Pippa Crerar

BREAKING: Andy Burnham tells reporters he's looking at cutting energy bills and bus fares as part of cost-of-living package which could eventually include more radical plans such as freezing private sector rents.

EXCL: Hollie Ridley, the general secretary of the Labour Party, has just told staff that she is standing down after this autumn’s conference.

Her departure clears the way for Labour’s ruling NEC to pick a new general secretary for Andy Burnham’s time as leader and prime minister.

BREAKING: John Healey is Andy Burnham's surprise pick as chancellor, with former defence secretary emerging as compromise candidate after Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood were both tipped for the role.

Andy Burnham's first foreign leader call since he entered office was to Donald Trump, No 10 confirms.

According to @katyballs.bsky.social the G20 summit - which UK is hosting next year - will be held in Manchester. This comes after US president said Burnham was mayor of "some town".

NEW: Keir Starmer gives resignation speech in Downing Street sunshine - watched by wife Vic and closest allies and aides.

"My work is done. In 6.5 years, I took our party from. historic defeat in 2019, changed it so it was fit to face the country, and won a landslide election victory in 2024...

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"Since then, it's been the privilege of my life to serve you and this great country as PM. I'm confident Britain is now stronger & fairer than two years ago

"I thank the British people for the opportunity to serve. I go with good grace. I go with a smile. I go proud of everything we've achieved."

NEW: Andy Burnham has told the women's PLP that he wants to "change the culture" of negative briefing.

Keir Starmer's No 10 operation had been accused by some Labour women MPs of being a 'boys club' (despite the many senior women working there).

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“We're looking at measures that could make a difference this year We just want to do some things that people will feel and feel quite quickly.

“It won’t solve everything, it won’t take all of the pressure off, but it just shows the direction of travel and that we’re serious about helping them out.”

The war for Burnham’s ear: politicians and wonks fight for influence over the PM presumptive.

“He’s just one person and everybody projects their hopes on to him. It’s hard to live up to,” one of his close allies admits.

By me and @rowenamason.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

The war for Burnham’s ear: politicians and wonks fight for influence over a PM

There is high emotion, a deluge of policy papers and an ‘excruciating’ jostle for jobs as Labour’s probable next leader settles back into Westminster life

‘Andy Burnham’s long coup: the chaotic year-long project to return him to Westminster’

A fascinating in depth read by @jessicaelgot.bsky.social
& @joshhalliday.bsky.social on the return of the man from Makerfield.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Andy Burnham’s long coup: the chaotic year-long project to return him to Westminster

Story of the key figures, decisions, planning and missteps in push to line up Greater Manchester mayor for PM

NEW: The new defence secretary has secured an extra £1.5bn for UK’s long-delayed defence investment plan, with the bulk of that to be spent on drones to deter Russia and Iran.

By @dansabbagh.bsky.social & @kiranstacey.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

New defence secretary wins another £1.5bn to boost drone spending

Dan Jarvis persuaded Rachel Reeves to reduce £18bn funding gap that led to predecessor resigning

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MORE: Burnham also suggests he could cut income tax for lower earners in the budget. This could involve cutting tax-free personal allowance, which has been frozen for the last five years. But new PM refuses to rule out bringing back 50p top rate of tax saying it was "premature".

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He adds, in reference to a Spectator article last week: “I want to put on record that I never have and never will describe myself as the first female Labour PM!”

End of the Keir Starmer era: ‘My work here is done’.

… and what will he do next?

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Keir Starmer warned his successor not to borrow more to pay for defence as he raided energy, transport and housing projects to plug a military spending deficit with an extra £15bn over the next four years - by @kiranstacey.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Starmer warns Burnham not to borrow to fund defence as he reveals £15bn plan

The prime minister unveiled his long-awaited defence investment plan on Tuesday after months of delays

NEW: Shabana Mahmood seeks to shore up support on left for controversial immigration bill with plans to speed up opening of new safe & legal routes that permit thousands of refugees to come to UK.

By @rowenamason.bsky.social & @syalrajeev.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Mahmood outlines safe immigration routes plan to win over Labour left

Home secretary speeds up major part of bill governing asylum and refugees as new prime minister set to take over

Tuesday’s @theguardian.com front page: Burnham puts No 10 North at heart of bid to ‘rewire’ Britain

theguardian.com/politics/2026/…

MY ANALYSIS: Andy Burnham’s vibe shift gives Labour one more chance but voters also need hope

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Burnham’s vibe shift gives Labour one more chance but voters also need hope

The prospective new prime minister will need to deliver on his ability to communicate – and get the big decisions right

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“Culture really does matter and we need to change that culture," Burnham tells them.

“I want to make it clear that if anyone in my team was found to have done that [negative briefing] they would be out of the door. Their feet wouldn’t touch the floor."

Andy Burnham: dodging scrutiny, or just a different type of communicator? By @peterwalker99.bsky.social, @lexytopping.bsky.social & me 👇

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Andy Burnham: dodging scrutiny, or just a different type of communicator?

Avoiding traditional questions and stilted broadcast clips, PM-in-waiting has evolved his style of media management

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“... the existing fiscal rules and use obviously any flexibility within them. But we will stick to the existing rules,” he says.

“So none of this is about taking risks with the economy. I’ve never done that in any role that I’ve had. I’ve always taken a very prudent approach.”

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ALSO: Burnham says he'd look at “any flexibility” within government’s existing fiscal rules to help borrow billions more to invest in infrastructure – but insists that he would take a “very prudent” approach to the economy.

“I’ve said we’ll stick to the fiscal rules and by that I mean...