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1220 headlines found — Page 32 of 102

The Guardian Politics19 May 2026

Wes Streeting’s Brexit play may be clever gamesmanship – but it has nothing to do with Europe | Anand Menon

Ten years after the referendum, its role as domestic football is still the order of day – and the ex-health secretary is happy to use it in his leadership bid Anand Menon is director of The UK in a Changing Europe Brexit, it seems, is back. Or at least back within the Labour party. Wes wants to be back in (at some point). Andy once said there’s a case, but seems to have changed his mind. Nigel, meanwhile, warns of betrayal. On one hand, this is all terribly predictable. Winning any Labour lead

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics19 May 2026

After the painful ruse of Starmerism, the left should be cautious about Andy Burnham | Owen Jones

With the Greens now a viable alternative, a Labour leader will not win power again without the progressive vote. But they will need to earn it Labour’s failures have made a rightwing authoritarian government not just a nightmare, but a plausible next chapter. Having enraged its natural voters – many of whom have flocked to the Greens – Labour MPs have clambered on to a lifeboat named Andy Burnham. Do the rest of us blindly hop on board? Burnham is, indisputably, Labour’s best bet. He is the part

PoliticsEnvironment
The Guardian Politics19 May 2026

Peter Mandelson scandal: the key questions that remain unanswered

The foreign affairs select committee meets this week to discuss next steps and there are concerns any conclusions reached at this stage may be premature The parliamentary inquiry into Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador has heard more than 77,000 words of evidence from five of the most senior officials and advisers in government. Yet, as MPs on the foreign affairs select committee meet this week to discuss next steps, there are concerns that key questions remain unanswered. The commit

Politics
The Guardian Politics18 May 2026

Andy Burnham vows to ‘change Labour’ in direct challenge to Keir Starmer

Expected candidate in Makerfield byelection says party ‘needs to change if we are to regain people’s trust’ Andy Burnham drew the battle lines for the future of the Labour party on Monday as the Greater Manchester mayor promised he would “change Labour” and win back the voters the party had lost. Burnham, who is expected to be Labour’s candidate in the Makerfield byelection, claimed it would be no ordinary campaign and said he would make it about national issues where Labour was failing, in a di

Politics
The Guardian Politics18 May 2026

Makerfield byelection is about more than Andy Burnham

If most popular Labour politician cannot win this seat then party’s electoral problems run deeper than Keir Starmer The Makerfield byelection is bigger than Andy Burnham. Of the Labour MPs who were back on the constituency’s doorsteps in Hindley Green and Winstanley, just after an intensive local election campaign, many said the fight feels existential. It matters because it is probably the closest the UK will ever come to a direct presidential-style election, run through one single constituency

PoliticsEnvironment
The Guardian Politics18 May 2026

Greens split over how hard to challenge Burnham in Makerfield byelection

Some in party fear all-out campaign could boost Reform UK chances The Greens are locked in an internal debate about how hard to challenge Andy Burnham in the Makerfield byelection, with some worried about allowing Reform UK to win and others wanting the party to go all out. While characterised by insiders as “very civilised”, the discussion has highlighted existing differences between Greens who believe concessions can be won from Labour through informal cooperation and others – including some n

PoliticsEnvironmentReform
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

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