The Guardian Politics

Asylum seekers to pay £10,000 towards living costs under new UK law

Means-tested scheme included in immigration and asylum bill condemned by charities for placing tax on refugees Asylum seekers will be ordered to pay about £10,000 to cover their state-funded living costs or be denied settled status in the UK under a new law to be considered by MPs on Tuesday.The means-tested scheme, compared by officials to student loans and included in the immigration and asylum bill, has been condemned by charities for placing a tax on refugees fleeing war, torture and famine.

politics  Jun 29, 2026

The Guardian Politics

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 resigningThe new defence secretary has secured an extra £1.5bn to the UK’s long-delayed defence investment plan, with the bulk of that to be spent on drones to deter Russia and Iran.Rows about closing an £18bn funding gap had led to the resignation of John Healey and raised questions about Britain’s commitments to Nato – though on Monday the head of the alliance told the Guardian he believed the UK would honou

politics  Jun 29, 2026

BBC Politics

Long-delayed defence spending plan to be published on Tuesday

The defence investment plan will set out how billions will be spent on equipping the UK Armed Forces.

politics  Jun 29, 2026

The Guardian Politics

High-street slot machines and casinos could face £460m tax rise under Burnham

Thinktank finds 43% of the public would support a move by Labour to raise taxes on adult gaming centresAll-night slot machine shops and casinos could face a £460m tax rise if Andy Burnham acts on his concerns about the gambling industry as prime minister, after an influential thinktank found the policy would have public support.Known by some in the gambling sector as “slot sheds”, adult gaming centres (AGCs) have flooded UK high streets in recent years, disproportionately targeting economically

politics  Jun 29, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Burnham sets out vision to transform Britain and fix ‘broken’ system

Expected next prime minister focuses on restoring faith in politics, cost of living and devolution in major speechWhat is Andy Burnham’s economic and political blueprint for Britain?Andy Burnham has set out his blueprint to transform the UK with a promise to improve living standards and restore faith in politics through the “biggest rebalancing of power our country has ever seen”.The person widely expected to be the next prime minister said the current system was “broken” and that “more of the s

politics  Jun 29, 2026

BBC Politics

Will Andy Burnham's devolution plan raise economic growth?

BBC Verify has looked at what impact further devolution could be expected to have on the UK.

politics  Jun 29, 2026

The Guardian Politics

What is Andy Burnham’s economic and political blueprint for Britain?

Plans include greater regional power, public ownership of utilities and the end of trickle-down economics Andy Burnham vows to set up No 10 North as ‘nerve centre of rewired Britain’Andy Burnham’s speech at the People’s History Museum in Manchester was the first time we saw the man likely to be Britain’s next prime minister set out his vision for power.He promised “good growth in every postcode” in a speech that focused on a significant transfer of power out of Whitehall to local communities and

politics  Jun 29, 2026

The Guardian Politics

The Guardian view on Andy Burnham’s speech: Rewiring Britain needs Westminster to give up real power | Editorial

The country’s likely next prime minister sketches a post-Thatcherite state built on radical devolution. The test is whether Whitehall yieldsAndy Burnham is not prime minister of the UK – yet. His speech on Monday at the People’s History Museum in Manchester might be read as campaign fodder. But given his lack of opponents, the race to be Labour leader looks already over. If he enters Downing Street, the oration would be the most serious challenge to the Thatcherite settlement attempted by any pr

politics  Jun 29, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Thai-based crypto investor funding Reform unlikely to avoid cap on overseas donations

Christopher Harborne, who also gave Nigel Farage £5m ‘gift’, reported to have registered to vote in HampshireChristopher Harborne, the Thailand-based crypto investor who has given millions of pounds to Reform UK, would be unlikely to get around a planned cap on overseas political donations even if he has registered to vote in the UK, it is understood.Harborne, who also gave Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, £5m as a “gift”, has registered to vote in Hampshire, the Times reported, with a spokesper

politics  Jun 29, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Ben Jennings on Andy Burnham’s first major policy speech – cartoon

Continue reading...

politics  Jun 29, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Burnham will stand or fall on his plans for youth employment: he must put the next generation first | Polly Toynbee

Labour has to match the success of its New Deal for young people in the late 1990s – and remedy the injustices that have led to a ‘lost generation’Today a new programme starts to help the million unemployed young people not in education or training (Neets). By chance, it launches on the day Andy Burnham set out to paint a picture of his horizons with plans that put the young first, closely matching Alan Milburn’s searing review of the fate of a “lost generation”.As from now, any employer can cla

politics  Jun 29, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Can Andy Burnham’s ‘No 10 North’ change anything? – podcast

Andy Burnham, the prime minister-in-waiting, has made his first major speech since becoming the MP for Makerfield. Speaking in Manchester, he said the Westminster system was ‘broken’ and that a ‘more of the same’ attitude would not work. He promised a ‘No 10 North’ as part of his proposals for devolution, the biggest council housebuilding programme since the post-war period, and ‘good growth in every postcode’. Pippa and Kiran look at what the speech tells us about Burnham’s ambitions for the ec

politics  Jun 29, 2026

BBC Politics

Resident doctors in England accept pay deal and end strikes

Doctors have been locked in a three-year dispute with the government, resulting in several rounds of strikes.

politics  Jun 29, 2026

BBC Politics

New 'No 10 North' plan will rebalance power in Britain, Burnham promises

The man most likely to be the next prime minister says his devolution plans would "drive good growth in every postcode".

politics  Jun 29, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Current and ex-DUP members knew of allegations about Jeffrey Donaldson, party says

Information not reported through ‘appropriate channels’ and left DUP unable to formally respond, leader saysFormer and current members of the Democratic Unionist party (DUP) knew of allegations about the former leader Jeffrey Donaldson but did not share them, the party has said.Information about Donaldson was not reported through “appropriate channels” and left the party unable to formally respond, the DUP leader, Gavin Robinson, said on Monday. Continue reading...

politics  Jun 29, 2026

The Guardian Politics

How would PM-in-waiting Andy Burnham change Britain? - The Latest

Andy Burnham has set out his vision for the UK in his first big policy speech since launching a bid to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister. The Makerfield MP confirmed he would set up ‘No 10 North’ and pledged to ‘bring about the biggest rebalancing of power the country has ever seen’.Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s north of England editor, Josh Halliday – watch on YouTube Continue reading...

politics  Jun 29, 2026

BBC Politics

Burnham's Manchesterism could change the UK, but is not yet a full economic plan

Andy Burnham's speech depicted a different way of seeing and running the UK, though there are many other questions about the detail.

politics  Jun 29, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Andy Burnham picks Greater Manchester CEO to oversee devolution of power at No 10 North

Caroline Simpson worked closely with Burnham when he was Greater Manchester mayorUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham has asked the current chief executive of the Greater Manchester combined authority to be his deputy chief of staff, leading the new No 10 North, if as expected he becomes prime minister in three weeks’ time.Caroline Simpson, who worked closely with Burnham when he was mayor, will be based in Manchester to oversee the devolution of power and resources across the UK that h

politics  Jun 29, 2026

BBC Politics

Ex-MP Craig Williams pleads guilty over general election betting offence

Williams was MP for Montgomeryshire and an aide to then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before the 2024 election.

politics  Jun 29, 2026

The Guardian Politics

Former Tory MP Craig Williams pleads guilty to cheating at gambling with election bets

Former parliamentary private secretary to Rishi Sunak admits offence relating to betting on date of 2024 electionThe former Conservative MP Craig Williams, who was parliamentary private secretary to Rishi Sunak, has pleaded guilty at Southwark crown court to cheating at gambling with bets on the date of the 2024 general election.More details soon … Continue reading...

politics  Jun 29, 2026