Will our fiscal psychodrama never end? September 22, 2026 I’m sure it wasn’t always like this. There was a time, really not that long ago in the grand scheme of things, when trying to predict the contents of an upcoming Budget was limited to dedicated policy wonks and Westminster’s most dogged journalists. These days, fiscal speculation is a major occupation for several months of [...]
UK economy grew unexpectedly after Burnham took over as Prime Minister September 11, 2026 The UK economy had surprise growth in the month Andy Burnham became Prime Minister. Official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have revealed GDP expanded 0.4 per cent in July, racing ahead of City economists’ forecast of zero growth. This was led by 0.4 per cent growth in the UK’s mammoth services sector, [...]
Burnham has inherited Labour’s EU delusion September 7, 2026 Burnham must accept what Starmer wouldn't: our EU neighbours are just not that into us, writes Eliot Wilson.
Healey’s adviser warns ‘you won’t grow the economy just by spending more’ September 3, 2026 John Healey’s entrepreneurship adviser has warned that growth cannot be achieved by government spending and policy announcements, in a rebuke to the Chancellor and Andy Burnham as they draw up their first budget. Alexandra Depledge, the founder of property start-up Resi, who has been reappointed as entrepreneurship adviser to the Chancellor, wrote on Linkedin that [...]
Zack Polanski to stand in by-election for Keir Starmer’s seat September 3, 2026 Green Party leader Zack Polanski will stand to become an MP in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election after Sir Keir Starmer quit parliament. Polanski, who is currently a London Assembly member, is solidly backed by Green Party members to stand as the party’s candidate in what has historically been considered as a Labour safe [...]
Services sector cuts jobs for nearly two years under cost pressures September 3, 2026 Employment in the UK’s services sector dropped for the 23rd consecutive month in August as businesses maintained hiring freezes and trimmed headcounts following cost pressures. S&P’s latest Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for the services industry – which is closely monitored by economists – revealed the sector has continued its longest continuous stretch of workforce reductions [...]
Keir today, gone tomorrow: A London by-election may spell danger for Labour September 2, 2026 Holborn and St Pancras has been held by Labour for 43 years, but the rise of the Greens, and the thrill of a by-election, could spell trouble.
As Sir Keir Starmer quits parliament, will Zack Polanski replace him? September 1, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer is set to resign as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras in order to focus on work in defence and international affairs. The former Prime Minister told the Camden New Journal that he would focus on issues such as “defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world” after leaving parliament. [...]
Cleverly announces bid to run for London mayor August 29, 2026 James Cleverly has quit from Kemi Badenoch’s shadow cabinet in order to launch his bid to run for mayor of London. Cleverly, who was the shadow housing and local government secretary, said he would put himself forward for the Conservatives’ candidacy for London mayor. He said the capital needed someone who “is prepared to fight [...]
Burnham pledges to tackle ‘cost of business’ as firms fear Budget tax raid August 26, 2026 Andy Burnham has pledged to help tackle the “cost of business” as he looks to head off fears that the private sector will be hit with another punishing tax raid at the Budget. Burnham said he wants to “make life easier” for people and businesses as he prepares for his first Budget under the new [...]