BREAKING: Massive Jackdaw gas field to be approved as soon as next Monday, sources say (as per @simonjackbbc.bsky.social). Ministers still waiting for an assessment for Rosebank, but are looking for ways to spend potential revenues from it on green projects. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Jackdaw gasfield set to be approved by ministers this month, sources say

Energy secretary could recommend new North Sea drilling next week, as ministers also consider approval for Rosebank oilfield

theguardian.com

He's had the honeymoon period, now get ready for Andy Burnham's Autumn Of Pain™️. Listen to me and @peterwalker99.bsky.social discuss: 💶 Which taxes might rise? ❓ Where is Nigel Farage? 🟢 What is best policy being debated at Green conference? www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

Andy Burnham’s autumn of pain– podcast

Kiran Stacey and Peter Walker look at the unpopular choices facing Andy Burnham

theguardian.com

Switching the entire SAHP to social rent was always unrealistic given how far advanced work on this round of allocations was. And not possible without a) more money or b) accepting fewer new affordable homes overall www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Burnham backtracks on spending housing fund only on building social homes

About 40% of £10bn from Affordable Homes Programme will now go on types of housing such as sheltered and shared ownership

theguardian.com

I don’t know why you’re picking over the policies of one of the two parties most likely to form the next government, says person who probably won’t be affected by them.

Tonyakapat@tonyakapat.bsky.social · 2w ago

I don't know why people spend do much time picking over this.. it's a shit policy to appeal to the knuckle draggers and to wind everyone one else up!

This is a horrendous story

Jess McCabe@jessmccabe.bsky.social · 2w ago

“There’s an explanation, I’m not sure it’s justifiable. It’s a very long time for a resident to wait for a response… it’s an unacceptable delay actually.” www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/council...

EXC: Equalities minister warns racism and sexism have become normalised in Britain, and calls out opposition politicians for making openly racist statements. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Racism and sexism have become normalised in Britain, says equalities minister

Exclusive: Bridget Phillipson says politicians have helped fuel hatred and that police are not taking violence against women and girls seriously enough

theguardian.com

NEW: Ministers have dropped plans to loosen affordable housebuilding rules on certain sites after they triggered a major backlash from experts: www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Ministers drop plan to relax affordable housing rules after rural homes backlash

Government concedes ‘significant opposition’ requires new approach on quotas for medium-sized development sites

theguardian.com

Richard Tice, Reform’s deputy leader, on the recent heatwaves: “Climate change has always happened and always will. Maybe the smarter thing to do is to adapt to it rather than think arrogantly that you can stop it. “When it’s a bit warm let’s enjoy it.”

Absolutely incredible story by @peteapps.bsky.social and @robert-booth.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Lobbying giant filmed offering reporter payment for flattering client coverage in national press

Exclusive: Guardian investigation of CT Group uncovers practice that appears to seek hidden influence over public opinion

theguardian.com

I've rarely seen a stranger sight than John Healey working from a desk roped to the inside of a military aeroplane. That diligence in office is one reason Andy Burnham made him PM. But is he the fiscal hawk some suggest? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Fiscal hawk or big spender – what kind of chancellor will John Healey be?

Diligent, popular, unexpected pick for the Treasury has been given a straitjacket – and the job of funding PM’s policy promises

theguardian.com

🚨New podcast out tonight with me and @pippacrerar.bsky.social, covering: 📝 What Burnham told reporters in the No 10 rose garden 💷 Why Healey as chancellor might mean more borrowing - for defence at least 👨‍🍳What Starmer might do next (clue in the emoji) www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

Can Andy Burnham’s cabinet fix Britain? – podcast

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look at how the UK’s new prime minister will try to do things differently and who will be helping him in the cabinet

theguardian.com

Andy Burnham made ending rough sleeping his first pledge as PM. He made the same pledge in 2017 when running for the Greater Manchester mayoralty. So how did he do? A 🧵(apologies)

NEW: As Andy Burnham finalises his plans for govt, his plans to scrap the technology dept entirely are causing significant upset among investors, tech experts and some in Whitehall. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Andy Burnham’s plan to scrap technology department triggers backlash

MPs and industry experts say potential reorganisation will waste time at critical moment for AI and economic growth

theguardian.com

🚨 Earlier today, the FT reported speculation about the future of the science and technology dept. I’m told Burnham’s team has drawn up plans to scrap it altogether, with part going to DBT and part to DCMS. Antonia Romeo wd oversee rolling out AI in the public service.

EXC Alison Phillips, former Mirror editor, will join Burnham’s No 10 as Director of Transition. But in many other ways, the new No 10 will look a lot like the old one as the new PM looks to provide some stability. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

‘Continuity Keir’: Burnham keeping on many of Starmer’s No 10 advisers

Lack of change in key roles could mean next week’s policy announcements may lack radicalism many hoped for

theguardian.com

Miliband vs Mahmood - has Burnham finally decided? And how are we supposed to know, in a world where lots of people claim to speak for the new PM, but few do? Listen to mine and @pippacrerar.bsky.social's analysis here: www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

Mahmood v Miliband: who will Burnham choose for chancellor? – podcast

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss who the next chancellor could be and why there is so much speculation around it

theguardian.com

Best thing you’ll read today: @daniel-boffey.bsky.social charts Andy Burnham’s early life and political career. Including a wonderful anecdote about the first election he ever won, which was overshadowed by doubts about legitimacy. www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...

From Cambridge ‘imposter’ to New Labour star: Andy Burnham’s winding path to power

In the first of a two-part profile, Daniel Boffey traces the incoming PM’s early forays into politics and his rise to prominence – ultimately leading to him leaving London for Manchester

theguardian.com

What has Lindsay Hoyle told Reform MPs about their safety? Listen to me and @pippacrerar.bsky.social break it down. Plus: ✊ Keir Starmer finds his inner radical 🗳️ Does Burnham want to change the elections bill? 🇮🇷 The latest on Iran sanctions www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

Reform UK triggers row over MPs’ safety – podcast

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the row that has erupted in Westminster over MPs’ safety after the death of Ann Widdecombe

theguardian.com

EXC Big trade union urges Labour MPs not to vote for a donations cap next week. Labour whips also whipping against the move, warning it could damage union funding of the Labour Party. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

GMB warns Labour MPs that cap on political donations could endanger party funding

Exclusive: Sources say Labour whips are calling MPs urging them to heed union’s warning and not vote for cap

theguardian.com

EXC Ministers are working on plans to set legally-binding debt limits for water companies. Could be a first step towards much greater state control, as promised by Andy Burnham. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Ministers plan legally binding debt targets for England’s water companies

Exclusive: Move comes as allies of Andy Burnham work on proposals to take water companies into public control

theguardian.com

BREAKING: Burnham signals shift on Labour's Gaza stance. Very interesting story by @pippacrerar.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Andy Burnham says Labour ‘didn’t get it right’ as he apologises for its stance on Gaza

Exclusive: PM-in-waiting says party must ‘do better’ in approach to Middle East and he will put more pressure on Israel

theguardian.com

Surely they're not worried are they? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Reform activists urged to switch focus from Manchester to Farage’s Clacton contest

Exclusive: Party hoped to mount serious challenge in mayoral race but attention has been diverted to Essex

theguardian.com

As Westminster digests the news of a Farage by-election, catch up with @pippacrerar.bsky.social and me discussing the latest Reform revelations on yesterday's Politics Weekly: www.theguardian.com/politics/vid...

Who is George Cottrell, the mystery donor who has potentially landed Nigel Farage in hot water?

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has said he is the victim of an “establishment hit job”.

theguardian.com

EXC Taking money from other departments to fund the Defence Investment Plan will end up *costing* the UK 10,000 jobs, according to a new analysis of govt figures. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Infrastructure cuts to pay for defence will cost UK 10,000 jobs, analysis shows

Exclusive: Findings cast doubt on Starmer claims that reallocation of funds to MoD will boost British jobs

theguardian.com

How much sorry?

EXC: Andy Burnham was briefed on the Defence Investment Plan before it was published. But I understand he was *not* told that he would have to find an extra £4.7bn to fund it in his first budget. This has come as a surprise today.

EXC: TSSA union also throws its weight behind Ed Miliband for chancellor. Comes a day after the Unison chief Andrea Egan endorsed the energy secretary.

How about instead of having a leadership contest we elect the Chancellor instead.

Kiran Stacey@kiranstacey.bsky.social · 2mo ago

EXC: Britain's biggest trade union endorses Ed Miliband for chancellor. Others expected to follow. Sets up an inter-union battle, with GMB and Unite opposing Miliband. (Side note - have we ever had explicit union endorsements for chancellor before?) t.co/MtmtZJMFtv

Superb bit of political history from @joedromey.bsky.social - in the last 50 years, we've only once had a transfer from one Labour chancellor to another. Maybe that's why this tussle has become so intense.

Very good point here - the battle for No 11 is replacing the leadership battle that now looks unlikely.

Joe Moore@joe-moore.bsky.social · 2mo ago

In the absence of an actual leadership contest, Labour’s internal debate is fighting a proxy contest through potential Chancellors. Miliband is being defined by critics as representing, to excess, the side of Labour’s strategic divide that wants to primarily unify the left bloc.