The Guardian Politics

Labour MPs criticise language used by Kemi Badenoch in fractious PMQs

Tory leader reprimanded by speaker for invective against minister and saying Starmer had ‘400 knives in his back’Labour MPs have criticised Kemi Badenoch after a fractious prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, in which she accused the education secretary of being a “spiteful class warrior”.In a rare move, Badenoch was chastised by the speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, in the chamber of the House of Commons after she took the personal swipe at Bridget Phillipson before saying that Keir Starmer had been

politics  Jun 24, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Nicola Jennings on Andy Burnham’s chance to state his case – cartoon

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politics  Jun 24, 2026

BBC Politics

Commons tale of lion, nurse and bottle of champagne

New Forest West MP, Sir Desmond Swayne uses a poem from 1907 to tease Labour MPs.

politics  Jun 24, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Graceless Kemi concedes not a croak of kindness for newly liberated Keir | John Crace

It’s customary to say something complimentary about a departing PM but the Tory leader couldn’t meet the momentYou learn a lot about a person at a time like this. Not so much about the prime minister, who has resigned. Keir Starmer has already revealed how he deals with a personal loss. But about the leader of the opposition. Here was a chance for Kemi Badenoch to show her human side. To give the world a rare sighting of her empathy gene. But Kemi just can’t go there. She can’t read a room. She

politics  Jun 24, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Burnham’s pick for chief of staff led firm that advised BP, Apple and Amazon

Appointment of James Purnell, former chief executive of Flint Global, described by one Labour MP as ‘very bad sign’The advisory firm led by Andy Burnham’s incoming chief of staff counted BP, Amazon, Jaguar Land Rover and Uber among its clients, transparency records reveal.Burnham is facing unease within Labour over the lobbying links of James Purnell, a longstanding friend and former cabinet minister who was most recently chief executive of Flint Global. Continue reading...

politics  Jun 24, 2026

BBC Politics

Badenoch won't say sorry for language at fiery Commons session

The Tory leader used Prime Minister's Questions to attack government ministers and Labour MPs following Sir Keir Starmer's resignation as Labour leader.

politics  Jun 24, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Andy Burnham plans to move parts of No 10 operation to Manchester

Makerfield MP considering northern base for PM’s office as part of measures to devolve power away from LondonAndy Burnham is planning to move parts of the No 10 operation to Manchester as part of measures to devolve power away from London.The Makerfield MP will say next week he wants to transfer parts of the prime minister’s office to the north should he become prime minister later this year. Continue reading...

politics  Jun 24, 2026

BBC Politics

Health Secretary James Murray backs Burnham as PM

Newly-appointed health secretary James Murray says he will back Andy Burnham as candidate for Labour leader and PM.

politics  Jun 24, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Children’s watchdog rebukes Home Office plan to crackdown on refused asylum seekers

Proposals including use of force on minors will cause ‘significant harm’, says England Children’s CommissionerShabana Mahmood has been told that her crackdown on refused asylum seekers, including the forcible removal of children from the UK, will cause “significant harm”, in an intervention by an independent watchdog.Rachel de Souza, the children’s commissioner for England, said the home secretary’s plan under consultation to push families – including those with children receiving ongoing medica

politics  Jun 24, 2026

BBC Politics

Starmer leaves No 10 ahead of PMQs

Keir Starmer is set to face his first Prime Minister's Questions since he announced his resignation as Labour leader.

politics  Jun 24, 2026

BBC Politics

Burnham on course to be PM, but what would his No 10 operation look like?

Burnham's top team starting to take shape as questions remain over his policies and priorities.

politics  Jun 24, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Nearly a quarter of voters in Europe now back far-right parties

Analysis by more than 150 political scientists finds proportion who back such parties has increased nearly fivefold since 1995Almost one in four voters in Europe now cast their ballot for far-right parties, research shows, a proportion that has grown nearly fivefold since the mid-1990s and climbed particularly steeply over the past three years.Analysis by more than 150 political scientists in 31 countries found the proportion of Europeans voting for a far-right party in their country’s most rece

politics  Jun 24, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Darren Jones says bond markets should be ‘content’ with Burnham’s economic plans – UK politics live

Chief secretary to PM rules out leadership bid as he says he has received reassurances from BurnhamGood morning. There are very few upsides for Keir Starmer for his current situation, but one of them is that soon he will no longer have to worry about taking PMQs. In his memoir, Tony Blair described PMQs as “the most nerve-racking, discombobulating, nail-biting, bowel-moving, terror-inspiring, courage draining experience in my prime ministerial life, without question”. Today’s could be Starmer’s

politics  Jun 24, 2026

BBC Politics

Burnham likely to replace Reeves if he becomes PM

Henry Zeffman reveals sources close to Andy Burnham expect Rachel Reeves to be offered a more junior position in his potential cabinet.

politics  Jun 24, 2026

BBC Politics

Is Al Carns serious about a Labour leadership bid?

Al Carns speaks to Victoria Derbyshire on Newsnight about a potential Labour leadership bid and Andy Burnham.

politics  Jun 24, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Keir Starmer couldn’t beat the curse of Brexit – a politics poisoned by nationalism | Rafael Behr

The outgoing prime minister’s efforts to mobilise a healthier kind of patriotism fell flat. Andy Burnham may stand a better chanceBritain is not ungovernable, but the chalice of high office has been spiked with unusually fast-acting poison. Six prime ministers down in a decade. The spectacle of the lectern planted outside No 10 for a resignation speech has acquired the familiarity of ritual.Since the Brexit referendum, the average tenure in Downing Street has been less than two years. That ballo

politics  Jun 24, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Britain is still stuck on its ex – but after 10 long, lonely years, does the EU feel the same way? | Katy Lee

As a podcast host, I speak daily to people on both sides of the breakup. A decade after the referendum, it’s clear who’s moved onLet’s imagine you’ve been dumped by someone you were expecting to stay with for the rest of your life. The breakup is bitter. The logistics, exhausting. The two of you spend an eternity negotiating who gets to keep the dog, the flat, the friends; it’s hard to imagine that things will ever feel normal again. But the years have a way of softening these things. Some years

politics  Jun 24, 2026

BBC Politics

Burnham likely to replace Reeves if he becomes PM

Rachel Reeves would be offered a more junior cabinet role, the BBC understands.

politics  Jun 24, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Britain, Brexit, Burnham: how was it for EU? – podcast

A decade after Brexit, the UK simply can’t shake the legacy of the referendum. But with shifting public opinion and the rise of Andy Burnham, could Britain be plotting a path back to the EU?It’s been 10 years since the UK woke up to the shock of the Brexit referendum result, which upended British politics and rattled the establishment to its core.The Guardian’s economics editor, Heather Stewart, and Nosheen Iqbal examine the long shadow that decision cast over the country. From economic friction

politics  Jun 24, 2026

BBC Politics

Ten years on, Brexit's economic impact is becoming clearer

A decade ago, many economists argued the UK would sustain longer-term economic damage by leaving the EU. So what did happen?

politics  Jun 23, 2026