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Polanski says two-party politics 'dead' after election gains for Greens

Green Party celebrated local election gains, including its first-ever elected mayors. The Green Party

Zack Polanski calls two-party politics dead after mayoral and council wins

Green party](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/green-party) versus Reform,” he said. Speaking at the Hackney count centre in [London](https://www.theguardian.com/uk/london) where the party won its first ever elected mayor

‘Everything I do has climate at its centre’: Hackney’s first Green mayor gets to work

elected as the east London borough’s first [Green party](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/green-party) mayor in this

Keir Starmer under pressure to agree exit plan after election mauling

party had failed to counter “national dissatisfaction” with Starmer. - The Greens gained their first two directly elected mayors

How Labour’s ‘terrible’ night unfolded as Reform surges and Greens and Lib Dems hail wins

Green party activists in Hackney, north London, where [Zoë Garbett](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/08/greens-unseat-labour-to-win-mayoral-election-in-hackney-zoe-garbett) became the first directly elected mayor

Major test for Labour as polls open in English, Scottish and Welsh elections

first major political test of an increasingly multiparty system. They come after months of Labour and the Conservatives languishing in the polls, and the growing popularity of smaller parties such as Reform UK, the Greens

Challenge Starmer by Monday or I will, Labour MP tells cabinet

Greens won control of Waltham Forest, Lewisham and Hackney in London, where Labour had previously been dominant, as well as winning the party's first-ever elected mayors

Nearly twice as many men as women standing in May elections in UK

mayoral elections taking place, 18% of candidates are women; in the Senedd elections, the figure is 38%; and in the Scottish parliament elections it is 36%. Reform UK has the smallest proportion of women

‘I’ll talk to work on Monday’: what happens when a ‘paper candidate’ actually wins

party for the first time since 2002, winning 42 of the 57 seats up for grabs. Zoë Garbett became the borough’s first Green mayor, loosening Labour’s 24-year grip on the post. When

Polls close in elections across England, Scotland and Wales

mayoral and parliamentary elections, with the first results to be announced within hours. More than 30 million people across Britain were given the opportunity to vote on Thursday in what is widely seen

Andy Burnham to back electoral reform if he becomes prime minister

mayor has previously called for the introduction of proportional representations for UK general elections, handing more power to minority parties like the Greens. In an interview with BBC Radio Manchester on Thursday, Burnham gave

Most Labour members think Starmer cannot revive party fortunes, poll finds

mayor time to seek a parliamentary seat. The poll was conducted just before Thursday’s elections, where Labour was fighting on all fronts, in local elections in England and parliamentary elections in Wales and Scotland

UK’s Labour set for heavy losses in elections as Reform makes early gains

first council of the campaign with Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire switching to the populist party from the Conservatives. ![Leader of the UK's Green Party, Zack Polanski, speaks to the media during a Stop

Prospect of Labour leadership race brings out different sides of rivals

election, but with his party intent on deposing him. There is a local byelection where [Andy Burnham](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/andyburnham), the party’s leftwing hope for prime minister, will have to demonstrate

Zack Polanski did not vote in local elections, Green Party says

elections in London, a spokesperson has said. The party said he "fell short of time" to update his address on the electoral register after moving in "as a lodger in rented accommodation" when his plans

Cracks showing for Labour close to back yards of Starmer’s top team

party, which could frustrate those close to Andy Burnham, the regional mayor, who is understood to have plans for a “radical rewiring” of the state as part of a Labour leadership bid. The danger

Keir Starmer makes late pitch to voters turning to Greens and Reform

Greens in most polling and predicted to lose five of its MSPs. In elections to the Welsh Senedd, Labour is on course to lose power to Plaid Cymru and record its worst ever result. Peril

‘Why are we even doing this?’ The week that left Britain’s PM looking like an interim leader

mayor is not yet in parliament and will first have to win a byelection in Makerfield, a constituency on the edge of Wigan where Reform UK is bullish about its chances and where the Greens

Pound heads for worst week in 18 months as Burnham lines up Labour bid

first win a byelection in an area where Reform UK [performed well in the local elections](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/hold-on-could-andy-burnham-33949753), and where the Green party [could also contest the seat](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/15/greens-properly-contest-byelection-makerfield-burnham). The sitting

Could Starmer bring back Rayner to steady ship – and would she get onboard?

elections would have to be “a moment of reflection” for Labour, which would involve “starting to now pull through on a different course”. In January, Burnham [was blocked](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jan/25/andy-burnham-blocked-from-byelection-race-by-labour-ruling-committee) from standing