Draper, 56, lobbyist and political adviser. * 15 January – James Masih Shera, 77, Pakistani-born British politician and educationist. * 17 January – Tony Lloyd, Sir Tony Lloyd, 73, British politician, House of Commons (UK), MP (1983–2012, since 2017) and mayor of Greater Manchester (2015–2017), leukemia. * 19 January – Sir Graham Bright, 81, British politician, Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), MP (1979–1997) and Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Cambridgeshire police and crime commissioner (2012–2016). * 20 January – John Tomlinson, Baron Tomlinson, 84, British politician, Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), MP (1974–1979) and Member of the European Parliament, MEP (1984–1999). * 6 February – Shreela Flather, Baroness Flather, 89, British-Indian politician, Life peer (since 1990). * 23 February – Ronnie Campbell, 80, British politician, Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), MP (1987–2019). * 25 February – Patrick Cormack, Baron Cormack, 84, British politician, Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), MP (1970–2010) and member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(since 2010). (death announced on this date) * 26 February – Jacob Rothschild, 4th Baron Rothschild, 87, British investment banker and peer, member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(1991–1999). * 29 February – Ruth Henig, Baroness Henig, 80, historian and politician, member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(since 2004), Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords (since 2018). * 8 March – Tommy McAvoy, Baron McAvoy, 80, British politician, Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), MP (1987–2010) and member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(since 2010). (death announced on this date) * 6 April – Doug Hoyle, Baron Hoyle, 98, British politician, Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), MP (1974–1979, 1981–1983) and member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(1997–2023). * 10 April – Richard Rosser, Baron Rosser, 79, British trade unionist and politician, member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(since 2004). * 14 April – Trixie Gardner, Baroness Gardner of Parkes, 96, British politician, member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
since 1981 * 20 April – Doreen Massey, Baroness Massey of Darwen, 85, British politician, member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(since 1999). * 23 April – ** Frank Field, Baron Field of Birkenhead, 81, British politician, House of Commons of the United Kingdom, MP (1979–2019) and member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(since 2020). ** David Marquand, 89, British politician and academic administrator, House of Commons, MP (1966–1977) and principal of Mansfield College, Oxford (1996–2002). * 29 April – Andrew Stunell, Baron Stunell, 81, British politician, House of Commons of the United Kingdom, MP (1997–2015) and member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(since 2015). * 10 May – Colin Breed, 76, British politician, Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), MP (1997–2010). (death announced on this date) * 12 May – Michael Brudenell-Bruce, 8th Marquess of Ailesbury, 98, British hereditary peer, army officer and stockbroker, member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(1974–1999). * 24 May – Stuart Borrowman, 71, Scottish politician. * 5 June – Charles Allsopp, 6th Baron Hindlip, 83, British peer and businessman, member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(1993–1999). * 26 June – Richard Taylor (British politician), Richard Taylor, 89, British politician, House of Commons, MP (2001–2010). * 29 July – ** Robert Fellowes, Baron Fellowes, 82, British courtier, Private Secretary to the Sovereign, private secretary to the sovereign (1990–1999) and member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(1999–2022). ** Peter Reddaway, 84, British-American political scientist. * 4 August – Anthony Hamilton-Smith, 3rd Baron Colwyn, 82, British dentist and peer, member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(1967–2022). * 22 August – Delwyn Williams, 85, British politician and solicitor, Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), MP (1979–1983). * 30 August – Nicky Gavron, 82, British politician, Deputy Mayor of London, deputy mayor of London (2000–2003, 2004–2008). * 3 September – Flora Fraser, 21st Lady Saltoun, 93, Scottish peer, member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(1979–2014). * 18 September – Malcolm Mitchell-Thomson, 3rd Baron Selsdon, 86, British peer, banker and businessman, member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(1963–2021). * 1 October – Michael Ancram, Michael Ancram, 13th Marquess of Lothian, 79, British politician and peer, three-times Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), MP, member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(since 2010). * 2 October – Herman Ouseley, Baron Ouseley, 79, Guyanese-born British civil rights activist and politician, member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(2001–2019). * 4 October – Alexander Leitch, Baron Leitch, 76, British businessman and life peer, member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(since 2004). * 7 October – Hugh Cholmondeley, 5th Baron Delamere, 90, British peer, member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(1979–1999). * 12 October – Alex Salmond, 69, Scottish politician, First Minister of Scotland, first minister (2007–2014). * 20 October – Paul White, Baron Hanningfield, 84, British politician and life peer, member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(since 1998). * 4 November – Robin Renwick, Baron Renwick of Clifton, 86, British diplomat and life peer, List of ambassadors of the United Kingdom to the United States, ambassador to the United States (1991–1995). * 6 November – **Anna Lo, 74, Northern Irish politician, Member of the Legislative Assembly (Northern Ireland), MLA (2007–2016). ** John Nott, Sir John Nott, 92, British politician, Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), MP (1966–1983) and Secretary of State for Defence, defence secretary (1981–1983). * 20 November – John Prescott, John Prescott, Baron Prescott, 86, British politician, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, deputy prime minister (1997–2007), First Secretary of State, first secretary of state (2001–2007), and House of Commons of the United Kingdom, MP (1970–2010). * 24 November – Colin Renfrew, Colin Renfrew, Baron Renfrew of Kaimsthorn, 87, British archaeologist, academic and peer, member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(1991–2021). * 1 December – Sir Richard Carew Pole, 13th Baronet, 85, British aristocrat. * 2 December – Rosalie Wilkins, Baroness Wilkins, 78, British politician, member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(1999–2015). (death announced on this date) * 8 December – Tony Lloyd, Baron Lloyd of Berwick, 95, British jurist, Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, lord of appeal in ordinary (1993–1998), member of the
House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
(1993–2015). * 15 December – Andrew Bennett (politician), Andrew Bennett, 85, British politician, House of Commons of the United Kingdom, MP (1974–2005). * 18 December – Patrick Conolly-Carew, 7th Baron Carew, 86, Irish equestrian and aristocrat, Member of the House of Lords (United Kingdom), House of Lords as a hereditary peer (1994–1999).


See also

* 2024 United Kingdom electoral calendar


References

{{reflist, colwidth=30em 2024 in British politics Political timelines of the 2020s by year Political timelines of the United Kingdom