British socialist politician and Islington North MP since 1983; co-founded Your Party in 2025.
A by‑election has been set for 8 October after Sir Keir Starmer has resigned as MP. Labour has selected Camden council leader Sagal Abdi‑Wali and the Greens have chosen leader Zack Polanski, turning the contest into a high‑profile test of Andy Burnham's early premiership and the Greens' electoral momentum in inner London.
Donors Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne have pledged record sums to Reform UK, aiming to level the playing field ahead of the next general election. The support follows investigations into Reform’s finances and questions about foreign donations, with the party insisting donations are for a party ready for government.
The UK has announced a ban on imports and services linked to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and has coordinated measures with several allies. Israel has closed the British consulate in East Jerusalem and imposed retaliatory diplomatic steps. British Jewish leaders are split and ministers are defending the move as necessary to protect the two‑state prospect.
The Makerfield by-election has shifted the political calculus as Andy Burnham edges closer to Westminster, with market nerves and party insiders weighing how the leftward tilt could reshape Labour and challenge Keir Starmer. Immigraiton and economic policy sit at the center as Reform and Restore Britain struggle for traction.
Andy Burnham is weighing a bid to lead Labour, with editors and economists warning that markets watch his moves closely. Starmer faces scrutiny over foreign and economic policy as his successor potential emerges amid cabinet turmoil and cost‑of‑living pressures.
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.
The government has introduced an Immigration and Asylum Bill that will recover costs from asylum seekers with sufficient funds and create new safe routes funded by community groups, universities, and employers. The policy is controversial, drawing criticism from charities and opposition who warn it could deter refugees and overburden families.
A major NHS maternity investigation has identified widespread failures at Nottingham University Hospitals, with hundreds of harm cases, underlining staffing and leadership problems that span years. The review cites understaffing, culture issues, and delays in care, prompting renewed calls for accountability and reform across England’s maternity services.
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.
Keir Starmer’s leadership has fractured Labour and sparked a cascade of resignations and leadership contests across Britain, with the country entering a prolonged period of political volatility as a new prime minister edges closer to power.
The price cap on gas and electricity has increased, raising the typical yearly bill to around £1,862 for direct-debit customers, with Ofgem data showing a sustained spike in wholesale prices. Households are urged to submit meter readings and seek cheaper fixed deals as bills stay high into winter.
Burnham has consolidated support and is positioned to lead Labour, facing questions from backbenchers and a still-uncertain timetable for a general election. Key allies back his economic plan as he outlines a policy package to reshape public services and asset control.
Andy Burnham is moving toward Westminster with plans to devolve power and shift growth to every postcode. Labour factions debate welfare, devolution and the economy as unions shape the policy landscape ahead of a potential premiership.
Palestinian paediatrician Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, remains detained by Israel without charge. Rights groups including MSF and PHRI report severe health deterioration and alleged torture, calling for urgent independent medical review and his release. UN and other bodies have highlighted his case, as international pressure grows.
The Reform UK leader has quit as an MP to trigger a Clacton by-election, arguing the people of Clacton should judge his actions amid ongoing scrutiny over a 35m gift and separate fundraising allegations. Most major parties are not fielding candidates, leaving Count Binface as the primary challenger; the by-election carries potential legal and financial implications for Farage and Reform.
Nigel Farage has resigned as MP to trigger a by-election in Clacton, arguing the voters should judge his actions. With major parties abstaining, Count Binface and a slate of independents are contesting the race, which is drawing scrutiny over Farage’s finances and a parliamentary standards inquiry.
The Clacton by-election has been shaped by Nigel Farage’s decision to resign and stand again, amid undeclared gifts investigations. Major parties have refused to field candidates, leaving Count Binface as a notable challenger. The race centers on Farage’s credibility and the satirical Binface’s unusual bid.
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.
Nigel Farage has resigned his Clacton seat to trigger a by-election, where major parties are abstaining. Count Binface emerges as the main challenger, with a lineup of independent contenders including Piers Corbyn and Laurence Fox amid questions over the process and finances.
New prime minister Andy Burnham has unveiled early measures aimed at easing living costs, including a VAT cut on energy bills, a 2 cap on bus fares, and targeted business rates relief for small venues. He is also expanding power through No 10 North and assembling a Cabinet as critics question the plan’s funding and ambition.
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 been confirmed as Labour leader at a special conference in London and will become prime minister on Monday after Keir Starmer formally resigns to the King. Burnham has secured overwhelming support from Labour MPs, pledged a "distinctively Labour" government, and promised to devolve power, tackle social care and focus on growth outside London.
Eisenkot has surged in polls as his Yashar party leads Likud in some surveys for the October 27 election, with calls for stronger security and universal service forming the core of his platform. Netanyahu faces a shifting coalition dynamic as security concerns and politics collide.
Reuters and independent sources report JD Wetherspoon’s profit outlook has worsened amid higher food, labour and energy costs, as like-for-like sales rise modestly but profit guidance remains cautious. The update follows World Cup-driven sales boosts and a challenging cost environment.
The Makerfield MP has been confirmed as Labour leader at a London conference and will become Prime Minister on Monday, succeeding Sir Keir Starmer. He vows to deliver a united, purposeful Labour focused on restoring hope and addressing living standards.
Andy Burnham has become Labour leader following a political surge that has installed him as the UK’s prime minister-designate. The transition begins with formalities at Buckingham Palace and culminates in a Downing Street address after polling and a party mandate shaped by recent local elections.
Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters have marched in London calling for Britain to end its complicity in Israel’s Gaza war. They urged sanctions and a arms embargo as Labour leader-turned-potential-prime minister Andy Burnham faces scrutiny over Gaza policy while Keir Starmer prepares to stand down.
Australian One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has drawn international attention during a European tour, meeting far-right figures and causing domestic debate over immigration and national identity. While Hanson defends her stance, critics urge clearer adherence to Australian values and policy commitments.
New prime minister Andy Burnham has vowed to end rough sleeping in the UK, backed by 340m in new funding to create 1,200 homes and provide intensive support for at least 3,000 rough sleepers over five years. The programme builds on Covid-era measures and Manchester’s Bed Every Night, as rough sleeping numbers remain at record levels in 2025, with 4,793 people sleeping rough on a single autumn night.
New prime minister has pledged to reduce the welfare bill and make some benefits conditional on work while warning that the NHS could collapse if social care is not fixed. He says there will be no early election and will defend Britain’s interests in dealings with the US, including Donald Trump.
As Labour’s Burnham forms a new government, cabinet changes place Ed Miliband as foreign secretary and Wes Streeting as defence secretary. Debates over arms sales to Israel and Gaza policy intensify, with critics calling for tougher action while supporters urge caution.
Labour has readmitted Diane Abbott and Joani Reid and restores their whip after separate independent processes. Abbott had been suspended for remarks on racism; Reid had voluntarily suspended herself after her husband’s arrest in a spying case. The decisions come amid leadership changes and ongoing scrutiny of party discipline.
Nigel Farage has unveiled "Operation Fortress": a Reform UK plan to use the Royal Navy to intercept small boats in the English Channel, detain those on board, and return them to France or Belgium. The proposal has drawn legal, military and diplomatic scepticism, French officials have condemned it, and rivals say it aims to distract from party financial scandals.
Reform UK’s Operation Fortress proposes deploying the Royal Navy to return small boats crossing the Channel. France calls the plan a violation of sovereignty and maritime law, while UK officials defend it as a humanitarian-focused effort. The policy faces scrutiny amid ongoing political scandals within Reform and ongoing migrant crossings.
New episodes and updates across Northstar Politics and Manifesto examine accountability in politics, the role of wealth taxes, religion in leftist discourse, and a mass-shooter manifesto turned documentary project. Independent pieces highlight how platforms shape political imagination and how a true-crime format reframes public understanding of violence.
The Guardian, The Mirror and Independent quote Labour figure Andy Burnham revealing his wife Marie-France van Heel doubted his bid for leadership, saying 'Not again' amid his renewed ambition. Burnham says the idea is to be radical about social care and to work with other parties to find long-term solutions.
Nigel Farage has triggered a by-election in Clacton after stepping down. Major parties are not fielding candidates amid questions over a £5m gift and possible standards investigations. Count Binface is a notable independent contender as voter turnout and polling shape the race.
A Cambridge professor, Jason Arday, who faced plagiarism allegations and questions about his achievements, has died in Battersea. The university and partners are reviewing appointment and tenure processes as investigations from past claims continue to unfold. Families and colleagues condemn the intensified scrutiny and discuss its impact on Black academics and EDI work.
News analysis tracks the new prime minister’s approach, reflecting Compass proposals for the first 100 days and comments from senior Labour figures on leadership style and policy delivery.
Michael Marra and Joe Fagan are vying to lead Scottish Labour. In speeches and interviews, Marra pledges to deliver change from the opposition, while Fagan emphasizes leadership style and unity. The race remains open with a mid-September result expected.
MP Rupert Lowe’s earnings from posts on Elon Musk’s platform X have surged this year, averaging £932 per hour and potentially matching his £98,599 MP salary if current rates continue. Independent and Guardian reports highlight the controversy around platform rewards and political influence, with Lowe defending donations of his salary to charity.
Reform UK faces renewed questions as undercover Channel 4 footage shows senior aides discussing how foreign money could fund polling and influence campaigns. Farage denies wrongdoing, while police say offences may be investigated and internal reviews continue amid a Birmingham conference backdrop.
Geese’s Getting Killed signals a robust, contemporary rock moment. The band’s new work reflects global tensions and is doing so with force, while the political scene around Reform UK persists in a wary climate.
MPs are back in the House of Commons facing the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. Supporters argue it offers dying adults a choice with safeguards, while opponents warn of risks to vulnerable people. The government remains neutral. A pivotal vote is expected this Friday, with the outcome likely to hinge on turnout and the Lords’ future role.
Israel has closed the British consulate in East Jerusalem as part of retaliatory moves after the UK announced a trade ban with settlements in the West Bank. The dispute also involves discussions over a Gaza ceasefire and British officials barred from entering Israel. Several former diplomats warn the move risks harming Palestinians and destabilising regional relations.
Israeli hard-liner Itamar Ben-Gvir has urged publicly recognizing Argentina’s sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, triggering UK pushback and a flurry of diplomatic reactions. Britain rebuffs the claim and reaffirms Falkland islanders’ self-determination, while lawmakers scrutinize sanctions and trade implications tied to the dispute.
Protests at Dover and surrounding towns were coordinated by far-right figures, with hundreds of masked demonstrators blocking a major port. Kent police say information was not fully assessed, prompting calls for independent reviews. Protests spread to Portsmouth; authorities are reviewing triage and response. No arrests were made on the day.
Labour and Conservative voices clash over funding defence while ensuring social security. The PM has set a long-term NATO target of 3.5% by 2035, with a 3% aim by 2030; ministers say welfare cuts are not the answer and pledge to reduce the welfare bill without harming vulnerable groups. The debate continues at PMQs.
Britain has imposed its broadest measures yet against Israel’s settlements in the occupied West Bank, banning imports from settlements, expanding sanctions on financing and construction, and tightening arms controls. Israel has responded by closing the British consulate in East Jerusalem and banning UK officials from entering the country. The moves mark a significant shift in European stance, though London maintains ties with Israel within the Green Line.
Reform UK has received a massive windfall, with donations totaling around 72m pounds, fueling a nationwide ground campaign and advertising push. The party argues the funds will build a campaign machine in target seats, while critics warn of potential sleaze and rule changes. The donations prompt scrutiny of party finances and donor transparency as the election timetable looms.