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The Guardian Politics22 Jul 2026

Here’s how Andy Burnham really could end homelessness | Daniel Lavelle

Utilising empty homes, capping rents and fixing the benefits system would all help, but they’d require a serious fight In January 2017, the then mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, promised to end rough sleeping in the region by 2020 – a bold, frankly absurd promise that inevitably didn’t materialise. Nearly a decade later, shortly after becoming prime minister, Burnham promised to end rough sleeping again, only this time for the whole of England. So why should we believe him this time ar

Housing
The Guardian Politics22 Jul 2026

Transport secretary ‘100% sure’ new cap on bus fares in England is fully funded – UK politics live

Earlier this week, Burnham’s new government faced questions about how the removal of VAT on electricity bills would be funded Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics. Andy Burnham’s new government is facing fresh questions on how it will fund its new policies aimed at easing the cost of living, after the prime minister announced a £2 cap on single bus fares this morning. Continue reading...

PoliticsEconomy
The Guardian Politics22 Jul 2026

Burnham announces bus fares across England to be capped at £2

Measure backed by £454m of funding, with £400m coming from switching investment in international climate finance to loans Single bus fares across England will be capped at £2 from January, the prime minister, Andy Burnham, has announced. The nationwide cap is currently set at £3 until the end of March 2027 although some areas – including London and Greater Manchester, where Burnham set a £2 limit as mayor – have lower top rates for single tickets. Continue reading...

EnvironmentHousing
The Guardian Politics22 Jul 2026

UK inflation falls to 2.6% in lift for Burnham’s cost of living plans

Annual June figure comes after new PM pledges to reduce pressure on households and improve economy UK inflation dropped by more than expected in June to 2.6%, in a boost for Andy Burnham’s plans to reduce the cost of living. The new prime minister has pledged to bring down the cost of living to give households more disposable income and improve the outlook for the economy. Continue reading...

Economy
The Guardian Politics22 Jul 2026

How could Britain look under proportional representation? See the results for your area

These visualisations from exclusive polling modelling show how the UK parliament could change under different voting systems New analysis produced exclusively for the Guardian reveals how different voting systems would return wildly different seat totals in the UK parliament based on current polling. While the current first past the post (FPTP) system could leave Reform UK just 30 seats short of a majority based on recent polls, the modelling shows how proportional systems would be likely to giv

PoliticsReformHousing
The Guardian Politics22 Jul 2026

Andy Burnham is playing the long game in an age of short attention spans | Rafael Behr

It is hard to make the case for a 10-year plan in our political culture of constant campaigning frenzy – but the new PM will try It all sounded feasible but improbable. A few days after Labour’s disastrous performance in local and devolved elections in May, one of Andy Burnham’s allies confidently forecast for me the sequence of events that would convey the then mayor of Greater Manchester to No 10. A friendly MP would surrender a parliamentary seat. Keir Starmer would be persuaded to resign. O

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics21 Jul 2026

From defence uplift to national care service, Andy Burnham faces question of funding

As new prime minister briefs cabinet on ‘cost of living government’, critics ask where money will come from UK politics live – latest updates Andy Burnham is under mounting pressure to explain how he will pay for his policy pledges as he implored his new cabinet to examine “all possible ways” to tackle the cost of living crisis. On his first full day in power, the prime minister faced questions about how he would fund the removal of VAT from electricity bills and also an expected uplift in def

PoliticsEconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics21 Jul 2026

The Guardian view on social care reform: Andy Burnham is right – this issue must be gripped | Editorial

Ending the pattern of broken pledges and ditched proposals could help to rebuild trust in politics Andy Burnham chose not to make social care the centrepiece of his first speech as prime minister. Instead, rough sleeping was named as his top priority upon entering 10 Downing Street. Given that earlier attempts at overhauling social care have flopped, he was wise not to over-promise on day one. Louise Casey, who is leading the independent commission on the issue, says that “an honest conversatio

Politics
The Guardian Politics21 Jul 2026

Fiscal hawk or big spender – what kind of chancellor will John Healey be?

The diligent, popular, unexpected pick for the Treasury has been given a straitjacket – and the job of funding the PM’s policy promises UK politics live – latest updates On the frequent occasions that John Healey would travel abroad as defence secretary, he was so determined to keep working he would get the crew to tether a desk to the inside of his military aircraft so he could read his papers. His diligence is one reason why Andy Burnham, the new prime minister, made Healey his unexpected pi

PoliticsEconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics21 Jul 2026

Starmer allies see ‘hint of retribution’ in Burnham reshuffle

Former PM’s supporters question pledge to end factional infighting after more than half his cabinet removed or demoted Keir Starmer’s allies have questioned Andy Burnham’s pledge to end factional infighting after he removed or demoted more than half of the outgoing prime minister’s cabinet in his first reshuffle. “This was a deeply factional cabinet reshuffle,” one said. “The idea it was anything else is ridiculous.” Continue reading...

Politics
The Guardian Politics21 Jul 2026

Where will Andy Burnham find the money to fund his spending pledges?

The new PM is already under pressure to explain how he will pay for his ambitious plans to remake Britain Andy Burnham has made lowering the cost of living his first major policy announcement in government, with an immediate tax cut to remove VAT on energy bills. As he begins to flesh out his agenda for government, the prime minister said the measure would provide “breathing space” for households. But Burnham is under close scrutiny over how his plans will be funded. Continue reading...

Economy
The Guardian Politics21 Jul 2026

Burnham has forced greater clarity at Thames Water. Now he must choose

Bondholders are suddenly showing flexibility after 18 wasted months at ailing utility company Thames Water investors offer ‘golden share’ in bid to head off nationalisation What a difference a credible political threat of special administration at Thames Water can make. Suddenly, the bondholders are volunteering all manner of new ideas in their attempt to take over the ailing utility. Would you like the state to have a “golden share”, Mr Burnham? Here is a menu of “supervisory structures” that

Politics