The Guardian Politics

The Guardian view on Andy Burnham and devolution: it takes a powerful centre to decentralise power | Editorial

When it comes to driving an agenda from No 10, the prime minister seems to have learned important lessons from his predecessor’s failureBefore entering Downing Street, Andy Burnham cited the overcentralisation of power as a cause of Britain’s social and economic malaise. In his first week, the new prime minister has signalled his intent to bolster No 10 as an organ of executive power. The apparent contradiction – fortifying the centre to pursue an agenda of decentralisation – arises from a perve

politics  Jul 22, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Scottish Labour’s rivals decry ‘chancer’ Anas Sarwar for resigning to join Andy Burnham’s government

The new prime minister plans to make Sarwar, the first Labour figure to call for Keir Starmer’s resignation, a peerScottish Labour’s rivals in Holyrood have slammed Anas Sarwar’s shock decision to resign as leader to sit in Andy Burnham’s new government, calling him a “chancer” and accusing him of lying to voters.The prime minister plans to make Sarwar, who was the first senior Labour figure to call for Starmer to resign, a peer and give him a ministerial post at the Department for Business, Inn

politics  Jul 22, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Increased defence spending will boost UK economic growth, Streeting says

New defence secretary emphasises military will be spending priority over other departments under BurnhamUK politics live – latest updatesWes Streeting has said increased defence spending would make “an enormous contribution” to economic growth as he emphasised that the military will be a spending priority for Andy Burnham’s government over other departments.The new defence secretary, in a speech at the Farnborough airshow, did not make any extra financial commitments but promised he would give t

politics  Jul 22, 2026

The Guardian Politics

‘Do a few big things well’: people share what they want from Andy Burnham

We asked readers what they hoped to see and consistent themes around courage and communication emergedUK politics live – latest updatesWith Andy Burnham entering Downing Street we asked people to tell us what they wanted from the new prime minister and government. About 400 people from around the UK responded to an online call-out asking about the values and issues they care about.The words that came up most when people outlined how they wanted Andy Burnham to govern were honesty, integrity and

politics  Jul 22, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Bus fare cap coming from aid budget will hit world’s poorest, Burnham told

Funding proposal for cost of living policy ‘throws global south countries under the bus’, says ActionAid UK directorBurnham announces bus fares to be capped at £2UK politics live – latest updatesThe world’s most vulnerable people will be put at risk by Andy Burnham’s decision to use the aid budget to pay for cheaper bus fares in England, charities have said.The prime minister announced on Wednesday that he would reduce the fare cap from £3 per journey to £2 for next year, funded mainly by changi

politics  Jul 22, 2026

BBC Politics

Defence must cut waste and maximise value for money, says Streeting

A £15bn increase in military spending announced by the last government is not yet fully funded.

politics  Jul 22, 2026

BBC Politics

Bus travellers respond to fare reduction

'It's going to help us' - public respond to bus fare cut.

politics  Jul 22, 2026

The Guardian Politics

The Treasury will check Andy Burnham’s ambitions – unless old orthodoxies are challenged | Larry Elliott

Fifty years ago, another Healey ran the Treasury. Today’s chancellor may find some things haven’t changedSome things never change. Fifty years ago, Britain was sweltering in the long hot summer of 1976. The Labour government was acutely aware that the financial markets were scrutinising its every move. And a man called Healey was running the Treasury.On the surface, the challenges facing John Healey are less severe than those Denis Healey had to grapple with half a century ago. Inflation is a lo

politics  Jul 22, 2026

BBC Politics

Most bus fares in England to be capped at £2 from January

The government says the policy will "help with the cost of living and give people the breathing space they need"

politics  Jul 22, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Andy Burnham announces review of prisoner early release scheme

PM says he wants to be sure everything concerning controversial policy has been looked at before it goes aheadUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham has said he will review the government’s controversial prisoner early release scheme with the justice secretary.The scheme, under which thousands of prisoners are to serve shorter sentences after new laws were passed to address a prison overcrowding crisis, is due to begin in September. Continue reading...

politics  Jul 22, 2026

BBC Politics

Burnham says he will review early prisoner release scheme

The prime minister says he cannot commit to changing the policy but wants to look at it in detail "before we go further forward".

politics  Jul 22, 2026

BBC Politics

'This phase of government is about reprioritising'

Andy Burnham addresses the latest government policy announcement saying this phase of government is a reprioritising.

politics  Jul 22, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Here’s how Andy Burnham really could end homelessness | Daniel Lavelle

Utilising empty homes, capping rents and fixing the benefits system would all help, but they’d require a serious fightIn January 2017, the then mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, promised to end rough sleeping in the region by 2020 – a bold, frankly absurd promise that inevitably didn’t materialise. Nearly a decade later, shortly after becoming prime minister, Burnham promised to end rough sleeping again, only this time for the whole of England. So why should we believe him this time aro

politics  Jul 22, 2026

BBC Politics

Transport secretary quizzed on bus fare change

Labour MP is asked about the lowering of the bus fare cap, after Starmer increased it in 2025.

politics  Jul 22, 2026

BBC Politics

How will Burnham fund £2 bus fare cap?

Most single bus fares in England will be capped at £2 from January, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announces.

politics  Jul 22, 2026

BBC Politics

Streeting apologises after early prisoner release comments heard on mic

The defence secretary and Mahmood were also heard making jokes about the new justice secretary.

politics  Jul 22, 2026

The Guardian Politics

UK inflation falls to 2.6% in lift for Burnham’s cost of living plans

Annual June figure comes after new PM pledges to reduce pressure on households and improve economyUK inflation dropped by more than expected in June to 2.6%, in a boost for Andy Burnham’s plans to reduce the cost of living.The new prime minister has pledged to bring down the cost of living to give households more disposable income and improve the outlook for the economy. Continue reading...

politics  Jul 22, 2026

The Guardian Politics

How could Britain look under proportional representation? See the results for your area

These visualisations from exclusive polling modelling show how the UK parliament could change under different voting systemsNew analysis produced exclusively for the Guardian reveals how different voting systems would return wildly different seat totals in the UK parliament based on current polling.While the current first past the post (FPTP) system could leave Reform UK just 30 seats short of a majority based on recent polls, the modelling shows how proportional systems would be likely to give

politics  Jul 22, 2026

BBC Politics

Chris Mason: Sarwar ministerial role sees promotion of another Starmer critic

Months after calling on Keir Starmer to quit, the Scottish Labour leader is set to become a minister in Burnham's government, the BBC's political editor writes.

politics  Jul 22, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Andy Burnham is playing the long game in an age of short attention spans | Rafael Behr

It is hard to make the case for a 10-year plan in our political culture of constant campaigning frenzy – but the new PM will try It all sounded feasible but improbable. A few days after Labour’s disastrous performance in local and devolved elections in May, one of Andy Burnham’s allies confidently forecast for me the sequence of events that would convey the then mayor of Greater Manchester to No 10. A friendly MP would surrender a parliamentary seat. Keir Starmer would be persuaded to resign. Ot

politics  Jul 22, 2026