Analysis: Andy Burnham’s route back to Commons has become clearer, but can he win Makerfield? Just nowHenry Zeffiman, Chief political correspondentIain WatsonPolitical correspondentHarry FarleyPolitical correspondentandJoe PikePolitical investigations correspondentGetty ImagesTwo major hurdles to Andy Burnham’s return to parliament have been cleared. It was unlikely that Sir Keir could have repeated the move after a week when nearly a third, including the Health Secretary and four ministers called for the resignation of the prime minister. Reform UK was second to Labour in the last general election with just under a third. At a glance: Starmer fights for his position as prime ministerFour important excerpts from Streeting’s resignation letterHow would the Labour leadership contest work.Josh Simons is the Labour MP in Makerfield who will step down to make room for Burnham. He is not the same wing as him. He is a close friend of Shabana Mahmood who’s immigration reforms are controversial among the Labour left. Burnham’s supporters have branded him a unity candidate. They hope that this will increase pressure on Sir Keir, to set a deadline for his departure from Downing Street. But others in the Labour wings and factions privately said they would support Burnham as leader if he wins the by-election. This includes those who previously backed other leadership rivals. One minister said: “I believe Josh [Simons] just gave the Labour Party an opportunity to win back the trust of British people.” “When asked if they supported Burnham becoming leader, a minister replied that “If he [wins] the by-election] then we are all supporters.” “Another Minister, who supported Sir Keir’s continuation as recently as last Wednesday, said that “it’s Burnham, if he is able to beat Reform.” “Another member of parliament, from the right, said Simons’s decision was “politically courageous” and “allows to settle the issue of whether Andy Burnham is right for prime minister for good and for ever.” Lucy Powell, Labour Deputy Leader and a close friend to Burnham, expressed her support on Friday. She said that she “fully supported” him as the Labour candidate for the Makerfield by election, adding that she had “good authority” to say there would be no attempt to prevent him from running. “Andy Burnham is a key member of that team in my opinion. “ReutersIt’s not a consensus. Luke Akehurst, a prominent figure on the right of Labour Party, said that: “This level internal game-playing risks driving us to a General Election in months, and causing months of profound political instability with real world consequences for economy and national safety. To put it mildly, I am not impressed. “Another said, “It’s disgraceful behavior by both [Simons] and Burnham.” We are the Labour Party. We are not about a single person or ego. “The short-term result is likely to paralyze the government. The focus will soon turn to the Makerfield by-election. It will likely be a strange race. Burnham’s long-held ambitions will be over if he fails to win. Burnham’s long-held ambitions will be over if he fails to win.

UK borrowing costs increase and the pound falls in the ongoing leadership drama50 minutes agoRachel ClunBusiness ReporterEPAMarket concerns about a Burnham led government increasing borrowing fueled the rise of the 10-year bond yield, which is the interest rate charged by the UK government on a 10-year loan. It rose to 5.11% from 4.99% when trading began. The pound fell 0.3% against the dollar to $1.3371, having fallen sharply late on Thursday after Burnham’s announcement.Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB, said the falls meant the pound was 1.5% lower this week. The yield on 30-year gilts rose to 5.779%. Borrowing costs for all governments rose on Friday as concerns persist over how the Iran War could push up inflation because of the surge in energy prices. Burnham’s New Statesman comment, Russ Mould, said that while there is no guarantee he will win a seat in Parliament or run for the leadership, it has “helped to push UK borrowing rates higher and seen the pound crash”. Burnham’s involvement in the process would also be longer and more noisy, which would prolong and increase the uncertainty surrounding the political situation in Britain, said Russ Mould. “Overall, UK Politics is a mess. There are already signs that the gilt market is being abandoned by foreign buyers.” She said that if there is a major rout of the pound or gilts in the next few days, potential candidates may have to consider whether it was a good time to take on the PM. “UK stocks fell on Friday with the FTSE 100 index falling 0.6%.Burnham confirmed he will run for a seat as mayor of Greater Manchester after MP Josh Simons announced he would step down to make room for the leadership candidate. Burnham’s bid for the top job is not a done deal. He would have to be selected by the local party as a candidate in the constituency Makerfield and then win the by-election, which could be a close race with Reform UK.

Angela Rayner settles tax bill with HMRC1 hour agoAdam GoldsmithandBecky Morton,political reporterReutersFormer Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has resolved her tax affairs with HMRC following an investigation, settling PS40,000 in unpaid stamp duty.The MP for Ashton-under-Lyne said she had been “exonerated” of the accusation she had “deliberately sought to avoid tax” in a statement on Thursday.Rayner stood down as deputy prime minister and housing secretary in September 2025 after admitting she underpaid stamp duty on her PS800,000 flat in Hove.Rayner is seen as a potential challenger to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, as he battles to save his premiership following a disastrous set of election results for the Labour Party last week.However, the outstanding HMRC investigation was seen as an obstacle to her standing.In an interview with the Guardian, the prime minister’s former deputy did not rule out running in any Labour leadership race but said she would not “trigger” a contest.She said: “I’ll play my part in doing everything we possibly can to deliver the change, because it’s not a personal ambition, I know the difference it makes. Rayner, when asked if the prime minister should Rayner told the Guardian that voters were left with the impression In an interview with ITV News journalist Paul Brand she said The email from HMRC to Rayner’s lawyers confirm HMRC has acknowledged that I acted with good faith and “She continued: “I paid every penny I owed I am relieved my family can move on and that I I am relieved that my family can now move on “Angela RaynerLabour Party

Potential leadership challengers jockey for positions as PM’s allies warn about ‘chaos.’8 minutes agoChris M. MasonPolitical EditorPA MediaWhat we’re witnessing today is the jostling at the expected start of a She says she has resolved the tax matter that cost her her position in government, and is now ready to play her part in the anticipated debates on the Labour leadership. His spokesman says that “he must prioritise discussions” arising from the local elections last week. This is a way to describe where the Labour Party is at the moment. Carns, a little-known man, has been rumoured to have leadership ambitions for years. His essay, a diagnosis on the problems of his party, argues that “working-class voters” have not left Labour. Many people feel that Labour has stopped understanding their lives, and have therefore looked elsewhere. “Meanwhile the prime minister and allies continue to scrap.” “At least at this point, they give no evidence whatsoever of planning to quit. Sir Keir and his supporters are arguing that an election would be irresponsible. It would paralyse government for months.

The key measures in the King’s Speech8 minutes agoPaul SeddonPolitical reporterReutersKing Charles has outlined the government’s law-making plans for the coming year in a speech to the House of Lords.The speech gave an outline of 37 bills minsters want to pass in the next parliamentary session, including eight previously introduced to Parliament.But the event was overshadowed by the continued leadership speculation that continues to surround Sir Keir Starmer.Here is a summary of the main points.Economy and businessThe Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill will give ministers new powers to fully nationalise British Steel, subject to a public interest testA European Partnership Bill contains controversial new powers to fast-track legislation to deliver a series of new agreements planned with the EUA Regulating for Growth Bill will allow for pilot schemes to boost innovation in areas like defence technology and AI-controlled shipsA Competition Reform Bill will aim to speed up reviews by the competition regulator, and the Enhancing Financial Services Bill will aim to reduce compliance burdens on the financial services sector A Small Business Protections (Late Payments) Bill will increase penalty interest for companies that fail to pay suppliers on timeStarmer prepares for King’s Speech as he faces leadership crisisWhat is the King’s Speech and what happens during the State Opening of Parliament?HousingPA MediaA Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill will ban the use of leasehold for new flats England and Wales, and cap ground rents at PS250 per yearA Social Housing Renewal Bill would exempt newly built social homes in England from Right to Buy for 35 years, and introduce new protections for social tenants who are victims of domestic abuse to stay in their propertyPowers to make construction product manufacturers pay towards removing unsafe building cladding are promised in a new Remediation BillTransportA Railways and Passenger Benefits Bill will create a new watchdog to enforce passenger rights and consolidate the 14 existing operator websitesA draft Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Bill will introduce a national database of all licensed taxis and hire vehicles, in a bid to improve passenger safetyThe financing model used to fund nuclear projects will be extended to new road projects in England through the Highways (Financing) BillThe Northern Powerhouse Rail Bill, a renamed version of an old HS2 bill, will detail a new proposed rail route from Manchester to Millington, via Manchester AirportA Civil Aviation Bill will create new powers over take-off and landing slots at airports, in a bid to support airport expansionCrime and policingGetty ImagesA wide-ranging Police Reform Bill will deliver plans to create new, larger forces in England and Wales, and create a new national force to investigate the “most serious crime”Controversial plans to scale back the use of jury trials in England and Wales are contained in a Courts Modernisation BillImmigrationThe Immigration and Asylum Bill will make it easier to revoke refugee status and restrict taxpayer support to asylum seekersHealthAn NHS Modernisation Bill will abolish the arm’s length body that runs NHS England, pave the way for patient records to be viewed on the NHS App, and require “mayoral nominees” to sit on local health boardsA draft Conversion Practices Bill, announced in Labour’s first King’s speech, would deliver a promised ban on measures intending to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identityEnergy and the environmentPA MediaAn Energy Independence Bill will introduce new energy efficiency requirements for rented homes, and give ministers new powers to target energy bill support at “low-income and vulnerable households”The tax charged on the “excess profits” made by electricity generation companies will be increased under a Electricity Generator Levy BillMinisters say the process for approving new nuclear energy projects will be streamlined in a Nuclear Regulation BillThe Clean Water Bill will merge the functions of several existing regulators, including Ofwat, in a bid to end the “fragmented oversight” over the privatised water sectorSecurityA Tackling State Threats Bill contains new powers to ban state-linked groups such as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)The Armed Forces Bill, introduced earlier this year, contains new powers making it easier to mobilise former armed forces personnel to prepare for warIn the wake of the 2024 Southport attack, a new National Security Bill will criminalise sharing material that “glorifies, trivialises, or normalises” serious violenceThe government’s much-amended Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, to create a new commission to investigate Troubles-related killings, also featuredDigital and technologyPowers to deliver a new voluntary digital ID scheme to access public services are contained in a Digital Access to Services BillA Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will bring data centres into scope of the UK’s cyber security reporting regimeGovernancePlans to restrict foreign political donations and lower the voting age to 16 are contained in a Representation of the People Bill announced earlier this yearThe Public Office (Accountability) Bill, known as the Hillsborough Law, is an existing bill to create a new duty of candour for public officialsNew powers to removing peerages from members of the House of Lords are contained in a new Removal of Peerages BillA Sovereign Grant Bill will enable government funding for the monarch’s official duties to be reduced after a renovation of Buckingham Palace ends next yearOther measuresEPA/ShutterstockPlans to overhaul the provision of special needs provision in England’s schools are contained in a new Education for All BillA draft Ticket Tout Ban Bill will cap service fees charged by resale platforms and make it illegal to resell tickets for live events at more than face valueThe Sporting Events Bill contains a raft of powers to support the delivery of the Euro 2028 men’s football tournamentAn Overnight Visitor Levy Bill will give local mayors in England powers to levy “tourist taxes” on overnight stays, bringing them into line with local leaders in Wales and Scotland What was not in the speech?Legislation to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has been shelved after opposition from US President Donald TrumpA bill to reform welfare did not feature, although the King said ministers would “respond” to a review of the system led by Social Security Minister Stephen Timms due in the autumnA private member’s bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales ran out of time in the previous session amid opposition in the Lords – the government has not given time for a new bill, although supporters may hope to bring one back.Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.Keir StarmerUK ParliamentLabour Party