Andy Burnham’s

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Burnham navigates diplomatic rapids in first Trump meeting, but turbulent waters lie ahead

British aides express relied, as the prime minister’s team say the meeting was at the ‘top end of their expectations’ On the flight out to New York this week, one of Andy Burnham’s senior aides warned him that meeting Donald Trump would be the political equivalent of white water rafting. While there is a well-known playbook the US president deploys when he first meets other world leaders, he remains a deeply unpredictable figure and any dealings with him can leave you crashing into the rocks. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianPippa Crerar in New York7h ago
  • neutral toward Andy Burnham · 84%

England’s mayors should face greater scrutiny as powers expand, thinktank says

IPPR North says one bad decision could derail devolution agenda as regions gain control of billions in funding England’s mayors should face much greater official scrutiny to avoid Andy Burnham’s devolution agenda being “derailed by one bad decision”, a thinktank has said. Ministers will set out plans next month to give regional leaders control over potentially billions of pounds of additional funding under a “transformational” shift of power outside Whitehall. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianJosh Halliday North of England editor14h ago

Tuesday briefing: Europe thinks Russia is preparing to test Nato’s limits

In today’s newsletter: Intelligence chiefs warn that Russia’s appetite for risk is growing, as sabotage and other covert attacks target countries supporting Ukraine Good morning. As the UN general assembly kicks off in New York later today, we anticipate a heavy focus on the ongoing conflicts in Iran, Ukraine and the Gulf – as well as the inevitable body language analysis of Andy Burnham’s first in-person meeting with Donald Trump. But another related conflict is likely to dominate informal discussions: the intensifying acts of sabotage on European states that are believed to trace back to Russia but deliberately fall below the threshold for military response – a so-called hybrid or “shadow war” with the singular purpose of disrupting support for Ukraine. Yemen | The UK has agreed to provide defensive air support to Saudi Arabia to help counter Houthi fighters and restore stability in the Middle East while driving down the cost of living at home, Andy Burnham has said, ahead of his first meeting with Donald Trump. Environment | The “jaw-dropping” El Niño currently heating up the planet has burst through the highest temperature ever recorded for the phenomenon, several months before its expected peak. Gaza | Israeli and UK military commanders could be requested to give evidence to an inquest concerning three British aid workers killed in Gaza when aid vehicles they were travelling in were hit by an airstrike. US | After President Trump’s snap decision to ban CNN from the White House, the four other networks that comprise the White House’s TV pool decided they would cease their pooled coverage of the president. Slavery | Bones of the enslaver Edward Colston are likely to remain interred in a church in Bristol if and when the currently unused building is given a new lease of life as a community resource, it has emerged. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianLibby Brooks22 Sept
  • neutral toward North Atlantic Treaty Organization · 96%

UK minister warns of impact of Trump’s Iran war on next month’s budget

Bridget Phillipson says Burnham’s past criticisms of US president not an issue as PM prepares to meet Trump at UN Next month’s budget will be made more difficult by Donald Trump’s war with Iran, one of Andy Burnham’s cabinet ministers has said, while adding she did not expect the prime minister’s previous disparaging comments about the US president to be an issue. Burnham is expected to meet Trump early next week at the UN general assembly summit in New York, the pair having previously spoken twice by phone since Burnham entered No 10. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianPeter Walker Senior political correspondent20 Sept
  • critical toward Donald Trump · 76%

Andy Burnham faces a weakened Trump – but the president remains unpredictable

PM hopes to be firmer with US leader than his predecessor without provoking diplomatic warfare, as the Iran war weighs on the UK economy No international relationship has more power to determine the success of Andy Burnham’s premiership. So you might imagine the stakes for the prime minister’s first face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump on Tuesday would be high. Yet Burnham may prove to be a lucky general. The balance of risk has shifted. Trump is unpopular at home, where inflation remains high, and is mired in an intractable conflict in Iran that has the potential to sink his midterm dreams . Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianPippa Crerar Political editor20 Sept
  • critical toward Donald Trump · 99%
  • favorable toward Andy Burnham · 74%

Scottish Labour’s new leader backs Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gasfields

Michael Marra supports development of the North Sea sites, calling for a ‘more rational’ approach to energy policy Scottish Labour’s new leader Michael Marra has backed the development of the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gasfields in the North Sea in one of his first acts after being elected, calling for a “more rational” approach to energy policy. On Saturday, the MSP for North East Scotland won a near two-thirds majority to lead the party in Holyrood, becoming Scottish Labour’s 11th leader. He replaces Anas Sarwar after his shock decision to resign in July to join Andy Burnham’s new government as a trade minister. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianPatrick Greenfield19 Sept

‘A critical moment’: concern UK is not up to speed in acting on AI risks

Andy Burnham’s focus on immediate domestic problems leads some to fear issue has dropped off government’s radar Towards the end of Keir Starmer’s time in office, his senior ministers, alarmed by the latest developments in artificial intelligence, began drawing up plans for a new AI safety law. They ordered a review of existing legislation to see what powers they already had, according to those briefed on the plans, and were exploring whether they could force the world’s most advanced technology companies to submit their products for safety testing before launching them. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianKiran Stacey and Dan Milmo18 Sept

Former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson joins Palantir

Peer takes full-time position at the controversial company as it fends off pressure from both Andy Burnham’s government and Sadiq Khan Another former government minister has been hired by a controversial US AI company, this time Palantir, which has appointed Andy Burnham’s former ministerial colleague Tom Watson. The Labour peer and former deputy leader will operate alongside Palantir’s UK and Europe chief executive, Louis Mosley, as the company attempts to fend off pressure on Burnham’s government to axe its £330m NHS contract . It is also fighting Sadiq Khan in court over the Labour London mayor’s block on a £50m contract to use its AI in Metropolitan police investigations . Palantir also wants to win more public sector work in the UK, where it already has an annual turnover of £427m. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianRobert Booth UK technology editor18 Sept

Greens just four points behind Labour in urban areas, poll reveals

Exclusive: Party could take 40 seats if result replicated at next election, according to Labour-linked thinktank The Green party is just four points behind Labour in urban constituencies, putting them within touching distance of taking as many as 40 seats if the result was replicated at the next election, according to new polling by a Labour-linked thinktank. The survey by ThinkLabour, which has extensive links to Andy Burnham’s government, finds that urban voters have moved in large numbers towards Zack Polanski’s party since the 2024 general election. The research highlights the challenge Labour faces holding onto the Holborn and St Pancras seat in the face of a challenge from Polanski himself at next month’s byelection. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianKiran Stacey Policy editor16 Sept

Donald Trump doubles down on support for united Ireland

US president says ‘many people agree’ with his view on unification, brushing off Andy Burnham’s opposition to referendum Donald Trump has reiterated his support for Irish unification and brushed off Andy Burnham’s opposition to a referendum. “Everybody says that. Then things happen,” the US president said on Sunday of the British prime minister’s response. “It seems to me that one of the naturals of all time is to put them together,” Trump said of the unification of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland . Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianRory Carroll Ireland correspondent13 Sept

First ministers at Celtic summit to affirm right to seek independence from the UK

Call for ‘constitutional change in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland’ likely to challenge Burnham’s devolution agenda The first ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are meeting to affirm their nations’ right to seek independence from the UK, as part of a summit that is likely to challenge Andy Burnham’s devolution agenda. Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, Scottish National party leader John Swinney and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding at a landmark conference in Cardiff on Monday, calling on Westminster “to prepare, plan and facilitate constitutional change in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland”. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianBethan McKernan and Patrick Greenfield13 Sept

Why English devolution is fraught with difficulty | Letters

Readers respond to an editorial that argued for more accountability from local authorities in return for greater power Your editorial on Andy Burnham’s devolution plans rightly argues that greater local power must be accompanied by greater scrutiny ( The Guardian view on Burnham’s devolution plans: power must be accompanied by scrutiny, 6 September ). I work as a bid manager in the third sector, applying for publicly procured contracts to deliver employment and support services. From that perspective, the increasing devolution of funding has real potential: decisions can be made closer to communities and, importantly, local organisations should have greater opportunities to deliver services. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianGuardian Staff13 Sept

Why did the assisted dying bill fail in the Commons? | Rowena Mason

MPs quietly withdrew support when it became clear it was not a priority of Andy Burnham’s government After two years of impassioned arguments, tearful personal testimonies, noisy protests and ethical dilemmas, the assisted dying bill for England and Wales failed on a knife edge. Campaigners on the pro side largely blame the House of Lords for making it seem an impossible struggle to get the bill through parliament, after blocking it the first time by putting through more than 1,000 amendments so that it ran out of time. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianRowena Mason Whitehall editor11 Sept

Why did the assisted dying bill fail in the Commons? | Rowena Mason

MPs quietly withdrew support when it became clear it was not a priority of Andy Burnham’s government After two years of impassioned arguments, tearful personal testimonies, noisy protests and ethical dilemmas, the assisted dying bill for England and Wales failed on a knife edge. Campaigners on the pro side largely blame the House of Lords for making it seem an impossible struggle to get the bill through parliament, after blocking it the first time by putting through more than 1,000 amendments so that it ran out of time. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianRowena Mason Whitehall editor11 Sept

Why did the assisted dying bill fail in the Commons? | Rowena Mason

MPs quietly withdrew support when it became clear it was not a priority of Andy Burnham’s government After two years of impassioned arguments, tearful personal testimonies, noisy protests and ethical dilemmas, the assisted dying bill for England and Wales failed on a knife edge. Campaigners on the pro side largely blame the House of Lords for making it seem an impossible struggle to get the bill through parliament, after blocking it the first time by putting through more than 1,000 amendments so that it ran out of time. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianRowena Mason Whitehall editor11 Sept

Labour shifts on Israel, but what difference will it make? – podcast

It has been a huge week for Labour as Ed Miliband shifted the party’s stance on Israel by announcing sanctions on the illegal settlements in the West Bank and describing what is happening as ethnic cleansing. What is behind this shift, and will it make any difference on the ground? You can read Kiran’s analysis on Andy Burnham’s stance here You can read Peter’s article on the Green party internal dispute here Please keep sending your comments and questions to Pippa and Kiran on politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianPresented by Kiran Stacey and Peter Walker, produced by Alex Atack, music by Axel Kacoutié; the executive producer is Maz Ebtehaj10 Sept