The Guardian Politics

Rising oil prices could force up UK interest rates, say economists

Bank of England expected to keep rates on hold on Thursday but renewed Iran conflict casts shadow over energy costsThe Bank of England could be forced to tear up its economic forecasts and raise interest rates later this year if oil prices return to above $100 a barrel, according to City economists.Before a meeting of Bank officials on Thursday, economists said that while an interest rate hike would probably be avoided this week there could be some in the future because of conflict in the Middle

politics  Jul 26, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Burnham to meet Zelenskyy at UK naval base in show of ‘unwavering’ support

Ukrainian president will be first overseas visitor for new British prime ministerVolodymyr Zelenskyy will become Andy Burnham’s first overseas visitor as prime minister, in a visit that Burnham said underlined Britain’s “unwavering” backing for Ukraine.Less than two weeks after Keir Starmer travelled to Kyiv for the final foreign visit of his prime ministership, the Ukrainian president will on Monday join Burnham at a naval base where Ukrainian forces have been receiving training. Continue readi

politics  Jul 26, 2026

BBC Politics

Badenoch says PM must rule out tax rises to fund social care reform

In a letter to the PM, the Conservative leader offers to work with him on adult social care reform.

politics  Jul 26, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Every new home should have air conditioning, say Liberal Democrats

Exclusive: Party says UK housing stock is ‘woefully unprepared’ for extreme heat and government must set new rules for buildersAll new UK homes should be built with air conditioning to cope with the effects of the climate crisis, according to the Liberal Democrats.The party says that British homes are dangerously unsuited to rising temperatures, meaning passive cooling measures such as planting more trees in residential areas are necessary. Continue reading...

politics  Jul 26, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Ed Miliband indicates development and climate will be at heart of UK foreign policy

Exclusive: Foreign secretary to take up World Bank seat and play active role in shaping changes to global lender Britain’s foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, is to indicate he will put the climate crisis and overseas development at the heart of UK international relations by taking up the country’s seat on the board at the World Bank.The position, which is usually delegated to a junior minister, means Miliband will play an active role in shaping the changes to the World Bank that developing countrie

politics  Jul 26, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Will prediction market ‘catch fire’ in UK, replicating US boom?

World Cup and events like Clacton byelection is driving interest in sites such as Polymarket, with UK gamblers easily able to sidestep regulationWith more plot twists than a spy thriller, Argentina’s 3-2 victory over Egypt was one of the World Cup’s most unpredictable matches.But in one living room in Reading, to the astonishment of his 16-year-old son, a football clairvoyant appeared to know exactly what would happen next. Continue reading...

politics  Jul 26, 2026

The Guardian Politics

‘Burnham bounce’ risks deflating unless focus remains on struggling households | Richard Partington

UK’s inequalities expose splits in consumer economy, with spending suffering and a decline in savings among the poorestA “Burnham bounce”, sunshine and a strong World Cup run for the men’s England football team. Could this be a turnaround moment for Britain’s struggling consumer economy or yet another false start for the UK’s spluttering growth engine?Last week the data company GfK credited Andy Burnham’s return to Westminster politics for lifting UK consumer confidence at its fastest monthly pa

politics  Jul 26, 2026

BBC Politics

Iran's 'sabre-rattling' should not intimidate UK, Wes Streeting says

The defence secretary warns Britain "stands ready to respond to any attacks Iran wishes to wage against this country or our allies".

politics  Jul 26, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Birmingham council accused of giving ‘free rein’ to group erecting England flags

Campaigners call for injunction against Raise the Colours, which is accused of spreading anti-immigration rhetoricBirmingham residents have accused the local council and police of “dragging their heels” and giving “free rein” to a group responsible for erecting flags across the city.Raise the Colours, which describes itself as a grassroots movement, has been placing union jack and St George’s cross flags on lamp-posts, roundabouts and other public infrastructure since last summer. Continue readi

politics  Jul 26, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Am I a chicken-shop lefty? Here's what a French fast food row taught me about politics | Coco Khan

Feathers are flying over the halal chicken chain Master Poulet opening a branch in gentrified Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine – it’s an issue of wealth and class we know only too wellHow do you like your progressive politics? Are you net-zero left or anti-identity politics left? A “legalising drugs” kind of radical or someone whose public sector solidarity includes police? Nato or Nat-no? The reputation for infighting in lefty spaces – where policy disagreements harden into personal tests of morality – nee

politics  Jul 26, 2026

The Guardian Politics

‘This is the dream job’: Labour’s Bev Craig on the battle to be Manchester mayor

Polling puts close Burnham ally in lead as she aims to defeat Reform and draw back support from revitalised GreensBev Craig was mid-squat at the gym when she was recognised for the first time as the prospective heir to Andy Burnham’s throne. Until recently, the Manchester city council leader could happily have gone about her workout in peace.But all that changed when Burnham, who DJ’ed at her 40th birthday party last year, won the Makerfield byelection and set up another big electoral contest on

politics  Jul 26, 2026

BBC Politics

Andy Burnham rules out early election in exclusive BBC interview

The new prime minister told Laura Kuenssberg that people "voted for a manifesto" that he would honour, when pressed on whether there will be an early general election.

politics  Jul 26, 2026

BBC Politics

Burnham says he is prepared to call out Trump 'if right for Britain'

Speaking exclusively to the BBC, Andy Burnham says he had a good first conversation with the US president and insists "you have to defend your own national interest".

politics  Jul 26, 2026

BBC Politics

Burnham to address social care, youth unemployment and devolution

A No 10 source says it is an attempt by the prime minister to show he is "hitting the ground running".

politics  Jul 25, 2026

The Guardian Politics

New North Sea oil drilling faces delay after gear accidentally dropped in sea

Exclusive: Blunder at Rosebank, UK’s biggest undeveloped oilfield, comes as government considers granting licenceProduction at Britain’s biggest undeveloped oil and gasfield could be delayed for months after equipment from a rig was accidentally dropped in the North Sea, the Guardian can reveal.Andy Burnham’s new government is under pressure from the fossil fuel industry to allow oil to be retrieved from the Rosebank site despite opposition from climate campaigners and some Labour MPs. Continue

politics  Jul 25, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Professional classes stand in way of tax on the super-rich | Phillip Inman

If the prime minister wants to make the system fairer he will need to upset the professional classes with a land value taxThe professional classes act like a Praetorian Guard for the super-rich.Having acquired some of the trappings of being rich, they defend the privileges of wealth – land, property and pensions. They do this as if they – company managers, lawyers, doctors, judges, senior civil servants, architects and chartered this and thats – were the main beneficiaries. Continue reading...

politics  Jul 25, 2026

BBC Politics

Laura Kuenssberg goes behind the scenes with Andy Burnham in his first week as PM

See inside Andy Burnham's first week in charge, with an exclusive behind the scenes look with Laura Kuenssberg.

politics  Jul 25, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Can Japan avoid a Liz Truss-style shock as its PM embarks on a giant spending spree?

Sanae Takaichi’s blueprint to inject £1.7tn and double economic growth leaves many investors fearfulInternational investors are asking where Japan’s prime minister will find the ¥370tn (£1.7tn) of extra cash that she wants to invest in 17 industrial sectors by 2040.Such is the scale of spending by Sanae Takaichi’s coalition government that many in her own party fear she is about to blow up the Japanese economy, triggering a Liz Truss-style economic shock. Continue reading...

politics  Jul 25, 2026

The Guardian Politics

The UK has its first Catholic PM – but don’t expect a US-style religious culture war to follow

Trump administration has clashed with Vatican on social issues but Burnham’s faith is shaped by different principles With the appointment of Britain’s first lifelong Roman Catholic prime minister, the faith is now in a prominent political position on both sides of the Atlantic.But while Donald Trump’s administration, in particular the vice-president, JD Vance – a Catholic convert – has placed Catholicism at the heart of its culture wars and repeatedly clashed with the Vatican over the US’s hardl

politics  Jul 25, 2026

The Guardian Politics

‘Nobody was there for us’: mother urges Andy Burnham to reopen case of daughter killed in Texas

Lucy Harrison, 23, was shot in 2025 with her father’s gun. He was never arrested and a grand jury chose not to indict himLucy Harrison felt that 2024 was her best year yet. The 23-year-old had graduated from university with first class honours, landed her dream job and bought her first house with her boyfriend.She was a “big girl adult” now, Lucy would say. She shed tears of joy seeing her idol, Taylor Swift, at Wembley on the Eras tour that summer. Life could hardly get any better. “All the har

politics  Jul 25, 2026