United KingdomOwnership & classification
Founded: 2017
Ownership
UnHerd is a British news and opinion website founded in 2017 by hedge fund manager Paul Marshall (owner and publisher) and conservative commentator Tim Montgomerie (founding editor). It remains owned and bankrolled by Marshall, co-founder of the Marshall Wace hedge fund, who is also a major investor in GB News and, since 2024, the owner of The Spectator.
Funding
The site was launched and sustained by an endowment and ongoing financial backing from Marshall rather than by turning an early profit, and it has since added paid subscriptions alongside advertising. Its core funding comes from its wealthy proprietor.
Affiliation & stance
UnHerd is editorially right-of-centre and contrarian, but it is privately owned by an individual proprietor with no party or state control. Because it is a privately and commercially owned outlet free of party or government direction, it is classified INDEPENDENT; the site's CENTER_RIGHT lean is reasonable though it often runs distinctly RIGHT-leaning commentary.
Editorial lean
- Our estimate
- Lean Right
- Measured from coverage
- Centerbased on 80
65/100
Factual
55/100
Objective
110
Articles
110
reports
Top stories
Most covered right now
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Recent coverage
Ukraine reports two dead after night attacks by Russia, with the death toll in Kiev rising to 30.
At least two people were killed and eight injured in Russian air strikes on the Sumy region and Kryvyj Rih in Ukraine during the night of Thursday to Friday, according to Ukrainian authorities. This follows a large-scale Russian attack on Kyiv earlier in the week which killed at least 30 people and injured around 100 others. In response to the attacks, Ukraine conducted missile strikes on Belgorod in Russia, causing a fire at an energy facility and killing one woman, according to Russian media. The overnight strike on the city of Romny in the Sumy region hit a residential building, killing two women and injuring a man, reported regional administrator Oleh Hryhorov via Telegram. Another seven people were injured in a missile strike on Kryvyj Rih, according to military city administrator Oleksandr Vilkul. In Kyiv, teams discovered three more dead bodies during the night, bringing the total number of victims to 30, according to Reuters citing Ukrainian health authorities. Kyiv's military administrator Tymur Tkačenko stated that the attack injured 99 people. Moscow claimed the extensive attack was a response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, including those carried
Photo of Andy Burnham edited to include several women wearing Islamic dress
On 1 July 2026, Full Fact reported that an image circulating on social media showing Andy Burnham, the newly elected MP for Makerfield, standing next to several women wearing Islamic dress had been edited. The article states that the image was altered to include women in hijabs and niqabs who were not present in the original photograph posted by Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell on 22 June. The original photo showed Burnham with Powell and Jessica Morden during his return to Parliament. The edited image removed these two women but kept other figures like Chancellor Rachel Reeves and former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner in their positions. Other unedited photos from the same day show Burnham with Labour colleagues from different angles, confirming there are no authentic images of him with a group of women in Islamic dress in the foreground. The article highlights the importance of verifying images before sharing them on social media, noting that similar fake images of Burnham have circulated previously.
What is Keir Starmer’s plan to increase UK defence spending and is it affordable?
Sir Keir Starmer's government has announced plans to increase UK defense spending, aiming to allocate an additional £1 billion to modernize the armed forces and ensure national security. The Defense Investment Plan (DIP), delayed due to internal disagreements over funding levels, has faced criticism from former defense secretary John Healey, who argued the proposed funding falls short of what is needed to address immediate threats. While the government aims to reach 3.5% of GDP for defense by 2035, current projections show spending increasing only to 2.68% by 2030. This decision follows geopolitical tensions, including the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East, as well as efforts to strengthen NATO ties and reduce reliance on U.S. support. Critics, including former defense officials like George Robertson and Malcolm Rifkind, argue that the current plan lacks sufficient investment and suggest reallocating funds from welfare or raising taxes to meet defense needs.
Starmer quits as Labour leader and paves way for contest for new prime minister
Sir Keir Starmer has resigned as leader of the Labour Party and as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, announcing his intention to step down as Labour leader and allowing for a leadership contest to determine the next prime minister. He stated that he believes he is not the best person to lead Labour into the next general election and has informed the King of his decision. A timetable for the leadership contest has been outlined, with nominations opening on 9 July and concluding by 16 July. Starmer emphasized his commitment to ensuring an orderly transition of power and pledged to support his successor. Andy Burnham, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester, has confirmed his candidacy for the leadership position, receiving early support from former Health Secretary Wes Streeting. Other potential contenders include former Armed Forces Minister Al Carns, though he remains undecided. Burnham, upon being sworn in as an MP for Makerfield, faced both applause and some opposition in the House of Commons. His priorities reportedly include focusing on becoming an MP first and later addressing whether to call a general election if he becomes prime minister. Starmer's tenure as Prime Minster
The conversion paradox
The article discusses the UK's proposed 'Conversion Practices draft bill,' which aims to criminalize efforts to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity through 'conversion practices.' The piece critiques the bill's broad definition of harmful practices, arguing that it could lead to overreach into private family discussions and potentially criminalize legitimate therapeutic conversations. It highlights concerns about vague terminology such as 'serious alarm and distress' and questions whether the law would apply equally to attempts to change both LGBTQ+ individuals and cisgender people. The author suggests the bill's implications could result in unintended consequences, including potential legal scrutiny of parents or educators who support gender-affirming care.
The fast and furious world of boy racers
The article describes the culture and risks associated with illegal car meets in the UK, focusing on the dangers posed by young drivers. It recounts a real-life incident involving teenager Lewis Samuels who caused a fatal crash during a car meet in Lincolnshire, resulting in a five-year prison sentence and a nine-year driving ban. The piece highlights broader concerns, noting that Hampshire police handled over 200 related offenses in a year, while Northern Ireland saw double the road deaths in early 2026 compared to 2025. Statistics show that drivers under 24 account for 18% of those killed or seriously injured despite comprising only 6% of licensed drivers. The narrative emphasizes the reckless behavior and legal challenges faced by authorities in addressing these incidents.
It’s time to dump the Founding Fathers
The article critiques the legacy of the Founding Fathers, arguing that they established a system favoring elites rather than protecting individual liberties. It highlights the role of figures like Alexander Hamilton and James Madison in shaping a constitution that allowed for centralized control and limited democratic participation, excluding women, slaves, and poor whites. The piece references historical events such as Shays’s Rebellion to illustrate the potential for grassroots resistance against elite governance. While acknowledging the significance of the American Revolution, the author contends that the narrative often omits the struggles of ordinary soldiers and the anti-federalist movement, which opposed the concentration of power.
England bunks off work for the World Cup: Rush hour comes early as fans head home or to the pub to watch Three Lions take on DR Congo in their first knockout match
England football fans are leaving work early to watch their team's first knockout match of the World Cup against DR Congo, scheduled for 5pm in the UK. This has led to predictions of record beer consumption, with up to 28 million pints expected to be consumed across pubs and homes. The event has been nicknamed 'Bunk Off Wednesday,' as many workers are anticipated to leave their jobs early to watch the match. Hospitality industry representatives have welcomed the boost, noting that late licenses for pubs have been extended to 1am for the first time since 2004. Analysts predict a significant economic impact, estimating potential losses of £208 million due to reduced productivity as workers leave early or take sick days afterward.
Ed Miliband could lose out on chancellor job in a Burnham cabinet
Andy Burnham is reconsidering his plan to appoint Ed Miliband as chancellor in a potential future Labour government, according to his supporters. Miliband had been seen as a strong candidate, particularly popular among Labour members, but concerns about his stance on the party's manifesto commitment to banning new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea have raised doubts. Burnham's allies argue that public frustration over rising energy costs and reliance on foreign energy sources makes Miliband's position on the North Sea issue politically risky. Burnham has expressed openness to revisiting the North Sea drilling policy, citing public opinion and economic benefits such as job creation and increased tax revenue. Other potential candidates for the chancellor role include Rachel Reeves, Shabana Mahmood, Wes Streeting, and John Healey, while positions like deputy prime minister are expected to be fiercely contested between Angela Rayner and Lucy Powell.
How Britain became Zombieland
The article uses the metaphor of 'Cordyceps unilateralis', a fungus that turns ants into zombies, to compare contemporary British political trends with a form of systemic control. It criticizes Labour Party policies such as unregulated immigration, legalizing tent cities, and proposals that could criminalize normal parenting. The piece frames these policies as part of a broader ideological shift toward decentralized governance and fluid societal norms, drawing parallels to the U.S. under President Biden, suggesting both administrations exhibit similar patterns of leadership vacuity and policy reprogramming. The author implies that this approach undermines traditional structures of authority and accountability while promoting a more permissive, yet potentially destabilizing, societal model.
The great British housing con
The article discusses the ongoing challenges of the British housing market, highlighting rising costs and affordability issues, particularly affecting younger people. It notes that while political leaders like Andy Burnham emphasize housing as a priority, housing price growth has stagnated or declined in recent years. The piece references data showing that private renters in the UK spend a significant portion of their income on housing, with some paying over 40% of their disposable income. The situation is especially dire for young people in London and the South East, where housing costs make homeownership unattainable for many.
Queen of the data centers
The article discusses Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan, and her potential future as a presidential candidate, focusing on her current role in promoting artificial intelligence (AI) development in the state. Whitmer has been instrumental in advancing large-scale data center projects, including a $16 billion facility in Saline Township, despite facing significant local opposition. These projects are part of a broader push to support the AI industry, which has seen increasing regulatory scrutiny across the U.S., with both red and blue states implementing restrictions on data center operations and AI technologies. While Whitmer remains a prominent figure in Michigan politics, her decision to pursue the presidency in 2028 remains uncertain.
Why hot people are Right-wing
A 2021 study by Stanford psychologist Michal Kosinski used facial recognition software to analyze over 1 million faces from the US, UK, and Canada, finding that algorithms could predict political orientation with 73% accuracy. This outperformed human judgment, which correctly identified political affiliation around 55% of the time. The research showed that subtle facial cues—such as head posture and expressions—could reliably indicate political leaning, even after excluding obvious demographic factors like race or age. The article then shares a personal anecdote about attending a Conservative political gathering, highlighting the contrast between the event's grandeur and the author's previous experiences with less formal, centrist political meetings.
Overlooked
Under-reported & one-sided
