‘Economically reckless’ – Streeting calls for wealth tax ‘that works’ in pitch for leadership May 21, 2026 Wes Streeting has called for a “wealth tax that works” as the former health secretary sets out his stall ahead of an expected Labour leadership contest later this year. Streeting resigned from the cabinet earlier this month and has confirmed that he would stand in a contest to oust Sir Keir Starmer, though he has [...]
Enhanced Games isn’t sport but a product placement exercise May 21, 2026 The Killers are an odd choice of band to wrap this weekend’s Enhanced Games. I’ve no idea about lead singer Brandon Flowers’ attitude to the permissibility of performance enhancing drugs in sport, but the name of his beat combo jars with an enterprise testing scientific and medical boundaries. It won’t be spinach that the 50 [...]
‘Manchesterism’ is a myth and you can’t trust Andy Burnham May 21, 2026 Andy Burnham says he wants to “roll back the 80s” but the growth of Manchester is down to the rolling back of socialism that began before he became Mayor, says Ayushma Maharjan Britain’s most popular politician is running on a myth, is not credible, and might out-do Starmer in U-turns. A recent Yougov poll found [...]
Andy Burnham’s departure could put Manchester’s growth at risk May 21, 2026 Andy Burnham is not actually obliged to step down as Mayor to contest the Makerfield by-election, but if he does his departure would leave Manchester more susceptible to fragmented national politics, says Simon Goacher Andy Burnham’s decision to run in the Makerfield by-election is being treated largely as a Westminster comeback – a route back [...]
You don’t have to be a chav to lead the Labour Party, but it helps! May 21, 2026 Rather than a grand battle of big ideas or a serious debate about why this government has blundered so much, Labour’s looming leadership contest looks set to be a depressing competition to see who had the grimmest childhood, laments James Ford Did your dad have a blue-collar job? Did you live in social housing? Did [...]
Burnham’s ‘neoliberalism’ critique is just Thatcher karaoke May 21, 2026 The British economy today is a million miles away from “neoliberalism”, even if we lack a catchy name to describe what has replaced it, says Kristian Niemietz For some countries, we have well-developed national stereotypes and associations. Everyone has an idea in their mind of what counts as “typically French”, “typically Italian” or “typically German”. [...]
Andy Burnham refuses rule out manifesto-busting tax hikes May 20, 2026 Andy Burnham has refused to commit himself to protecting Labour Party manifesto commitments to not raise taxes. Burnham, who is Labour’s candidate in an upcoming by-election in Makerfield, declined to comment on whether he supported the party’s 2024 election manifesto. The Manchester mayor appears to be on a path towards becoming Prime Minister, sharing clips [...]
My generation has only known political chaos May 20, 2026 Not since Tony Blair has Britain had a political leader who was able to win a general election and actually enact major policy change. Which means that for people of my generation and younger, our entire adult lives have been lived under governments who couldn’t actually govern, says Emma Revell Here we go again. After a [...]
OBR chiefs warn jostling Labour MPs against fiscal rules change May 19, 2026 Office for Budget Responsibility chiefs have warned Labour activists against changing the fiscal rules and overall framework to account for longer term impacts of government investment. The OBR’s David Miles and Tom Josephs said a ten-year forecast horizon would make for a “less credible” economic report and may not have any impact on bond investors. [...]
Inflation, not Andy Burnham, is the culprit behind high Gilt yields May 19, 2026 Gilt Yields have more to do with inflation than the future of the Labour Party, says Tomasz Wieladek The debate about the future of the Labour Party’s leadership has revived a familiar narrative: that high Gilt yields are the verdict of financial markets on prospective changes to the government’s fiscal plans. The implication is that [...]