Excl: A former Pakistani state minister has been arrested on suspicion of raping vulnerable young girls in Manchester in the 1990s. Rukhsar Ahmed, who was re-elected as an MP in Pakistan last week, is on police bail in the UK as part of a grooming gang inquiry. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Former Pakistani minister arrested over alleged child rape in 1990s Manchester

Exclusive: Rukhsar Ahmed was re-elected as an MP in Pakistan last week despite being on police bail in the UK

theguardian.com

Devolution plans strengthen case for written UK constitution, says Burnham

Devolution plans strengthen case for written UK constitution, says Burnham

PM argues for codified model of decentralisation that would fundamentally change centuries-old workings of state Andy Burnham has said his programme of devolution strengthens the case for a written constitution for the UK, a move that would fundamentally alter the workings of the state that have developed over centuries. The prime minister has long believed the UK’s “antiquated” political system needs a dramatic overhaul if opportunity is to be shared equally across the country. Continue reading...

theguardian.com

Labour's Bev Craig to be announced as Greater Manchester mayor in next 15 mins or so.

Greater Manchester mayoral count: Announcement imminent on whether it's going to a second round (it is). Sources suggest Labour vote is mid to high 40%, while Reform UK thought to be way behind on about 20%. Astonishing turnaround if that's the case.

Looks like Labour has stormed the Greater Manchester byelection. Votes still being counted but we're told they've won in places where Reform UK and the Greens dominated in May – including all wards in Green MP Hannah Spencer's constituency. "It's a massive turnaround," says Labour source.

New story on Reform's finances from @annaisaac.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Revealed: George Cottrell transferred $2m to his mother days before her donations to Reform UK

Exclusive: Sources say Fiona Cottrell told bankers the transfers, received 24-72 hours before her donations to Reform, came from her son

theguardian.com

ICYMI: Lucy Harrison, 23, from Warrington in Cheshire, was shot dead by her father in Texas last year but he was never arrested. Lucy's mother is now calling on @andyburnham.bsky.social to help her secure justice.

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 2w ago

‘Nobody was there for us’: mother urges Andy Burnham to reopen case of daughter killed in Texas

I’m not sure if this story was briefed. If it has been, I’m curious. Traditionally as northern journalists (local or national, there’s not loads of us) it is infuriating to see stories about things you’ve covered in detail briefed to the Sunday lobby. Let’s see how this power shift works in practice

In January 2025, 23-year-old Lucy Harrison was shot dead by her father while visiting him in Texas. Eighteen months on, he hasn’t been arrested. Lucy’s mother, from Warrington, is calling on new PM @andyburnham.bsky.social to intervene. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

‘Nobody was there for us’: mother urges Andy Burnham to reopen case of daughter killed in Texas

Lucy Harrison, 23, was shot in 2025 with her father’s gun. He was never arrested and a grand jury chose not to indict him

theguardian.com

Turns out No 10 North is based in Downing Street, SW1.

More PMQs like this please.

She's too modest to say it but @annaisaac.bsky.social has led the way on reporting about Reform and Farage's financial affairs. She's having one hell of a year. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Revealed: Farage’s £5m gift reported to UK crime agency over money laundering concerns

Exclusive: Latest Guardian revelation about gift from cryptocurrency tycoon comes as Reform UK leader forces byelection

theguardian.com

At the People’s History Museum for Andy Burnham’s speech - the venue that displayed the ‘King of the North’ worker’s jacket he wore during his viral Covid diatribe in October 2020. It was displayed with what curators called “evidential soiling” (it hadn’t been washed).

I've reported a lot on misogyny in the British court martial system, but the details in this story by Rob Evans and Harry Davies, about how the US military took jurisdiction over a SA allegation in the UK are devastating www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-i...

‘Degrading’: why did a US fighter pilot avoid British trial after strangling a woman in England?

Jacob Wulfson’s fellow airmen decided his fate after a court martial at RAF Lakenheath – a distressing week for Sarah Steele, the academic he assaulted

theguardian.com

Ten years to the day since the Brexit vote, and thank goodness for all that political stability it brought. This oral history of the referendum campaign, from those who were behind it, is a pretty bracing reminder of the farce and tragedy of it all. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

‘Geldof started flicking Vs at Farage’: the story of the Brexit campaign, told by those with a front-row seat

How five months in 2016 that encompassed Boris Johnson siding with Vote Leave, Jo Cox’s murder and David Cameron’s resignation shaped the UK’s future

theguardian.com

Breaking my Makerfield by-election silence to say Platt Bridge McDonalds is playing D:REAM’s Things Can Only Get Better.

✍🏻 Final one of our four million on-the-ground pieces from Makerfield. The mood in Labour (upbeat) and Reform camps (downbeat) and the fears over how voters will come back together after such an ugly, divisive campaign. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

‘I had one man spit at my poster’: Makerfield deeply divided as byelection campaign draws to a close

People across constituency say voters are ‘turning against each other’ but Labour believes they will back Andy Burnham because he is ‘bringing people together’

theguardian.com

Police in Northern Ireland were warned repeatedly that 'a hitlist' of properties targeted in this week’s Belfast riots was circulating among anti-immigration activists – excl by @theguardian.com's Aamna Mohdin www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Police were warned for months about addresses targeted in Belfast riots

Exclusive: PSNI repeatedly warned by monitoring group for eight months after a so-called hitlist of addresses began circulating in far-right networks

theguardian.com

Important reporting www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

‘It was so terrifying’: care workers tell how they were trapped at home by Belfast mob

Sumayah Nakazibwe and Stella Ariokot were frightened they would be next as fires took hold on neighbouring houses and rioters set cars alight

theguardian.com

My colleague @hannahalothman.bsky.social is in Belfast tonight. This is what she’s seen. www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

My brave clients, both survivors of sex trafficking and refugees, shared their stories for this important piece. Both made offers in Durham via Reloc8 UK. MKM won a judicial review in the High Court last year yet we are still fighting @ealingcouncil.bsky.social as they say the property was suitable

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 2mo ago

Vulnerable families illegally ‘dumped’ hundreds of miles away by London councils

Exclusive w/ @joshhalliday.bsky.social: Vulnerable families are being illegally “dumped” hundreds of miles away by London councils, in a practice “ripping at the social fabric” of deprived towns. @theguardian.com

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 2mo ago

Vulnerable families illegally ‘dumped’ hundreds of miles away by London councils

Many congrats to @petergeoghegan.bsky.social and Khadija Sharife! Well deserved winners on an incredibly impressive shortlist. Special shout to @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social too - smashing it 👏

Private Eye Magazine@privateeyenews.bsky.social · 2mo ago

And the winners of the Paul Foot Award for investigative and campaigning journalism 2026 are... Peter Geoghegan and Khadija Sharife of Democracy for Sale.

Late posting this because this is Andy Burnham’s world and I just live in it. Some thoughts on his narratives re Greater Manchester as.ft.com/r/7b217fa9-c...

Andy Burnham’s contradictory vision of Greater Manchester

Adaptability has fuelled his popularity, but others critique politician’s shape-shifting and weak policy grip

as.ft.com

For the first time, the parents of five of the girls who were stabbed in the Southport attack have shared their stories. Humbled and privileged to meet them. Here is their story - a difficult read but with hope at the end. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-i...

Girls who survived Southport attack meet again: ‘It was like having big sisters’

Parents speak for first time about daughters’ heroism on the day and their courage in dealing with critical injuries, scars and trauma

theguardian.com

For the first time, the parents of five of the girls who were stabbed in the Southport attack have shared their stories. Humbled and privileged to meet them. Here is their story - a difficult read but with hope at the end. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-i...

Girls who survived Southport attack meet again: ‘It was like having big sisters’

Parents speak for first time about daughters’ heroism on the day and their courage in dealing with critical injuries, scars and trauma

theguardian.com

A real privilege to be a judge on this year’s Paul Foot awards. Loads of properly brilliant journalism - congrats to all nominees.

Padraig Reidy@padraigreidy.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Shortlist is here! Congratulations to the brilliant individuals and teams who made it.

Shortlist is here! Congratulations to the brilliant individuals and teams who made it.

Private Eye Magazine@privateeyenews.bsky.social · 3mo ago

From crumbling aerated concrete homes to the truth behind The Salt Path... The shortlist for the 2026 Paul Foot Award for Investigative Journalism has been announced! The winner, who will receive a prize of £8,000, will be announced on June 1. ➡️ Shortlist: private-eye.co.uk/paul-foot-aw...

Excl: Andy Burnham has credible plan to return to Westminster “within weeks”, allies have said, with the mayor set to use a byelection fight to set out a big new agenda for government. + impressive” candidate lined up to fight mayoral contest www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Andy Burnham has plan to return to Westminster ‘within weeks’, allies say

Exclusive: Greater Manchester mayor said to have identified seats where MPs would step aside to allow leadership bid

theguardian.com

This was such a terrible case of an avoidable death. The parents have done remarkably to turn their grief into a practical scaleable intervention, which depemds for its effectiveness on being known about

Nick Pearce@iprnickp.bsky.social · 3mo ago

This is an astonishingly successful public policy reform, and so heartening. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...