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Andy Burnham’s change in tack on fiscal rules and bond markets is understandable

Andy Burnham has always faced a narrow path to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister: a tricky byelection, a leadership contest that is yet to be declared, and a far from constructive bond market backdrop

Billionaire Trump donor in line to make millions from Thames Water bid

party leadership; the money was returned by the Electoral Commission as “impermissible”, reportedly because Singer’s address was not up to date at the time. Singer, 81, donated $5m (£3.73m) to Make America Great

Plan to ban ‘private equity sharks’ from social care dropped, Wes Streeting says

Andy Burnham, who is also expected to run for the leadership if he wins this week’s byelection, said he would [fix the social care system](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jun/04/i-wouldnt-flinch-burnham-on-social-care-markets-brexit-and-the-prospect-of-a-general-election) “this year” and “wouldn’t flinch

Reeves grudgingly resorts to departmental salami slicing to fund UK defence budget

party’s manifesto. Second, tax rises: £18.5bn over four years amounts to £4.5bn or so a year, or a bit more than 0.5p on the basic rate of income

Global wars, a depleted military and stubborn Labour MPs: Healey exposes Starmer’s perfect storm

party’s own pledges on tax. It has cabinet ministers who refuse to countenance cuts to schools, energy infrastructure and hospitals. It has Labour MPs who – with honourable exception – are far more interested in schools

Lib Dems to urge Labour to drop ‘torpor and timidity’ on EU and rejoin single market

Andy Burnham, to Wes Streeting – to whoever the next prime minister may be – is this: drop those red lines. Drop them now, so we can move on from the torpor and timidity that marks

Andy Burnham to back electoral reform if he becomes prime minister

Andy Burnham has said he will back sweeping changes to the electoral system to make politics “less point-scoring, more problem-solving” if he becomes prime minister. The [Greater Manchester](https://www.theguardian.com/uk/greater-manchester) mayor

Starmer’s leadership under further pressure after defence ministers quit – UK politics live

party assuming that he will be replaced by Andy Burnham at some point later this year, but there was a consensus that, on defence and international security, his record was impressive. **John Healey**’s surprise

Starmer urges calm as far right seeks to exploit Henry Nowak murder

party surrounded by balloons.](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f959f9d2be580fb3c63ac623a064b219725f7b39/151_101_1345_984/master/1345.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none) Henry Nowak’s final moments were described as ‘harrowing’ by Starmer. Photograph: Hampshire Police/PA The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the watchdog for police forces in England

Keir Starmer to face crucial cabinet meeting as ministers and MPs urge him to resign – UK politics live

Andy Burnham supporters stressing the need for a timetable for an orderly transition (ie – a slow process, allowing Burnham to win a byelection before a leadership contest). But in the afternoon government loyalists, and some

Keir Starmer to say ‘tech revolution must work for everyone’ in speech on AI – UK politics live

Andy Burnham will be taking his seat as the new MP for Makerfield. A byelection win is not certain, but the campaign is definitely going his way. **Keir Starmer** [has been saying](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3vyxzl625po)

Ministers speak out in cabinet meeting over Starmer’s sacking of Olly Robbins

party believe his testimony – during which he described heavy pressure from Downing Street to confirm Mandelson in post – raised questions about the prime minister’s judgment and risked exacerbating tensions with Whitehall. One source said

Labour MPs urge Starmer to set targets to boost number of male teachers in England

party to influence government policy. With the government in disarray after [the shock resignation of the defence secretary](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jun/11/john-healey-resigns-defence-secretary-military-spending) this week, MPs are seizing the moment to embark on a battle of ideas

Why candidates dress up and run in major UK elections

Andy Burnham - a man who hopes to be the next prime minister - stood shoulder-to-shoulder with a man in a fox costume and an "intergalactic space warrior" with a bin for a face when

The key figures in Andy Burnham's inner circle

Andy Burnham is expected to seek the Labour leadership after his resounding victory in the Makerfield by-election. If Burnham succeeds in gaining the keys to Number 10, here are some

UK borrowing costs rise and pound falls as leadership drama continues

Andy Burnham's decision to fight a by-election. While other European government borrowing costs also rose, the UK movements have been greater, which analysts said had been fuelled by market concerns that a Burnham

What would ‘change’ look like if Andy Burnham becomes prime minister?

Andy Burnham’s victory in Makerfield sets up a battle for Downing Street. Allies of the outgoing [Greater Manchester](https://www.theguardian.com/uk/greater-manchester) mayor want him to be installed as prime minister as quickly and painlessly

Starmer to say ‘incremental change won’t cut it’ in major make-or-break speech to avert leadership challenge – UK politics live

Andy Burnham as leader), and **Keir Starmer** delivers what you could see as a hustings speech this morning. Leaders can survive challenges. In 1995 John Major was widely seen as doomed, but Michael Portillo postponed

Starmer’s waning influence is apparent at awkward G7 summit

Andy Burnham is elected in the Makerfield byelection on Thursday. Starmer’s team wanted to focus on the prime minister’s international presence, but the drama at home could not be avoided. The prime minister

Burnham starts byelection campaign with thinly veiled pitch for No 10

Andy Burnham has formally launched his campaign for the [Makerfield byelection](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/makerfield-byelection) with a barely coded pitch for Downing Street, saying a vote for him to become the MP there was “a vote