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The Guardian Politics18 May 2026

Andy Burnham’s change in tack on fiscal rules and bond markets is understandable

Bookies’ favourite to replace Keir Starmer tones down stance on government borrowing to assuage City investors UK politics live – latest updates Andy Burnham has always faced a narrow path to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister: a tricky byelection, a leadership contest that is yet to be declared, and a far from constructive bond market backdrop. In making his pitch, assuaging City investors in particular has led the Greater Manchester mayor to dance on a pin. Continue reading...

PoliticsEconomy
The Guardian Politics18 May 2026

Andy Burnham’s first election hurdle: Brexit – podcast

Andy Burnham may already be facing a tricky obstacle in his push to return to Westminster. Past comments about rejoining the EU have come back to haunt him, particularly given that the Makerfield constituency voted overwhelmingly to leave in the Brexit referendum. Plus, Wes Streeting has confirmed he will stand in any leadership contest, raising fresh questions about where all this leaves Keir Starmer Continue reading...

Politics
The Guardian Politics18 May 2026

Starmer’s message to voters in Makerfield: vote Labour because you hate me | John Crace

The only useful purpose Keir can play in helping Andy Burnham get elected is to be the focus of everything that voters dislike about Labour On days like this you have to ask yourself one question: is it me who is going mad? Or has our politics just taken yet another turn through the looking-glass? How can we be sure that anything is real when all the old certainties are shattered? Picture the scene. After a weekend down in Chequers sticking pins into his Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham dolls, Ke

Politics
The Guardian Politics18 May 2026

Could the UK really rejoin the EU? – The Latest

The Brexit debate has been reignited after Labour leadership contender Wes Streeting called it a ‘catastrophic mistake’ and said the UK should rejoin the European Union. His comments put pressure on rival Andy Burnham, who has previously advocated for rejoining the bloc but is fighting a byelection in the leave-voting Makerfield constituency. But how would rejoining work and would the EU even agree to it? Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s Europe correspondent, Jon Henley Continue reading...

Politics
The Guardian Politics18 May 2026

HS2: Heidi Alexander to set out true cost of rail project – and when trains will begin to run

Transport secretary to give budget details of troubled high-speed line, which backers hope will stay well below £100bn The latest estimate of the cost of HS2 and a timetable to complete construction of the high-speed railway will be set out by the government on Tuesday, including plans to run trains slower to trim costs. The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, is expected to give the first official reckoning of the troubled project’s budget in 2026 prices, which HS2’s backers hope will remain

Economy
The Guardian Politics18 May 2026

It’s byelection bingo! Get ready for the Brexit arguments you heard 10 years ago, only louder | Zoe Williams

Makerfield will be a test of what Labour would have to look like to beat Reform – so prepare yourself for regrets, broken promises and baffling assertions about ‘red wall’ voters It is a gruesome shock and yet was entirely predictable: we stand on the brink of a byelection that is three things at once. First, a straight popularity contest for Andy Burnham, which itself is a worry, because there must be a limit to how many times you can be called “King of the North” without it boiling your brain,

Politics
The Guardian Politics18 May 2026

Reeves poised to cancel planned fuel duty rise to help with cost of living

Chancellor has been under pressure to extend 5p temporary cut at an estimated cost to government of £2.4bn a year UK politics live – latest updates Rachel Reeves is planning to cancel a rise in fuel duty this week when she unveils a package of measures to reduce the cost of living. The chancellor will announce she will not put up the tax by 1p as was due to happen in September, government sources said, and she could cancel all of a 5p rise that is due to happen in stages over the subsequent si

PoliticsEconomy
The Guardian Politics18 May 2026

Andy Burnham says he will not try to return UK to EU

Burnham vows to have ‘relentless domestic focus’ in first speech since announcing Makerfield byelection run UK politics live – latest updates Andy Burnham has said he will not try to return the UK to the EU, saying Britain would be stuck in a “a permanent rut if we’re just constantly arguing”. In his first major speech since announcing his byelection run, the mayor of Greater Manchester said he would have a “relentless domestic focus” in Makerfield, saying: “Let’s fix our own country. Let’s ge

Politics
The Guardian Politics18 May 2026

Rejoin, reset or go Swiss-style? How the UK could try to unpick Brexit

Wes Streeting has suggested he wants to see the UK ‘back in the EU’ one day – but the bloc might take some convincing UK politics live – latest updates Is it too soon? Is it even doable? Few expected that, 10 years after the Brexit referendum and barely six years after its exit from the European Union, the UK would be talking about rejoining. Over the weekend, the former health secretary and posible Labour leadership contender Wes Streeting claimed Keir Starmer’s government needed “a new speci

Politics
The Guardian Politics18 May 2026

IMF urges UK to ‘stay the course’ on borrowing amid Starmer uncertainty

Washington-based fund praises Rachel Reeves for aiming to cut budget deficit as it upgrades growth forecasts Business live – latest updates The International Monetary Fund has urged Britain to “stay the course” to cut government borrowing amid growing bond market concerns over a Labour leadership challenge. As Keir Starmer battles to cling on to power, the Washington-based fund said it was important to continue reducing the budget deficit “given market pressures and elevated implementation ris

Economy
The Guardian Politics18 May 2026

Wannabe prime ministers are nakedly ambitious to run the UK, but why? That is the burning question | Stefan Stern

As Starmer, Burnham, Streeting, Rayner, Polanski and Farage line up, I say ambition for power is no bad thing. It’s what they would do with it that counts Ah, Mr Burnham, come in, take a seat. Mr Streeting, good to see you. We’ll also be interviewing Mr Starmer, then Ms Rayner; Mr Farage and Mr Polanski come in this afternoon. So, this prime minister job: what are you in it for? That’s how I would do it. The “what are you in it for?” question gets to the heart of personal ambition. Of course we

Reform