Prime Minister Keir Starmer apologised in the House of Commons for Britain's role in an estimated 185,000 forced adoptions in England and Wales between 1949 and 1976, hours from a parallel Dutch cabinet apology in The Hague covering some 15,000 children relinquished between 1956 and 1984. Both governments promised follow-up measures; neither, so far, has put compensation on the table.
Keir Starmer announced on 22 June that he will step down as Labour leader and prime minister, less than two years after a landslide win. His likely successor, former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, has confirmed a leadership bid, while the EU has postponed a UK summit planned for July.
Keir Starmer is under intense pressure to set a timetable for leaving Downing Street after his rival Andy Burnham won a parliamentary seat and Labour MPs broke cover to call for change. The prime minister insists he will fight any contest.
Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, became the largest party in English local government on 8 May 2026, gaining at least 421 seats while Labour lost 318. Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed to stay despite calls inside his own ranks to change course on tax and immigration.