The Guardian Politics

Polo shirts, Clarks Wallabees, shorts: Burnham has finessed his style. Can he carry it to high office? | Morwenna Ferrier

The likely next prime minister might have to leave his ‘Manchester clothes’ in the cupboard when he gets to No 10There’s a joke doing the rounds about Andy Burnham. It usually goes something like this: a Blairite, a Brownite and a Corbynite walk into a bar. “Hello, Andy, what can I get you?” asks the barman.The man who would be our next prime minister has been through a few incarnations in his career as a Labour politician. This shape-shifting has been reflected in the jobs he’s done and the pol

politics  Jul 5, 2026

The Guardian Politics

‘New direction, same old problems’: the economic challenges facing Andy Burnham | Richard Partington

Blair met good fortune when he assumed office, others such as Wilson faced tougher times. The PM-presumptive will start firmly on the back footMake Miliband chancellor, ex-chief Treasury adviser tells BurnhamJohn Harris: Without a good revival plan, Burnham cannot succeedIn politics, timing and luck matter. Tony Blair had astounding good fortune, benefiting from goldilocks economic conditions and a weak opposition. Others have taken charge in tougher times: in. the 1970s Harold Wilson faced a gl

politics  Jul 5, 2026

The Guardian Politics

‘Did Westminster just ignore buses?’ Burnham aims to shake up UK transport

In the fourth of a series on nationalisation, we look at plans to emulate Manchester’s Bee Network in Britain’s buses and railWill Burnham ‘go big’ in expanding the role of the state?Atlee: the postwar blueprint that inspires BurnhamHow council housebuilding is central to Burnham’s visionWhether or not the promised land is reached via renationalisation, the man set to be next prime minister is clear what he wants transport to leave behind.“You go from deregulation to regaining public control, it

politics  Jul 5, 2026

The Guardian Politics

I’ve seen what the death of major industry did to Britain. Without a good revival plan, Burnham cannot succeed | John Harris

Collieries turned into retail parks, manufacturing in the doldrums. The problem is vast, but at least the PM-in-waiting sees it: and in that there is hopeIn the autumn of 2005, Tony Blair gave one of his most unhinged and fascinating speeches as prime minister. “I hear people say we have to stop and debate globalisation,” he said. “You might as well debate whether autumn should follow summer.” He went on: “The character of this changing world is indifferent to tradition. Unforgiving of frailty …

politics  Jul 5, 2026

BBC Politics

Farage denies rules broken after reports benefits from ally were undeclared

The Sunday Times said the Reform UK leader failed to declare benefits from an ally convicted of fraud in the US.

politics  Jul 5, 2026

BBC Politics

Police leadership needs 'ethical reset', Lord Blunkett tells BBC

The former home secretary has co-authored a major report that has found the running of forces in England and Wales needs a "fundamental overhaul".

politics  Jul 4, 2026

BBC Politics

The massive scramble behind the scenes before the new PM arrives

As Starmer gets ready to pack his bags, there's a "bunfight for jobs" in Whitehall, one MP tells Laura Kuenssberg.

politics  Jul 4, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Boris Johnson wasted my levelling up idea. Here’s how Burnham and his ‘good growth’ plan can do better | Justine Greening

The need to devolve power and share prosperity is as strong as ever. Whatever the project is called, whoever is in No 10, the priority now is actual delivery Andy Burnham has set out his vision for “good growth in every postcode”. It may seem like levelling up 2.0 – and if so, that’s very good news for the country. Because, unlike his Labour and Conservative predecessors, Burnham may well have a far better sense of how to deliver it.Boris Johnson lifted the levelling up language from the Departm

politics  Jul 4, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Labour should win next election under Burnham after work already done, Starmer says

Prime minister holds no ‘personal animosity’ toward Burnham and emphasises success at improving NHS waiting lists and ‘stabilising economy’Labour “should go on to win the next election” under his likely successor, Andy Burnham, Keir Starmer has said, based on what he has achieved while in power.In his first interview since he announced he will quit as prime minister, Starmer also said he held no “personal animosity” toward Burnham, who is expected to succeed him. Continue reading...

politics  Jul 4, 2026

The Guardian Politics

What’s holding back Britain’s green energy revolution? – a visual story

Labour has approved a wave of renewable energy projects, but turning plans into power remains slow. Why is that?Labour has a race on its hands if it is to lock in its promise to achieve a virtually zero-carbon electricity system by 2030.Britain’s next prime minister will have to move fast: the climate emergency is raging, high energy bills are driving up the cost of living and the reactionary right is threatening a fossil fuel push if it wins power. Continue reading...

politics  Jul 4, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Britain has so many stories. The reason we fund the arts together is so we can tell them | James Graham

Dear England, Ink, Sherwood … I owe my career to publicly funded art. Never downplay it: it’s how we speak to each otherJames Graham is a British playwright and television writerIt shouldn’t feel like a contentious image: a large cross of St George – England’s national flag – being unfurled and laid out on a raked stage. But at that time, in that place, and in this way, you could feel one of those unique, intake-of-breath moments that happen sometimes in the theatre.The place in question was the

politics  Jul 4, 2026

BBC Politics

Starmer says decision to step down 'intensely personal'

Keir Starmer says he took the decision to quit as PM after spending the weekend with his family.

politics  Jul 3, 2026

BBC Politics

Starmer warns Burnham will have to spend time on global affairs, in first interview since quitting

In an untypically candid interview, the outgoing PM tells the BBC it was "really tough" to accept his political career was over.

politics  Jul 3, 2026

The Guardian Politics

The Guardian view on Labour’s next chancellor: send for Ed Miliband | Editorial

Andy Burnham needs the Treasury to serve devolution, raise living standards and renew the economy. The energy secretary meets that testThere are few things on which this column would agree with George Osborne. Voting to remain in the European Union was one. Backing Labour’s Ed Miliband to be the next chancellor is another.Mr Osborne, whose austerity programme redistributed pain downwards while protecting privilege at the top, had only a week ago on his podcast, Political Currency, dism

politics  Jul 3, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Reform UK-led council fails to attract any sponsors for union flag scheme

Party had justified plan to hang flags in Nottinghamshire on basis that local businesses would foot £75,000 billA £75,000 scheme by a Reform-led council to hang union flags at sites across the county, which the party said “will not cost the taxpayer a single penny” as it would be sponsored by local businesses, has failed to attract a single sponsor, it has emerged.The plan to attach the flags to brackets on about 180 lamp-posts and other places was agreed in the autumn by Nottinghamshire’s counc

politics  Jul 3, 2026

BBC Politics

Burnham rules out calling early election as PM

The newly elected MP for Makerfield is expected to become PM this month and says he will stick to the 2024 Labour manifesto.

politics  Jul 3, 2026

BBC Politics

Labour MPs seek cap on political donations

Labour MPs believe a donations cap will be backed by dozens of MPs and likely next prime minister, Andy Burnham.

politics  Jul 3, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Is Andy Burnham dodging scrutiny, or is he just a different type of communicator?

Avoiding traditional questions and stilted broadcast clips, incoming PM has evolved his style of media managementHe is due to become prime minister in just over a fortnight as parliament begins its six-week summer break. But at a marquee speech this week, he took precisely zero questions. So is Andy Burnham, as opposition leader Kemi Badenoch claims, dodging scrutiny? His allies say no: he is simply going about it in his own way.The former Greater Manchester mayor is very obviously a different t

politics  Jul 3, 2026

BBC Politics

MP disappointed by Starmer response on hospital

Al Pinkerton says the proposed site for the new Frimley Park hospital is "fundamentally unsuitable".

politics  Jul 3, 2026

BBC Politics

UK in talks with Pakistan about deporting grooming gang leader

The prime minister's spokesperson says the government is exploring "all possible options in this case".

politics  Jul 3, 2026