Brits say Burnham should call an election July 7, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer is set to leave Downing Street on 20 July and a majority of Brits believe Andy Burnham should call a snap election when he takes over. Nearly two thirds of voters (65 per cent) believe a new Prime Minister should call an immediate general election as opposed to 29 per cent who [...]
Burnham told to launch £100bn tax reform package July 6, 2026 Andy Burnham has been urged to introduce sweeping tax reforms that could generate over £100bn in extra government revenue by a group of influential economists, which includes his own heavyweight adviser Jim O’Neill. A letter signed by O’Neill, who was formerly a Treasury minister and Goldman Sachs executive, urged the next Prime Minister to introduce [...]
Construction sector cuts jobs again as house building slumps July 6, 2026 The construction industry shed jobs for the 18th consecutive month in June following “sharp declines” in house building and a slowdown in new home sales. The latest S&P Global Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI) for the construction sector showed more cutbacks to employment with another period of “sustained job shedding”. Subcontractors were also hit by the [...]
Making Miliband chancellor would be a ‘mistake’, Trump officials warn July 4, 2026 Senior officials in president Trump’s administration have privately warned that appointing Ed Miliband as chancellor would be a “mistake”, as speculation over who will take over from Rachel Reeves grows. US officials told their counterparts in Britain, as well as senior Labour figures, that they were concerned about Miliband’s opposition to new oil and gas [...]
‘That’s reality’: Burnham will have to focus on international affairs, Starmer warns July 4, 2026 Outgoing prime minister Keir Starmer has warned his expected successor that he will have to focus on dealing with global turmoil, arguing the world is “more dangerous and volatile”. In his first interview since announcing his resignation last month, Starmer said Burnham, who is anticipated to enter No 10 in the coming weeks, will be [...]
World Cup boost fails to land UK services sector on front foot July 3, 2026 A World Cup boost failed to drag the UK’s services sector to growth last month after it recorded its fastest rate of decline in three-and-a-half years as businesses braced for the Andy Burnham coronation. The latest Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) from S&P Global showed a reading of 48.8 in June, falling from 49.3 in May. [...]
Burnham backs higher defence spending but rules out ‘crude’ welfare cuts July 2, 2026 Andy Burnham has called for the country to trust him with the public finances stable as he pledged to “take responsibility” for funding Keir Starmer’s controversial Defence Investment Plan. Burnham, who is all-but-certain to enter Number 10 in fewer than three weeks, hit out at “narratives” about him, in a radio interview with LBC which [...]
Cruyff turn: Starmer allows pubs to stay open for England World Cup game July 2, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer has performed a Cruyff turn as he announced that pubs would be able to stay open until 5am for England’s game against Mexico on late Sunday night. Before the change in policy, pubs were set to be forced to kick punters out at half time in the early hours of Monday morning. [...]
‘Good growth in every postcode’? Not in Greater Manchester July 2, 2026 Greater Manchester’s relative growth success story has not translated into a boom in earnings or income for people in outer boroughs, according to a new report. Oxford Economics research has suggested that “exceptional economic growth” has not translated into higher earnings or income growth around the region. Economists said high levels of inactivity and the [...]
Thin end of the wedge? LLPs brace for major tax overhaul July 2, 2026 The maths genius behind trading firm XTX, Alex Gerko, stands high in the rankings of Britain’s top taxpayers, having paid more than £330m to HMRC last year. For good measure, he also handed out more than £150m to charities and good causes in 2025, focusing on education and supporting talented math graduates to pursue PhDs [...]