British politician, Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017
The Labour government has announced a default midnight-to-6am curfew for 16- and 17-year-olds on apps such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, with autoplay and infinite scrolling switched off by default. The plan, part of a wider push to curb online harms, is designed to balance safety with teen independence and will be formalised in Parliament by end-2026.
Nigel Farage has resigned his Clacton seat to trigger a by-election, with Count Binface as his satirical challenger as major parties boycott the race. The contest highlights satire, scrutiny and the evolving local political dynamics.
Andy Burnham has been elected unopposed as Labour leader at a special conference on Friday and will replace Keir Starmer as prime minister on Monday. He has framed his agenda around shifting power from London to regions, boosting growth outside the southeast and tackling the cost of living, but has given few policy details and must form a cabinet before taking office.
A sweeping Timms review finds the Personal Independence Payment not fit for purpose and not serving disabled people or taxpayers well. Interim proposals call for bold reform while spending on the benefit continues to rise, driven largely by mental-health related claims.
A series of proposals around council tax, stamp duty and land value tax are attracting attention as policymakers consider how to reform property taxation. The debate spans mansion taxes in Scotland, and broader reforms that could affect ownership costs and mobility.
Nigel Farage has announced a by-election bid in Clacton after stepping down as MP, aiming to secure fresh endorsement while facing a parliamentary standards inquiry over a £5 million gift. Opposition parties refuse to engage, reshaping the contest into a test of the establishment versus Reform UK.
Labour has signalled a renewed push on welfare reform, framing it as helping people into work rather than simply handing out benefits. McFadden and MilburnTimms reviews are shaping a broader government response as they await final recommendations.
President Donald Trump has overridden the NATO agenda at a summit in Ankara by pressing allies to boost defence spending, threatening trade with Spain, and floating withdrawal of US troops from Europe. He has also signalled he will lift sanctions on Turkey and is considering selling F‑35 jets and engines to Ankara, prompting Israeli and European alarm.
The Public Office (Accountability) Bill, known as the Hillsborough Law, has passsed second readings and is advancing through Parliament. It imposes a duty of candour on public officials to tell the truth about public tragedies, including how intelligence services will be bound by safeguards. Andy Burnham and Keir Starmer are central as leadership transitions unfold. Campaigners welcome the move as justice for victims’ families.
Labour faces renewed pressure to pursue electoral reform as Sir Ed Davey urges Andy Burnham to move quickly. In talks at the Institute for Government, the two leaders discuss changing Britain’s voting system toward proportional representation to better reflect public support.
The outgoing prime minister has thanked staff and families as MPs from across parties pay tribute. He says Labour is leaving the country in better shape and will support his successor, Andy Burnham, as he takes over.
Experts warn Scotland’s open moorland and hill ground face fragmentation amid government land-use shifts toward woodland expansion, natural capital projects and renewables. The new Charter for the Open Hill calls for protection and a strategy to shield key open landscapes from landscape change.
The UK has sealed a 5.2 billion-pound services trade deal with Switzerland, scrapping roaming charges and putting a 90-day services mobility provision on a permanent footing. E-gates will speed border checks for UK travellers, while pharmaceutical protections are maintained. The agreement is described as a landmark for UK services and follows a string of deals with key partners.
The CMA has found that heating-oil customers face higher costs amid market volatility and lack the protections enjoyed by grid-connected consumers. It recommends a new regulatory regime, supplier registration, clearer pricing, and support for vulnerable households, with enforcement action likely for non-compliant firms.
The death of Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe is under investigation by counter-terrorism police, triggering renewed calls for MPs’ protection. Policymakers say security must be reviewed as politicians face increasing threats, with Conservative and Reform figures weighing security funding and procedures.
Thames Water has reported improving operations but warns it faces a cash crunch within months without a government-backed rescue. Creditors are pressing for a recapitalisation, while the incoming prime minister signals potential public ownership as the best path. Officials are weighing a senior creditor-backed plan and potential temporary nationalisation to stabilise the utility.
Independent reports Octopus Energy urges the next UK prime minister to overhaul the electricity market. It says reform could save households up to £114 annually and reduce bills by billions across the economy by 2050, though it warns reform would take two years.
A new analysis by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health finds that child health outcomes across 12 indicators have worsened or stalled in England, with disparities hitting ethnic minorities and deprived areas hardest. The report urges explicit targets, better data, and long-term investment to improve outcomes.
Labour has confirmed Andy Burnham as the new party leader and upcoming prime minister after an uncontested leadership contest. Starmer has stepped down, with Burnham expected to form a government and announce a cabinet in the coming days. UK-Ukrainian support continues as Burnham readies for office.
Public ownership has been extended to British Steel to protect the future of UK steel production and safeguard supply chains. The government says the move is essential, while China’s MOFCOM warns it undermines Chinese investor confidence and promises to protect Chinese rights. Parliament has already acted to enable this shift.
Labour leader Andy Burnham is moving to form a new economic team. Shabana Mahmood has been tipped to lead the Treasury; Ed Miliband’s path to the job appears blocked. Other former ministers are also being considered for cabinet roles as Burnham readies Downing Street.
As Keir Starmer departs Downing Street, Andy Burnham is poised to become Britain’s next prime minister. He has navigated a swift path from Manchester mayor to Westminster replacement, with Labour attempting to steady a party and country amid upheaval. The incoming leader faces questions over plans to deliver change and manage an economy under pressure.
Keir Starmer hints at a bank holiday if England wins the World Cup; multiple outlets report upcoming announcements at NATO summit and talks over timing of a potential holiday after the final.
Nine EU countries have asked the European Commission to block Erasmus+ and other funding for the IOC and several international federations after the IOC provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee. The governments argue returning Russian athletes ignores Ukrainian competitors who cannot train on equal terms and propose limiting the bodies' role in EU sports forums.
Keir Starmer has delivered a final PMQs, defending his record as prime minister while paying tribute to colleagues and supporters. MPs applaud as he says goodbye; Andy Burnham is expected to become the next prime minister on Monday after a turbulent two-year tenure.
Burnham is preparing a Labour government and is weighing whether to bring David Miliband back into a senior role, potentially as foreign secretary, while a draft cabinet faces scrutiny over balance between left and centrist voices.
The Mirror and Independent report that Andy Burnham has indicated a greater sense of fairness in public finances and has not ruled out a wealth tax, with discussions touching on council tax revaluations. He is engaging with Gary Lineker in a Goalhanger interview while Labour’s leadership dynamics and potential chancellor choices are under scrutiny.
The nuclear test veterans’ case has been reinforced as a two-year MoD review confirms that medical data was withheld, destroyed or missing for decades. Ministers have signalled a path toward reparations and a formal tribunal, while criminal investigations edge forward.
Oil prices have climbed as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz intensify, with US and Iran taking actions that could affect global energy flows. Markets show mixed moves while investors monitor potential policy responses.
Northern leaders are steering a push for investment and culture to rejuvenate the region, with Andy Burnham’s influence and a revived civic approach guiding new projects like local food festivals and arts hubs. The pieces highlight Todmorden and Ouseburn as exemplars of a broader northern renaissance in outdoor spaces, culture and community cohesion.
Public health authorities push for tougher controls on unhealthy food, banning fast-food outlets near schools, cracking down on junk-food advertising, and mandating healthy-food reporting. MPs argue prevention must come before treatment as obesity costs rise and NHS pressures mount. Several reports underline consumer demand for healthier choices and better access to affordable, local food.
The OECD has forecast the UK’s GDP will slow to 0.9% in 2026, down from 1.4% last year, citing energy costs and geopolitics. It stresses the need for reforms to boost productivity and address regional disparities, as energy prices remain a risk to growth.
Andy Burnham has secured overwhelming MP backing and appears poised to become Labour's leader and prime minister, with nominations advancing and a potential coronation by mid-July. Al Carns has ruled himself out, leaving Burnham as the sole declared candidate as nominations continue and a parliamentary hustings looms.
A wave of commentary and policy proposals surrounding UK Prime Minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham is pushing for a radical economic and housing strategy. The debate centers on restoring aid targets, reforming tax, and expanding social housing, while markets monitor mortgage pricing and fiscal discipline.
Recent EPI findings show the education gap between poorer pupils and their wealthier peers has widened again across England, remaining larger at all stages than before the Covid pandemic. The report highlights particularly stark gaps in early years and at Key Stage 4, with London pupils occasionally outperforming peers from similar backgrounds.
AstraZeneca has announced that Wainua, its gene-silencer drug for transthyretin-mediated amyloid cardiomyopathy, did not meet its primary endpoint in a phase 3 trial. The news triggers a sharp stock drop and prompts investors to rethink the company’s long-term growth targets and the strength of its pipeline.
UK Labour leader-in-waiting Andy Burnham has apologised for Labour’s initial Gaza response, saying the UK must press Israel harder and consider sanctions and a ban on settlements. He reframes Labour’s position as it readies him to lead the party, while stressing accountability for war crimes and protection of civilians.
Police have launched a murder investigation after three members of a single family were found dead at a house on the Cullybackey Road. Post-mortems will determine cause of death, and police say the public is not at risk. A vigil is planned for tonight as investigators work at the scene.
A 78-year-old former Conservative minister, Ann Widdecombe, has been found dead at her Devon home with serious injuries. Police have arrested a white British man in Rotherham; investigators say there is no evidence yet of a political motive, and the inquiry remains ongoing.
The High Court has found a Home Office policy unlawful and related guidance changes are set to be reconsidered. Despite the ruling, the Home Office plans to continue removals to France and to reconsider negative trafficking findings only in certain circumstances, raising concerns among rights groups and detainees.
A series of high-stakes cases and policy moves are shaping debates on deportation, capital punishment, and post-release care across the US and UK, as authorities face mounting scrutiny over decades of systemic failures.
Sterling has firmed on the day after oil prices surged amid Middle East tensions, with traders pricing in potential BoE support and a possible US rate move. Markets are eyeing UK gilts and the outlook for the government’s spending plans as the premiership transition nears.
Campaigners in the Chinook HC-2 case have pressed for a new independent review into the Mull of Kintyre crash, arguing airworthiness concerns call into question the aircraft’s safety. The MoD contends the challenge is too late; the High Court continues to hear the case.
Keir Starmer faces his last Prime Minister’s Questions while preparing to hand over leadership to Andy Burnham. The day includes cabinet farewell talks, a scheduled joint appearance with Badenoch, and discussion of the Hillsborough Law as ministers mark a turning point in a turbulent transition.
The investigation into Ann Widdecombe’s killing is led by counter-terrorism police. A 28-year-old suspect remains in custody on terrorism and murder charges. Politicians call for a serious review of MPs’ security as officials warn of a rising threat and debate about taxpayer-funded protection continues.
The House of Lords retirement and participation plan has been unveiled, proposing an 80-year retirement age phased in by 2034 and a 20% attendance threshold per two-session window, with new members agreeing to retire by 80. The plan is designed to reduce size and improve functioning while avoiding a cliff edge.