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The Sw The Gre This is a Westminster decision but anyone can have a view.US President Donald Trump has led calls for the UK to “drill, baby, drill” and the Conservatives and Reform UK share that viewpoint.Scottish Labour wants the UK government to honour licences for the new Rosebank and Jackdaw fields, while the Lib Dems favour increased domestic production if it’s less environmentally damaging than importing from elsewhere.The SNP has appeared to soften previous resistance to new oil and gas developments during this campaign, with only the Greens remaining firmly opposed.President Trump made a further intervention when he chose to lift import tariffs on whisky in honour of the King and Queen, who made a state visit to the US.This was widely welcomed – but also prompted a political squabble over who could claim credit.Labour insisted it was an example of the UK government delivering for Scotland, with the SNP bigging up John Swinney’s role in lobbying the president directly.A plan to address cost-of-living pressures produced one of the key policy clashes of the campaign.The SNP proposed a new law to require supermarkets to limit the cost of a certain basket of essential goods.This would take time to enact and would push the limits of Holyrood’s powers because UK internal market rules offer Westminster a veto.Retailers dismissed the idea as a “potty gimmick” and the SNP’s political rivals took their cues from there.One SNP source suggested they were “annoying all the right people”.PA MediaOther voting options at this election include the pro-life Scottish Family Party and Tommy Sheridan’s independence-supporting Alliance to Liberate Scotland.The early part of the campaign was dominated with stories about the personal conduct of candidates and other political figures.Later, the re-emergence of the row over the appointment and sacking of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US diverted much political attention from the Scottish campaign.That was a reminder of why Anas Sarwar called for the prime minister to resign and why he appears to feel justified in having done so.Starmer has yet to make a campaign visit to Scotland and seems unlikely to do so. His brief prime ministerial stop at the Faslane naval base does not really count.PA MediaBy contrast, the Conservatives, Reform and the Liberal Democrats have all deployed their UK leaders as potential electoral assets.The Scottish Greens had the leader of their sister party in England and Wales, Zack Polanski, lending them support.Labour argues that there is still a pathway to ousting Swinney from office, despite national opinion polls suggesting the SNP is well ahead.Is it possible that these polls are not adequately capturing local and regional differences or any mismatch between those who respond to surveys and those who actually turn out to vote?Labour certainly insists that its own canvassing data from mostly central belt constituencies tells a very different story.PA MediaIf independence-supporting parties – the SNP and the Greens – were to fall short of securing a majority of the seats at Holyrood that would give pro-UK parties the chance to change the government.They would first need to sort out their own differences and unite behind a candidate for first minister.That may be difficult given that the single biggest flashpoint in the campaign was a clash in the Channel 4 leaders debate between Labour’s Anas Sarwar and Reform UK’s Malcolm Offord.Offord claimed Sarwar had privately suggested they work together to oust the SNP. Sar Click

As candidates enter the final week of their campaigning, Birmingham’s local elections have never been more difficult to predict. Birmingham has had a Labour leader in charge for all but 12 years of the last 50. It seems unlikely that one party will be able to win the majority of 51 seats. It is likely that the council will run by a combined administration for the very first time in over a decade. However, the new challengers in local politics would make it look very different to the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition which was in power from 2012 until now. Birmingham is the UK’s largest local authority and has been for many years a stronghold. It is the largest local authority in the UK and has long been a stronghold. However, cracks appeared in its dominance at the general elections in 2024 when it lost one its previously safest constituencies, Perry Barr, in favor of an independent. Pro-Gaza candidates were also close in two other Labour held seats. “We are not just councillors trying to ensure the council delivers for the City, but we are also representing communities in the city and what’s important to them; and in some areas of the city, that’s international matters,” he said. It’s hard to rule out the chances of any group. At a Birmingham Live hustings, there were seven speakers or candidates, but it could have been even more. Jane Haynes, a veteran reporter for the site who has covered city politics for decades, said that this election was unlike any other. “That old tradition of doing politics has disappeared, and we are seeing it come alive here in Birmingham. “We are seeing strong campaigns and messages from places that do not normally have a voice in the political system. “One issue dominates the campaigning and that’s the ongoing bin strike. The Unite union began walking out in January 2025, and the strike has lasted for over a year. The ruling Labour party announced that a deal would be reached ten days before the polls. Its rival parties expressed suspicion over the timing, but they all made settling the dispute and resolving the collections a top priority. “We’d seek the correct legal advice from both parties in order to get an end to the bin strike, clean up our streets, get the finances in order and deliver change for Birmingham,” said Jex Parkin, who is standing for Reform, which expects to make a breakthrough.He is, at 24, part of a new generation of would-be politicians.EPA/ShutterstockThe city council says it is no longer effectively bankrupt after declaring itself so in September 2023. The city council’s financial distress has been felt by many, including the closure of youth and community centres, libraries, and service cuts. John Cotton, Labour leader, acknowledged that the city had experienced some difficult years, but said that his party would be the one to move it forward. “Brummies are faced with a choice in this election. It’s a choice between unity and a plan for the future, with a Labour-led Council, or, frankly, risk and division with Reform and so called independents pitting community against community. “The independents present a new challenge to many parts of the City, but there are several groups. Some are former Labour councillors that have left the party. Others campaign on hyper-local topics in particular wards. But one large grouping called the Independent Candidate Alliance has emerged. The group has agreed not to compete against the pro Gaza Workers’ Party because its candidates have similar views. Raihaan Abbas from the ICA is a 22-year-old first time politician who said that independents appealed people tired of politics. “A lot people we’ve talked to on the door don’t want vote anymore, because they feel it’s going be the same failures. “Independents are new, and they trust them more than us from our communities. “Since the local government reorganisation of the early 1970s the Conservatives have been the only other party that has run the city council. The last time they did this, between 2004-2012, the Lib Dems were required to support them. The Tories are the second largest party in the area after Labour, and they want an outright majority. Local Conservatives will be on the ballot this time and Robert Alden, the leader of the party, has admitted that he may have to work with others after the elections. “We would have to see who is actually elected before we could work with others who share our ideals of trying to clean Birmingham, save weekly collection of bins, fix the potholes,” he stated. Other important issues raised on hustings include better regulation of multiple occupancy houses, a crackdown of fly-tipping, and the need to deal with litter and fly-tipping on our streets. Lib Dem leader Roger Harmer has a mantra of “clean up the City, The new challengers are hoping that this will help them to win, but traditional parties could also benefit if they get their core vote on 7th May. The count in Birmingham takes place on 8 May and the outcome will make a difference to the lives of its 1.2 million citizens.Why are the 2026 local elections so important in the West Midlands?SIMPLE GUIDE: What elections are taking place in May?EXPLAINER: What can’t you do at a polling station?LOOKAHEAD: When is the next general election?Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.More on this storyFrustration, apathy and hope: Birmingham divided as extraordinary election loomsWhat does a local council do in England?Related internet linksBirmingham City CouncilEngland local elections 2026BirminghamBirmingham City CouncilUK elections 2026

Polanski apologizes for sharing post criticising the police19 hours agoPaul SEDON,Political reporterandHarry FARLEY,Political correspondentPA MediaZack Polanski apologised on Friday for “sharing a Tweet in haste” and said that “There’s a man on the ground. He’s wearing a backpack.” I don’t think I could have imagined what those officers were thinking. But if I had been there, I would have thought he was going to detonate a bomb. “He’s going blow me up, and everyone around here,” said the prime minister. In those circumstances, you can see how they might have thought, We need to do everything we can to disable him. “Polanski responded to the PM’s criticisms on X by saying: “Today, the prime minister uses his position to attack the only Jewish leader of a party to score political points. “Polanski’s repost was also criticised by Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley who accused the Green leader amplifying “inaccurate” and “misinformed commentary” published by the force. In his statement, Polanski said he had invited Mark to “meet me to discuss the police responses and the larger issues raised in his letters”. But he added: “Police responses in emergency situations like these need to be reflected on later, but I accept social media as not the right channel for this.” The Met chief said that it was not unusual for senior police officials to criticise politicians. He also argued that it was legitimate to defend his officers when they were publicly criticized by “someone eminent”. “If anyone wants to step on my responsibilities of operating policing, then I will deal assertively with that, like I did in this instance,” he said. The Met released footage of the officers’ body-worn camera, in which they are heard repeatedly shouting for the suspect to get down “‘Inappropriate’Polanski, a member of the London Assembly, which has a role in overseeing the Met, became leader of the Green Party of England and Wales last September.He had faced criticism for his repost from Anthony Slaughter, who leads the Greens in Wales, who said it seemed “inappropriate”.Green Party deputy leader Rachel Millward also appeared to distance herself from the comments on Thursday, praising the officers as “brave”, and adding the incident would have been “beyond terrifying”.Multiple senior figures within the Greens are understood to have expressed concern about Polanski’s decision to share the post criticising officers.One source accused Polanski of an approach that fuels “culture wars”. “This is not the way to win wider support,” said they. It is important that the leadership considers the direction the party is going in and the people it is attracting. The Liberal Democrats accused Polanski a “nonapology” saying he should disown his comments “in unambiguous words”.The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Friday that it had received Polanski’s letter and would meet with him after next weeks elections. Essa Suleiman has been charged for attempting to kill Shloime Ran, 34, and Moshe Shines, 76, on Wednesday morning in Golders Green. It is also alleged that Suleiman tried to murder Ishmail Hussein earlier in the day in Hussein knew Suleiman from around 20 years ago. He also faces a charge for possessing a blade in a public area in Golders Green. He remains in custody. Zack PolanskiGreen Party of England and Wales

Met chief defends knife attack officers after Polanski criticism1 hour agoTom McArthurandOlivia IrelandPAMetropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has said he is “proud” of the officers who arrested the suspect in the Golders Green attack, after Green Party leader Zack Polanski shared a post condemning their actions.Two officers Tasered and kicked the suspect in the head while trying to prise a knife from his hand after he had stabbed two Jewish men in north London on Wednesday.Polanski reposted a post on X which said: “Essentially his officers were repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head when he was already incapacitated by Taser. He ” ” ” Sir ” ” “I think that he has found an area that seems to give him popularity, at least for the short term, and I think he should be very, very careful in what he’s peddling,” she added.The Welsh Green Party leader Anthony Slaughter also disagreed with Polanski’s decision to repost the comment, telling LBC it seemed “inappropriate”.Green Party deputy leader Rachel Millward told BBC Question Time that the emergency services were brave, well-trained and did a brilliant job.Liberal Democrats London spokesperson Luke Taylor MP also criticised Polanski, describing the reposting as “utterly disgraceful”. “That ludicrous response and his comments on ‘perception of fear’ in the Jewish community tells us a lot about the Green Party’s values,” he said.Essa Suleiman, 45, remains in police custody having been arrested on the suspicion of attempting to murder Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76, in Golders Green on Wednesday morning.Sir Mark said later the same day that the suspect had a history of serious violence and mental health issues, and was believed to be involved in a separate incident in south-east London on Tuesday.The Met formally declared the attack a terrorist incident.Polanski described the attack at the time as “horrendous” and said he was “thinking of the victims, their families and everyone who will once again be shaken by this attack”.Watch: How the Golders Green attack unfoldedThe Jewish security volunteers first on scene of Golders Green attack Zack PolanskiMetropolitan Police ServiceLondonAntisemitismGreen Party (England and Wales)Golders Green