The elected lower house of the UK and Canadian parliaments
Andy Burnham has emerged as the clear frontrunner to replace Keir Starmer and is using a Manchester speech to press a major devolution agenda. He has proposed shifting decision‑making and parts of the prime ministerial operation north, a 10‑year mission on living standards and changes to public procurement to favour British jobs.
In a heated PMQs, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch trade barbs over Labour’s plan to tax private school fees to fund teachers in state schools. Badenoch labels Phillipson a “spiteful class warrior” as the exchange spills into social media and prompts a call for decorum from the speaker.
The monarchy has decided Buckingham Palace will not be the royal residence during Charles III’s reign. Clarence House will be the London home while a £369m refurbishment updates the palace. The Sovereign Grant will rise, and tax payments by the King and Prince William have been disclosed for transparency.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has faced scrutiny over a multimillion-pound donation from Christopher Harborne, with questions about whether the donor registered to vote in the UK to bypass donation caps. Farage says the donation funds private security for life and would welcome further gifts; Westminster standards are reviewing the matter.
A sweeping heat wave across Europe has pushed temperatures to new records, stressing power grids, transport and health systems. France, Germany, the Czech Republic and the UK have reported record highs, with authorities warning of heat-related risks as humidity worsens conditions. Hospitals are bracing for increased demand while governments consider measures to protect vulnerable populations.
The Commons has rejected a Conservative amendment calling for licences to explore Rosebank and Jackdaw. Labour and Conservative MPs clash over energy policy as the government pursues an Energy Independence Bill, while Labour argues for continued fossil fuel use alongside renewables.
The government has cut import tariffs on more than 100 everyday products and expanded a cost‑of‑living package with a Great British Summer Savings scheme, including free August bus travel for children. Immediate energy relief is not promised, with contingency planning for autumn and winter staying in place.
Labour MP Lauren Edwards has announced she will reintroduce Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill as a private member’s bill. The move follows the bill’s collapse in the Lords due to hundreds of amendments, with Edwards arguing democracy requires the Commons to decide. The bill would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales to seek an assisted death with safeguards.
The Liberal Democrat MP for Tewkesbury has been arrested on suspicion of controlling and coercive behaviour and assault. His whip and party membership have been suspended as Gloucestershire Police investigate. Thomas has served as an MP since 2024 and previously spent 23 years in the RAF.
Britain’s path with Europe has evolved a decade after the referendum. EU leaders say re-entry could happen, but only with exemptions and no four freedoms compromise; UK public opinion shows shifting, while the bloc signals a cautious, conditional path back.
The Guardian, SBS and Independent report that Keir Starmer is under mounting pressure after Andy Burnham’s Makerfield victory, with ministers and MPs urging him to quit or set a timetable for departure. The Observer’s briefing is cited; Burnham is poised to press for a transition, while Starmer argues he will fight any challenge.
The Home Secretary and Immigration Minister are in a public clash over care-worker visa rules. A Times op-ed by Mike Tapp has sparked calls for his sacking, while Downing Street says decisions will follow the ministerial code. The government is pushing a wide reform package on migration as opposition voices push back.