Healey challenges Cabinet to find cuts July 21, 2026 Chancellor John Healey has challenged Cabinet ministers to find savings in budgets hours after Andy Burnham was criticised for making an “unfunded” tax cut. In the first meeting between Cabinet ministers under Burnham’s government, Healey urged ministers to “look harder” at spending priorities across departments. Burnham also urged ministers to consider “how we are going [...]
Brazen Burnham should call an election and put his ten year plan to the voters July 21, 2026 Plenty of people were staring at their phones outside the Calais terminal of the Eurotunnel on Monday afternoon, but I sensed I was the only one watching Andy Burnham’s Downing Street address. We left for France under one Prime Minister and came back under another. That’s just how it is these days. My first reaction [...]
What should sport expect from Andy Burnham and Lisa Nandy? July 21, 2026 There’s an Evertonian in Downing Street, a Toffee looking to unstick what he calls “40 years of neoliberalism”. But in doing so Andy Burnham has left his constituent buddy and long-term ally Lisa Nandy at DCMS, with the “digital” brief dropped in 2023 returning to 100 Parliament Street. Some in Westminster believe Nandy, a Wigan [...]
Babcock and Rolls-Royce stocks rally after Healey appointment July 21, 2026 Defence stocks including Rolls-Royce have stormed to new highs as investors added to bets that the new Chancellor John Healey would plough further cash into London-listed arms companies. Defence supply giants Babcock and BAE Systems were among the biggest risers when markets opened on Tuesday, some 12 hours after former defence secretary Healey was appointed [...]
Rachel Reeves’ sister takes top legal role in Burnham’s Cabinet overhaul July 21, 2026 Prime Minister Andy Burnham has picked Ellie Reeves, the sister of former Chancellor Rachel, to serve as the chief legal adviser to the government. Lord Richard Hermer KC, a close ally of Keir Starmer who played a pivotal role in shaping the legal and international stance of Starmer’s government, was dismissed as attorney general and [...]
Warning for John Healey as key fiscal target missed July 21, 2026 A key fiscal target has been missed on John Healey’s first morning as Chancellor, in a reminder of the poor state of public finances. Official data on Tuesday showed that the current budget deficit, which is critical to the current fiscal rules, surpassed forecasts set by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The Office for [...]
Burnham premiership begins with decline in job postings July 21, 2026 Andy Burnham’s premiership has kicked off with disconcerting news for job seekers, setting up new government ministers for a difficult few months in supporting the UK labour market. The Office for National Statistics revealed that the number of vacancies fell by 7,000 between April and June, with the biggest falls coming in areas such as [...]
John Healey becomes Chancellor as Andy Burnham names top Cabinet appointments July 20, 2026 John Healey has been appointed Britain’s new Chancellor as Andy Burnham unveils a major shake-up of key Cabinet roles. The Rawmarsh and Conisbrough MP, who had served as defence secretary under Keir Starmer before resigning earlier this year amid a spat over spending commitments, marks a surprise appointment for the top Treasury role, defying Westminster [...]
Thames Water creditors open door to public control under Burnham July 19, 2026 The creditors seeking to gain control of Thames Water have opened the door to greater public control of the struggling utility in a bid to bring Andy Burnham’s team to the negotiating table. Mike McTighe, the turnaround specialist who has been working with the group on an overhaul of Thames Water’s board, has called on [...]
Burnham scraps digital ID scheme July 19, 2026 Andy Burnham will scrap Labour’s digital ID scheme when he becomes Prime Minister, as part of a “reset of priorities” over the cost of living crisis. The incoming Prime Minister said on Saturday that he would ditch the programme, set out only months ago by Sir Keir Starmer, and spend the money saved on “improving [...]