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

Labour's ex general secretary lays into Starmer as she joins Greens

Jennie Formby, who managed Labour from 2018 to 2020, said she would be campaigning for Zack Polanski’s party ahead of the local elections on May 7

22 Apr 2026
Politics

PM fails to deny Lord linked to paedophile considered for diplomat job

During a fiery Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir faced grilling over his former spin doctor Matthew Doyle

22 Apr 2026
Politics

Lady Mayor swaps horse and carriage pomp for mass motorbike run

As part of her ‘un-squaring the Square Mile’ strategy for the year, Dame Susan Langley will don her bike leathers to raise funds for her Lord Mayor’s Appeal

22 Apr 2026
Politics

London Labour figures charged after investigation into 'vote rigging'

Exclusive: Four people charged after criminal investigation into irregularities surrounding Labour candidate selection process for Croydon East

21 Apr 2026
Politics

'Get it done': How Foreign Office chief felt heat to clear Mandelson

Sacked foreign office boss Robbins accused Downing Street of a ‘dismissive approach’ to vetting Peter Mandelson and claimed Lord Matthew Doyle, who was handed a peerage despite links to a convicted sex offender, had been considered for an ambassadorship

21 Apr 2026
Politics

Starmer battles to save job in Commons showdown over Mandelson scandal

An emergency debate is set to be held in the Commons on Tuesday after Sir Keir claimed he was not told Lord Mandelson had failed security vetting

20 Apr 2026
iran cargo ship stormed by US military
World

Moment US forces storm Iranian cargo ship as war hots up again

US navy personnel can be heard shouting: ‘Vacate your engine room, vacate your engine room, we're prepared to subject you to disabling fire’

20 Apr 2026
Politics

Green candidate who claimed Israel behind October 7 attacks quits

Bernard Mani, who was due to stand in Lewisham on May 7, also allegedly tore down balloons put up in solidarity with Israeli children kidnapped by Hamas

10 Apr 2026
Politics

Greens accuse Labour of ‘cosy’ developer ties amid elections battle

Green Party leader Zack Polanski criticises Labour for prioritising property developers as Housing Secretary Steve Reed hits back

9 Apr 2026
Politics

London Reform candidate defects claiming party is 'racist and bigoted'

Georgie David, standing in West Ham and Beckton, said she was suspending her general election campaign in the east London seat

9 Apr 2026
Politics

£30 million hit to London economy after Wireless Festival cancelled

The Finsbury Park festival was called off on Tuesday when the Home Office confirmed headliner Kanye West would be blocked from entering Britain

8 Apr 2026
Politics

UK visa fees to increase by up to £222 today

In a bid to reduce immigration, the Home Office is introducing a series of stricter new rules

8 Apr 2026
Politics

Vote Labour or risk Nigel Farage, warns Sadiq Khan at campaign launch

The Mayor launched Labour’s London local elections campaign in Peckham after poll showing party could lose all but two of its councils

2 Apr 2026
Politics

Farage sacks Reform's housing chief over Grenfell comments

Simon Dudley said the deadly 2017 blaze was a ‘tragedy’, but that ‘everyone dies in the end’

2 Apr 2026
London

Khan warns of 'zero tolerance' to repeat Clapham disorder over Easter

The Mayor and the Met have warned against any further unrest, with ‘a strong policing plan’ in place to prevent further ‘utterly unacceptable’ scenes

2 Apr 2026
Middle East conflict
Politics

UK discusses sanctions on Iran if Strait of Hormuz remains closed

Britain is seeking to lead a diplomatic initiative to restore access to the vital oil shipping lane being throttled by Iran in retaliation to US-Israeli attacks

2 Apr 2026
Politics

Green Party London election candidate quits after arson attack claim

Tope Olawoyin, who was due to stand for the Havering Green Party, has withdrawn from the council elections on May 7

1 Apr 2026
***BESTPIX*** President Trump Attends Opening Night Of Chicago At The Kennedy Center
Politics

Donald Trump claims Iran has asked for ceasefire

The US President said forces will be ‘blasting Iran into oblivion’ until the vital shipping lane is reopened

1 Apr 2026
Politics

At least two dead in Channel as small boat crossing talks fail

Responders pulled eight people onto a rescue boat, but two could not be saved

1 Apr 2026
Politics

How much is my council tax going up? Average Londoner to see £87 hike

Wandsworth residents pay less than half the amount of those living in Lewisham, Redbridge, Hackney or Barking and Dagenham

1 Apr 2026