Analysis, insight and informed opinion on politics and public policy

The 2026 Elections and their Aftermath

The elections of 2026 in Scotland, Wales, and across much of England were politically explosive. In Westminster, the disastrous performance of the governing Labour Party precipitated the fall of Keir Starmer and the accession of Andy Burnham. Their Conservative rivals went backwards, underlining the continued existential threats facing Europe's oldest political party. Challenger parties on the left and right, meanwhile, surged and the Welsh government is now, as in Scotland and Northern Ireland, led by a nationalist party. In this special collection, political scientists, historians, and commentators dissect and contextualise these elections and their aftermath, drawing out the key insights for understanding the past, present and future of British politics.

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Volume 97, Issue 2

Latest Journal Issue

Volume 97, Issue 2

Includes a Collection titled 'Inequality and the Future of London', edited by Graeme Atherton and Rupa Huq MP, which brings together contributions from politicians, academics and think tanks to explore how inequality manifests itself in London. In the opening commentary, Ben Jackson asks 'What is the Point of the Labour Party?' while John Street, Michael Harker and Samuel Cross explore public inquiries and UK press regulation; Paul Thomas assesses the Prevent counter-terrorism strategy after Southport; and Ben Worthy, Mark Bennister, and Arianna Giovannini take a closer look at the Mayor of London at 25. Book reviews include Mary Dejevsky's review of 'The Russia-Ukraine War and its Origins: From the Maidan to the Ukraine War', by Ivan Katchanovski.

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