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Zoe Crowther

Zoe Crowther

@zoenora6

zoecrowther.bsky.social

Zoe Crowther is a Political Reporter for PoliticsHome. She was previously a social media journalist and did freelance reporting for national newspapers.

Wes Streeting Backs Andy Burnham For Labour Leader
Political parties
Wes Streeting Backs Andy Burnham For Labour Leader
Former health secretary Wes Streeting has announced he is backing Andy Burnham to take over from Keir Starmer as Labour leader and prime minister.
Makerfield Defeat Underlines How Tactical Voting Could Frustrate Farage
Political parties
Makerfield Defeat Underlines How Tactical Voting Could Frustrate Farage
Andy Burnham's comfortable victory in the Makerfield by-election has raised further questions about whether Nigel Farage can become prime minister in the face of anti-Reform UK tactical voting.
Labour MP Wants Tech-Facilitated Violence Against Women Defined In Law
Social affairs
Labour MP Wants Tech-Facilitated Violence Against Women Defined In Law
Labour MP Jess Asato has called on the government to create a legal definition of technology-facilitated violence against women and girls, arguing that stronger protections are needed to tackle the growing threat of AI-generated abuse.
Gen Z Labour MP Says Social Media Ban Will 'Create More Problems' For Young People
Technology
Gen Z Labour MP Says Social Media Ban Will "Create More Problems" For Young People
Labour MP Josh Dean, one of the UK's youngest MPs, has said the government’s ban on social media for under-16s is going to “create more problems” for young people rather than making them safer.
Political Tetris: How Fragmentation Is Forcing Parties Into Complex Coalition-Building
Political parties
Political Tetris: How Fragmentation Is Forcing Parties Into Complex Coalition-Building
May’s local elections meant more councils than ever ruled by more than one party. Zoe Crowther investigates what might be a sign of things to come for Westminster. Illustration by Tracy Worrall
Wes Streeting Says Reform's Response To Henry Nowak Murder 'Has Echoes Of The 1930s'
Political parties
Wes Streeting Says Reform's Response To Henry Nowak Murder "Has Echoes Of The 1930s"
Former health secretary Wes Streeting has said Reform UK’s response to the murder of Henry Nowak “has echoes of the 1930s”.
Ex-Energy Minister And Burnham Ally Says Tony Blair Is Wrong About Net Zero
Energy
Ex-Energy Minister And Burnham Ally Says Tony Blair Is Wrong About Net Zero
Former energy minister Miatta Fahnbulleh has said former Labour prime minister Tony Blair was “wrong” about the need for the UK to deprioritise net zero commitments.
Rupert Lowe Earned More Than £10k From X In One Month
Political parties
Rupert Lowe Earned More Than £10k From X In One Month
Restore Britain MP Rupert Lowe received more than £10,000 from X in a single month, having earned more than £70,000 from the platform since being elected.
Andy Burnham Says He Will Run A By-Election Campaign For 'Change'
Political parties
By Zoe Crowther
Andy Burnham Says He Will Run A By-Election Campaign For "Change"
Andy Burnham said he is running a by-election campaign for “change” in politics, the economy, housing, transport, and care, as he launched his bid to become the new Labour MP for Makerfield.
China And Clean Energy: Is Britain Swapping One Dependency For Another?
Energy
By Zoe Crowther
China And Clean Energy: Is Britain Swapping One Dependency For Another?
As the conflict in Iran highlights Britain’s exposure to fossil fuel markets, Zoe Crowther examines fears UK’s shift towards clean energy might mean replacing one dependency with another
X Accused Of Failing To Remove Racist Abuse Despite New Ofcom Commitments
Technology
X Accused Of Failing To Remove Racist Abuse Despite New Ofcom Commitments
X has been accused of failing to honour commitments made to the UK communications regulator, after dozens of racist posts targeting ethnic minority public figures remained online for more than 48 hours after being reported.
Meet The Tech Insiders Advising UK Politicians On How To Manage The AI Revolution
Parliament
By Zoe Crowther
Meet The Tech Insiders Advising UK Politicians On How To Manage The AI Revolution
The scale and pace of AI-powered change continues to astonish – just look at the markets. Two former tech insiders have recently taken advisory roles to help shape, respectively, the responses of the Chancellor and Mayor of London. Zoe Crowther hears from Dex Hunter-Torricke and Baroness Lane-Fox
John Healey Set To Push For More Defence Investment To Stay In Britain
Defence
By Zoe Crowther
John Healey Set To Push For More Defence Investment To Stay In Britain
Exclusive: Defence Secretary John Healey is set to argue that more defence investment must stay in Britain.
Wes Streeting And Andy Burnham Set Out Their Labour Leadership Pitches
Political parties
By Zoe Crowther
Wes Streeting And Andy Burnham Set Out Their Labour Leadership Pitches
Former health secretary Wes Streeting and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham have begun to set out their pitches for the direction of the Labour Party, as they prepare to stand in a future leadership contest to replace Keir Starmer.
Labour MP Says Government's Migration Rhetoric Has Failed To Cut Through
Home affairs
By Zoe Crowther
Labour MP Says Government's Migration Rhetoric Has Failed To Cut Through
Labour MP Uma Kumaran has criticised the government’s media messaging on migration as being “too timid” and failing to cut through with voters.
The Emerging Labour Leadership Camps And Their Visions For The Country
Political parties
By Zoe Crowther
The Emerging Labour Leadership Camps And Their Visions For The Country
As rivals prepare to challenge Keir Starmer's leadership after Labour’s bruising local election results, PoliticsHome examines the emerging contenders, the factions forming around them, and the ideologies underpinning them.
Labour Ruling Body Approves Andy Burnham Standing For Selection In Makerfield By-Election
Political parties
By Zoe Crowther
Labour Ruling Body Approves Andy Burnham Standing For Selection In Makerfield By-Election
Andy Burnham has received approval from Labour's ruling body to run for selection in the Makerfield parliamentary by-election, bringing the Greater Manchester mayor one step closer to being able to run in a leadership contest to replace Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
How Will A Labour Leadership Contest Work?
Political parties
By Zoe Crowther
How Will A Labour Leadership Contest Work?
A leadership contest to oust Keir Starmer as prime minister looks imminent, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting having resigned, an MP standing aside to allow Andy Burnham to potentially return to Parliament, and more than 90 MPs having called on Starmer to stand down or set out a timetable for doing so.
Nigel Farage Faces Formal Investigation Into Failure To Declare £5m Gift
Political parties
By Zoe Crowther
Nigel Farage Faces Formal Investigation Into Failure To Declare £5m Gift
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is facing a formal inquiry over whether he breached parliamentary rules by failing to declare a £5m gift.
Keir Starmer Tries To Position Labour As The Party Of A 'Stronger And Fairer' Britain
Political parties
By Zoe Crowther
Keir Starmer Tries To Position Labour As The Party Of A "Stronger And Fairer" Britain
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has attempted to shore up his leadership of the Labour Party and of the country by saying Labour needs to go beyond just “incremental change” and be the party of a “stronger and fairer” Britain.
Labour MP Says She Will Challenge PM By Monday If A Cabinet Minister Does Not
Political parties
By Zoe Crowther
Labour MP Says She Will Challenge PM By Monday If A Cabinet Minister Does Not
A backbench Labour MP has said that if a cabinet minister does not put themselves forward to challenge Keir Starmer as party leader by Monday, she will attempt to trigger a leadership contest herself.
Cabinet Minister Insists Starmer Will “Stay The Course” As Early Local Election Results Show Major Labour Losses
Political parties
By Zoe Crowther
Cabinet Minister Insists Starmer Will “Stay The Course” As Early Local Election Results Show Major Labour Losses
Defence Secretary John Healey has said Keir Starmer will “stay the course” as prime minister despite early local election results pointing to major losses for Labour.
The New Generation of Mayors Trying To Bring Young People Back Into Politics
Political parties
By Zoe Crowther
The New Generation of Mayors Trying To Bring Young People Back Into Politics
Young people in Britain are often described as disengaged and distrustful of politics. Zoe Crowther speaks to a new generation of civic leaders who believe they can help close that gap
Former Foreign Office Chief Accuses No 10 Of 'Dismissive Approach' To Mandelson's Vetting
Foreign affairs
Former Foreign Office Chief Accuses No 10 Of "Dismissive Approach" To Mandelson's Vetting
Former Foreign Office permanent secretary Olly Robbins has said No 10 had a "dismissive approach" to Lord Peter Mandelson's vetting.
Labour MP Calls For Pension Triple Lock Reform To Fund Defence Spending Boost
Defence
Labour MP Calls For Pension Triple Lock Reform To Fund Defence Spending Boost
A Labour backbencher has called for the pension triple lock to be reformed to help fund a rise in defence spending.
Labour MP Launches ‘Summer Of Sex’ Campaign To Overhaul Sex Education
Health
By Zoe Crowther
Labour MP Launches ‘Summer Of Sex’ Campaign To Overhaul Sex Education
Labour MP Samantha Niblett has launched a campaign to make 2026 the “summer of sex”, as she pushes for more open, inclusive lifelong sex education.
Wes Streeting Insists NHS England Abolition Is Still Right Thing To Do Despite 'Astonishing' Opposition
Health
Wes Streeting Insists NHS England Abolition Is Still Right Thing To Do Despite "Astonishing" Opposition
Wes Streeting has defended his decision to abolish NHS England, but admitted he can “understand why so many of my predecessors didn’t bother” given the scale of disruption and opposition.
Ed Davey: Hillary Clinton Told Me To “Stand Up To Bullies” Like Reform UK
Foreign affairs
Ed Davey: Hillary Clinton Told Me To “Stand Up To Bullies” Like Reform UK
Former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton privately urged Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey to “stand up to bullies” like Reform UK during a recent visit to London.
Government Looks At Bringing In Tougher Laws To Restrict Fireworks Sales
Communities
By Zoe Crowther
Government Looks At Bringing In Tougher Laws To Restrict Fireworks Sales
Exclusive: The government is carrying out a consultation on whether to implement tougher laws on the public sale of fireworks.
Key Contests To Look Out For In The Wales, Scotland And Local Council Elections
Political parties
By Zoe Crowther
Key Contests To Look Out For In The Wales, Scotland And Local Council Elections
Across England, Scotland and Wales, voters will go to the polls on 7 May in what could be one of the most fragmented and unpredictable local and devolved election cycles in recent British politics.
King's US State Visit To Go Ahead Despite Trump Attacks On UK Over Iran
Foreign affairs
By Zoe Crowther
King's US State Visit To Go Ahead Despite Trump Attacks On UK Over Iran
King Charles and Queen Camilla will meet US President Donald Trump on a state visit to the United States in late April, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.
Former AI Minister Warns Social Media Ban Could 'Cut Off' Education For Young People
Parliament
By Zoe Crowther
Former AI Minister Warns Social Media Ban Could "Cut Off" Education For Young People
Labour MP and former AI minister Feryal Clark has warned that restricting young people’s access to social media could "cut off" vital education resources for disadvantaged or vulnerable children, as parliamentarians consider whether to introduce a ban for under-16s.
Turning The Tide: Can Digital Nomads Breathe New Life Into Seaside Towns?
Communities
By Zoe Crowther
Turning The Tide: Can Digital Nomads Breathe New Life Into Seaside Towns?
Britain’s seaside towns are often emblematic of economic ill-health, but Zoe Crowther finds hope that digital entrepreneurs will breathe new life into coastal economies
Is The Green Party Getting A Wave Of Councillor Defections?
Political parties
By Zoe Crowther
Is The Green Party Getting A Wave Of Councillor Defections?
The Green Party has said a growing number of Labour councillors are joining its ranks ahead of the local elections. What does the data say?
UK 'Stands Ready' To Support Emergency International Energy Reserves
Defence
UK "Stands Ready" To Support Emergency International Energy Reserves
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed the UK is ready to back a coordinated release of International Energy Agency oil reserves to help stabilise fuel prices, as the Middle East conflict continues.
Keir Starmer Says UK Is Sending Four More Typhoon Jets To Help Defend Brits In Middle East
Defence
Keir Starmer Says UK Is Sending Four More Typhoon Jets To Help Defend Brits In Middle East
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the UK is sending more jets to “maintain the shield” over the British people in the Middle East, after Iran launched a fresh wave of attacks against Israel and US targets in the region.