In the news: local election shakeups poke at Labour control as councils swing to greens/reform. Steve Rotheram, Liverpool City Region Mayor since 2017 (Labour), ex-MP for Liverpool Walton (2010–2017).
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.
Burnham has positioned himself as Labour’s leading candidate for prime minister, pledging to devolve power, extend local control, and rebalance the economy. He plans a No 10 North unit to oversee devolution and regional growth, while the party cautions about defence and fiscal rooms for manoeuvre as leadership unfolds.
Labour leader-in-waiting Andy Burnham is assembling a Downing Street team as Rachel Reeves faces potential demotion. Reports show Reeves backing Burnham and discussions about whether she will be kept in No 11. The leadership race is accelerating with other ministers weighing bets on the cabinet line-up.
Labour's Andy Burnham has delivered a speech at the People’s History Museum in Manchester, outlining a pathway to devolve power and resources to local leaders and promise a decade of renewal. He argues that Westminster is broken and voters deserve hope and local control as he positions himself as a potential prime minister-in-waiting.
Mayors and Labour figures are advocating a bold devolution agenda, arguing for wider control over public services, policing, and local taxation. The momentum follows Andy Burnham’s devolution plan and calls for a decade-long reform to shift power away from Whitehall to local authorities.
Labour's Makerfield MP has won a by-election and is positioned to lead Labour, with MPs weighing the possibility of an early general election. Polls show rising support for Labour, but critics warn of risks to seats if an election is called prematurely.
Voters head to the polls next Thursday as Labour faces a challenging local election in St Helens. The council has been Labour-controlled since 2010, but regeneration plans and concerns about town centre vitality are shaping the campaign. Residents describe a town in transition, with empty high streets and a push for investment.
Labour has lost control of several councils across England while Reform UK and the Greens gain ground; the results signal a reshaping of the political landscape ahead of any general election, with the SNP and Plaid Cymru also indicating shifts in power in Scotland and Wales.
A June 18 Makerfield by-election has become a national leadership test after Labour has installed Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham as its candidate. A string of ministerial resignations and polling showing Reform UK divided with a Farage splinter have left Keir Starmervulnerable; a Burnham win will force a leadership contest and intensify political instability.