The Guardian Politics

Meet the man whose groundbreaking book is being devoured by the left

Anton Jäger has been lauded for his exceptional ability to make sense of these strange political times – and he’s only 32. The writer and academic explains why we’re living in an age of hyperpolitics‘I am acutely conscious,” said Andy Burnham outside 10 Downing Street on Monday, “that I am the sixth person in the last 10 years to walk up this street.” It was good to hear him say it because, beneath all the cabinet gossip and rune-reading, there is a feeling of terror about the immediate future a

politics  2d ago

BBC Politics

Andy Burnham's plan to collaborate with social media creators

The new prime minister plans to work with influencers and social media creators to get his message out.

politics  2d ago

BBC Politics

Sarwar to become minister in Burnham's government

The Scottish Labour leader will step down and be granted a peerage so he can take up a seat in the House of Lords.

politics  2d ago

BBC Politics

Ann Widdecombe public memorial to be held later this year, family says

It will follow a private funeral for family and close friends, which will be held in the coming weeks.

politics  2d ago

The Guardian Politics

Besieged by lobbyists, will UK ministers protect our ecosystems? No, they’ll chicken out | George Monbiot

Industrial poultry farming is killing our rivers. But rather than stop it, the government has been facilitating it. Will Andy Burnham end this ecocide?There’s a slightly mean question I often ask British people with an interest in the living world: can you name the environment secretary? I don’t intend to show them up: it’s not them I’m testing. I watch the brows knit, a finger go up, the mouth open and close. “It’s, you know, the one who … no, they went, didn’t they? That other one …” It’s been

politics  2d ago

The Guardian Politics

Nobody in Europe knows or cares what Kemi Badenoch thinks. That’s a big mistake | Simon Nixon

The opposition leader wants to pull the UK out of the ECHR, wrecking treaties from the Good Friday agreement to the Gibraltar dealSitting in Brussels, or one of the EU’s 27 chancelleries, one could be forgiven for tuning out the latest psychodramas in Britain’s Conservative party. After all, the country has a new Labour prime minister who is a pro-European keen to build upon the “reset” begun by Keir Starmer. Who cares what a party in opposition thinks about anything when it is still reeling fro

politics  2d ago

The Guardian Politics

Andy Burnham could easily ignore the UK’s falling aid commitment. He would be wise not to | Halima Begum

The FCDO’s annual report was quietly released just as Starmer was leaving office – it continues a long-term shift from supporting countries most in need to seeking something in returnSomewhere on the new British prime minister’s desk sits a document. It was quietly published last week, in the dying hours of his predecessor’s government. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s annual report cements how the UK aid budget will be allocated until 2029.It was released at the moment of leas

politics  2d ago

BBC Politics

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar 'delighted' to accept trade minister job

Sarwar will leave the Scottish Parliament and his leader role, and take up a seat in the House of Lords.

politics  2d ago

BBC Politics

Former defence minister Al Carns turns down ministerial offer

Carns quit following the resignation of John Healey as defence secretary in a row over military funding.

politics  2d ago

The Guardian Politics

‘He knows what he’s doing’: Burnham’s off-the-cuff remarks inspire headlines and headaches

New PM’s conversational tone is markedly different to his predecessor’s, but carries risk of sowing confusionBefore he became Britain’s prime minister, Andy Burnham promised to “do politics differently”. Just three days into his time in Downing Street, that approach is already being put to the test.In the last two days, the prime minister has been accused of performing U-turns over raising the income tax threshold, raising taxes for higher earners and freezing private sector rents. Continue read

politics  2d ago

BBC Politics

Natalie Fleet leaves 'triggering' safeguarding minister role

The MP for Bolsover has spoken about how she was groomed and raped as a teenager.

politics  2d ago

The Guardian Politics

The Guardian view on Andy Burnham and devolution: it takes a powerful centre to decentralise power | Editorial

When it comes to driving an agenda from No 10, the prime minister seems to have learned important lessons from his predecessor’s failureBefore entering Downing Street, Andy Burnham cited the overcentralisation of power as a cause of Britain’s social and economic malaise. In his first week, the new prime minister has signalled his intent to bolster No 10 as an organ of executive power. The apparent contradiction – fortifying the centre to pursue an agenda of decentralisation – arises from a perve

politics  2d ago

The Guardian Politics

Scottish Labour’s rivals decry ‘chancer’ Anas Sarwar for resigning to join Andy Burnham’s government

The new prime minister plans to make Sarwar, the first Labour figure to call for Keir Starmer’s resignation, a peerScottish Labour’s rivals in Holyrood have slammed Anas Sarwar’s shock decision to resign as leader to sit in Andy Burnham’s new government, calling him a “chancer” and accusing him of lying to voters.The prime minister plans to make Sarwar, who was the first senior Labour figure to call for Starmer to resign, a peer and give him a ministerial post at the Department for Business, Inn

politics  2d ago

The Guardian Politics

Increased defence spending will boost UK economic growth, Streeting says

New defence secretary emphasises military will be spending priority over other departments under BurnhamUK politics live – latest updatesWes Streeting has said increased defence spending would make “an enormous contribution” to economic growth as he emphasised that the military will be a spending priority for Andy Burnham’s government over other departments.The new defence secretary, in a speech at the Farnborough airshow, did not make any extra financial commitments but promised he would give t

politics  2d ago

The Guardian Politics

‘Do a few big things well’: people share what they want from Andy Burnham

We asked readers what they hoped to see and consistent themes around courage and communication emergedUK politics live – latest updatesWith Andy Burnham entering Downing Street we asked people to tell us what they wanted from the new prime minister and government. About 400 people from around the UK responded to an online call-out asking about the values and issues they care about.The words that came up most when people outlined how they wanted Andy Burnham to govern were honesty, integrity and

politics  2d ago

The Guardian Politics

Bus fare cap coming from aid budget will hit world’s poorest, Burnham told

Funding proposal for cost of living policy ‘throws global south countries under the bus’, says ActionAid UK directorBurnham announces bus fares to be capped at £2UK politics live – latest updatesThe world’s most vulnerable people will be put at risk by Andy Burnham’s decision to use the aid budget to pay for cheaper bus fares in England, charities have said.The prime minister announced on Wednesday that he would reduce the fare cap from £3 per journey to £2 for next year, funded mainly by changi

politics  2d ago

BBC Politics

Defence must cut waste and maximise value for money, says Streeting

A £15bn increase in military spending announced by the last government is not yet fully funded.

politics  2d ago

BBC Politics

Bus travellers respond to fare reduction

'It's going to help us' - public respond to bus fare cut.

politics  2d ago

The Guardian Politics

The Treasury will check Andy Burnham’s ambitions – unless old orthodoxies are challenged | Larry Elliott

Fifty years ago, another Healey ran the Treasury. Today’s chancellor may find some things haven’t changedSome things never change. Fifty years ago, Britain was sweltering in the long hot summer of 1976. The Labour government was acutely aware that the financial markets were scrutinising its every move. And a man called Healey was running the Treasury.On the surface, the challenges facing John Healey are less severe than those Denis Healey had to grapple with half a century ago. Inflation is a lo

politics  3d ago

BBC Politics

Most bus fares in England to be capped at £2 from January

The government says the policy will "help with the cost of living and give people the breathing space they need"

politics  3d ago