Reform rises, Labour panics, Antigua rejects King Charles and Mentivity House launches
Plus: local election analysis and Leeds unveils memorial garden to honour Caribbean RAF veterans from WWII
Dear readers,
How’s it going?
As many of you will know, local elections took place across England, Scotland and Wales on Thursday, ushering in a new and deeply concerning political landscape.
Reform UK, a right-wing populist party whose ranks have repeatedly been dogged by allegations of racism, Islamophobia and xenophobia, surged to become the largest party by councillor numbers in England.
As of this afternoon, the party had won over 1,450 council seats and taken control of several local authorities.
Reform’s surge and why many Black folks are worried
Among those elected were Reform candidates Glenn Gibbins, who previously said Nigerians should be “melt[ed] down and fill in the potholes”, and Stuart Prior - a white supremacist who said that the racially aggravated rape of a Sikh woman was good, white people are the “master race”, Black people have smaller brains and Muslims are “rats”.
Reform’s rise is alarming to many, particularly Black and Asian communities, because of what the party represents.
This comes amid a wider backdrop of rising hate crime, anti-immigrant rhetoric, religiously motivated attacks and the growing normalisation of far-right politics not just in Britain, but across parts of Europe and the wider West.
Meanwhile, Labour suffered a seismic collapse, recording one of its worst local election performances in modern history.
The fallout has been so severe that dozens of Labour MPs are now openly calling for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign or announce a timetable for his departure.
The Conservatives also endured heavy losses, reflecting growing public dissatisfaction with Britain’s traditional two-party system.
The Green Party made historic breakthroughs, taking control of councils including Lewisham, Hackney and Waltham Forest, while continuing to attract support from younger and more progressive voters.
In Hackney, the Greens are also set to appoint Dylan Law as Deputy Mayor, a move that would make the 20-year-old Black student one of the youngest people in the country to hold such a position.
Of course, many are questioning the Green Party’s track record on race and commitment to Black communities, as we recently revealed, and Green leader Zack Polanski’s pretty promise to have Black people’s back isn’t going to cut it.
Summarising why some Black voters are increasingly engaging with the Greens without fully abandoning Labour, renowned journalist Lester Holloway wrote: “Our community’s marriage to the Labour Party has never been a blissful union”, arguing that the alternatives still feel uncertain. We agree.
As this newsletter is being sent, some election counts are still ongoing.
But the broader picture is already becoming clear: Britain’s political landscape is shifting and, for many communities, there is uncertainty about what comes next.
Keep reading for your regular news round-up!
Good news
Mentivity House launches on Aylesbury Estate with focus on youth support
England rugby captain Maro Itoje launches drive to donate unused trainers to people who lack suitable footwear for exercise
City Splash and other major Brockwell Park festivals will go ahead after a High Court judge dismissed a legal attempt to stop them
Leeds unveils memorial garden to honour Caribbean RAF veterans from WWII
Google settles Black employees’ racial bias lawsuit for $50 million
British-Ghanaian artist Tanoa Sasraku has been shortlisted for the prestigious Turner Prize 2026; her work explores geopolitical themes through sculpture and film
Remi Burgz wins prize at the Music Week Awards 2026 for her BBC Radio 1Xtra programme
Ethiopian woman’s joy at rare quintuplets after 12 years trying for a baby
Telegraph criticised over ‘smear’ of Southbank chair Misan Harriman after Golders Green comments
The Telegraph is facing criticism after accusing Southbank Centre chair Misan Harriman of promoting a “conspiracy theory” when he questioned disparities in media and police coverage surrounding the Golders Green attacks.
Supporters say Misan raised a legitimate point after reports largely focused on two Jewish victims, despite charges also relating to an alleged earlier attack on a Muslim man the same day.
Since publication, figures including Afua Hirsch, Femi Oluwole, Mehdi Hasan, Sangita Myska and Nels Abbey have rallied behind Misan, alongside outlets including The Voice Newspaper and The New World.
Campaign launched to preserve portrait of John Ystumllyn, one of Britain’s earliest known Black gardeners
A rare portrait of John Ystumllyn, believed to be the earliest known image of a Black gardener in British history, could be lost from public access unless £420,000 is raised to secure it for the nation.
The painting would become part of a permanent display on Black gardening history at the Garden Museum.
The museum told Black Current News that the portrait is currently in private ownership. Support details are here.
Antigua drops oath to King Charles after landslide election win
Antigua and Barbuda has officially scrapped its oath of allegiance to the British monarch, with officials now pledging loyalty only to the nation, constitution and laws.
The move, introduced after Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s latest election victory, is likely to reignite wider Caribbean debates around sovereignty, identity and ties to the Crown.
Welcome, Davina!
We’re proud to welcome award-winning journalist and author Davina Hamilton as Culture and Lifestyle Editor for Black Current News’ commemorative print magazine, out this summer.
Formerly Arts & Entertainment Editor at The Voice, Davina has interviewed icons from Maya Angelou to Idris Elba and remains one of the most respected cultural voices in Black British media.
Pre-order your copy of the magazine here! 💫
What else we’re reading
UK Black Pride cancel 2026 festival as organisers promise ‘landmark return’ in 2027
‘Watching us is like watching a cousin’: the online creators reshaping Africa’s news ecosphere
Sky News presenter Gillian Joseph begins Scotland trek to raise awareness of blood cancer affecting Black people
Stepmum ‘burned girl, 5, in hot bath’ after ‘years of abuse’ in South London, court hears
Family pay tribute after Keanu Taylor, 25, killed in Brixton BBQ shooting
‘I’m here for the people, not for politics’ | Michael Pusey on Croydon local election mayoral bid
Lawsuit claims New York Times didn’t promote white male editor because of race or sex
Sgt Martyn Blake, the Metropolitan Police marksman who shot and killed Chris Kaba, is expected to know by the end of July whether he will have to face gross misconduct proceedings
Who was he? Appeal issued to trace mystery ‘Redemption Man’ as podcast uncovers a hidden Windrush-era story
Amnesty Media Awards 2026
This week, our editor Nadine White also had the privilege of presenting an award at the Amnesty Media Awards at BFI Southbank, having once again served as a judge in the Written News category.
Congratulations again to Christina Lamb and The Sunday Times for winning with their reporting piece, Syria Returns to Bloodshed!
Check out Nadine’s Instagram page for some highlights.
Got a news tip or story idea? Submit it via this form. Reader feedback and corrections are welcomed separately here.
