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The Guardian Politics19 Jun 2026

‘Astonishing’ win for Andy Burnham puts pressure on Starmer to step aside

Size of victory in Makerfield byelection has many allies hoping former Manchester mayor will be installed in No 10 within days UK politics – live updates How quickly could Burnham become PM? Speaking hours before polls closed in Makerfield, a Downing Street source acknowledged a rare moment of doubt about the prime minister’s future. “Keir will fight on,” the source said, repeating the message to which Keir Starmer has stuck for several weeks. “Although, that might depend on the size of the m

Politics
The Guardian Politics19 Jun 2026

UK borrows more than expected as impact of Iran war takes toll

May figure of £23.3bn underlines challenge facing Andy Burnham if he ends up as Labour leader Business live – latest updates UK politics – live updates The UK borrowed a higher-than-expected £23.3bn in May amid the economic fallout of the Iran war, underlining the fiscal pressures facing Andy Burnham if he takes over as the Labour leader. In figures released shortly after Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield byelection, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said public sector net borrowing

PoliticsEconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics19 Jun 2026

MPs urge Fujitsu to make ‘immediate’ payment to Post Office Horizon victims

Liam Byrne, who chairs Commons business committee, says too many operators are still waiting for redress The Japanese tech company at the centre of the Post Office IT scandal is facing calls from a parliamentary committee to make an “immediate” payment towards the compensation bill for victims. Fujitsu supplied the faulty Horizon software to the UK Post Office, which led to branch operators being wrongly prosecuted over discrepancies in their business accounts. Continue reading...

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics19 Jun 2026

‘There will be no second chance’: Burnham’s Makerfield victory speech sets stage for a Starmer drama

There were no wild celebrations or champagne corks popping after the byelection because the result felt like the start of a whole new campaign UK politics – live updates Andy Burnham wins huge majority in Makerfield byelection, paving way for Starmer leadership challenge While an election count normally feels like an ending, the culmination of long campaign, in Makerfield the declaration of Andy Burnham as the constituency’s new MP felt like just the beginning. In the days and weeks leading u

Politics
The Guardian Politics19 Jun 2026

Andy Burnham wins Makerfield byelection, paving way for Starmer leadership challenge

Greater Manchester mayor beats Reform UK and hardline Restore Britain to return to Westminster after nine years UK politics – live updates Andy Burnham has won the crucial Makerfield byelection by a huge majority, paving the way for a challenge to Keir Starmer’s premiership. The Greater Manchester mayor beat the Reform UK candidate, Robert Kenyon, and the new hardline Restore Britain party. Continue reading...

PoliticsReformRestoreRupert Lowe
The Guardian Politics19 Jun 2026

SNP concedes Aberdeen South with Scottish Conservatives set to win

Byelection loss suggests voters rebelled against SNP over Peter Murrell’s theft of £400,000 in party funds UK politics – live updates The Scottish National party (SNP) has conceded defeat in the formerly safe seat of Aberdeen South in a shock loss to the Scottish Conservatives. A senior source at the SNP told PA it was the “Tories’ night”, but pledged to “win it back in 2029”. Continue reading...

PoliticsCrime
The Guardian Politics18 Jun 2026

Polls close in historic Makerfield byelection that could see Andy Burnham elected and pave way for end of Starmer – UK politics live

Labour’s Greater Manchester mayor hopes a win over Reform UK will help force the prime minister to step aside Three economic heavyweights have been brought in to advise Andy Burnham as he attempts to reassure the markets before his possible return to parliament on Friday and challenge to Keir Starmer, Rowena Mason reports. Burnham is understood to be getting advice from Andy Haldane, a former Bank of England chief economist, as well as Richard Hughes, a former chair of the Office for Budget Resp

PoliticsEconomyReform
The Guardian Politics18 Jun 2026

Polls close in Makerfield byelection as Andy Burnham eyes No 10

Labour’s Greater Manchester mayor predicted to beat Reform but Keir Starmer is unlikely to easily step aside Makerfield byelection – latest updates Polls have closed in Makerfield, Aberdeen South, and Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, with the result in the north-west of England constituency byelection poised to decide the future of UK politics. The population of Makerfield, a constituency sitting just outside Wigan, has found itself at the centre of the British political world in recent weeks afte

Politics
The Guardian Politics18 Jun 2026

Burnham brings in top economists before possible leadership run

Labour mayor giving advisory roles to ex-Bank of England economist and others seen as attempt to reassure markets Three economic heavyweights have been brought in to advise Andy Burnham as he attempts to reassure the markets before his possible return to parliament on Friday and challenge to Keir Starmer. Burnham is understood to be getting advice from Andy Haldane, a former Bank of England chief economist, as well as Richard Hughes, a former chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility and Jim

PoliticsEconomy
The Guardian Politics18 Jun 2026

The Guardian view on OnlyFans: revelations of abusive middlemen merit MPs’ attention | Editorial

Reports of agents taking 50% of women’s earnings undermine the company’s rhetoric of empowerment Since its launch a decade ago, and throughout its journey to becoming one of the UK’s most successful internet startups, OnlyFans – which was valued at more than £3bn in April – has presented itself as a vehicle for content creators’ empowerment. Revelations of the role played by middlemen in transactions on the website, which is dominated by pornographic content, undermine such claims and require a

Politics
The Guardian Politics18 Jun 2026

UK could keep special pre-Brexit terms if it rejoined EU, Michel Barnier says

Exclusive: Former chief Brexit negotiator says staying out of euro and Schengen area would be ‘perfectly possible’ Michel Barnier has said Britain could regain its special terms if it rejoined the EU and claimed it was becoming clearer every day to the British people that they would be stronger in Europe. In an interview before the 10th anniversary of the Brexit referendum next week, the EU’s former chief Brexit negotiator said he could not see any obstacle to the UK keeping the pound and remai

Politics
The Guardian Politics18 Jun 2026

Young men in UK are not more rightwing than older groups, study says

Exclusive: Analysis shows men aged 18 to 25 are less progressive than women their age, but less likely to vote for rightwing parties than other age groups of men Young men are not turning to rightwing politics more than any other demographic, according to a study of election data, which undermines claims that this group has been a key driver of the recent success of parties such as Reform UK. The analysis of data from the British Election Study, which polls about 30,000 people every year, showed

PoliticsReform