The Guardian Politics

Burnham to tell schools in England to adapt teaching to local business needs

PM wants curriculums for students aged 14 and above to be more responsive to local jobs marketAndy Burnham will tell schools across England to adapt their curriculums to the needs of local businesses as part of a devolution drive aimed at tackling the jobs crisis for young people.By moving decision-making to local areas, the PM hopes the plan will make technical and vocational skills as valued as academic qualifications – and help cut the benefits bill. Continue reading...

politics  Jul 27, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Police make inquiries after Farage reports Polanski post for ‘inciting murder’

Green party leader shared picture of man wearing T-shirt with words ‘we’re only making plans for Nigel’ alongside a guillotinePolice are “conducting inquiries” into an image shared by Green party leader Zack Polanski on Instagram after Reform UK reported it for “inciting murder”.The image showed a man wearing a black T-shirt with the words “we’re only making plans for Nigel”, alongside a photograph of a guillotine. Continue reading...

politics  Jul 27, 2026

BBC Politics

Fit schools, hospitals and new homes with air con, say Lib Dems

The party says the country is "woefully unprepared for extreme heat", as parts of the UK prepare for another heatwave.

politics  Jul 27, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Will Andy Burnham charm Volodymyr Zelenskyy? – podcast

Andy Burnham’s first overseas visitor will be the Ukrainian prime minister, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a show of the UK’s ‘unwavering support’ for the country. But what else do we know about our new prime minister’s foreign policy? And, as Burnham sets out his ambitious plans for tackling the UK’s most intractable problems, including social care, what can he really do differently? Pippa Crerar and Jessica Elgot discuss what Burnham’s plan for change looks likePlease keep sending your comments and q

politics  Jul 27, 2026

BBC Politics

Reform UK reporting Green leader Zack Polanski to police over Instagram post

The post included a photo of a man wearing a top featuring the name "Nigel" alongside an image of a guillotine.

politics  Jul 27, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Social care reform in England: how could we pay to fix a ‘broken system’?

Many across the political spectrum agree the system needs fixing – but there is no consensus on how to fund reformThe prime minister, Andy Burnham, has said the adult social care system in England is broken and needs fixing. This is a view commonly shared by policymakers across the political spectrum, though there are sharper differences on how to pay for reform to what is widely seen as an outdated, fragile system held together by “sticking plasters and glue” and propped up by an army of unpaid

politics  Jul 27, 2026

BBC Politics

Ex political advisor admits fraud over expense claims

Matthew Torbitt was working for Bury South MP Christian Wakeford at th etime of the offences.

politics  Jul 27, 2026

The Guardian Politics

GB News pundit Matthew Torbitt admits committing fraud while Labour aide

Torbitt pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation in relation to his parliamentary expensesA GB News pundit has admitted fraud in relation to his parliamentary expenses when he was a Labour aide.Matthew Torbitt, a prominent political commentator who once described himself as “Britain’s favourite lefty”, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation at a hearing at Thames magistrates court on Monday. Continue reading...

politics  Jul 27, 2026

The Guardian Politics

When it comes to predicting the future, why are TV writers better than politicians? | Zoe Williams

From BBC drama The Rapture on the climate crisis to Apple’s Criminal Record on the rise of the far right, culture often sees what politics fails toIn the BBC’s new apocalypse drama, The Rapture, the UK is engulfed in a terrifying heatwave. I watched a preview of the programme in May, while preparing to interview the lead actor Ruth Madeley. I thought at the time: “This will be much more frightening when it chimes with the real life weather, bad luck for them that it’s not coming out for a couple

politics  Jul 27, 2026

BBC Politics

Andy Burnham wants to fix social care - what are the options?

With Andy Burnham saying he wants to bring "substantial change" to social care in England, BBC Verify looks at what could be done.

politics  Jul 27, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Home Office blocking evacuation of dozens of women and children from Gaza

Refugee family reunions in limbo, despite Foreign Office saying it is ready get people out of war-torn territoryThe Home Office is blocking the evacuation of dozens of women and children from Gaza, despite the Foreign Office saying it is ready to get people out of the war-torn region.Last September, the Home Office announced it was suspending refugee family reunion applications and that new, more restrictive rules would be announced in the spring. So far there has been no announcement and the pr

politics  Jul 27, 2026

BBC Politics

UK's iconic Jodrell Bank telescope faces axe in science cuts

Astronomers warn it would tear the heart out of UK science, and leave a generation untrained.

politics  Jul 27, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Tories and Reform UK tell Burnham they will fight any plan to reform adult social care involving tax rises – UK politics

Defence secretary Wes Streeting says the country will see a prime minister that ‘runs towards big and difficult issues’Good morning. Yesterday Wes Streeting, the defence secretary, told Sky News that, while Andy Burnham spent his first week as PM focusing on cost of living issues, this week the public would see “a prime minister that runs towards big and difficult issues rather than runs away from [them]”. Those challenges include reforming social care and, as Peter Walker reports, Burnham has p

politics  Jul 27, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Burnham is master of his message for now. But he should know this: media foes will offer no respite | Tom Baldwin

While the new PM’s slick social media operation can help him bypass the hostile press that devoured Starmer, he will still need friends in the fourth estateAndy Burnham has been in politics long enough to know that the largely friendly media coverage he’s received so far would turn hostile once he was inside Downing Street. And, within hours of becoming prime minister, some familiar predators were circling as they tried to decide whether to attack him for being too leftwing, too insubstantial or

politics  Jul 27, 2026

BBC Politics

All eyes on Greater Manchester ahead of mayoral election

Voters in Greater Manchester will go to the polls on Thursday to choose Andy Burnham's successor as mayor.

politics  Jul 27, 2026

BBC Politics

My dog Axel 'wouldn't get on' with Larry the cat, says Burnham

The PM says he doesn't think his poodle-mix would "get along" with Larry the cat, who has lived at No 10 for 15 years.

politics  Jul 27, 2026

The Guardian Politics

A TV and cinema calamity could be disastrous for what you watch and what you know. Act now to stop that | Alan Cumming, Benedict Cumberbatch and Benedict Wong

The Paramount-Warner Bros merger is being fought in the US and UK. Britain’s culture secretary knows the risks and can intervene. She shouldThough it has yet to become front-page news in the UK, you should know about the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros merger. It threatens to inflict immense harm on the British public. As actors and public figures who have spent our careers in the arts in Britain – working with British crews, on British stages and sets – we have a responsibility to the public who

politics  Jul 27, 2026

BBC Politics

Our exclusive behind-the-scenes access at No 10 as Andy Burnham became PM

Laura Kuenssberg was given unprecedented access to the new prime minister’s first days in power.

politics  Jul 27, 2026

BBC Politics

NHS 'will collapse' without social care reform, PM tells BBC

The prime minister says he would not want to leave office without bringing in "substantial change" to the social care system.

politics  Jul 27, 2026

The Guardian Politics

RAF Chinook crash victims’ families ask Andy Burnham for review of disaster

PM urged to end ‘cover-up culture’ and order independent review taking in evidence that has emerged on 1994 crashThe families of those killed in an RAF Chinook crash in 1994 have urged Andy Burnham to end Britain’s “cover-up culture” and order an independent review into the disaster.Twenty-nine serving military personnel died when the Chinook HC2 helicopter crashed on the Mull of Kintyre in south-west Scotland during a flight from Northern Ireland. Continue reading...

politics  Jul 26, 2026