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BREAKING: John Healey is Andy Burnham's surprise pick as chancellor, with former defence secretary emerging as compromise candidate after Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood were both tipped for the role.

Andy Burnham's first foreign leader call since he entered office was to Donald Trump, No 10 confirms. According to @katyballs.bsky.social the G20 summit - which UK is hosting next year - will be held in Manchester. This comes after US president said Burnham was mayor of "some town".

BREAKING: Andy Burnham tells reporters he's looking at cutting energy bills and bus fares as part of cost-of-living package which could eventually include more radical plans such as freezing private sector rents.

IT'S OFFICIAL: Andy Burnham is now prime minister after being invited to form a government by the King at Buckingham Palace.

End of the Keir Starmer era: ‘My work here is done’. … and what will he do next? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

NEW: Keir Starmer gives resignation speech in Downing Street sunshine - watched by wife Vic and closest allies and aides. "My work is done. In 6.5 years, I took our party from. historic defeat in 2019, changed it so it was fit to face the country, and won a landslide election victory in 2024...

Andy Burnham: dodging scrutiny, or just a different type of communicator? By @peterwalker99.bsky.social, @lexytopping.bsky.social & me 👇 www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Andy Burnham: dodging scrutiny, or just a different type of communicator?

Avoiding traditional questions and stilted broadcast clips, PM-in-waiting has evolved his style of media management

theguardian.com

EXCL: Hollie Ridley, the general secretary of the Labour Party, has just told staff that she is standing down after this autumn’s conference. Her departure clears the way for Labour’s ruling NEC to pick a new general secretary for Andy Burnham’s time as leader and prime minister.

Keir Starmer warned his successor not to borrow more to pay for defence as he raided energy, transport and housing projects to plug a military spending deficit with an extra £15bn over the next four years - by @kiranstacey.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Starmer warns Burnham not to borrow to fund defence as he reveals £15bn plan

The prime minister unveiled his long-awaited defence investment plan on Tuesday after months of delays

theguardian.com

NEW: Andy Burnham has told the women's PLP that he wants to "change the culture" of negative briefing. Keir Starmer's No 10 operation had been accused by some Labour women MPs of being a 'boys club' (despite the many senior women working there).

Tuesday’s @theguardian.com front page: Burnham puts No 10 North at heart of bid to ‘rewire’ Britain theguardian.com/politics/2026/…

MY ANALYSIS: Andy Burnham’s vibe shift gives Labour one more chance but voters also need hope www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Burnham’s vibe shift gives Labour one more chance but voters also need hope

The prospective new prime minister will need to deliver on his ability to communicate – and get the big decisions right

theguardian.com

NEW: The new defence secretary has secured an extra £1.5bn for UK’s long-delayed defence investment plan, with the bulk of that to be spent on drones to deter Russia and Iran. By @dansabbagh.bsky.social & @kiranstacey.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

New defence secretary wins another £1.5bn to boost drone spending

Dan Jarvis persuaded Rachel Reeves to reduce £18bn funding gap that led to predecessor resigning

theguardian.com

The war for Burnham’s ear: politicians and wonks fight for influence over the PM presumptive. “He’s just one person and everybody projects their hopes on to him. It’s hard to live up to,” one of his close allies admits. By me and @rowenamason.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

The war for Burnham’s ear: politicians and wonks fight for influence over a PM

There is high emotion, a deluge of policy papers and an ‘excruciating’ jostle for jobs as Labour’s probable next leader settles back into Westminster life

theguardian.com

NEW: Shabana Mahmood seeks to shore up support on left for controversial immigration bill with plans to speed up opening of new safe & legal routes that permit thousands of refugees to come to UK. By @rowenamason.bsky.social & @syalrajeev.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Mahmood outlines safe immigration routes plan to win over Labour left

Home secretary speeds up major part of bill governing asylum and refugees as new prime minister set to take over

theguardian.com

‘Andy Burnham’s long coup: the chaotic year-long project to return him to Westminster’ A fascinating in depth read by @jessicaelgot.bsky.social & @joshhalliday.bsky.social on the return of the man from Makerfield. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Andy Burnham’s long coup: the chaotic year-long project to return him to Westminster

Story of the key figures, decisions, planning and missteps in push to line up Greater Manchester mayor for PM

theguardian.com

NEW: Downing Street confirms that Keir Starmer will *not* stand down as an MP after leaving No 10, and will serve out the remainder of his term in the Commons.

NEW: I'm told Andy Burnham has now held talks with Keir Starmer for first time since before Makerfield by-election. No 10 sources confirms PM & likely successor had hour-long "off site" meeting earlier. Burnham can now start receiving civil service briefings asap to help with transition.

🚨 Our latest podcast: Keir Starmer resigns: what now? @kiranstacey.bsky.social & I discuss: - How Starmer reached his decision to stand down - Why a coronation is more likely rather than contest - What Andy Burnham will do first And loads more... www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

Keir Starmer resigns: what now? – podcast

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss the fallout from Keir Starmer’s resignation

theguardian.com

⏰On timing of handover of power: - Labour opens nominations on July 19, allowing process (including in-person PLP hustings) to complete by July 16 - if a contest then new leader will be in place by Sept 1 - if no contest - and Burnham is unchallenged - he'd take over on July 17/18

BREAKING: Keir Starmer announces he will stand down as PM after days of intense pressure from Labour MPs, kicking off process of UK installing 7th leader in decade.

The lectern has now been brought outside No 10 for Keir Starmer to make his announcement

What we know this morning 👇 Cabinet ministers expect Keir Starmer expected to announce timetable for his departure today, clearing way for Andy Burnham to become PM w/o contest.

EXCL: Nigel Farage has been trying to block Bank of England cryptocurrency plan that could be costly for billionaire bankrolling his party. Cracking tale from @tomburgis.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Farage trying to block ‘Britcoin’ plans that could be costly for billionaire donor

Reform UK leader used private meeting at Bank of England to urge governor to drop plans for state-run cryptocurrency

theguardian.com

From me last night on Andy Burnham campaign 👇 ** They've has been forced to talk ministers out of resigning as early as this weekend to avoid Keir Starmer’s government descending into chaos. “If they’re trying to force Keir’s hand with a kamikaze approach it will ultimately be counterproductive”.

🚨 How will the under-16s social media ban work? And how will @kiranstacey.bsky.social & I tell our kids 😱 For all the latest on this - plus how Team Starmer is preparing for a potential Andy Burnham win in Makerfield, have a listen to our latest #PoliticsWeekly www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

How will the under-16s social media ban work? – podcast

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss Keir Starmer’s social media ban and how it might work

theguardian.com

🚨Is Keir Starmer in his ‘legacy’ era? In latest #PoliticsWeekly podcast @kiranstacey.bsky.social & I discuss PM’s plans for 📱social media ban for under 16s 💷billions extra for defence spending 🇪🇺 next EU reset summit And ask is this a reset - or end of an era? www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

Is Keir Starmer in his ‘legacy’ era? – podcast

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss Keir Starmer’s policy plans and whether this marks the beginning of the legacy phase of his premiership

theguardian.com

EXCL: Huge tranche of Mandelson files being published on Monday shows no record of national security mitigations before he started in Washington. Security officials were sufficiently concerned they recommended he was denied clearance - but sources say Mandelson was *not* asked to take mitigations.