In the news: Corbyn’s Your Party leadership angle and long-running Labour split debates keep him in the mix. He’s the ex-Labour PM candidate, MP for Islington North since 1983.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced he will resign and has said he will remain in Downing Street as caretaker while Labour chooses a successor. Nominations will open on July 9 and the party aims to have a leader in place by Parliament’s return in September; Andy Burnham is the clear frontrunner.
Britain has introduced a new immigration and asylum bill to widen safe, legal routes for refugees, tighten Human Rights and modern slavery rules, and curb small-boat crossings. The plan includes community sponsorships, a university route, and employer sponsorship, with application openings later this year and arrivals next year.
The energy debt burden among households is rising, with Ofgem reporting record totals and more people in arrears. Debtors without repayment plans face higher balances, while suppliers prepare for continued pressure as the price cap increases in July.
Hundreds of civic groups organized the largest protest in UK history to oppose right-wing extremism. The march drew between 50,000 and 500,000 participants, featuring speeches from politicians and musicians. Police made 25 arrests, including supporters of banned groups. The event occurred ahead of upcoming elections amid rising far-right support.
On April 11, 2026, London's Metropolitan Police arrested 523 protesters supporting Palestine Action during a sit-down demonstration in Trafalgar Square. The group was banned as a terrorist organisation in July 2025, but the High Court ruled the ban unlawful in February 2026. Despite this, police resumed arrests in late March as the government appeals the ruling. Over 3,000 arrests have been made since the ban.
Labour has suffered a major setback in local and devolved elections, with Reform UK and the Green Party making significant gains. The leadership question for Sir Keir Starmer is intensifying as MPs and voters express dissatisfaction with the pace of change and the government's direction. Welsh and Scottish results compound pressure on Labour's national strategy.
Labour figures are in flux as Andy Burnham eyes Makerfield for a Westminster return, while Keir Starmer faces pressure over leadership timing. Streeting and Lammy are among potential contenders as the party confronts Brexit and EU questions ahead of by-elections.
The Guardian reports Andy Burnham is publicly positioned to win Makerfield and is exploring a future leadership bid, while the Green Party has limited resources and reopens its candidate selection after Chris Kennedy’s withdrawal. The by-election is set for 18 June, with Labour facing Reform UK in a high-stakes contest.
Since mid-May 2026 Labour has been forced into open leadership turmoil after heavy local election losses. Wes Streeting has resigned and declared a challenge; Andy Burnham has been enabled to seek a Commons seat via a Makerfield by-election; party members are expressing stronger support for Burnham than Keir Starmer.
Tony Blair has continued his critique of the Labour government, urging MPs to define policy before leadership changes. He has published a lengthy essay urging reforms on welfare, energy, AI, and EU ties, while pressing MPs to test candidates’ policy positions before any leadership bid.
Tony Blair has published a 5,700-word essay urging Labour to prioritise policy over personality and return to a “radical centre.” Keir Starmer has rejected major elements of the critique. Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting have publicly attacked Blair’s omissions on inequality, leaving the party divided as the June 18 Makerfield by-election and a potential leadership contest approach.
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.
Labour has won Makerfield by-election with a large margin, intensifying pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to quit and paving the way for Andy Burnham to pursue leadership. Ministers are weighing resignations and Burnham is moving to establish a Downing Street operation while Starmer vows to fight on.
The Guardian and Reuters report that Wes Streeting has backed calls for a Labour leadership contest if internal uncertainty continues. Streeting has the backing of around 81 Labour MPs, and says a decision should be taken over the weekend if Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election and returns to Parliament.
Andy Burnham has won Makerfield in a by-election, returning to Westminster and positioning himself as a potential Labour leadership candidate. The outcome signals a shift in Northern politics and a challenge to Keir Starmer as the party seeks to interpret a public call for change.
Labour faces a leadership test as Andy Burnham weighs a possible bid for Parliament and Keir Starmer weighs his role. Across papers, analysts say Burnham could shake up the party if he wins the leadership race, while Starmer’s handling of foreign and domestic policy comes under scrutiny.
A major Nottingham maternity care review has found widespread failures across care, with 520 cases of harm graded as significant or major. The report calls for accountability and potential public inquiry, as families push for truth and reforms across the NHS maternity system.
Britain is facing a leadership churn unseen in recent history as Keir Starmer has stood down, following a string of premiers in the last ten years. Analysts point to policy missteps and internal party dynamics as drivers of instability, with Andy Burnham now floated as a potential alternative. The row over pensioner benefits, welfare reform, and broader economic challenges has intensified scrutiny of governance and the Tory-Labour balance.