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The Guardian Politics2 Jul 2026

Andy Burnham urged to be radical on economy to help Labour win next election

Exclusive: Poll shows policies such as rent control and higher wealth taxes could fend off Reform UK in key seats Andy Burnham is being urged to adopt an “economic populist” approach to combating the cost of living crisis if he becomes prime minister, as a detailed opinion poll shows radical policies could help Labour to retain its majority at the next election. Senior figures advising the Makerfield MP have been circulating a seat-by-seat poll showing Labour’s majority could be demolished at th

PoliticsEconomyReformHousing
The Guardian Politics1 Jul 2026

US-UK drug deal could result in 229,000 excess deaths in England, analysis suggests

Analysis reveals extent of impact on NHS of placating Donald Trump over price of British medicine exports The NHS will have to divert £45bn from essential services to pay for new medicines under the terms of the UK-US trade deal agreed last December, leading to more than 200,000 avoidable deaths of patients, analysis has found. Ministers have defended the deal as a way of helping British drug exports to the US avoid tariffs, and giving patients in England access to potentially life-extending dru

Healthcare
The Guardian Politics1 Jul 2026

The Guardian view on yet another immigration bill: law as performance is a failing model | Editorial

Legislation drafted around an agenda of proving ‘toughness’ is a method that was tested to destruction by the Tories An act of parliament changing the UK’s immigration and asylum system has been passed every year since 2022. This activity has not increased public confidence that the nation’s borders are well managed, nor has it stopped the rise of radical rightwing parties running anti-immigrant campaigns. There is no reason to expect yet another law to buck that trend, but the Home Office is gi

PoliticsImmigrationDefence
The Guardian Politics1 Jul 2026

Ben Jennings on Keir Starmer’s defence investment plan – cartoon

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Defence
The Guardian Politics1 Jul 2026

There is no immediate military threat to Britain. We should spend less on defence | Simon Jenkins

Parliament, media and thinktanks are united in their view that more military spending is still not enough. But sacrificing domestic projects to pay for it is indefensible Britain should spend less on defence. It is a waste of money and should be reduced so more could be spent on supporting employment, welfare and growth. Why is there no such debate? Why should “defence” be awarded an almost religious invulnerability? At present, parliament, broadcasters, print and social media, thinktanks and pu

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics1 Jul 2026

Starmer gives Burnham a £4.7bn hole in defence spending as a goodwill token | John Crace

The PM bats away criticism from Kemi Badenoch over military funding but leaves behind a headache for his likely successor The search for the perfect present to welcome Andy Burnham to No 10 has been a worry for Keir Starmer. What do you give the man who seems to have everything? The support of his own MPs. The belief that Nigel Farage is beatable. The sense of being at ease with himself. Comfortable with who he is. The charisma. The ability to hold a room. Everything Keir would have wanted. He n

PoliticsDefenceReform
The Guardian Politics1 Jul 2026

Andy Burnham says ‘nothing off table’ in case of Rochdale grooming gang leader

Labour leader-in-waiting wants to close loophole preventing deportation of sex offender Andy Burnham will explore “all possible options”, if he becomes prime minister, to close a legal loophole that prevented the deportation of a “vile” Rochdale grooming gang leader. In his first significant intervention as Labour leader-in-waiting, Burnham said nothing would be “off the table” in the case of Shabir Ahmed, 73, who is expected to be released from prison on Thursday. Continue reading...

ImmigrationCrimeRemigration
The Guardian Politics1 Jul 2026

UK national lottery review to give public more say in how funds are spent

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy launches consultation on first changes to system in more than two decades The government is to review the future of the national lottery for the first time in more than 20 years as the culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, promised to give the public a greater say in how billions of pounds raised by ticket sales is spent. “The national lottery is played by millions of people every single week. It is not just public money, it is literally the public’s money and they must be

The Guardian Politics1 Jul 2026

Keir Starmer forced on back foot at PMQs over ‘weak’ defence plan

Prime minister says he will take no lectures from Tories after Kemi Badenoch says investment plan is insufficient UK politics live – latest updates Keir Starmer was forced on the defensive in the Commons over his long-delayed defence investment plan announced this week, which critics argue leaves his successor as prime minister, expected to be Andy Burnham, with an extra £4.7bn to find in his first budget. Starmer defended his £298bn defence investment plan (Dip) at prime minister’s questions

PoliticsEconomyDefence
The Guardian Politics1 Jul 2026

Andy Burnham is about to have a crash course in hardcore geopolitics | Rafael Behr

The likely next prime minister would rather be in Warrington than Washington, but foreign policy will dominate his agenda more than he thinks If Andy Burnham is lucky, he will get some time to adjust to the pace of life as prime minister before dealing with his first international crisis. It won’t be long. Donald Trump is an engine of constant turmoil. Aftershocks from his recent military adventure in the Middle East will be felt for years. None of the declared war aims were achieved. The Irania

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics1 Jul 2026

Starmer to take PMQs as he faces backlash over ‘poisoned chalice’ defence investment plan – UK politics live

Concerns that plan is not properly funded and will take cash from much-needed road projects Good morning. Yesterday Keir Starmer published the defence investment plan (Dip), which was probably the last substantial announcement of his premiership. Today he is facing what will probably be his second last PMQs (he is expected to be at the Nato summit next Wednesday, and he’ll have his swansong on 15 July), and the session is likely to be dominated by complaints about the Dip. Broadly, there are thr

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics1 Jul 2026

Ministers ‘furious’ over cuts to road projects to fund defence plan

Robert Jenrick and MP for Lincoln among those whose constituencies could be hit by cuts to road infrastructure plans The MP for Lincoln and the Middle East minister, Hamish Falconer, and the Reform MP Robert Jenrick have voiced anger at the cancellation or delay of key transport infrastructure projects to fund the defence investment plan. Falconer and Jenrick were among MPs who have had cuts to road improvements in their constituencies, with savings contributing towards the increase in defence s

PoliticsDefence