Former Downing Street policy chiefs have warned Andy Burnham he could be dealing with an “international military crisis” with Vladimir Putin just weeks after entering No10.
Ex-chief policy advisor John Bew urged the Makerfield MP not to abandon the world stage as he suggested the likely next Prime Minister should brace himself for a major provocation from the Kremlin.
It comes as US intelligence has warned Russia could test Nato’s resolve by planning an armed provocation on Polish soil.
Mr Bew told The Times: “I’d say there’s a high likelihood of a series of quite challenging contingencies happening.
“One is a horizontal or vertical escalation from Putin over the course of this summer and beyond because the war [in Ukraine] is not going well for him.
“There’s a classic western liberal assumption that means he’s going to want to have a negotiation. That doesn’t strike me as a very good profile of Vladimir Putin, so that could collide very, very quickly.
While Mr Bew said he “kind of gets” why Mr Burnham wants to spend less time on the international stage and focus his premiership on domestic policy instead.
However, he added: “[Mr Burnham] can’t ignore these things, and I don’t think he will. The international foreign policy and national security space is actually so intimately tied up with other things this government will want to do around the creation of prosperity.”
FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…
Andy Burnham apologises for Labour’s initial stance on Gaza
Andy Burnham has said Labour “didn’t get it right” in its immediate response to Israel’s military action in Gaza.
The Makerfield MP told the Guardian he would put more pressure on the Israeli government, including through further sanctions on individuals and entities, but also potentially by banning trade in goods with illegal settlements.
Mr Burnham said: “I know many people feel that at the start of Israel’s military action in Gaza my party didn’t get it right and I am sorry about that. The response has too often not been good enough. We need to do better.
“We’ve got to do more to put pressure on the Israeli government … Yes, we have taken some important steps … But let’s be honest, the UK was too slow to call for a ceasefire. And we must now do more to strengthen our approach.”
However, he stopped short of calling what was happening on the ground in Gaza as a genocide, something claimed by the more progressive wing of Labour and the Green Party.
He continued: “I have been absolutely appalled by what I’ve seen and read about the destruction of Gaza. There’s increasing evidence that war crimes appear to have been committed.
“There must be accountability for the depth of the suffering the people of Gaza have experienced. Ultimately, however, it must be for the international courts to determine, rather than politicians.”
Since the ceasefire in the much-destroyed Palestinian enclave took effect nine months ago, more than 1,080 Palestinians, many of them civilians, and four Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza, according to figures released by the two sides.
Hamas does not disclose the number of its fighters killed.
Northern Ireland Secretary slams ‘sickening and cowardly’ mosque bonfire effigy
The effigy was place on top of the bonfire
|
PA
Northern Ireland Secretary Hillary Benn has slammed the decision to place a “sickening and cowardly” effigy of a mosque on top of a July 12 bonfire.
Mr Benn said: “The placement of a replica mosque on the Moygashel bonfire is a sickening and cowardly act of intimidation.
“This is not about tradition, and in no way does it represent the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland. We must stand united and completely reject such hatred.”
It is not the first time the bonfire in County Tyrone has caused outrage.
Last year, an effigy of refugees in a boat was placed on top of the bonfire and was set on fire when the bonfire was lit.
In 2024 a replica of a police car was burnt and in 2023 a picture of the-then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and an Irish flag were placed on the bonfire.
Andy Burnham announces he voted for himself in Labour leadership contest…as the only candidate
Andy Burnham has announced he has voted for himself in the Labour leadership contest despite being the only candidate in the race.
In a video posted on X, the Makerfield MP said he had just nominated for himself as Sir Keir Starmer’s replacement as Labour party leader and Prime Minister.
He said: “Strange thing to say, but I’ve just been to nominate myself to be leader of the Labour Party.
“The nomination process has opened this morning, so glad to see some MPs going in. I’m still the only candidate in the race.”
The nominations opened today for Sir Keir’s replacement, who announced he was stepping down as Prime Minister and Labour leader on June 22.
Labour MPs were seen trickling over to the Parliamentary Labour Party offices this morning to cast their votes.
The Makerfield MP is the only candidate at the moment, with former armed forces minister Al Carns ruling himself out of the contest last night.
In the video, Mr Burnham says to camera: “It’s all starting to feel very real”.
Accompanying the video was the comment from the Prime Minister in-waiting, who wrote: “Just been to nominate myself… Hopefully third time lucky.”
Zack Polanski says Gorton & Denton is ‘not the end of the story’ for Greens in Manchester
Zack Polanski launching the Green Party’s campaign in Manchester
|
PA
Zack Polanski has said the party’s success in Gorton & Denton is “not the end of the story” as he launched his party’s campaign for the Greater Manchester Mayoral by-election
Plumber Hannah Spencer overturned a Labour majority of 13,000 to become the constituency MP in a February by-election, beating Reform UK’s Matt Goodwin with a majority of 4,402
After Andy Burnham stepped down as the region’s mayor, the Green Party hopes local councillor Geraldine Coggins will also pull off another historic election success.
Mr Polanski said: “In so many places, in the 10 boroughs across Manchester, it just feels like places are hollowed out. There’s nothing really happening and very often people don’t even know who owns the empty shops.
“So Geraldine is talking about bringing in an empty shops team. This is a group of people, experts, who could identify who owns the building, and then push them or encourage them to make sure that they’re using it for public good or community purpose.
“I think that’s really important to make sure that high streets are alive again.”
Clacton by-election date set for August as Nigel Farage’s battle to return to Commons gets underway
The Clacton by-election is expected to take place on August 13 after Reform UK Chief Whip Lee Anderson moved the writ in the House of Commons.
While it is up to the local authority to organise the specifics of the election, the law states it must take place between 21 and 27 working days from now.
This means the vote will take place between August 7 and August 17.
Elections in the UK have taken place on Thursdays since the 1930s, making August 13 the likely date for polls to open.
Read the full story here.
Low-rise buildings now eligible for cladding removal funding
The Government has announced funding will be made available to remove dangerous cladding from buildings that were previously excluded from existing support schemes.
Buildings under 11 metres had not been covered by leaseholder protections on the grounds that serious cladding problems were considered less common in lower-rise properties.
However, the Ministry of Housing confirmed today new funding would be made available under the Cladding Safety Scheme for sub-11metre buildings, with priority given to those assessed as posing the greatest fire safety risk.
Zack Polanski calls Clacton vote a ‘why-election’
Green leader Zack Polanski has called the Clacton vote a “why-election” during his party’s manifesto launch for the Greater Manchester mayoral election.
He said: “Well this is a by election but really it should be called a why election because this is happening because Nigel Farage cares about one thing, and that’s himself and his own money.
“Now, I know he’s not a fan of workers’ rights but it feels like he’s taking fire and rehire a bit too far. Maybe this time he’ll take £4 million instead of £5 million.
“Ultimately though this isn’t a joke and our democracy should not be debased in this way.
“And I think the wider point here is about big money, political interference, and ultimately corruption, and Nigel Farage still has questions to answer. . So does Richard Tice and so does increasingly Robert Jenrick.”
Who is the real Count Binface? The man under the dustbin helmet challenging Nigel Farage in Clacton
Reform UK’s leader Nigel Farage is set to have at least one contender in the Clacton by-election.
Despite being shunned by his main rivals, Mr Farage will go up against Count Binface.
The self-described “intergalactic space warrior” is known by many after appearing alongside top politicians across leisure centres at election counts in years gone by.
However, few know the man behind the dustbin helmet.
Read the full story here.
Andy Burnham announces he has voted for himself in Labour leader contest
Prime Minister in-waiting Andy Burnham has posted a video on X, saying he has just nominated for himself in the Labour leader contest.
He said: “Strange thing to say, but I’ve just been to nominate myself to be leader of the Labour Party.
“The nomination process has opened this morning, so glad to see some MPs going in.
“I’m still the only candidate in the race.”
Labour MPs cast their vote for Andy Burnham
A trickle of Labour MPs can be seen heading to the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) this morning as they make their nominations for Sir Keir Starmer’s replacement.
However, Andy Burnham is known to be the only candidate.
On MP said there is “no one else” to challenge Mr Burnham after former armed forces minister Al Carns ruled himself out as a contender last night.
Several politicians joked about voting for Count Binface as the next Labour leader.
Pakistan anticipated to refuse grooming gangs leader
Pakistan is expected to refuse to the deportation of Shabir Ahmed, a convicted paedophile who was the ringleader of the Rochdale grooming gang.
Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce on Monday changes to the 1971 Immigration Act, which currently prevents Ahmed from being deported, the Times reports.
The Pakistani born paedophile was released from prison last week, after serving over 14 years for 30 child rape offences.
However, Whitehall officials have said that despite the change in the law, the Government are expecting Pakistan to refuse paedophile back to his birthplace.
Pakistan not helpful in efforts to deport grooming gang leader, says minister
Business minister Sir Chris Bryant said Pakistan, the birth country of convicted paedophile Shabir Ahmed, has not been helpful in the UK’s efforts to deport him.
On the efforts the Government is undertaking to deport the grooming gang leader, Sir Chris said: “We’re looking at changing the law as quickly as we possibly can, but we need to make sure that we don’t have unintended unintended consequences that affect perfectly innocent people.
“Then the second bit of the challenge is it’s all very well for us to say we’re going to deport somebody – somebody has got to allow that person to go into their country.
“In this in this case, that’s Pakistan, and Pakistan thus far have been haven’t been very helpful on this.
“But I these are the two pieces of work that we are engaged in, and we’re trying to work as fast as we possibly can to get the man out of the country.”
‘Clacton by-election is just a circus’ – Chris Bryant slams Nigel Farage
Sir Chris Bryant, Business minister called the Clacton by-election a “circus” and slammed Nigel Farage, saying he has the “thinnest skin of any politician in Britain”.
Speaking to GB News, he said: “The whole Clacton thing is just a circus without any entertaining act in it.
“It’s Nigel Farage had a hissy fit on Tuesday afternoon because he doesn’t like being scrutinised.
“He’s got the thinnest skin of any politician in Britain, and the truth of the matter is that he needs that scrutiny.
“Why on earth did he take £5million from a crypto billionaire, then choose not to register it, and then, in fact, hide it from the public, and then go and lobby the governor of the Bank of England precisely on crypto issues, effectively doing paid lobbying on behalf of his of Christopher Harbourne? Why did he do that?”
Nigel Farage denies any wrongdoing.
Labour and Conservatives showing ‘contempt’ for electorate, says Nigel Farage
Reform UK’s leader Nigel Farage has said the move from Labour and the Conservatives to not stand in the upcoming Clacton by-election is “showing contempt for the electorate”.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: “The fact Labour and the Conservatives don’t want to stand, they’re both showing contempt for the electorate. They can use whatever terms they want – it’s a real election with real people.”
Mr Farage reaffirmed his move to resign as Clacton MP, saying the “daily media pile-on” over his finances, left him “in a position of paralysis”, warning it could of “gone on for months” if he did not take action.
He continued, saying the judgement from the Standards Committee will be “completely subjective”.
Conservatives will only run in Clacton by-election once Nigel Farage’s donation probe concludes
Helen Whately MP, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary said the Conservatives will only run in a by-election in Clacton once the investigation into Nigel Farage’s finances has concluded.
Calling the up-coming by-election “a stunt”, Ms Whatley said: “There could be a real by-election in Clacton in the Autumn, when the results of the investigation into Nigel Farage come forward, so that would be the moment to challenge him, not now when he’s trying to dodge the questions into his donations.”
Speaking to GB News, she added: “This is a stunt by Nigel Farage. He doesn’t want to answer questions. He’s dodging the questions. He just wants to be in the limelight.”
Andy Burnham vows to rebuild UK’s ‘hard power’ with billions to British defence firms
Prime Minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham has vowed to rebuild the UK’s “hard power” by allocating billions of extra defence spending to British firms.
Mr Burnham, in his first foreign policy intervention, wants to steer defence procurement away from European and American companies and boost homegrown firms.
He said he wanted to “level with” the public about the amount of money required to meet the UK’s promise to Nato to spend 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035.
The additional money, Mr Burnham has said, will be ploughed into “regenerating and reindustrialising the country”, with efforts to boost British jobs and workers.
Read the full story here.
Andy Burnham on course for premiership as no contenders come forward
Andy Burnham is on course for becoming the next Prime Minister as nominations open up for Labour leadership today.
Former armed forces minister Al Carns flirted with the idea of contending Mr Burnham, but ruled himself out of the contest last night.
Mr Carns said: “I’d hoped a leadership contest would give us the opportunity for a proper debate.
“But months of internal Labour politics isn’t what the country needs right now. We’ve got to get on with the job.
“Andy Burnham’s earned this and he’s got my full backing.”