News

Original reporting and the latest political headlines from across the UK.

Our Articles

Mainstream Headlines

Filtering by:Tag: politics×Source: The Guardian Politics×Clear all

1708 headlines found — Page 22 of 143

The Guardian Politics17 Jul 2026

Andy Burnham becomes Labour leader in final step towards becoming UK PM

Former Greater Manchester mayor expected to take reins as prime minister and appoint new cabinet on Monday Andy Burnham has become the leader of the Labour party, paving the way for him to take over as British prime minister on Monday. The former mayor of Greater Manchester won the overwhelming support of MPs, trade unions and party branches, making him the only choice to take over from Keir Starmer. Continue reading...

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics17 Jul 2026

Burnham to say his government will be ‘unashamedly Labour’ in first speech as party leader – UK politics live

‘Special conference’ to take place at noon where Burnham will be formally announced as Labour leader Good morning. Today the Labour party is going to formally announce at a “special conference” that Andy Burnham is its new leader. We will get a speech from Burnham at that event, and then he is expected to give another speech at an event later this afternoon. As Kiran Stacey and Rowena Mason report, in his special conference speech Burnham will say he will lead a government that will have the ‘co

Politics
The Guardian Politics17 Jul 2026

Andy Burnham’s difficult first cabinet – a visual guide to the options and dilemmas

The Makerfield MP enters No 10 as prime minister on Monday. But who will he choose to join him at the table? Keir Starmer is expected formally to resign as prime minister on Monday morning at Buckingham Palace, with Andy Burnham being invited to take on the role shortly afterwards. Once back in Downing Street mid-morning, Burnham will begin assembling his cabinet. Continue reading...

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics17 Jul 2026

The Manchester years: how Burnham’s rebirth as ‘king of the north’ set him on road to No 10

In the second part of a two-part profile, Josh Halliday charts PM-in-waiting’s journey northward, where as mayor he revelled in his Covid-era popularity – and changed his approach to politics Part one: From Cambridge ‘impostor’ to New Labour star Andy Burnham was a broken man. In a pub a short walk from parliament, which he had taken to calling “the madhouse”, he plotted his escape over beers with three trusted colleagues. It was late March in 2016. Burnham, the MP for Leigh in Greater Manches

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics17 Jul 2026

Ann Widdecombe’s death should make Britain ask itself: what sort of political culture do we want? | Gaby Hinsliff

Dehumanising politicians is the first step towards justifying their elimination. It matters more than ever to keep putting the person back into the picture Ann Widdecombe was never one to hide from an argument. And she wasn’t afraid for her safety either. She scoffed at friends’ suggestions that she should get electric gates, as an elderly woman with a public profile living alone on Dartmoor, just as she dismissed concerns about her health at 78. Having lost friends in the Brighton hotel bombing

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics16 Jul 2026

‘Continuity Keir’: Burnham keeping on many of Starmer’s No 10 advisers

Lack of change in key roles could mean next week’s policy announcements may lack radicalism many hoped for Andy Burnham’s Downing Street operation is beginning to take shape, with many of Keir Starmer’s aides due to remain at the centre of government. The incoming prime minister has now picked most of the senior No 10 jobs, according to those who have been involved in the process, and the names of several key staff were confirmed on Thursday. Continue reading...

Politics
The Guardian Politics16 Jul 2026

Liz Truss assembles host of rightwing speakers for UK’s first CPAC event in London

Keynote speakers included US influencer Jack Posobiec as former PM aims to gain influence among British right Hard right figures from around the world have gathered in London for the inaugural British spin-off from America’s influential CPAC gathering which powered the rise of Donald Trump. The first CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) GB has been spearheaded by Liz Truss, the former Conservative leader who was the UK’s prime minister for six weeks, as she seeks to rebuild her legacy

Politics
The Guardian Politics16 Jul 2026

‘Bizarre choice’: business and Labour puzzle over Shabana Mahmood as future chancellor

The home secretary, favourite to take over at No 11, has minimal economic credentials and many MPs would prefer Ed Miliband Andy Burnham last month promised the UK he would bring “good growth in every postcode and hope in every heart” when he is installed as prime minister. Britain’s industry leaders also have a hope in their hearts: that Burnham will install a pro-business chancellor. The energy secretary, Ed Miliband, was for several weeks seen as the most likely candidate to succeed Rachel Re

PoliticsEconomy
The Guardian Politics16 Jul 2026

Liz Truss wheels out series of C-list ghouls at drab London CPAC event | John Crace

Former 49-day PM helms a Conservative Political Action Conference that’s a far cry from the glitzy US version Liz Truss has given us all so much in recent years. A mini-budget. A laugh a minute 49 days in office. A new monarch, after the queen decided enough was enough and died two days after Liz began her Airbnb stay in Downing Street. And now she has given us one thing more. She has imported the US Conservative Political Action Conference to the UK. And like all things Liz, it’s predictably a

PoliticsEconomy
The Guardian Politics16 Jul 2026

Burnham’s ‘black box’ plans for cabinet send Westminster into hysteria

Few know who will get top jobs when new PM enters No 10 and the vacuum of information has its downsides As Labour MPs filed out of Portcullis House on the last day before parliament rose – and Andy Burnham ascends – one said they were struggling with a metaphor for how concentrated Burnham’s power had become. Flailing for something that did not sound insulting, he gave up and likened Burnham’s absolute control to North Korea’s Kim dynasty. It is a very congenial and receptive kind of dictatorshi

Politics
The Guardian Politics16 Jul 2026

Keir Starmer makes Sadiq Khan a peer in the House of Lords

Appointment by outgoing prime minister, potentially opens door for London mayor to join Burnham cabinet UK politics live – latest updates Sadiq Khan has been given a peerage by Keir Starmer just days before the prime minister stands down, potentially opening the door to one of Labour’s most high-profile mayors joining Andy Burnham’s cabinet in future. The London mayor has long been tipped for the House of Lords, with Starmer said to have been keen to put him there immediately after the May loc

Politics
The Guardian Politics16 Jul 2026

Burnham too influenced by ‘vested interests’ to offer change, Polanski says

Exclusive: Green party launches pushback against idea that next PM will have more left-leaning agenda than Starmer UK politics live – latest updates Andy Burnham is “too in hock to vested interests” to offer real change, Zack Polanski has said as the Greens launched a pushback against the incoming prime minister, portraying him as cautious and weak on such areas as wealth taxes, Gaza and rent controls. Under Polanski’s leadership the Green party in England and Wales has more than tripled its m

PoliticsEconomyEnvironmentHousing