The Guardian Politics

Labour must stop just writing a cheque for benefit claimants, says McFadden

Exclusive: Work and pensions secretary signals possible reform to welfare as ministers await key reviewsLabour must stop “simply writing a cheque” for health and disability benefit claimants and will provide more job support instead, the work and pensions secretary has said.Pat McFadden said the government was preparing to launch a renewed effort at welfare reform with a focus on encouraging more people with health conditions to get into work and off benefits. Continue reading...

politics  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Green-led council plans to ban cooperation with Home Office on immigration raids

Exclusive: Lewisham council’s move marks first step in Greens’ plan to create a corridor of sanctuary boroughs across LondonA Green-led London council is planning to ban its officials from working with the Home Office on immigration raids, after uncovering evidence suggesting government officials wanted to use environmental health data to target restaurant workers.Councillors on the Lewisham borough council are due to vote next week on a motion that would review its systems with a view to ending

politics  Jul 15, 2026

BBC Politics

Midnight social media curfew proposed for older UK teens

Teens will be able to opt out of the restrictions - campaigners have criticised them as being piecemeal.

politics  Jul 14, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Hillsborough law symbolises new era as power passes from Starmer to Burnham

Bill marks a full-circle moment for the PM-in-waiting and encapsulates what he says his government will be aboutAndy Burnham has always said he took his first steps out of Westminster in 2009, when he walked out to address furious Liverpool fans at the Kop on the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.They chanted “Justice for the 96” for a full two minutes before the then culture secretary was able to continue, demonstrating their anger that nobody in public office had been convicted of

politics  Jul 14, 2026

BBC Politics

Review of MP security needed after Widdecombe death, Burnham says

The expected next prime minister says politics has "darkened" in the decade he has been away from Westminster.

politics  Jul 14, 2026

BBC Politics

Starmer becomes first UK PM to receive top French honour

France's President Emmanuel Macron praised Starmer's "decency" and contribution to Ukraine and the security of Europe.

politics  Jul 14, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Burnham hails Hillsborough law as ‘rewiring of the state’ as MPs approve bill

PM-in-waiting says bill is major step towards securing accountability families had fought for, in rare moment of Labour unity Andy Burnham has hailed a power shift from the state to the people as MPs finally passed the stalled Hillsborough law, a rare moment of Labour unity with the bill set to be a key legacy of Keir Starmer’s government.In his first intervention in the Commons since returning as an MP, Burnham said the bill was a significant step towards securing the accountability the Hillsbo

politics  Jul 14, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Pilot scheme in England to convert empty classrooms into community hubs

Policy to create youth clubs and health centres aims to tackle surplus of school spaces created by falling pupil numbersClassrooms left empty by falling numbers of pupils could soon be converted into youth clubs or health centres, as part of a pilot scheme to be announced this week.In the pilot a group of local authorities in England will be given £3.1m by the Department for Education to fund their initial plans for repurposing empty school buildings or unused facilities into community assets, w

politics  Jul 14, 2026

The Guardian Politics

The Guardian view on Covid and Hillsborough: families forced the state to face the truth | Editorial

Lady Hallett exposed waste and secrecy. Hillsborough campaigners showed why public bodies must be honest before and after catastrophe strikesThe Covid-19 inquiry’s procurement report and the Hillsborough law are not accidental companions. The same movement of bereaved families, many of the same lawyers and the same ideas connect them. In both cases the movement for justice was driven by ordinary people who refused to let institutions control the account of their own failures. That they both arri

politics  Jul 14, 2026

BBC Politics

Public to be told how to prepare for cyber-attack and weather emergencies

The government provides an update on its national resilience plans "should the worst ever happen".

politics  Jul 14, 2026

BBC Politics

Row after Tory bid to make Burnham face MPs before autumn fails

The Tories have accused Labour of "running scared" after ministers denied them a chance to delay Parliament's summer break.

politics  Jul 14, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Andy Burnham must act fast on the climate – or risk getting stuck in a ‘derailment’ doom loop | Laurie Laybourn

Around the world, climate-sceptic parties are exploiting floods and fires to make political capital. Without urgent changes, this deadly spiral will continueRecent unprecedented heatwaves in the UK may have killed thousands of people. Children are suffering in overheating schools. NHS trusts are straining under record-breaking demand. This all comes after climate extremes have even affected national security, with three of Britain’s five worst harvests coming since 2020, impairing food security.

politics  Jul 14, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Kemi Badenoch zeros in on Tory MPs who believe in climate crisis – and those who don’t

Despite the party polling at 19%, Conservative leader only wants ideologically sound on board – or rather, those who think the same as herYou have to hand it to Kemi Badenoch. She doesn’t take any prisoners. While the rest of us have been trying to survive a heatwave and are wondering if air-con may be needed for future summers, the Tory leader has taken a more hardline approach to climate change. Call it Schrödinger’s climate change. It’s both happening and not happening at the same time.Kemi i

politics  Jul 14, 2026

BBC Politics

Change voting system before next election, Davey urges Burnham

The Lib Dem leader urges incoming PM Andy Burnham to "be brave" to fulfil his promise to change politics.

politics  Jul 14, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Tell us: what do you want from the next Labour leader and UK prime minister?

Ahead of Andy Burnham taking over from Keir Starmer, we’d like to hear what qualities, values and priorities people want to see in the next prime ministerAndy Burnham is to become the next prime minister after winning the backing of 349 of the party’s MPs to replace Keir Starmer.In a recent op-ed in The Times, Burnham wrote: “Doing politics differently means levelling with the public, engaging them in decisions and ensuring more social value in return for increased government spending.” Continue

politics  Jul 14, 2026

BBC Politics

MP was 'bit of a pest', sexual assault trial hears

The Suffolk MP is on trial in London after being accused of two counts of sexual assault.

politics  Jul 14, 2026

BBC Politics

MPs expected to approve long-delayed 'Hillsborough Law'

The legislation has returned to the Commons in Sir Keir Starmer's final days as prime minister.

politics  Jul 14, 2026

BBC Politics

Government failing Farage over security, says Jenrick

It comes as the police investigation into Ann Widdecombe's death sparks renewed debate over politicians' security.

politics  Jul 14, 2026

The Guardian Politics

David Lammy’s proposed cohabitation law would be bad for couples – and worse for some women | Ruth Deech

The government’s worthy attempt to give cohabiting partners marriage-like rights fails to protect women who have chosen financial independenceAndy Burnham will walk into No 10 on 20 July to a bulging in-tray of policies, proposals – and problems. One he may be less aware of is a ticking political timebomb launched by David Lammy in his role as justice secretary, which could affect millions of people who have chosen not to marry.Under Lammy’s proposal, couples who have lived together for three ye

politics  Jul 14, 2026

The Guardian Politics

It’s the hope that kills you – so fingers crossed for Andy Burnham | Zoe Williams

World Cup victory for England next week could raise expectations the likely new prime minister can’t live up toAndy Burnham yesterday got himself clear of the magic number – the 323 Labour MPs who had to support him to make any leadership challenge mathematically impossible. Half a week had gone by in limbo, his endorsements standing at 322, everyone knowing he was the next prime minister, nobody able to call it anything more than “likely”. What were those last MPs waiting for? Maybe they were j

politics  Jul 14, 2026