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Tony Blair’s essay on Labour failings gets full marks for being unhelpful

prime minister almost feels designed to inflict maximum annoyance on his party, in terms of the content of the repeated criticism and the timing, before a byelection in Makerfield that could shape Labour’s destiny

Tuesday briefing: Starmer’s ‘last chance’ speech and the possible challengers to his premiership

policy announcements. In a move to shore up his left flank, he announced legislation to bring British Steel [into public ownership](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/10/full-nationalisation-of-british-steel-expected-in-kings-speech). In an appeal to those who resent Brexit, he promised

Rachel Reeves tells ministers to ‘buy British’ in four key industries

prime contractor. Meanwhile, UK Research and Innovation has defended the Orskov deal, saying it was made after an extensive competitive-bidding process. Allies of the chancellor say her irritation is not directed at individual cabinet

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

‘There’s a risk of another Liz Truss moment’: City raises spectre of bond market meltdown again

Andy Burnham, has suggested financial markets would “have to fall into line” should the Greater Manchester mayor find a route to Downing Street. Meanwhile, the leftwing grandee Diane Abbott [suggested that](https://x.com/SaulStaniforth/status/2054428241444663687)

TUC leader ‘angry’ at state of Labour but says it can recover to win next election

Andy is clearly a talented politician and one that has managed in Manchester to prove that he can deliver but he can tap into issues that matter to working-class people,” he said. “There

Could Starmer bring back Rayner to steady ship – and would she get onboard?

prime minister could carry out a small-scale reshuffle, primarily to bring back Rayner, his former deputy and one of Labour’s political heavyweights. This is by no means certain: Starmer is understood to have

Challenge Starmer by Monday or I will, Labour MP tells cabinet

policy. But she said he had "less of a grip" on the domestic agenda and the party needed to "take the fight to Reform". West's intervention appeared to take many Labour MPs by surprise

Starmer’s failure to demonstrate strong values ‘driving away progressive voters’

Andy Burnham, Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner. Labour is braced for dismal results [in Thursday’s elections](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/07/local-elections-labour-test-greens-reform-lib-dems-tories-england-scotland-wales-polls), which could result in [Starmer facing a leadership challenge](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/05/labour-leadership-challenge-bond-markets-angela-rayner-andy-burnham-keir-starmer). The report from

Starmer under pressure as Labour suffers heavy election losses including historic Wales defeat

Andy Burnham. Burnham is seen as a potential challenger to Sir Keir, who blocked him from standing to become an MP earlier this year, so some MPs are thought to be biding their time until

Andy Burnham wins key UK by-election, paving way to challenge Keir Starmer

Andy Burnham has cruised to victory in a high-stakes by-election in northern England, paving the way for him to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the leadership of the Labour Party

Prospect of Labour leadership race brings out different sides of rivals

Andy Burnham](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/andyburnham), the party’s leftwing hope for prime minister, will have to demonstrate he can win over Reform UK voters on migration, and the bond markets on fiscal rules. And there

‘Astonishing’ win for Andy Burnham puts pressure on Starmer to step aside

Andy has potentially shown tonight what change the [Labour](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/labour) party can bring.” Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, said Burnham was the “only Labour politician in the country that could have pulled

Labour has 'no coherent plan' for country, says Blair

prime minister out before we know what policy direction we're bringing in, is not a serious way of conducting ourselves." While Sir Tony said he agreed with some of the government's policies, including

Burnham to back Shabana Mahmood’s immigration changes, allies say

Andy is fighting the most important by election in half a century in the Labour-held seat with the largest Reform vote in the country,” a source close to the campaign said. “Immigration

Wes Streeting quits cabinet and calls on Starmer to resign

Andy Burnham, could fight in the contest. Streeting had long been gathering support for a challenge and has spent the week asking MPs to nominate him. Allies have consistently said he did not want

Starmer says he will campaign for Burnham in Makerfield

prime minister told reporters on a visit to Essex on Thursday. A spokesperson for Burnham said: "Anyone who wants to embrace Andy's campaign message is welcome on the campaign." Sir Keir's leadership

Burnham team tell ministers to delay resignations to avoid chaos

prime minister over the weekend to agree to a handover of power, rather than fighting a bitter leadership contest that could stretch on for months. “We want to give Keir time and space to come

Phillipson: challenge to Starmer would be wrong despite election ‘kicking’

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, who is not in parliament. The Guardian [reported on Saturday](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/09/mps-from-labours-left-to-urge-ed-miliband-to-consider-leadership-bid) that MPs from Labour’s left are expected to urge Miliband to consider a leadership

Friday briefing: Andy Burnham wins Makerfield byelection to set up possible leadership bid

prime minister, despite more than 100 backbenchers having called for him to go, there was speculation he should brace for a wave of cabinet resignations over the next 72 hours. But our political editor [Pippa