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The Guardian Politics28 Jul 2026

Burnham’s education plan directly contradicts Labour’s Schools Act, Tories claim – UK politics live

The new prime minister is linking the need for better vocational education in school with his belief in localism Good morning. In his last speech to Labour’s annual conference as party leader, Keir Starmer called for a fundamental shift in the way education in England operates. While saying he would never “denigrate the aspiration to go to university”, he said that aiming to get 50% of pupils into university was wrong and that it was finally time to show equivalent respect to apprenticeships and

PoliticsEducationReformHousing
The Guardian Politics28 Jul 2026

Reader Q&A: Ask Polly Toynbee about Andy Burnham’s first week as prime minister

After seven days in charge, how is the new UK PM doing? Send your questions to our columnist Polly Toynbee about Andy Burnham and his new government, his policy announcements so far, and what he needs to be doing next. She’ll be taking your questions from 2pm (BST). Sign in or create your Guardian account to join the discussion Andy Burnham has been prime minister of the UK for a week, during which time he has announced a slew of policies as he makes his start on shaping Labour’s narrative for t

The Guardian Politics28 Jul 2026

Barclays increases bonus pool by nearly 30% as calls grow for UK bank tax

TUC leader says lender’s ‘bonanza’ quarterly profits of £3.3bn mean it ‘can easily afford to pay more tax’ Business live – latest updates Barclays has increased its banker bonus pool by nearly 30% after a rise in second-quarter profits that has fuelled calls for a tax raid on UK lenders to help fund Andy Burnham’s spending plans. Fresh corporate filings released on Tuesday showed the bank put £1.3bn towards its bonus pool for the first half of the year. That figure, which includes annual and d

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics28 Jul 2026

Andy Burnham has made a bold start – but convincing people that change is possible will take much more | Frances Ryan

The new PM’s greatest task has long weighed down the left: convincing voters there are actually better days ahead This is the danger zone. The period when one prime minister leaves office and the next takes over can inspire either dread or delight: a few days in which the country forms a gut reaction to the new government. One week on, Andy Burnham has well and truly ditched the slow fatalism that marked Keir Starmer’s early days in power, in favour of the message that help is on the way: from c

The Guardian Politics28 Jul 2026

Can Andy Burnham end rough sleeping? – podcast

In the wake of the new PM’s bold pledge, Helen Pidd heads to a village for homeless people in Greater Manchester, where the former mayor first promised to take action Andy Burnham made a surprise first announcement as prime minister: a pledge to end rough sleeping. Today in Focus host Helen Pidd heads to Greater Manchester – where Burnham was mayor for nine years – to visit one of the many homelessness projects in the area. Continue reading...

The Guardian Politics27 Jul 2026

Burnham to tell schools in England to adapt teaching to local business needs

PM wants curriculums for students aged 14 and above to be more responsive to local jobs market Andy Burnham will tell schools across England to adapt their curriculums to the needs of local businesses as part of a devolution drive aimed at tackling the jobs crisis for young people. By moving decision-making to local areas, the PM hopes the plan will make technical and vocational skills as valued as academic qualifications – and help cut the benefits bill. Continue reading...

Education
The Guardian Politics27 Jul 2026

Police make inquiries after Farage reports Polanski post for ‘inciting murder’

Green party leader shared picture of man wearing T-shirt with words ‘we’re only making plans for Nigel’ alongside a guillotine Police are “conducting inquiries” into an image shared by Green party leader Zack Polanski on Instagram after Reform UK reported it for “inciting murder”. The image showed a man wearing a black T-shirt with the words “we’re only making plans for Nigel”, alongside a photograph of a guillotine. Continue reading...

EnvironmentReformCrime
The Guardian Politics27 Jul 2026

Burnham’s Ukraine gambit is a symbolic start for PM who wants to look inward

New prime minister wants to focus at home, but his first week already suggests the world has other plans It took just seven days in office for Andy Burnham to meet his first world leader. As he welcomed Volodymyr Zelenskyy to a naval base in Portsmouth on Monday, the new prime minister told the Ukrainian president it was “no accident” he was his first international visitor since entering No 10. “It is intended to send a very clear message,” Burnham told him. “We are with Ukraine 100%, I am perso

Defence
The Guardian Politics27 Jul 2026

Will Andy Burnham charm Volodymyr Zelenskyy? – podcast

Andy Burnham’s first overseas visitor will be the Ukrainian prime minister, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a show of the UK’s ‘unwavering support’ for the country. But what else do we know about our new prime minister’s foreign policy? And, as Burnham sets out his ambitious plans for tackling the UK’s most intractable problems, including social care, what can he really do differently? Pippa Crerar and Jessica Elgot discuss what Burnham’s plan for change looks like Please keep sending your comments and

Housing
The Guardian Politics27 Jul 2026

Social care reform in England: how could we pay to fix a ‘broken system’?

Many across the political spectrum agree the system needs fixing – but there is no consensus on how to fund reform The prime minister, Andy Burnham, has said the adult social care system in England is broken and needs fixing. This is a view commonly shared by policymakers across the political spectrum, though there are sharper differences on how to pay for reform to what is widely seen as an outdated, fragile system held together by “sticking plasters and glue” and propped up by an army of unpai

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics27 Jul 2026

Andy Burnham seeks cross-party agreement on future of social care

PM promises lasting solution for England but Tories rule out backing changes funded by tax rises or borrowing Andy Burnham has pledged to work collaboratively with other parties to find a lasting solution on social care, though the Conservatives ruled out backing changes funded by tax rises or borrowing. Senior Labour and Liberal Democrat figures have privately cast doubt on Burnham’s ability to find a cross-party consensus on social care reform in England, given the terms of the Tories’ partici

Economy
The Guardian Politics27 Jul 2026

Burnham brings members of Socialist Campaign Group into government

Appointment of three ministerial aides is first time members of Labour’s most leftwing faction have held government positions Andy Burnham has appointed three new ministerial aides from Labour’s most leftwing faction, the first time members of the Socialist Campaign Group have been part of the government. The new chief whip, Anneliese Midgley, has also promised MPs that the government will beef up the role of ministerial aides – known as parliamentary private secretaries (PPSs) – who traditional

Politics