Sir Keir Starmer’s allies have said Andy Burnham’s would be Labour’s Liz Truss after the Manchester mayor shared his vision of how to “turn the country around”
The Manchester mayor revealed on Thursday that MPs had asked him to challenge Starmer’s leadership, in an intervention that has fuelled speculation he could be seeking a return to Westminster.
But a Labour figure told Bloomberg that Burnham’s policy suggestions are “unserious and irresponsible” and would risk triggering a bond market rout, saying he would be the party’s Liz Truss.
Burnham told The Telegraph that he wanted £40 billion extra borrowing to pay for new council homes and also told the New Statesman that the government must stop being “in hock to the bond market”.
He has denied he sought out MPs to ask if he should challenge the prime minister for the Labour leadership on Thursday morning, and urged the party to focus on a plan to “beat Reform”.
“I’ve not gone out there, me on my own, people have been getting in touch with me and I’ve said to them its not a matter for me,” he told the BBC.
“This is ultimately a matter for the party in Westminster to decide.”
BREAKING: Every UK adult will need ‘Brit card’ digital ID under Starmer plan to tackle illegal migration
Every adult in the country will be required to have a new government-issued digital identity card as part of a renewed attempt to tackle illegal migration.
The prime minister will reportedly announce his backing for the scheme in a speech on Friday.
The ‘Brit card’ would verify an individual’s right to live and work in the UK.
You can read the full story from Millie Cooke below…
Unite boss says neither Powell nor Phillipson bring change needed
The UK’s biggest union announced it would not back either contender in Labour’s deputy leadership contest on Thursday afternoon, saying neither would bring the change it believes the country needs.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Britain needs change, not more of the same.
“Workers are leaving Labour in droves and tinkering will not stem the tide.
“Unfortunately, this election does not offer the alternative that Britain needs. For everyday people, it is irrelevant.
“Labour must deliver real change. We need huge investment into our crumbling infrastructure and our public services, a pay rise for British workers and an end to the private profiteering that helps drive inflation.
“Until the Government makes different choices, they will continue to haemorrhage support.”
Driver: Keir Starmer’s government has my ‘unwavering support’
Steph Driver said the Prime Minister’s Government had her “unwavering support” as she announced her departure on Thursday, as reported by The Guardian.
She becomes the next in a string of top aides to depart Downing Street over the last few months.
Ms Driver said: “It has been an honour to work with and advise Keir through opposition and into government. Being part of the team to rebuild and rebrand the Labour Party before securing an historic general election victory is an achievement and experience like no other.
“I’m also proud of what this government has already delivered, and thank the sharp and talented No 10 press team for their hard work and support during my tenure.
“I’m grateful to the Prime Minister for his continued faith in me and my work, and for his offer of an open door in the future. His Labour government has my unwavering support.”
Sir Keir said: “Steph Driver has been a loyal and valued member of my team for almost five years.
“Steph played a leading role in transforming the Labour Party and delivering our historic general election win. I will for ever be grateful for her calm, wise counsel, leadership and humour. I wish her all the best in her undoubted onward success.”
Starmer’s head of communications quits No 10, reports say
Keir Starmer’s head of communications has become the latest exit from Number 10, making the decision to leave after five years at his side.
Steph Driver is the latest in a series of trusted aides to depart from Downing Street, according to reports by The Guardian on Thursday afternoon.
it is understood it was Ms Driver’s decision to leave, with senior figures including the PM reportedly asking her to stay.
Scottish Labour leader refuses to pledge full confidence in Starmer
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has refused to back the Prime Minister amid growing speculation Andy Burnham may make a bid for the top job.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Mr Sarwar – who has been an outspoken ally of Sir Keir Starmer since he took over as leader – refused to say if he has full confidence in him.
“He has got a really difficult job, we have made significant progress in the last year,” he said.
“If I’ve got one single biggest criticism of a UK Labour Government, it is there have been huge successes, but very few people have been told about them or know about them.”
The Scottish Labour leader said mortgage costs had come down in the past 12 months, while wages have increased, but he said the “average person doesn’t know” that.
Further pushed on whether he has full confidence in the Prime Minister, the Scottish Labour leader said: “I think to be even talking in those terms is frankly ridiculous.
“This is a Prime Minister who won a historic victory, removed the Tories from office, won a huge landslide, and now he has to get on with the day job.”
“The leadership must change direction”: FBU nominates Lucy Powell for Labour deputy leader
Kate Devlin reports…
The executive council of the Fire Brigades Union has today nominated Lucy Powell for the role of deputy leader of the Labour Party.
The union has expressed support for Lucy Powell’s call to scrap the two child benefit cap and for full delivery of the Employment Rights Bill.The ballot of Labour members will open on 8 October.
Fire Brigades Union general secretary Steve Wright said:”Austerity and authoritarianism are a road to nowhere but misery for working people. If Labour does not deliver the change it promised, this will be a one term government.
“The FBU supports Lucy Powell’s call to scrap the two child benefit cap, as well as her support for the full delivery of the Employment Rights Bill. We urge her, and all Labour MPs, to go further – to end austerity and introduce a wealth tax.
“That’s why our union is backing Lucy Powell as deputy leader – to send a clear message that the leadership must change direction.”
Unite will not nominate a candidate in deputy leadership election
Unite will not nominate either candidate in Labour’s deputy leadership election, the union announced.
It comes after Unison became the second major union to back Bridget Phillipson earlier on Thursday.
Unite the Union is the largest trade union in the UK and Ireland.
Reeves: Andy Burnham ‘focused on delivering change in Greater Manchester’
Chancellor Rachel Reeves was asked during a ministerial visit if the Prime Minister was under “huge pressure from within his own party” following Andy Burnham’s comments to The Telegraph.
The Chancellor said: “We have seen this film a few times before. When Keir ran for the leadership people said that Labour couldn’t come back from the catastrophic defeat at the 2019 election, then people said he couldn’t overturn that huge Conservative majority.
“He won a landslide victory just over a year ago and Keir and the whole Government are focusing on the change that the country voted for … real change making a difference to people’s lives.
“In the same way that this Government are delivering change, I know that Andy is focused on delivering change in Greater Manchester.”
Andy Burnham shares key aim for Labour amid party leadership speculation
Andy Burnham has spoken out amid rumours he may be preparing a leadership challenge to Keir Starmer.
Appearing on BBC News, the Greater Manchester mayor said his main goal is to support the government in building a plan to beat Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
You can watch the interview below…
Andy Burnham shares key aim for Labour amid party leadership speculation
Reeves says government ‘standing by’ Jaguar Land Rover’s suppliers after cyber attack
Chancellor Rachel Reeves was asked during a ministerial visit whether the Government was set to step in to help firms which supply Jaguar Land Rover with components.
It comes after the car maker halted production because of a cyber attack on August 31.
The Chancellor responded: “We are working very closely with Jaguar Land Rover, but not just with the company but also with the wider supply chain.
“The Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle was in the West Midlands with Jaguar Land Rover and also with many of their suppliers yesterday. It’s a company I know well, it’s a company the Prime Minister knows well. The National Cyber Security Centre is in with Jaguar Land Rover, and have been since this cyber attack on them.
“The focus is both getting the business back up and running as quickly as possible, but also making sure as a Government we are doing everything we can to stand by the company and the wider supply chain.”
You can read more about the cyber attack below…
