UK independent fiscal forecaster and budget monitor
Andy Burnham has been confirmed as Labour leader and will become prime minister on Monday after Keir Starmer formally resigns. He has pledged a "distinctively Labour" government that will devolve power to regions, prioritise cost-of-living measures and tackle social care while naming a new cabinet, with the chancellor slot the biggest early question.
Public sector net borrowing in June has come in lower than forecast, driven by higher tax receipts and lower debt interest costs. The new Chancellor pledges fiscal discipline as the government aligns with its rules, while energy bills relief and a funding shift shape the autumn budget.
The new prime minister has unveiled a 10-year plan and pledges to tackle the cost of living, rough sleeping, and housing. He is appointing a cabinet and outlining how to fund his priorities while keeping to defence spending commitments.
The UK has reported a lower-than-expected public sector deficit of £132 billion for the year to March, driven by higher tax receipts. However, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East are expected to increase borrowing costs and reduce fiscal space, threatening future economic stability.
A wave of policy proposals from Andy Burnham’s leadership bid foreground devolution, cheaper energy, and a major council-house programme, while economists warn of the political and fiscal hurdles ahead. The Mirror and BBC outline how these ideas could reshape local power and living standards, with scrutiny on timetables and the cost of promised reforms.
Andy Burnham is weighing Ed Miliband for the role of chancellor as Labour faces internal and market scrutiny over plans for the economy and the North Sea. The Guardian and The Times report simmering tensions about energy policy and fiscal strategy as Burnham prepares to take office.
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.
The UK–US pharmaceutical deal has led to a BMJ analysis predicting the NHS will divert billions to fund new medicines, risking hundreds of thousands of excess deaths by 2036, with the toll higher if social care funding is included.
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.