London | The Guardian
Articles about London | The Guardian
‘It’s not glamorous’: the volunteers counting flushed wet wipes on the banks of the Thames
A Thames21 charity citizen science project helps track plastic pollution in the capital’s river On a pale-blue Sunday morning on the foreshore of the River Thames, 40 people are searching for what others have tried to lose. Dotted across a 250-metre stretch under Hammersmith Bridge, they are combing through layers of silt, seashells and dirty driftwood to find one of the river’s most stubborn problems: wet wipes. “People come and walk here and it looks just like mud, at a distance,” says the organiser, Dr Felicity Rhodes.
Freddie Foreman obituary
Murderous gangland criminal who consorted with the Kray twins and was jailed for the 1983 Security Express robbery
Ex-director who oversaw Grenfell cost-cutting leaves council housing role after backlash
Survivors had criticised ‘outrageous’ appointment of Laura Johnson to £150,000 job with Barnet Group A housing director who oversaw cost cutting at Grenfell Tower before the fatal fire has left a £150,000-a-year senior council housing role after a backlash from bereaved families and survivors.
Met chief says ‘toxicity’ around DEI will not stop him recruiting more black and Asian officers
Sir Mark Rowley says inclusivity is crucial for the force and he refuses to be ‘blown off course’ by critics
I will have more police officers of colour in the UK capital – and the culture wars won’t stop me doing it | Mark Rowley
In our major recruitment drive, the focus must be on underrepresented communities. It’s not favouritism, it is fairness – it’s essential, says Metropolitan police commissioner Mark Rowley
Pine cones, glitter and a hip-hop head for sale: red-hot artists reveal their Frieze stunners
As the sprawling art jamboree hits London, eight of the most exciting exhibitors share what their work means to them – and who they hope will buy it First held in 2003, the Frieze art fair is a giant art supermarket that descends on Regent’s Park, London, every October. Some detest it for its blatant commercialism, others relish it as the opportunity to see a mind-boggling amount of contemporary art in one enormous tent. Here, eight British-based artists of the moment talk through what they’re showing. Continue reading
Sacha Baron Cohen to star in Quentin Tarantino’s West End play The Popinjay Cavalier
The production marks the Hollywood director’s first play written for the stage, which he will also direct Sacha Baron Cohen will headline Quentin Tarantino’s play The Popinjay Cavalier when it premieres on the West End in London in March 2027. The production marks the Hollywood director’s first work written for the stage – which he will also direct. Continue reading
Surgeon faces deportation as Home Office revokes refugee status for Syrians
UK classifies Syria as safe to return to despite UN refugee body’s advice A Syrian plastic surgeon is facing deportation from the UK after the Home Office revoked his refugee status, declaring it is now safe for him and his family to return to their home country. Despite Foreign Office guidance advising against all travel to Syria because of the “volatile” security situation, the government has classified it as a safe place for refugees to return to. Continue reading
Thousands gather in London to express support for Palestinians after three years of ‘genocide’
Twenty arrested in first march since Ed Miliband declared UK’s position was that Israel’s occupation of West Bank was unlawful
Camden council was warned about paedophile nursery worker years before arrest
Vincent Chan went on to abuse children after being cleared of ‘significant concerns’ following council-overseen inquiry
Does Polanski have to go? Greens at the crossroads after Holborn and St Pancras
Pressure is building on the party leader after byelection defeat, a damaging row over Zionism and polls that show him less popular than Nigel Farage
‘The real deal’: Sagal Abdi-Wali’s journey from child refugee to Labour MP in former PM’s seat
Decades of volunteering combined with years of active local party politics propels Abdi-Wali to victory over Green leader Zack Polanski
Labour’s win, Greens’ sudden crisis and the impossible lives of Londoners – video
After a searing summer, John Harris and John Domokos return to the fray. First, a Labour conference dwarfed by forces trying to push the world into a frightening future. And then the byelection contest in Holborn and St Pancras, a perfect example of our troubled and polarised politics Continue reading
Leader of Jewish Greens calls for Zack Polanski to resign
Vivien Lichtenstein urges party leader to quit over ‘Zionism is racism’ policy – but could face no-confidence motion herself
Heathrow’s third runway is a bottomless money pit. Stop it now | Simon Jenkins
It won’t promote growth, will take decades and will swallow up billions of taxpayers’ money. The only winner will be the airport’s owners
‘We didn’t get it over the line’: Green party’s Zack Polanski on byelection loss – video
Labour has seen off the Greens to win the Holborn and St Pancras byelection in a result that will reassure Andy Burnham and dent Zack Polanski’s position as a decisive power player on the left of British politics. In an emotional victory speech, Sagal Abdi-Wali, a former child refugee who came to the UK from Somalia in the 1990s, said her commitment to the constituency 'runs deep'.
Palantir’s Tom Watson says ‘mob rule’ must not dictate awarding of government contracts
Former Labour deputy leader says tech firm would work with a Reform UK government on immigration crackdowns Tom Watson, the former Labour deputy leader who recently joined Palantir, has warned against “mob rule” when it comes to awarding public contracts. Lord Watson, now a senior vice-president at the US tech corporation, said UK ministers could get themselves “in a lot of trouble” as he was questioned about concerns raised about the government working with his new employer. Continue reading
Holborn and St Pancras byelection loss will disappoint Greens – but there may also be relief
It may sound odd to think Zack Polanski would be happy with second place, but after the most challenging week of his political life it could have been worse
Labour fends off Green party to win Holborn and St Pancras byelection
Victory by Sagal Abdi-Wali in north London seat will be a relief for Andy Burnham in high-stakes battle for the left of British politics Labour has won the Holborn and St Pancras byelection in a high-stakes battle for the left of British politics. The byelection, called after the former prime minister Keir Starmer resigned the seat in September, was considered a two-horse race between the Labour candidate, Sagal Abdi-Wali, and the Green party leader, Zack Polanski. Abdi-Wali recieved 12,292 votes to Polanski’s 8,928. Continue reading
Labour wins Holborn and St Pancras byelection as Polanski falls short – UK politics live
Sagal Abdi-Wali defeats Green party leader Zack Polanski to retain the Holborn and St Pancras seat for Labour
Polls close in Holborn and St Pancras byelection as Labour hopes to retain seat
Contest seen as test of Andy Burnham’s ability to unite Labour voters amid threat from Green party’s Zack Polanski Polls have closed in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection, a contest seen as a test of whether Andy Burnham can unite Labour’s voters or whether Zack Polanski can peel off support from the party’s progressive flank. Labour is seeking to retain Keir Starmer’s former north London seat, where he won a majority of more than 11,000 votes in the 2024 general election. Continue reading
A lake pilgrimage and a quiet car ride to beach: last hours of sisters who took own lives in Brighton
Inquest hears details of how three women spent their final days but why they ended their lives may never be known
Three sisters who drowned in Brighton took their own lives, inquest finds
Jane Adetoro, Christina Walters and Rebecca Walters from London visited late mother’s former home shortly before their deaths in May
Free land for those who will build on it. Is this the radical solution to the UK’s social housing problem? | Phineas Harper
A bold south London initiative to give land to community groups rather than private developers could transform the system, says writer Phineas Harper
Voting opens in high-stakes Holborn and St Pancras byelection
Zack Polanski has led energetic campaign for the Greens, while Labour will hope to hold on to Starmer’s old seat
Apparent exodus of super-rich suggests UK is no longer billionaires’ playground
If recent complaints are believed, London and the UK are no longer welcoming for ultra-high net worth individuals London was once globally renowned as the “billionaires’ playground”, where the world’s super-rich could relax in the Georgian townhouses of Mayfair undisturbed by the grasping hand of the state. But if recent complaints by fleeing ultra-high net worth individuals are to be believed, the city is no longer as welcoming for those who consider themselves to be Britain’s most-persecuted minority. Continue reading
O2 signs record deal to keep London venue’s naming rights
Exclusive: 10-year sponsorship extension at a 50% premium on last agreement crowns bonanza year for live venue O2 has struck a record £200m deal to retain the naming rights to the London venue the O2 in what is thought to be the largest renewal of its kind in UK history. The 10-year agreement will extend O2’s relationship until at least 2038. It cements the sponsorship as the second longest-running UK stadium naming rights deal after Arsenal’s partnership for the football club’s London ground, Continue reading
Loss of green space could be issue that decides Holborn and St Pancras byelection
Labour could pay price for disappearance of parks and playgrounds around Euston station When HS2 construction began around London’s Euston station in 2017 and people living nearby watched parks and playgrounds give way to diggers and rubble, they were promised that the lost green space would be replaced. “They have to give it all back,” said Dorothea Hackman. “But they are destroying it – so there’s nothing to give back.”
Damilola: The Untold Story review – John Boyega’s trauma after losing his childhood friend is haunting
The actor and his sister were with the 10-year-old on the night he was murdered. For the first time, along with the caretaker who found him bleeding, they share their terror – and celebrate their friend
Mary Beard suggests ‘tweaks’ to British Museum’s handling of queues to see Bayeux tapestry
Classicist and museum trustee visited the line after people complained of waiting for hours, with some turned away
Gillian Anderson confronts ‘distracting’ front-row superfans – video
In a video uploaded to TikTok, Gillian Anderson tells a group of longtime fans they were 'distracting' her by repeatedly sitting in the front row during her West End run. The Sex Education and X-Files actor, who is starring in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at the @sohoplace theatre in London, tells them: 'You can’t come 20 times and sit in the front row, it’ll drive me mad.' The fans, who are not shown, can be heard saying 'I’m sorry' and 'I know'.
Ninety years on, the lessons of the antifascist battle of Cable Street have never felt more relevant | Sarah Sackman
With sectarian forces increasingly seeking to divide us, we must come together to fight for security, fairness and tolerance, says Labour MP for Finchley and Golders Green Sarah Sackman
Man shot dead at London memorial service in ‘senseless act of violence’
Forty-year-old victim declared dead at the scene in East Acton in a ‘senseless act of violence’ A murder investigation has been launched after a 40-year-old man was shot dead in a “senseless act of violence” during a memorial service in west London, police have said. Police were called on Friday at 7.47pm after multiple shots were heard in East Acton. Continue reading
London Labour council warns it may raise council tax by 150%
Hammersmith and Fulham says it faces ‘biggest financial challenge in living memory’ as government cuts bite A flagship Labour authority has warned it may have to impose a 150% council tax rise on residents to maintain current services following central government cuts under a new funding settlement. Hammersmith and Fulham council’s cabinet has concluded in a report due to be published on Monday that such a rise would cost Band D households an additional £29.11 a week in 2027/28. Continue reading
‘People are deserting it’: why are London mansions struggling to sell?
For decades, the capital’s house prices raced ahead of the national average – but now they are falling in prime areas
‘A beacon of peace’: London’s oldest mosque celebrates centenary
Fazl Mosque was used as an air raid shelter in the war – but that is not its only link to a pivotal moment in world history
Polanski says he does not need to win ‘50/50’ byelection to stay Green leader
Exclusive: Party leader says outcome of ‘knife edge’ vote in Keir Starmer’s former seat will not affect his position UK politics live – latest updates Zack Polanski has said his authority as leader of the Green party of England and Wales does not depend on winning next week’s Holborn and St Pancras byelection, amid suggestions the party’s popularity may have peaked. Polanski, who is trying to take Keir Starmer’s former seat from Labour, described the contest as “probably 50/50 right now” and “really on a knife edge”. Continue reading
The Guardian view on Grenfell prosecutions: at last, survivors have a date | Editorial
Editorial: Prosecutors will decide who to charge within eight months. But ministers should also re-examine the law
How poor public transport policy is putting the brake on cities | Letters
Letters: David Andrews suggests a tram network could be the answer to London’s clogged streets, while V Narayanan says unused cycle lanes are a waste of valuable road space
Peta claimed victory when fashion stopped using fur - so why are they back hijacking catwalks?
The animal welfare group has revived their runway-storming tactics from the naughts, now targeting the use of wool
School gate to checkmate: British chess prodigy, 11, is youngest ever woman grandmaster
Bodhana Sivanandan’s father taught her to play age five and soon she was beating ex-champions. Now she is lighting up the Chess Olympiad
Burnham is right that ‘hope comes from honesty’. That’s why Labour must make the case for rejoining the EU | Sadiq Khan
Brexit was a disastrous act of national self-harm. Britain needs EU membership to bring growth and security in an increasingly volatile world, says London mayor Sadiq Khan
Grenfell police hand files on 20 organisations and 54 people to CPS
Met calls move ‘milestone’ moment that paves way for ‘very best possible evidence for charging decisions’ Police investigating the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire have handed over files of evidence relating to 20 companies and 54 individuals to prosecutors. The Metropolitan police described the move as a “milestone” moment that paved the way for what it said would be “the very best possible evidence for charging decisions”. Continue reading
How could Britain look under proportional representation? See the results for your area
These visualisations from exclusive polling modelling show how the UK parliament could change under different voting systems
Soho House launches investigation after out-of-date food mislabelled in kitchen
Private members’ club apologises after former employee exposes issue at its Shoreditch House venue The Soho House private members’ club has launched an investigation after out-of-date food was mislabelled in one of its kitchens. The club, which charges up to £4,500 a year for membership, has apologised after a former employee made a video on TikTok exposing the issue. Continue reading
England’s national museums to remain free to overseas visitors
Government decision comes in response to Margaret Hodge review that proposed charging international tourists
Trial of live facial recognition in London stations leads to a false positive and no arrests
Freedom of information request finds six-month trial cost £320,000, used almost 100 police hours and led to just one – incorrect – alert
Dale Vince plans London-wide news operation to take on ‘rightwing bias’ in the media
Green energy entrepreneur plans rescue package for the group behind the Camden New Journal, Islington Tribune and Westminster Extra
Fayed survivors say GMC let abuse continue by refusing to investigate doctors
Women say inquiry should look at medical regulator after it dismissed request to scrutinise medic accused of sharing results of intrusive sexual health examinations with tycoon
Schools forced to shut amid burst Thames Water pipe ‘leaking 750 litres a second’
Leak causes outages and low pressure in parts of London and Surrey, affecting 6,000 properties and leaving some without water Schools, businesses and homes across seven boroughs in England were hit by a Thames Water outage on Monday, from a burst water main reportedly leaking 750 litres a second. About 6,000 properties across five south London boroughs and two Surrey boroughs had no water supply or low pressure, Thames Water said. Continue reading