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 [...]
Wes Streeting urges Labour to help youth ‘as an emergency’ May 20, 2026 Wes Streeting has called on the government to support young people “as an emergency” in a resignation speech that accused Sir Keir Starmer of leading a losing battle against Reform UK. Streeting said he supported Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ economic agenda before the Iran war broke out and upended policy-making, though he suggested the Labour leadership [...]
Starmer eases sanctions on Russian oil despite calls to ramp up North Sea drilling May 20, 2026 Keir Starmer is to allow Russian imports of diesel and jet fuel in a major softening of what has been a hardline stance towards Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. A licence issued on Wednesday will allow such products to enter the UK “indefinitely”, as long as the oil has been refined in [...]
Conservatives have the right diagnosis, but can they cure Britain’s ailments? May 20, 2026 Mel Stride has set out his vision for the economic future of the UK, Matthew Bowles gives his analysis Westminster has spent much of the past week discussing the emergence of a supposed “Burnham premium” on British borrowing costs – the suggestion being that the mere prospect of Andy Burnham returning to national politics could [...]
The Square Mile gets its fourth City Minister – could it soon get its fifth? May 20, 2026 Four City minsters later, in this week’s column Samuel Norman takes a look at the blow to the Square Mile from the latest reshuffle. Also on the agenda: Revolut’s plans for the high net worth faces off with ambitions of incumbents. “Look for the girl with the sun in her eyes…” So goes the lyrics [...]
Big Tech’s big problem? Consumers are paying to opt out May 19, 2026 Many executives approving AI copilots are also privately paying for products to shield their own children from technology.
IMF tells Reeves to drop triple lock pension and make ‘fundamental’ tax reform May 18, 2026 The UN’s global financial fund has called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to drop the triple lock pension and draw up “contingency” tax measures to ensure that public debt is reduced as a share of GDP. The International Monetary Fund has said that there are “risks” around spending forecasts and tax receipts, criticising the Chancellor for [...]
Labour’s leadership Phoney War continues, this time as farce May 18, 2026 Labour is conducting Schrodinger’s leadership election and it’s increasingly looking like I, Claudius performed b y the cast of Up Pompeii, says Eliot Wilson Following Labour’s punishment beatings in the local and devolved parliamentary elections, the guerrilla war over Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership of the party has finally erupted into open warfare. Or has it? [...]
The story of Keir Starmer’s failure is boringly familiar May 18, 2026 Keir Starmer’s fate was not brought about chiefly by his lack of personality. It was the predictable result of the economic conditions that have wracked Britain for almost two decades, a political system poorly attuned to fixing them, and more than a little of his own hubris, says Andrew Griffith Analysing why Keir Starmer failed [...]
British Gas to cough up £20m for ‘unfair treatment’ of vulnerable customers May 15, 2026 British Gas is set to cough up £20m after the watchdog closed an investigation into the energy giant and found it “fell short in its treatment of an unacceptable number of vulnerable customers”. The investigation looked into British Gas’ treatment of customers who had prepayment meters (PPMs) installed without permission, with consumers set to benefit [...]