#devolution

#devolution

The government is set to postpone elections for newly created mayors in some parts of Southern England. Local government sources say two out of four areas expected to vote in May 2026 - Essex and the combined counties of Norfolk and Suffolk - will now do so at a later date. Opposition parties are calling for the elections to go ahead as planned, with shadow local government secretary James Cleverly accusing Labour of "subverting democracy".

No other European country has such a narrow base of proprietorship as Scotland. Half of all privately owned rural land is held by 421 people or entities. The roots of such disparities lie in the past. The 18th- and 19th-century Highland clearances emptied the glens and readied them for private takeover. On the continent, and eventually in England, the great estates were broken up by inheritance and land taxes. By comparison, Scotland is still feudal in scale.

In his speech on Saturday, Robinson is expected to renew his calls for greater co-operation between unionist parties. The East Belfast MP will say that "no party or personality should ever trump our shared strategic aims". "Under my leadership, we will be strong, but we will not be selfish," he will say in his speech. Pacemaker Robinson will again express support for being part of Northern Ireland's devolved government, saying "things happen" when DUP ministers hold office.