Stephen Castle
Verified
As seen in:
Popcast,
The New York Times,
Folha de S.Paulo,
MSN,
MSN Canada,
MSN UK,
O Globo,
The New York Times en Español,
UOL,
Estadão,
MSN India,
MSN South Africa
and
Correspondent in London bureau of New York Times, formerly IHT bureau chief in Brussels, ex-political editor Independent on Sunday
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Stephen Castle
Dozens Evacuated as Firefighters Battle Wildfire in Eastern England
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. Dozens of people were evacuated from homes and vacation parks in eastern England on Thursday as fire crews tackled a wildfire around four miles from a nuclear power plant. The blaze began on Wednesday afternoon and engulfed almost 250 acres of land at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk, a scenic area of protected heathland on England’s eastern coast.
As Wildfires Plague Europe, Scotland Races to Save a Cherished National Park
17 hours ago A wildfire that has burned for two weeks in the Cairngorms National Park has left an "apocalyptic" scene of devastation, say park bosses. The fire has destroyed about 10 sq miles (25 sq km) of moorland and forestry near Aviemore since Wednesday 15 July. Malcolm Smith, farming advisor to the …
As Wildfires Plague Europe, Scotland Races to Save a Cherished National Park
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. Smoke billowing above rocky hilltops. Acres of vegetation left blackened and charred. And the sound of a helicopter hovering overhead, ready to water bomb the flames.
As Wildfires Plague Europe, Scotland Races to Save a Cherished National Park
LONDON -- Smoke billowing above rocky hilltops. Acres of vegetation left blackened and charred. And the sound of a helicopter hovering overhead, ready to water bomb the flames. Those scenes are increasingly familiar to parts of southern Europe, but many visitors to Britain's largest national park, the Cairngorms in the Scottish Highlands, would be more prepared for rain than wildfires, even in summer.
Dozens Evacuated as Firefighters Battle Wildfire in Eastern England
LONDON -- Dozens of people were evacuated from homes and vacation parks in eastern England on Thursday as fire crews tackled a wildfire about 4 miles from a nuclear power plant. The blaze began Wednesday afternoon and engulfed almost 250 acres of land at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk, a scenic area of protected heathland on England's eastern coast.
Slain British Politician Was Hit 21 Times With a Hammer, Prosecutors Say Original
Ann Widdecombe, the right-wing British politician whose killing this month sent shock waves through the country’s political establishment, was struck 21 times on the head with a hammer during the fatal lunchtime attack, prosecutors said in a London court on Tuesday. The suspect, Joshua Kerry, 28, made a brief appearance at Westminster magistrates court, confirming his name and address in the city of Rotherham in the north of England.
Slain British Politician Was Hit 21 Times With a Hammer, Prosecutors Say
3 hours ago Ann Widdecombe was hit on the head with a hammer 21 times at her home as she ate lunch in an attack that was caught on camera, prosecutors have told Westminster Magistrates' Court. Prosecutor Kashif Malik said the man charged with her murder, Joshua Kerry, arrived at her house on 8 July in a red …
Britain’s new prime minister, Andy Burnham, vows to end years of instability
By STEPHEN CASTLE, MICHAEL D. SHEAR and MEGAN SPECIA NYTimes News Service LONDON — Andy Burnham’s day began with a visit to a homeless shelter in central London. A few hours later, he shook hands with King Charles III in the gilded splendor of Buckingham Palace. Accepting the monarch’s request to form a government, Burnham, who was named leader of the governing Labour Party on Friday, became Britain’s seventh prime minister after a decade of extraordinary turbulence.
Five of the Main Challenges Awaiting Britain’s New Prime Minister Original
Five of the Main Challenges Awaiting Britain’s New Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who is set to enter Downing Street on Monday, faces a long and daunting list of issues. Here are some of the most urgent. The Labour Party’s Andy Burnham during an event in June in Manchester, England.Credit...Alastair Grant/Associated Press July 20, 2026, 12:01 a.m. ET It’s the biggest job in British politics, and Andy Burnham has had relatively little time to prepare.
Burnham's Day 1 as Prime Minister: A Homeless Shelter, a Palace and Downing Street
LONDON -- Andy Burnham's day began with a visit to a homeless shelter in central London. A few hours later, he shook hands with King Charles III in the gilded splendor of Buckingham Palace. Accepting the monarch's request to form a government, Burnham, who was named leader of the governing Labour Party on Friday, became Britain's seventh prime minister after a decade of extraordinary turbulence.
Burnham's Day 1 as Prime Minister: A Homeless Shelter, a Palace and Downing Street
LONDON -- Andy Burnham's day began with a visit to a homeless shelter in central London, where he chopped mushrooms and chatted with other helpers preparing breakfast. A few hours later, by now wearing a suit and tie, he shook hands with King Charles III in the gilded splendor of Buckingham Palace.
U.K. Live Updates: Andy Burnham to Replace Keir Starmer as Labour Party Leader Original
July 17, 2026, 12:01 a.m. ET Andy Burnham in London this month.Credit...Isabel Infantes/Reuters Britain has become accustomed to shuffling through prime ministers at a rapid pace and is now poised to have its seventh leader in a decade. But the transition still requires a few steps. Last month, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, amid a mutiny from within his party, announced his plans to resign.
British politician was killed in ‘targeted attack,’ police say
LONDON — British counterterrorism police on Tuesday said Ann Widdecombe, a right-wing politician who was killed last week, had been the victim of a “targeted attack.” Widdecombe, 78, was found dead at her home in Haytor, in Devon, southwestern England, on Thursday, having sustained serious injuries. A 28-year-old British man from Rotherham, a town in northern England around 270 miles away from the crime scene, was arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday.
British Politician Was Killed in ‘Targeted Attack,’ Police Say
British Politician Was Killed in ‘Targeted Attack,’ Police Say Counterterrorism police said that they were continuing to interview a 28-year-old man accused of killing Ann Widdecombe. Ann Widdecombe speaking at a conference for the right-wing Reform party in Redruth, England, last year.
Counterterrorism Police Take Over Investigation Into UK Lawmaker’s Death
LONDON — Counterterrorism police officers have taken over the murder investigation into the death of former British minister Ann Widdecombe, in a reversal just days after British police had said they had no evidence of a political motive in the case.
Counterterrorism Police Take Over Investigation Into U.K. Lawmaker’s Death
Counterterrorism Police Take Over Investigation Into U.K. Lawmaker’s Death The police said new information and evidence had come to light in the murder investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe, a right-wing former lawmaker.
Counterterrorism Police Take Over Investigation Into U.K. Lawmaker's Death
LONDON -- Counterterrorism police officers have taken over the murder investigation into the death of former British minister Ann Widdecombe, in a reversal just days after British police had said they had no evidence of a political motive in the case.
Man Arrested on Suspicion of Murdering Former U.K. Politician
Now The British wildcard is hoping to go all the way on Sunday, and a key component to his unexpected success is his massive upper leg muscles. Arthur Fery, the 23-year-old British wildcard, unknown to anyone outside tennis clubs two weeks ago, now finds himself on first name terms with the queen and …
Police Open Murder Investigation Into Death of Former U.K. Politician
Police Open Murder Investigation Into Death of Former U.K. Politician Ann Widdecombe, a 78-year-old former lawmaker, was found dead with serious injuries on Thursday, the police said.
Police Investigating Donations to Reform U.K., Reports Say
Police Investigating Donations to Reform U.K., Reports Say The police in London said they had questioned two people as part of an investigation into donations to a political party. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform U.K., during a rally days before the 2024 British general election.
Police Open Murder Investigation Into Death of Former U.K. Politician
LONDON -- British police on Friday opened a murder investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe, a staunch right-wing politician who found new fame after she left Parliament and appeared on popular TV shows, including the British equivalent of "Dancing With The Stars." In a statement, police said they were called to an address in Haytor, in Devon, southwest England, by the ambulance service Thursday, where Widdecombe, 78, was found deceased and having "sustained serious injuries." "This is...
Police Open Murder Investigation Into Death of Former U.K. Politician
LONDON -- British police on Friday opened a murder investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe, a staunch right-wing politician who found new fame after she left Parliament and appeared on popular TV shows, including the British equivalent of "Dancing With The Stars." In a statement, police said they were called to an address in Haytor, in Devon, southwest England, by the ambulance service Thursday, where Widdecombe, 78, was found dead having "sustained serious injuries." "This is an...
Police Investigating Donations to Reform UK, Reports Say
LONDON -- The British police are investigating donations worth at least 500,000 pounds, about $670,000, made to the populist right-wing party Reform UK, according to British news reports, adding to the pressure on its leader, Nigel Farage. The Metropolitan Police in London confirmed in a statement to The New York Times on Friday that they were investigating donations made to a political party before the 2024 general election and whether they were legal.
Farage’s Act of Political Theater Risks Becoming Farce
Farage’s Act of Political Theater Risks Becoming Farce Under investigation over an undisclosed gift, the right-wing leader Nigel Farage may end up in a special election against a candidate dressed as a trash can.
The 'Business-Friendly Socialism' of Starmer's Likely Successor
MANCHESTER, England -- At a construction site in the northwest English city of Manchester, a huge hunk of steel was being hoisted onto the skeleton of a 12-story office block. When the structure is complete, it will have space for around 2,000 workers in a development with 2,000 homes, a 650-bed hotel and a riverside park. The buzz of building work on the Mayfield site, a short walk from Manchester's main railway station, is familiar to the area's inhabitants.
Farage's Act of Political Theater Risks Becoming Farce
(News Analysis) LONDON -- It started as a classic piece of political theater from a master of the craft, Nigel Farage, leader of the right-wing populist party Reform UK and the most famous insurgent of British public life. After weeks of pressure over revelations about his finances, Farage abruptly announced Tuesday that he would resign his parliamentary seat in Clacton, east England, and run there again, seeking a vote of confidence from electors in an area where his support is strong.
Farage says he will resign as U.K. lawmaker to trigger a special election
LONDON — Nigel Farage, the leader of the populist right-wing Reform UK party, on Tuesday said he would resign his seat in Parliament and run for reelection in his Clacton seat to answer criticism of his financial affairs. The unexpected move comes after recent revelations about gifts and financial support received by Farage, both from a cryptocurrency billionaire and from a political ally who was once convicted of fraud in the United States.
U.K. Live Updates: Farage Resigns and Says He Will Run Again in Special Election
Latest Updated July 7, 2026, 10:34 a.m. ET8 minutes ago Nigel Farage, the leader of the populist right-wing Reform U.K. party, on Tuesday said he would resign his seat in Parliament and run for re-election in his Clacton seat to answer criticism of his financial affairs. The unexpected move comes after recent revelations about gifts and financial support received by Mr. Farage, both from a cryptocurrency billionaire and from a political ally who was once convicted of fraud in the United States.
Farage Says He Will Resign as U.K. Lawmaker to Trigger a Special Election
LONDON -- Nigel Farage, the leader of the populist right-wing Reform UK party, on Tuesday said he would resign his seat in Parliament and run for reelection in his Clacton seat to answer criticism of his financial affairs. The unexpected move comes after recent revelations about gifts and financial support received by Farage, both from a cryptocurrency billionaire and from a political ally who was once convicted of fraud in the United States.
How Yellow Buses Helped Fuel the Rise of the Man Poised to Lead Britain
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. How Yellow Buses Helped Fuel the Rise of the Man Poised to Lead Britain Andy Burnham brought Greater Manchester’s public transit back under public control, making buses more frequent and capping fares. A Bee Network bus at a station in Manchester in June.
Britain’s Likely Next Prime Minister Made His Name in Manchester. Here’s How.
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. At a construction site in the northwest English city of Manchester, a huge hunk of steel was being hoisted onto the skeleton of a 12-story office block. When the structure is complete, it will have space for around 2,000 workers in a development with 2,000 homes, a 650-bed hotel and a riverside park.
Britain's Likely Next Prime Minister Made His Name in Manchester. Here's How.
MANCHESTER, England -- At a construction site in the northwest English city of Manchester, a huge hunk of steel was being hoisted onto the skeleton of a 12-story office block. When the structure is complete, it will have space for around 2,000 workers in a development with 2,000 homes, a 650-bed hotel and a riverside park. The buzz of building work on the Mayfield site, a short walk from Manchester's main railway station, is familiar to the area's inhabitants.
How Yellow Buses Helped Fuel the Rise of the Man Poised to Lead Britain
MANCHESTER, England -- As she waited to board the 126 bus that would take her home to Leigh, a town outside Manchester in northwest England, Emily Armstrong counted the ways the service had improved. "It's definitely got a lot better -- there are way more buses than before," said Armstrong, 19, as she sat in the shade outside the Trafford Center, a mall near Manchester.
Britain’s Likely Next Leader Promises Major Shift of Power Out of London Original
Britain’s Likely Next Leader Promises Major Shift of Power Out of London Andy Burnham, who looks set to become prime minister next month, said he would set up a new operation in Manchester called “No. 10 North” to give more funding and control to local leaders. Andy Burnham, center, arrives to deliver a speech in Manchester, northern England, on Monday.
Britain's Likely Next Leader Promises Major Shift of Power Out of London
LONDON -- Britain's outgoing prime minister, Keir Starmer, was repeatedly criticized for lacking a clear political narrative. Andy Burnham, the popular former mayor of Greater Manchester and the lead contender to succeed Starmer, appears determined not to make the same mistake. Monday morning in Manchester, Burnham gave his first policy speech outlining his plan for government and underscored his promise to "do things differently" if he becomes prime minister.
Britain's Likely Next Leader Promises Major Shift of Power Out of London
LONDON -- Britain's outgoing prime minister, Keir Starmer, was repeatedly criticized for lacking a clear political narrative. Andy Burnham, the popular former mayor of Greater Manchester and the lead contender to succeed Starmer, appears determined not to make the same mistake. On Monday morning, Burnham gave his first policy speech outlining his plan for government in a location in Manchester that underscored his promise to "do things differently" if he becomes prime minister.
The Extraordinary Embezzlement Case That Rocked Scottish Politics
The Extraordinary Embezzlement Case That Rocked Scottish Politics Peter Murrell, the husband of the former Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon, was sentenced on Tuesday after he admitted to buying a bizarre range of items with the Scottish National Party’s money. Peter Murrell, center, arriving at Edinburgh High Court in May. He was sentenced on Tuesday to more than five years in prison.Credit...Jane Barlow/Press Association, via Associated Press June 23, 2026, 8:56 a.m. ET A robotic lawn mower.
Those British Strawberries Are Being Picked by Central Asian Workers Original
Those British Strawberries Are Being Picked by Central Asian Workers Ten years after Brexit, most seasonal workers in Britain are from countries such as Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Without them, agricultural chiefs say, many farms would fail. Shukrat Djuraev at Homefield Farm, in Kent, England, this month.Credit...Andrew Testa for The New York Times Stephen Castle reported from the fields near Swanley, in Kent, southern England, and Aigerim Turgunbaeva from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Those British Strawberries Are Being Picked by Central Asian Workers
KENT, England -- There were dozens of strawberry plants to prune, and Shukrat Djuraev was more than 3,000 miles from home, but he was not complaining as he worked his way down a giant greenhouse tunnel in Kent, in southern England. "I like it here," said Djuraev, 44, who is from Bukhara in Uzbekistan and is one of thousands of seasonal workers that British farmers rely on every year to get their produce into stores. "It's good working here.
The Extraordinary Embezzlement Case That Rocked Scottish Politics
LONDON -- A robotic lawn mower. A silver wine coaster. A Jaguar car. A motor home costing six figures. The list of items bought with cash embezzled from Scotland's governing political party ranges from the banal to the ostentatious. But the theft in total of more than 400,000 pounds, or over $500,000, from the Scottish National Party over 12 years has created the biggest scandal to hit the country's politics in decades.
Who Will Replace Starmer? Here’s What Happens Next.
Who Will Replace Starmer? Here’s What Happens Next. Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, could be replaced through a full leadership contest. But if the top contender, Andy Burnham, is the only candidate, the process will be much faster.
U.K. Live Updates: Starmer Announces Resignation as Prime Minister
Latest Updated June 22, 2026, 5:10 a.m. ET30 minutes ago Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain announced his resignation on Monday, bowing to a mutiny inside his party and a challenge to his leadership of the country. Mr. Starmer said he would remain as prime minister until a new party leader is selected, by September, rather than fight to remain in the job he won almost two years ago.
U.K. Live Updates: Starmer Faces Mounting Pressure to Step Down Original
Latest Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain is under increasing pressure from members of his own Labour Party to set out a timetable to resign as the country’s leader, a high-stakes decision that Mr. Starmer could announce as early as Monday.
Who Will Replace Starmer? Here's What Happens Next.
LONDON -- Will Britain's next leader be chosen by contest or by something more like a coronation? In his resignation statement on Monday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a timetable for his departure from Downing Street that left open two options for the process to replace him. Option 1: A full leadership contest Under this scenario, a competition would occur to replace Starmer as the Labour Party's leader and -- because of the majority the party has in Parliament -- as the prime minister.
¿Quién es Andy Burnham, el hombre que podría ser el próximo primer ministro del Reino Unido?
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. ¿Quién es Andy Burnham, el hombre que podría ser el próximo primer ministro del Reino Unido? Carismático y de un optimismo desenfadado, Burnham es todo lo contrario a Keir Starmer. Sus aliados esperan que pueda mejorar la relación del Partido Laborista con los votantes.
In Britain, a Rival’s Stunning Victory May Force Starmer’s Last Stand
In Britain, a Rival’s Stunning Victory May Force Starmer’s Last Stand Andy Burnham, a Labour mayor, won a resounding majority in a special election on Thursday, making him eligible to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the country’s leadership.
In Britain, a Rival's Stunning Victory May Force Starmer's Last Stand
(News Analysis) LONDON -- Solemn, controlled and with the delivery of the top-rank lawyer he once was, Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain was out early on Friday, pointing out that no formal leadership challenge has yet been triggered against him and pledging to fight to keep his job. Some 200 miles north, his Labour Party rival Andy Burnham promised change and urgency as he addressed jubilant supporters who helped him win a special election.
Who Is Andy Burnham, the Man Who Could Be Britain’s Next Prime Minister? Original
Andy Burnham has twice run unsuccessfully for the leadership of Britain’s governing Labour Party. Now his decisive victory in a special parliamentary election puts him within reach not just of that goal, but of entering Downing Street as prime minister.
U.K. Ban on Pro-Palestinian Protest Group Is Lawful, Court of Appeal Rules
U.K. Ban on Pro-Palestinian Protest Group Is Lawful, Court of Appeal Rules The decision overturned a lower-court ruling that found that banning Palestine Action as a terrorist group had breached free speech rights.
U.K. Ban on Pro-Palestinian Protest Group Is Lawful, Court of Appeal Rules
LONDON -- The British government acted lawfully when it banned a pro-Palestinian protest group as a terrorist organization, the Court of Appeal in London said Monday, overturning a lower-court ruling that had found the ban breached free speech rights. The decision is a victory for the government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, but it is unlikely to be the final word on the case as supporters of the group said they would appeal to the Supreme Court.
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with Stephen
Contact Stephen, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack