Luke Alsford

I am a journalist covering politics, general news and human-interest stories for Metro.

Political reporting

I have covered British politics through exclusive investigations, breaking news and on the ground reports.

Metro •

'We let Nigel Farage visit our bar - now we are being called Nazis'

A popular Newcastle bar say they are shocked their staff have been horrifically abused online after Nigel Farage visited their venue.
Hibou Blanc in Newcastle’s city centre was swarmed with protesters last Friday after the Reform UK leader went to a lunchtime event there.
Activists shouted ‘shame on you’ and threw things at the restaurant, forcing the swanky venue to close its shutters.
The bar’s partner Stevie Pattinson, 56, has said the attacks have not stopped there, saying his young staff ha...
Metro •

Keir Starmer says Peter Mandelson 'betrayed our country' over Epstein

MPs have voted to release documents known as the so-called Mandelson files surrounding the decision to make Peter Mandelson the US ambassador.
No 10 said the Government would comply with a motion backed by MPs and publish documents relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: ‘Peter Mandelson’s actions were unforgivable.
‘He lied to the Prime Minister, hid information that has since come to light and presented Jeffrey Epstein as someone he barely knew.
‘We will...
Metro •

Uyghurs in UK feel 'betrayed' by Starmer's 'cosy visit' to China

Uyghur activists living in exile in London have accused Sir Keir Starmer of turning a blind eye to ‘genocide’ by visiting China for trade talks.
The Prime Minister has become the first UK leader to visit China since 2018, despite backing calls five years ago for China’s treatment of the Uyghur minority to be formally recognised as genocide.
Rahima Mahmut and Aziz Isa Elkun say they feel ‘betrayed’ by Starmer’s ‘U-turn’ as he attempts to bolster economic ties with the Asian power during the three...
Metro •

First calls for a boycott of the World Cup over Trump's Greenland threats

Conservative and Labour MPs have become the first voices to call for a boycott of the World Cup this summer after Trump announced new tariffs on the UK.
Simon Hoare and Kate Osborne said the government needed to ‘push every button and pull every lever’ to show its objection to the US president’s threats towards Greenland.
Mr Hoare, a senior Conservative MP, told Metro that could include not going to the World Cup, a day after he called for the King’s state visit to the US to be cancelled.
Labour...
Metro •

Two Cabinet ministers 'stripped to a bikini' by Grok AI

Two Cabinet members have become the latest victims to be ‘undressed’ by Grok AI on Elon Musk’s X, Metro can reveal.
This newspaper has seen pictures of the senior politicians being shown in revealing bikinis at the request of members of the public.
A government source called the images ‘deeply disturbing’ and welcomed media regulator Ofcom’s announcement that they are in ‘urgent talks’ with X and xAI.
The Cabinet ministers are one of hundreds of examples of Grok generating images of partially-na...
Metro •

Survivors panel at centre of grooming gangs inquiry to be scrapped

The survivors panel at the heart of the grooming gangs inquiry will be ditched by the government, Metro can reveal.
The victims and survivors panel will be wound down in January, the Home Office has confirmed, just a year after it was set up to ‘ensure that victims’ voices remain at the very heart’ of the inquiry.
The decision was criticised as ‘disgusting’ by grooming gangs survivors, who said it proved the inquiry would not be victim-led.
The revelation comes on the same day the Home Secretary...
Mail Online •

Estate agent was NOT to blame for Reeves' house licence fiasco

By LUKE ALSFORD and CLAIRE ELLICOTT Published: 00:27, 3 November 2025 | Updated: 03:00, 3 November 2025 An estate agent who failed to apply for a licence for Rachel Reeves to let her family home was not responsible for the oversight, his boss has revealed.The property manager has found himself at the centre of a political scandal after he originally dealt with the Chancellor's case.But questions were raised about why the agent had left the company abruptly without fulfilling the licence...
Mail Online •

Grooming gangs survivor claims Starmer WANTS investigation to fail

By LUKE ALSFORD Published: 23:39, 25 October 2025 | Updated: 01:26, 26 October 2025 A grooming gang survivor who quit the inquiry into child sexual exploitation has accused Sir Keir Starmer of sabotaging the investigation to protect Labour councils.Elizabeth Harper, who was abused in Rotherham aged 14, said the Prime Minister wanted the inquiry to fail as it would damage his party.The 38-year-old left the panel last Tuesday after a chaotic meeting with possible chairmen.She said survivor...
Metro •

We went to the Monster Raving Loony Party conference and it was, well, loony

It’s not every party conference where Donald Trump, Margaret Thatcher and Sir Sadiq Khan end up side by side.
Then again, the Monster Raving Loony Party’s annual conference isn’t pretending to be your typical political gathering.
Of course, those famous faces weren’t really in attendance at this year’s event, which was held in the quiet village of Ledbury in Herefordshire.
Instead it was the mask-clad members of the unmissable Loony party who turned up for their first day of fun and policy plann...
Metro •

David Lammy becomes Deputy Prime Minister in reshuffle after Angela Rayner quits

David Lammy has become the new Deputy Prime Minister hours after Angela Rayner quit the role over underpaid stamp duty tax.
The former deputy Labour leader stepped down after it was found she had broken the rules over stamp duty for her second home.
The Prime Minister subsequently used Rayner’s resignation to mix up his top team, moving key figures to new posts.
Yvette Cooper has been appointed Foreign Secretary, while Shabana Mahmood has been moved from Justice Secretary to Home Secretary in a...
Metro •

Keir Starmer says state is 'inalienable' right of Palestinian people

Keir Starmer has called the ‘starvation’ in Gaza ‘indefensible’, adding that the Palestinian people have an ‘inalienable’ right to a state.
The Prime Minister said the situation has ‘reached new depths and continues to worsen’ while urging Israel to change course.
In a statement shared on social media, he called for ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict that would establish a path to Palestinian statehood.
Starmer’s intervention came at the same time French President Emmanuel Macron announced h...
Metro •

Girl sent home from school for wearing Union Jack dress

A dad says he’s received dozens of messages of support after his daughter was put into isolation over her choice of attire on her school’s culture day.
Courtney Wright, 12, chose to celebrate being British with a Union Jack dress, similar to the one worn by Spice Girl Geri Halliwell at the Brits in 1997.
However, teachers at Bilton School said the year seven pupil’s outfit was unacceptable and she was told to leave her class until her dad Stuart Field, 47, came to collect her.
Since revealing...
Metro •

Keir Starmer says Rachel Reeves doing 'excellent' after crying in the Commons

Keir Starmer has said Rachel Reeves is doing an ‘excellent job’ after she broke down in tears in front of Parliament’s cameras this afternoon.
The Chancellor cried during Prime Minister’s Questions as the PM failed to confirm she would still be in her job at the next election.
The tears fell as Reeves faces scrutiny over the government’s welfare bill, which was gutted before being voted through on Monday evening.
However Sir Keir rode to his Chancellor’s defence, telling BBC Radio 4’s Political...
Metro •

MP admits getting staff member to put down his Labrador with a shotgun

A former Reform MP has called himself a ‘coward’ after he had his pet dog shot to death with a shotgun.
Rupert Lowe, who was a member of Nigel Farage’s party until a high-profile clash with the leader earlier this year, decided against having his beloved 17-year-old Labrador put down at the vet after it lost the use of its back legs.
Instead he reportedly told fellow MPs that he asked his gamekeeper Kevin to put dog Cromwell out of its misery with a shotgun on his Gloucestershire estate.
Lowe, w...
Metro •

More than 100,000 people sign Scope's petition against government disability cut

Volunteers from disability equality charity Scope today handed a petition to the government with the voices of 100,000 people opposing the cuts to welfare and PIP.
Today, members of the charity gathered at Downing Street after receiving the backing of people across the UK and the disabled community. 
In March, Labour announced plans to save £5bn a year by overhauling the welfare system, plans which have been called ‘barbaric’ by campaigners.
Volunteers for the charity included Rachel Batten, 53,...
Metro •

Rough sleeping to be decriminalised with 1824 law finally scrapped

Rough sleeping will no longer be a crime in the UK as the government abolishes a ‘cruel’ 200-year-old law.
The Vagrancy Act 1824 was introduced amid a spiralling homelessness crisis after the Industrial Revolution.  
Most of the act has been repealed, though some parts are still in force in England and Wales to police begging and rough sleeping.
But the government announced today it will scrap the bill ‘for good’ by Spring next year.
Labour are pledging to tackle the ‘root causes’ of homelessne...
Metro •

Parliament unveils 'howler' Keir Starmer Toby jug that 'looks like Piers Morgan'

The Houses of Parliament has released their official Toby jug of the Prime Minister – leaving collectors gobsmacked.
The ‘limited edition’ Keir Starmer look-alike mug has drawn some interesting comparisons, with people saying it seems more like TV pundit Piers Morgan.
The Houses of Parliament’s gift shop has been selling ceramic Toby jugs for years, styling them off famous political leaders.
Officials have chosen the Easter recess as the perfect moment to unveil their latest jug recognising the...
Metro •

People in Birmingham 'desperately queueing online for slot to dump rubbish'

Birmingham residents are desperately trying to offload their bin bags and are praying for a quick end to the strikes.
A day after striking workers voted ‘overwhelmingly’ to reject an offer from Birmingham Council, Metro found rubbish piled up next to a GP and fly tipping ongoing.
Unite the Union said the offer was rejected as it did not address potential pay cuts for 200 drivers, and branded it as  ‘totally inadequate’.
As the strikes continue, logistical experts from the army have been called i...
Metro •

How I changed history for thousands of gay and lesbian couples

Michael Salter-Church promised his partner that it would be legal for them to get married one day.
Five years later he was in Downing Street, with his husband, standing next to the Prime Minister.
For those of you who don’t know him, Michael was the Conservative Party advisor who helped turned same-sex marriage from a pipe dream into reality, overcoming rightwing rebellions and religious objections along the way.
He also revolutionised the London Pride event and made it a key tool in his quest f...
Metro •

Rachel Reeves says she took free Sabrina Carpenter tickets for security reasons

Rachel Reeves has admitted accepting free tickets to see US pop star Sabrina Carpenter this month – but said it was due to her security needs.
The Chancellor confirmed reports she attended the gig at the O2 Arena in London, where the singer performed on March 8 and 9.
But she told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: ‘I do now have security which means it’s not as easy as it would be in the past to just sit in a concert.’
New rules for ministers receiving gifts were brought in by Keir Starmer...
Metro •

Labour release bizarre campaign video featuring giant AI-generated animals

The Labour Party has debuted its latest social media strategy to win over voters, featuring giant rabbits, dogs and cows dressed as nurses, police officers and builders.
Entitled ‘Labour’s Plan to Change Britain (as animals)’, Labour released the thirty second video featuring AI-generated animals and menacing music on TikTok yesterday.
The ‘bonkers’ video was slammed on TikTok as ’embarrassing’ and ‘maybe not the best way to get the message across’ by voters.
Starting with an AI image of a life-...
Metro •

Plumbers called to unblock 7,000 loos in government buildings in last two years

Civil servants have cost the British taxpayer hundreds of thousands of pounds clogging up their own loos.
Government buildings have suffered more than 7,000 blocked toilets and urinals in the last two years, data from the Cabinet Office and other departments have shown.
Toilets used by new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, Bridget Phillipson and Michael Gove have all gone out of order, with the Department for Work and Pensions being the biggest culprits.
The cost of plumbing jobs to fix civil servants’...
The London Economic •

Labour landslide heralds in new era of quangoism

Keir Starmer’s Labour landslide has heralded in a new era of quangoism in British politics.
The Prime Minister’s National Violent Disorder Unit, announced at a press conference on Thursday, adds to a long list of new national units, programmes and regulators already promised in Labour’s manifesto.The government now has plans to introduce as many as twenty-six public bodies with influence over swathes of policy and daily life.
The National Violent Disorder Unit will be established after the deadl...
The London Economic •

Labour to remove requirement for new homes to be 'beautiful'

Already outraged that houses are to be built in their back yard, nothing could make the situation worse for NIMBYs than the news that those houses might be ugly.
That is, however, exactly what Angela Rayner and the new Labour government have in store for reeling NIMBY councils across the country, as they outlined plans to impose housing targets across the country. In Labour’s revised planning rule book, the government has deleted almost every use of the word “beautiful” in their requirements for...
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