Party Politics

Top UK political website providing breaking news, policy analysis, and parliamentary updates for the UK and international affairs.

News from Party Politics, live parliamentary information and official UK statistics — with source links on the data that matters.

Latest Politics

View all

Loading published articles…

BBC News · Latest headlines

BBC News →

Headlines from BBC News · RSS feed

UK Prime Ministers since 1721

From Sir Robert Walpole, generally regarded as the first British Prime Minister, to the current office holder.

Andy Burnham2026–present · Labour
Keir Starmer2024–2026 · Labour
Rishi Sunak2022–2024 · Conservative
Liz Truss2022 · Conservative
Boris Johnson2019–2022 · Conservative
Theresa May2016–2019 · Conservative
David Cameron2010–2016 · Conservative
Gordon Brown2007–2010 · Labour
Tony Blair1997–2007 · Labour
John Major1990–1997 · Conservative
Margaret Thatcher1979–1990 · Conservative
James Callaghan1976–1979 · Labour
Harold Wilson1964–1970; 1974–1976 · Labour
Edward Heath1970–1974 · Conservative
Alec Douglas-Home1963–1964 · Conservative
Harold Macmillan1957–1963 · Conservative
Anthony Eden1955–1957 · Conservative
Winston Churchill1940–1945; 1951–1955 · Conservative
Clement Attlee1945–1951 · Labour
Neville Chamberlain1937–1940 · Conservative
Stanley Baldwin1923–1924; 1924–1929; 1935–1937 · Conservative
Ramsay MacDonald1924; 1929–1935 · Labour
Bonar Law1922–1923 · Conservative
David Lloyd George1916–1922 · Liberal
H. H. Asquith1908–1916 · Liberal
Henry Campbell-Bannerman1905–1908 · Liberal
Arthur Balfour1902–1905 · Conservative
Marquess of Salisbury1885–1886; 1886–1892; 1895–1902 · Conservative
Earl of Rosebery1894–1895 · Liberal
William Ewart Gladstone1868–1874; 1880–1885; 1886; 1892–1894 · Liberal
Benjamin Disraeli1868; 1874–1880 · Conservative
Earl of Derby1852; 1858–1859; 1866–1868 · Conservative
Lord John Russell1846–1852; 1865–1866 · Whig
Viscount Palmerston1855–1858; 1859–1865 · Whig / Liberal
Earl of Aberdeen1852–1855 · Conservative
Sir Robert Peel1834–1835; 1841–1846 · Conservative
Viscount Melbourne1834; 1835–1841 · Whig
Duke of Wellington1828–1830; 1834 · Tory
Earl Grey1830–1834 · Whig
Viscount Goderich1827–1828 · Tory
George Canning1827 · Tory
Earl of Liverpool1812–1827 · Tory
Spencer Perceval1809–1812 · Tory
Duke of Portland1783; 1807–1809 · Whig
Lord Grenville1806–1807 · Whig
William Pitt the Younger1783–1801; 1804–1806 · Tory
Henry Addington1801–1804 · Tory
Earl of Shelburne1782–1783 · Whig
Marquess of Rockingham1765–1766; 1782 · Whig
Lord North1770–1782 · Tory
Duke of Grafton1768–1770 · Whig
Earl of Chatham (William Pitt the Elder)1766–1768 · Whig
George Grenville1763–1765 · Whig
Earl of Bute1762–1763 · Tory
Duke of Newcastle1754–1756; 1757–1762 · Whig
Duke of Devonshire1756–1757 · Whig
Henry Pelham1743–1754 · Whig
Earl of Wilmington1742–1743 · Whig
Sir Robert Walpole1721–1742 · Whig

Official government history →

Live UK data

CPI inflation (annual)

3.1%

August 2026 · released 16 September 2026

ONS →

Unemployment

4.9%

May–July 2026 · released 15 September 2026

ONS →

GDP growth (quarterly)

0.5%

Apr–June 2026 · revised 30 September 2026

ONS →

Bank of England Bank Rate

3.75%

Decision: 17 September 2026 · checked 5 October 2026

Bank of England →

GBP / USD · US dollars per £1

GBP / EUR · Euros per £1

Exchange rates are market quotes and may be delayed. Bank Rate is a dated official reference; ONS figures follow their release schedule.

ONS reference figures checked 5 October 2026. Checking for newer observations…

Commons: seats by party

650 seats · 649 sitting MPs · 1 vacancy

House of Commons composition — checked 5 October 2026
Party / group	Seats
Labour	403
Conservative	118
Liberal Democrat	71
Independent	11
Reform UK	8
Scottish National Party	8
Sinn Féin	7
Democratic Unionist Party	5
Green Party	5
Plaid Cymru	4
Social Democratic & Labour Party	2
Your Party	2
Alliance	1
Restore Britain	1
Speaker	1
Traditional Unionist Voice	1
Ulster Unionist Party	1
Vacant seats	1
Total seats	650

Latest Parliament figures →

Figures are a dated snapshot. Party changes and vacancies may alter the breakdown.

Parliament

Your Parliament

Who represents you?

Find your current MP and constituency information using the official Parliament service.

Quick links

All MPs Lords Bills Committees Questions Business Elections ONS data

Broadcast News

Open a source to read its latest headlines. BBC News appears above.

ITV News

Headlines via Google News · Visit ITV News · RSS

Channel 4 News

Publisher RSS · Visit Channel 4 News · RSS

Channel 5 News

Headlines via Google News · Visit Channel 5 News · RSS

Sky News

Publisher RSS · Visit Sky News · RSS

Bloomberg

Headlines via Google News · Visit Bloomberg · RSS

GB News

Headlines via Google News · Visit GB News · RSS

UK Newspaper Headlines

National titles and a selection from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the English regions. Sunday editions are grouped with their publisher where they share a website.

The Guardian

Publisher RSS · Visit The Guardian · RSS

The Observer

Headlines via Google News · Visit The Observer · RSS

The Times & The Sunday Times

Headlines via Google News · Visit The Times & The Sunday Times · RSS

The Telegraph & Sunday Telegraph

Headlines via Google News · Visit The Telegraph & Sunday Telegraph · RSS

The Independent

Publisher RSS · Visit The Independent · RSS

Financial Times

Headlines via Google News · Visit Financial Times · RSS

Daily Mail & Mail on Sunday

Headlines via Google News · Visit Daily Mail & Mail on Sunday · RSS

Daily Mirror & Sunday Mirror

Headlines via Google News · Visit Daily Mirror & Sunday Mirror · RSS

The Sun & Sun on Sunday

Publisher RSS · Visit The Sun & Sun on Sunday · RSS

Daily Express & Sunday Express

Headlines via Google News · Visit Daily Express & Sunday Express · RSS

Daily Star & Daily Star Sunday

Headlines via Google News · Visit Daily Star & Daily Star Sunday · RSS

The i Paper

Headlines via Google News · Visit The i Paper · RSS

Metro

Headlines via Google News · Visit Metro · RSS

The London Standard

Headlines via Google News · Visit The London Standard · RSS

Morning Star

Headlines via Google News · Visit Morning Star · RSS

The Scotsman

Headlines via Google News · Visit The Scotsman · RSS

The Herald

Headlines via Google News · Visit The Herald · RSS

The National

Headlines via Google News · Visit The National · RSS

Daily Record & Sunday Mail

Headlines via Google News · Visit Daily Record & Sunday Mail · RSS

The Press and Journal

Headlines via Google News · Visit The Press and Journal · RSS

The Courier

Headlines via Google News · Visit The Courier · RSS

Western Mail & WalesOnline

Headlines via Google News · Visit Western Mail & WalesOnline · RSS

Daily Post

Headlines via Google News · Visit Daily Post · RSS

Belfast Telegraph

Headlines via Google News · Visit Belfast Telegraph · RSS

The Irish News

Headlines via Google News · Visit The Irish News · RSS

News Letter

Headlines via Google News · Visit News Letter · RSS

Manchester Evening News

Headlines via Google News · Visit Manchester Evening News · RSS

Liverpool Echo

Headlines via Google News · Visit Liverpool Echo · RSS

Yorkshire Post

Headlines via Google News · Visit Yorkshire Post · RSS

The Northern Echo

Headlines via Google News · Visit The Northern Echo · RSS

The Chronicle

Headlines via Google News · Visit The Chronicle · RSS

Birmingham Mail

Headlines via Google News · Visit Birmingham Mail · RSS

Bristol Post

Headlines via Google News · Visit Bristol Post · RSS

Eastern Daily Press

Headlines via Google News · Visit Eastern Daily Press · RSS

Leicester Mercury

Headlines via Google News · Visit Leicester Mercury · RSS

Nottingham Post

Headlines via Google News · Visit Nottingham Post · RSS

Google News panels show indexed coverage from the named website, rather than a publisher-operated feed. Some full articles require a subscription.

Councils & Upcoming By-elections

Open Council Data UK

Local politics across Great Britain and Northern Ireland: party representation, council leadership and the next council by-elections.

18,811GB council seats, including 39 vacancies

373GB councils in the source's leadership table

462Northern Ireland councillors

Councillors & council control

Great Britain · source updated 5 October 2026
Party	Councillors	Full control	Councils led
Labour	4,588	62	121
Liberal Democrats	3,358	43	77
Conservative	3,862	25	69
Reform UK	2,313	23	35
Green	1,350	6	21
SNP	412	1	15
Plaid Cymru	200	4	4
Other	2,689	11	30
Vacant / unassigned	39	—	1
Total	18,811	175	373

Councils led includes full control and the leading party in no-overall-control administrations. Leadership does not always mean a majority. “Other” combines smaller parties and independents; the source lists one leadership entry as unassigned.

Northern Ireland · source updated 15 September 2026
Party	Councillors
Sinn Féin	144
DUP	119
Alliance	65
Ulster Unionist	51
SDLP	34
Other	49
Total	462

Next council by-elections

Next nine dated contests listed when checked on 6 October 2026. Dates may change; consult the council's election notice before voting.

8 October 2026Aberdeen City · Midstocket/RosemountDefending party: SNP
8 October 2026Amber Valley · Kilburn, Denby, Holbrook & HorsleyDefending party: Conservative
8 October 2026Lambeth · Myatt’s FieldsDefending party: Labour
8 October 2026Newcastle-under-Lyme · TownDefending party: Reform UK
13 October 2026Stroud · RodboroughDefending party: Labour
15 October 2026Flintshire · Higher KinnertonDefending party: Independent
15 October 2026Leicestershire · ShepshedDefending party: Reform UK
15 October 2026Mid Devon · BradninchDefending party: Liberal Democrats
15 October 2026Wiltshire · Salisbury MilfordDefending party: Liberal Democrats

View the complete current schedule →

The source lists 39 upcoming contests, including entries with dates still to be confirmed.

Published snapshot checked 6 October 2026; this section does not refresh automatically. Sources: Open Council Data UK statistics and by-election schedule. For a council-by-council reference, see political make-up of UK local councils on Wikipedia; its summary may use a different update date and coverage.

Devolved Powers & Public Finances

Who makes the decisions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland? Explore their powers, follow legislation and compare public finances.

Scotland

Scottish Parliament

Examples of devolved powers

Health, education, housing, justice and policing, agriculture, and aspects of taxation.

Powers explained Bills & legislation Enacted laws Scotland Act 1998

Wales

Senedd Cymru / Welsh Parliament

Examples of devolved powers

Health, education, housing, planning, agriculture, and devolved taxes. Justice and policing are generally reserved.

Powers explained Bills & legislation Enacted laws Government of Wales Act 2006

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Assembly

Examples of devolved powers

Health, education, housing, agriculture, social security, justice and policing. Powers are classified as transferred, reserved or excepted.

Powers explained Bills & legislation Enacted laws Northern Ireland Act 1998

Revenue & public spending

Financial year 2024/25 · £ billion · Common scale from £0 to £120 billion

RevenuePublic spending

Scotland

Revenue£91.28bn

Spending£117.14bn

Net fiscal balance: −£25.86bn

Wales

Revenue£41.49bn

Spending£64.27bn

Net fiscal balance: −£22.78bn

Northern Ireland

Revenue£24.39bn

Spending£40.23bn

Net fiscal balance: −£15.84bn

These are estimates for each country's whole public sector, including allocated UK Government spending and devolved services. They are not the budgets or borrowing of the devolved governments. North Sea revenue is allocated geographically. Values are rounded; bars use the same scale.

Source: ONS country and regional public sector finances, 2024/25, released 26 May 2026. Figures transcribed from the Scotfact summary of the ONS tables. Published annual snapshot; checked 6 October 2026.

Scotland's GERS: Read the official 2025/26 report. GERS is a Scotland-only publication. The comparison above uses the same ONS year for all three countries.

UK Politics Data

Official statistics

3.1%CPI / inflation

0.5%GDP growth / quarter on quarter

4.9%Unemployment

Explore Politics

Parliament MPs Bills Votes Committees Calendar Parliament TV ONS Elections Government