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The Guardian Politics21 Jul 2026

Why has Labour briefed against Ed Miliband – is it his success and popularity?

Tories, Reform, fossil fuel industry and some in his party lined up against net zero agenda as energy secretary “Whenever the Labour party feels a bit sad,” according to one close observer of the current government, speaking some months ago, “they wheel out Ed Miliband to talk about rooftop solar.” It might not have been literally true, but it often felt during Keir Starmer’s premiership as if energy secretary Miliband brought the sun. Unfailingly upbeat, with a simple message that was understan

EnvironmentHousing
The Guardian Politics21 Jul 2026

UK borrows less than expected in June in boost for Burnham

Figure of £16bn from ONS comes after new prime minister revealed plans to cut VAT on electricity bills Business live – latest updates The UK government borrowed less than expected in June, in a boost for Andy Burnham as he set out plans to cut VAT on household electricity bills and promised a new direction for the British economy. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said public sector net borrowing – the difference between government spending and income – was £16bn last month, £7.9bn less

Economy
The Guardian Politics21 Jul 2026

UK military ‘eyes innovative electric flying taxi’ as 2029 launch planned

Vertical Aerospace says government has given £10m backing, taking its total investment in the project to £48m British flying taxi startup Vertical Aerospace has said the UK government has expressed interest in buying a military variant of its aircraft as it races to gain approval for flights with paying passengers. Vertical also welcomed another £10m grant from the government, taking its total UK state funding to £48m. Continue reading...

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics21 Jul 2026

Burnham announces plans to cut VAT on electricity bills as first cost-of-living move

The newly appointed chancellor John Healey said the cut would be funded this year from cancelling the Digital ID programme Andy Burnham has announced a fresh tax cut to remove VAT from domestic electricity bills from 1 October, a move that will funded from cancelling the Digital ID programme. The prime minister said in a statement: “Westminster has not been working for people for too long, with families struggling with the cost of living. That needs to change. I said I wanted to give people brea

PoliticsEconomy
The Guardian Politics21 Jul 2026

Burnham begins: what awaits the new British PM? - podcast

Senior political correspondent Peter Walker and former No 10 press secretary Paul Harrison analyse Andy Burnham’s first day as PM On Monday, Andy Burnham finally realised his long-held ambition to become prime minister. But what problems can he expect to confront now he’s in No 10? Former Downing Street press secretary Paul Harrison talks through the challenges of the office, from the awkward living arrangements to the even more awkward conversations with the president of the US. And senior poli

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics21 Jul 2026

Wealth tax on UK’s super-rich could raise £10bn a year, Andy Burnham told

New prime minister urged to introduce 2% minimum charge on households with more than £100m in wealth A wealth tax on the UK’s super-rich households could raise £10bn a year, according to academics who urged Andy Burnham to include the measure in his plans to “make tax fairer” and pay for better public services. The sum could be raised through a 2% minimum charge on households with more than £100m in wealth and would affect fewer than 1,000 of the richest UK households, according to the study by

Economy
The Guardian Politics21 Jul 2026

Andy Burnham’s plans could bring the UK closer to Europe than he realises

The new PM’s priorities are domestic, but he will soon realise that closer engagement with the EU is a no-brainer What will European leaders make of Andy Burnham, the seventh UK prime minister they have had to deal with in a decade of chronic political instability in London unleashed by the fateful 2016 referendum vote to leave the European Union? The “king of the north” is largely an unknown quantity in continental Europe and has given priority to a domestic agenda of devolving powers to region

Politics
The Guardian Politics21 Jul 2026

Andy Burnham as new UK PM faces the defining test for the centre-left. Australia will be watching closely | Tim Soutphommasane

Countering the populist challenge to liberal democracy requires something of a reset The British love a coronation. That’s how the arrival of Andy Burnham into 10 Downing Street is being described in the UK. On Friday, Burnham was “crowned” as Labour leader, after being the only party MP to secure enough nominations following Keir Starmer’s resignation. He is now confirmed as Britain’s prime minister. Australians probably would call this something else: a leadership coup. For months, Burnham sta

PoliticsReform
The Guardian Politics21 Jul 2026

Burnham begins: what awaits the new PM? - podcast

Senior political correspondent Peter Walker and former No 10 press secretary Paul Harrison analyse Andy Burnham’s first day as PM On Monday, Andy Burnham finally realised his long-held ambition to become prime minister. But what problems can he expect to confront now he’s in No 10? Former Downing Street press secretary Paul Harrison talks through the challenges of the office, from the awkward living arrangements to the even more awkward conversations with the president of the US. Continue readi

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics20 Jul 2026

Can Andy Burnham’s cabinet fix Britain? – podcast

The new prime minister has promised a ‘circuit breaker’ moment for the country, as he becomes the UK’s seventh leader since 2016. But will he be able to make the changes that are desperately needed? Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look at how he will try to do things differently and who will be helping him in the cabinet Please keep sending your comments and questions to Pippa and Kiran at politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com Continue reading...

PoliticsHousing
The Guardian Politics20 Jul 2026

Andy Burnham vows to ‘bring back hope’ as he unveils his cabinet

New prime minister says government must ‘do better’ to deliver change but promises prudent approach to economy UK politics live – latest updates Andy Burnham has said his arrival in power will “bring back hope” to Britain as he launched his premiership with the surprise appointment of John Healey as chancellor and a promise to repair the damage caused to communities during the Thatcher era. The new UK prime minister acknowledged people were “fed up” with politics as he addressed the country af

PoliticsEconomy
The Guardian Politics20 Jul 2026

Briefing wars: how Labour ministers tried, and failed, to get into Burnham’s cabinet

Choice of John Healey for chancellor shocks insiders after weeks of fierce lobbying on behalf of party big hitters UK politics live – latest updates For weeks, as ministers jostled, lobbied and positioned themselves for big jobs in an Andy Burnham government, the incoming prime minister remained sphinxlike. He told an interviewer on Monday that he had a black box containing his ministerial picks and major policy announcements, adding that even as he prepared to enter Downing Street: “The black

PoliticsDefence