Labour defends Burnham’s ‘very powerful’ No 10 North plans July 5, 2026 Andy Burnham’s proposed ‘No 10 North’ would lead to a “very powerful reorganisation of government”, deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell has said. Her words come as ministers push ahead with one of the biggest overhauls of English local government in decades before Burnham is expected to enter Downing Street later this month, with Labour arguing [...]
Andy Burnham says he will put essential services back under ‘stronger’ public control July 4, 2026 Andy Burnham has said he will set out a “new approach” to put essential services back under “stronger public control”. In an “ask me anything” session on online forum Reddit on Friday, Burnham, who is expected to be Starmer’s successor, confirmed he will look into placing services back under public control in an attempt to [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Would a Burnham premiership deepen the North-South housing divide? July 2, 2026 The UK housing market remained subdued in June, as fallout from the Iran war and long-running cost and regulatory issues continued to plague the sector, but as we enter what promises to be a sizzling summer all eyes are on a possible recovery. Specifically, Manchester – from where the King in the North has emerged [...]
Keir Starmer wasn’t weird enough for Westminster July 2, 2026 A Prime Minister more comfortable behind football stands than the dispatch box, Starmer was too normal for politics in the end, writes Tom Harwood.
Steve Rigby: Burnham has a chance bring confidence back to British business July 1, 2026 If Andy Burnham focuses on AI, devolution and regional development, he has a chance to turn British stagnation around – and his record in Manchester is cause for cautious optimism, says Steve Rigby The transition to our seventh prime minister in a decade is now well underway. Since 1721, we have had only 58 Prime [...]
Businesses confidence slumps as Burnham prepares for power July 1, 2026 Ministers must prioritise delivery over “changes in the machinery of government” if business confidence is to recover, one of Britain’s top lobby groups has said, in a warning to Andy Burnham as he prepares to shake-up Whitehall and shift power to the North of England. In its monthly business confidence survey, the Institute of Directors [...]
Starmer stumps up half the amount demanded by defence chiefs June 30, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer has coughed up just half of the amount of funding military officials requested in the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan. During a speech led by defence secretary Dan Jarvis, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the outgoing Prime Minister, ministers said they made the “right choices” and defended plans to back investment on drones and [...]