Rachael Burford

Chief Political Correspondent

ABOUT

Rachael Burford is Chief Political Correspondent at Evening Standard

ABOUT
VIEW

Rachael Burford is Chief Political Correspondent at Evening Standard

Politics

Reform mayor candidate hits back at Zelensky over Ukraine flag remarks

Laila Cunningham said ‘we should only have British flags’ flying from buildings in the UK

9 Jun 2026
Politics

Plan to bulldoze London shopping centre for almost 900 homes rejected

Berkeley Homes had applied to build 867 homes on the site of the Aylesham Centre in Peckham

20 May 2026
Politics

HS2 costs soar over £100bn with no London trains until at least 2036

Trains are not expected to begin running between Old Oak Common and Birmingham’s Curzon Street station until between May 2036 and October 2039

19 May 2026
Politics

SIXTH new Green councillor quits leaving Londoners with £120k bill

New Green representatives on Camden, Haringey, Lambeth, Hackney and Ealing councils have immediately quit - meaning by-elections will have to be held

19 May 2026
Politics

London Labour figures appear in court after vote rigging investigation

Joel Bodmer, Shila Bodmer, Carole Bonner and Gabriel Leroy charged after probe into Labour candidate selection process for Croydon East

19 May 2026
Politics

Dawn Butler wins GMB backing to be Labour candidate for London Mayor

Exclusive: Both GMB regions which cover London are supporting Brent East MP Ms Butler in her City Hall ambitions

18 May 2026
Politics

PM insists he wants to fight next election as Burnham challenge looms

Sir Keir Starmer said he would not ‘walk away’ and intends to fight the next general election

18 May 2026
LIVE

Labour clears path for Burnham's Westminster comeback

Reform UK leader says party will ‘throw absolutely everything at’ the Makerfield by-election

15 May 2026
Politics

Could Greens team up with Tories to torpedo north London 'new town'?

Enfield was one of seven councils in the capital to fall to no overall political control at the local elections

15 May 2026
Politics

Tube strikes on as RMT accuses TfL of 'failing to engage in talks'

The RMT is pressing ahead with two more rounds of 24-hour walkouts next week

15 May 2026
Handout photo of the first page of Health Secretary Wes Streeting´s resignation letter
Politics

Wes Streeting's withering resignation letter in full

Read every word of Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s resignation letter to Sir Keir Starmer

15 May 2026
Politics

All the Labour MPs calling on Starmer to quit

The Prime Minister is fighting on despite huge election losses and the resignation of ministers including Health Secretary Wes Streeting

14 May 2026
(L-R) Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Deputy leader, Angela Rayner, and Shadow Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, attend an event to launch Labour's election pledges at The Backstage Centre on May 16, 2024 in Purfleet
Politics

Who could replace Starmer? Runners and riders for next Labour leader

Keir Starmer faces possible leadership challenge as Wes Streeting quits Cabinet and joins list of nearly 100 Labour MPs calling on him to quit

14 May 2026
Politics

What would Wes Streeting be like as Prime Minister?

Asked in 2018 who would be Prime Minister in a decade, the Ilford North MP answered: ‘It'll probably be me’

14 May 2026
Politics

Rayner 'cleared' in tax probe paving way for Labour leadership run

Former Deputy Prime Minister does not rule out running in any leadership race but says she would not ‘trigger’ contest

14 May 2026
King Charles III and Queen Camilla process into the Lord's chamber through the royal gallery during the state opening of Parliament
Politics

Tourist tax and leasehold reform: What King's Speech means for London

Sir Keir Starmer unveiled his legislative programme for the next parliamentary session on Wednesday, which he hopes will win over Labour MPs calling for his resignation after a disastrous set of local election results

13 May 2026
Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage
Politics

Farage faces 'sleaze' probe over £5m donation from crypto billionaire

Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards opens probe declared gift from Thailand-based cryptocurrency investor

13 May 2026
Politics

Zack Polanski faces investigation over London houseboat council tax

Zack Polanski has come under pressure this week to explain whether the houseboat, moored at Springfield Marina in east London, had been his primary residence for three years

13 May 2026
Politics

The three ways Keir Starmer could be ousted from No10

As a growing number of Sir Keir Starmer’s MPs demand he quits, these are the three ways the Prime Minister could be ousted

13 May 2026
Politics

Tube strike crisis talks this week as Mayor tells RMT to 'sort it out'

Crunch talks taking place after the RMT announced a further two rounds of 24-hour walkouts for May

12 May 2026
Sir Sadiq Khan has unveiled a new London bus hopper fare extension
Transport

Major overhaul of bus fares as mayor reveals new Hopper package

The promotion will mean travellers can take as many trips as they want on weekends and pay for just one fare

11 May 2026