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The Guardian Politics16 Jul 2026

Burnham must avoid ‘summer of speculation’ on tax, warns CBI chief

Rain Newton-Smith calls for a new generation of public-private partnerships to fund major projects Andy Burnham must avoid another “summer of speculation” on tax and spend that would spook British business, the chief executive of the CBI has warned. As Burnham prepares to take up the Labour leadership on Friday, with a new cabinet to be announced on Monday, Rain Newton-Smith urged him to tread carefully. Continue reading...

PoliticsEconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics16 Jul 2026

Defence is the one public budget we dare not question – will Andy Burnham break this cycle? | Andy Beckett

Any boost for the military will be paid for by cuts elsewhere. Britain’s new PM should be careful he is not being sold a pup For many British voters, politicians and journalists, public spending has had a bad name since the late 1970s, when Margaret Thatcher’s government began its long campaign to tame the supposedly bloated state. From this perspective, the public sector wastes money, commissions unnecessary or out-of-date projects and generates endless jargon and reasons for its own existence,

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics16 Jul 2026

The Andy Burnham I know – podcast

Today in Focus hears from friends, colleagues and mentors of Andy Burnham to find out more about the man soon to be prime minister On Monday, Andy Burnham will become the UK prime minister. The former Greater Manchester mayor has faced neither a general election nor a Labour leadership contest to get there, leaving many to wonder: who is he and what does he stand for? Continue reading...

Politics
The Guardian Politics15 Jul 2026

Shabana Mahmood expected to be named Andy Burnham’s chancellor

The home secretary is the frontrunner for the role ahead of ‘risky’ Ed Miliband, according to senior Labour figures Shabana Mahmood has emerged as the frontrunner to become Andy Burnham’s chancellor after a fierce briefing war over the prospect of Ed Miliband being appointed to the powerful role. Senior Labour figures with knowledge of Burnham’s thinking told the Guardian they expected the home secretary to be moved to the Treasury amid concerns that Miliband would become a target for criticism

EconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics15 Jul 2026

Andy Burnham signals a wealth tax is off the agenda for now

Incoming prime minister says he doesn’t want to ‘create new divisions’ as Mahmood is tipped to be chancellor Andy Burnham has signalled that he will not increase wealth taxes immediately after becoming prime minister, easing concerns among the business community but limiting his economic room for manoeuvre. He said on Wednesday he did not want to “create new divisions” with his tax policy, in comments that allies said were a sign that he did not intend to raise money by taxing wealth. Continue

Economy
The Guardian Politics15 Jul 2026

The Guardian view on Keir Starmer’s farewell: a dignified departure and a necessary one | Editorial

The outgoing prime minister was on good form during his sometimes emotional last PMQs. But Labour MPs were right that change was needed Mercifully for a prime minister whose defenestration was swift and brutal after Labour’s catastrophic local election results in May, Sir Keir Starmer’s valedictory week has offered several opportunities to point to what he got right. Sir Keir’s steadfast record in corralling international support for Ukraine – and ensuring Britain stayed out of Donald Trump’s il

Politics
The Guardian Politics15 Jul 2026

The Guardian view on obesity: put public health before food industry pressure | Editorial

Obesity reflects prices, advertising and access, not simply weak willpower. Ministers must now act Britain has spent the last three decades asking individuals to make healthier choices inside a market that makes those choices more expensive and less visible. It is no surprise then that the proportion of adults in England living with obesity nearly doubled in that time, to 30%. MPs on the health select committee have decided enough is enough. Preventing obesity in future generations, they say, mu

Politics
The Guardian Politics15 Jul 2026

At his final PMQs, Starmer soaked up the love from all sides – and even some tenderness from Kemi

It wasn’t his performances on Wednesday lunchtimes that did for the ultimate mid-table PM – it was all the other stuff Who would have thought it? Most of us would have put money on Kemi Badenoch failing to read the room for Keir Starmer’s last ever prime minister’s questions. Not a bit. From her opening tribute to Ann Widdecombe to her final gags, Kemi was the model of warmth, generosity and tenderness. Pitch perfect. Not a word out of place. So much so that you couldn’t help wondering if the re

Defence
The Guardian Politics15 Jul 2026

Andy Burnham’s path to No 10: inside the 17 July Guardian Weekly

The challenges facing Britain’s next PM. Plus: Fury amid the rubble in Venezuela Andy Burnham is to become Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade, having secured the Labour leadership with the landslide support of his party’s MPs. The former Manchester mayor is now set to replace Starmer as Labour leader on Friday before walking through the doors of No 10 and becoming prime minister next Monday. Continue reading...

Politics
The Guardian Politics15 Jul 2026

In Wales, I've seen what happens when devolution isn't done right. Here's what Andy Burnham must know | Will Hayward

In my country, devolution has been the equivalent of giving someone a new electric car without the capacity to charge it. That can’t be the model for the whole UK As a journalist, I have specialised in Wales, Welsh politics and devolution for the past 10 years. Devolution, in particular, could be considered a bit niche as subjects go. But suddenly, everyone wants to talk about it because Andy Burnham is making it front and centre of his offer as prime minister. MPs have been falling over themsel

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics15 Jul 2026

‘What’s the point?’ Teenagers give their verdict on Britain’s social media curfew

All the young people the Guardian spoke to disagreed with aspects of the government’s proposed block Sixteen- and 17-year-olds in Britain are to be encouraged to observe a midnight to 6am social media curfew but will be able to opt out by changing their account settings. From next spring, they will be urged to refrain from using certain apps, with the block being switched on by default. But the curfew will not be mandatory and can be overridden. Continue reading...