UK Politics

Sir Keir Starmer and his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney would block Andy Burnham from getting on the shortlist of potential candidates for a parliamentary seat, scuppering any potential leadership challenge, a senior minister has claimed.The Greater Manchester mayor has been accused privately by allies of “overplaying his hand” in positioning himself as a potential replacement for Sir Keir as leader of the Labour Party.Despite a YouGov poll of Labour voters suggesting he would be a more popular prime minister than Sir Keir, by 33 points to 28, his hopes that the party conference in Liverpool would be a launchpad for any leadership bid fell flat this week.He left before Sir Keir’s speech began, claiming he did not want to upstage the prime minister, and even withdrew from a fringe meeting where he was due to share a platform with rebel Labour MPs.Andy Burnham denies harbouring imminent Labour leadership ambitions More

The Labour conference may have started as the Andy Burnham show, but by the end of day four that show seemed to be attracting less fanfare. Supporters of the Greater Manchester mayor are attracted by the fact that Burnham tops approval rate polling – but critics warn polling is the most fickle of measurements and that he might not be the right person to challenge Keir Starmer. For Sir Keir’s part, he had a good conference and seemed to temporarily silence many critics who questioned his ability to lead the country.But he is far from being out of the woods yet. He has a tough Budget to get through this autumn. Then, in May, the prime minister faces what could be make-or-break local and devolved elections, when the rise of Reform could be what seals his fate.The Labour Party conference started as the Andy Burnham show More

Sir Keir Starmer’s plans to review how human rights laws are applied to asylum seekers in Britain have sparked strong reactions, with many Independent readers accusing him of becoming “Reform-lite.” Critics argued that the prime minister, historically a staunch defender of the European Convention on Human Rights, now risks weakening protections for those fleeing torture or seeking to stay with their families. Many warned that even minor changes could set a dangerous precedent, potentially undermining rights that everyone in Britain depends on.Others, however, viewed the review as a practical response to rising migration, particularly record Channel crossings, and suggested it could clarify how courts interpret Articles 3 and 8 – covering “cruel and inhumane treatment” in an asylum seeker’s home country and the “right to a family life” – without removing protections entirely. A minority of readers supported the prime minister’s approach, arguing that balancing compassion for genuine asylum seekers with the pressures of migration is necessary. While, some also noted that aspects of the laws are now outdated and we need a more “lean, adaptive and fast-moving” approach to deal with the pressures of modern immigration.Here’s what you had to say:The ECHR might have to adaptCircumstances change and the ECHR might have to adapt, but suggesting that is a far cry from what Reform and the Tories want, which is for the UK to leave it altogether. It’s interesting that Starmer is highlighting that many of our irregular migration problems stem from leaving the EU. If this heralds a media campaign to highlight the downsides of Brexit, and pin the blame squarely on Farage, that would be a good move. It’s about time he took the blame for this, and the more people are aware of the damage, the more they might develop an enthusiasm for rejoining. Tanaquil2You can’t create a two-tier human rights system”It is absolutely necessary to change the law on these four items.”No it’s not and it’s a concern that people believe this. If the health secretary doesn’t understand international human rights law then she should get advice from experts.There’s something called customary law meaning that even if we come out of the ECHR, certain laws will still apply – it’s why Rwanda was deemed illegal.You can’t create a two-tier human rights system where rights don’t apply to foreigners. It’s immoral and it’s a slippery slope.You have to question why these politicians want to take away your right to challenge the government – Hillsborough anyone? JSMStarmer cannot change international lawNot sure I understand. Starmer cannot change international law – that is not within his remit or authority. The ECHR laws arise from the Council of Europe (COE), and all member nations must transpose this into their own national laws. They are not binding but national law must follow the principles they cover.To follow Russia and Belarus away from COE would be a huge own goal. It would abrogate most UK/EU and UK Pan-European agreements.UK courts cannot be ordered to disobey or ignore international laws the UK has signed up to; but the Supreme Court can and does issue guidance on applying these. So I am not clear as to what he is suggesting.Jonathan MillsMore confusionMore confusion. If there is “mass migration” then it’s mostly “legal” i.e. some of the 1.2 million in ’24 who entered on visas and may or may not overstayed. Clearly 1.2 million didn’t arrive on small boats!Too many? I would imagine so. But then paying your own people to do nothing, giving only lip service to vocational training, putting education beyond the common pocket and into private hands all seem daft to me. There again, successive governments have done all these. ouleejitDriving a coach and horses through the Modern Slavery ActIt is a very misleading statement as he can’t do anything unilaterally. What seems to be the plan is driving coach and horses through the Modern Slavery Act, from that famous left-winger Theresa May. Good grief! May is “too woke” for Labour now.Good luck with finding an agreement between 40-odd countries from the ECHR to roll back protection because you can’t get a grip on the “small boats” and “illegals”.The EU has agreed a change in procedure when it comes to claiming asylum inside the EU. But you left in a huff. And asylum numbers have come down in the EU. And people are protective of their rights, by and large. Only in England is there the discussion of paring back rights. LeftyandproudLaws must reflect circumstances of the dayLaws must reflect the circumstances of the day and move fleetly to deal with issues on the ground. National and international law has shown itself to be sclerotic when faced with unprecedented immigration to the West.We appear helpless to the threats of Russian and Chinese influence on our infrastructure and institutions. British judges and politicians as well as present-day laws appear stuck in the past and incapable of protecting our country from crime of all natures.We need a lean, adaptive and fast-moving approach to cope with British crime or the one million that gathered in London recently will become five million. rogerYet more tosh from the PM. Legal migration is down to the government of the day and deliberate decisions were made to increase the number of immigrants allowed to work here. Both the Tories and Labour are complicit in this.Illegal migration via the small boats has increased as all other routes have been shut down. And Starmer, like Sunak before him, hasn’t got the guts to do the necessary, which is to immediately send every boat arriving here from France back to France. The people smugglers’ business model would be destroyed within weeks. Noverngit1I’m sick of waiting for Labour to be left wingI’m sick of waiting for Labour to be a tiny bit left wing. Labour is Starmer, Reeves, Cooper and Blair. There isn’t a war they haven’t liked the look of or a benefit they haven’t supported cutting. Or for that matter a multinational they haven’t given sweeteners to in exchange for funding.For decades members have supported PR but they fully supported the two-party system and still do. If you are not a fan of that brand of politics then forget them. ficklepickleStarmer is “Reform Lite”Starmer rather fights Reform by being “Reform Lite” than by being “Labour heavy”. I think it is because when somebody told him: “It’s the ECONOMY ” he had to answer: “Yes, but I haven’t got a clue how to tackle that. So I cobble with token measures, just like the Tories did and Reform would do.”RebootedyetagainHans2This proves Labour cannot solve immigrationThis announcement just proves how impossible it is for Starmer and the Labour Party to actually solve the immigration issue. This isn’t a bold new policy; it’s a hesitant “review” that will be hamstrung by the very people in his own party.He’s trying to talk tough, but he’s surrounded by Trotskyists, Stalinists, hardline unionists, and left-wing ideologues for whom open borders is a fundamental creed. His own Attorney General is already reported to be strongly opposed to any real change.His job is like herding cats. He can’t do what is required because his party will never allow it. While he’s talking about reviewing interpretations, the British people are watching record numbers cross the Channel.He will never go far enough to appease the public because he is a prisoner of his own coalition. This “dramatic U-turn” is just political theatre. The will of the people demands action, not more reviews destined to be watered down by the left-wing fringe that holds the real power in his party. Thomas More

Labour deputy leadership candidate Lucy Powell has warned Sir Keir Starmer against “trying to out Reform, Reform” if he wants to win the local elections next year. It came as Bridget Phillipson, the other candidate in the race to succeed Angela Rayner, said Labour must unite if it wants to beat Nigel Farage’s party, warning: “If we’re fighting amongst ourselves, we can’t fight Reform.” Ms Phillipson also warned her party must be as “ruthless” in fighting the Greens as it is in fighting Reform, saying Labour must expose the Greens in particular for who they are.Lucy Powell also warned Labour must be ruthless against the Green Party, as well as Nigel Farage More

Nigel Farage has had his taxpayer-funded security slashed, according to Reform UK, forcing party donors to step in. Zia Yusuf, Reform’s head of policy, said the parliamentary security department has cut the ex-Ukip leader’s protection by three-quarters in the last two weeks for “inexplicable reasons”. The row erupted just hours after Mr Farage claimed Keir Starmer had “incited violence” by describing a Reform policy as “racist”. Mr Yusuf told Times Radio: “Two weeks ago, the authorities cut Nigel’s security detail by 75 per cent, and then we have seen the most extraordinary 48 hours of demonisation, and I’m going to say it again, incitement to violence against the man who is the bookmakers’ favourite to be the next prime minister.”He said donors had stepped up to cover.He said: “The claim I’m making is exactly what has happened, which is that it is the parliamentary security department that is responsible for security in both houses that frankly for what I can tell, for inexplicable reasons, has decided to materially downgrade Nigel Farage’s security. Those are the facts of the matter.”It comes after David Lammy claimed Mr Farage “flirted with Hitler Youth”, which Mr Yusuf said made the situation with his security “even worse”.The deputy prime minister’s comments appeared to reference allegations that emerged in 2013 that Mr Farage had sung Nazi songs as a teenager, which he denied at the time. On Sunday, as he kicked off his party’s annual conference in Liverpool, Sir Keir Starmer described Reform’s policy to scrap indefinite leave to remain as “racist” and “immoral”.Zia Yusuf claims Reform donors have had to ‘step in’ to cover security for Farage More

Ed Miliband has told Elon Musk to “get the hell out of our politics and our country” in a dramatic intervention on the main stage of the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.The energy secretary’s criticism of the tech billionaire came as part of a wider attack on Reform leader Nigel Farage, who he claimed is part of a “global network who together want to destroy the ties that bind our communities and our way of life”. It comes after Elon Musk drew condemnation from Downing Street for telling demonstrators at a London rally organised by Tommy Robinson to “fight back” or “die”.“The threat from Reform goes beyond their climate denying agenda,” Mr Miliband said in a speech on the final day of the Labour Party conference. Miliband issued a dramatic intervention on Elon Musk on the final day of the Labour conference More

Sir Keir Starmer has announced a dramatic U-turn over international human rights laws that have been criticised for making it harder to deport asylum seekers.The prime minister said the government will review the way British courts apply the controversial European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), which could mean asylum seekers are no longer able to avoid being sent back to their home country by claiming they could face torture as a result.And they may be barred from demanding the right to stay in the UK on the grounds that it would separate them from their families.The announcement marks another major policy reversal by Sir Keir, a former human rights lawyer, who has defended the ECHR in the past and comes as the prime minister steps up his attacks on Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, dubbing the small boats he is trying to stop crossing the English Channel “Farage boats”.Charities and human rights campaigners attacked Sir Keir over the planned changes, warning that the prime minister risked turning “from a human rights lawyer to a human rights shredder”. And Liberty director Akiko Hart said any changes were “unlikely to make a material difference to migration figures and risk setting us on a path to undermining the rights of every person in Britain”. But the chairman of Migration Watch UK, Alp Mehmet, said Sir Keir’s comments are “meaningless and suggest nothing will happen”.In an interview with the BBC, Sir Keir denied he is “tearing up” the ECHR but stated: “We need to look again at the interpretation of some of these provisions and we have already begun to do that work in some of our domestic legislation.”He said the review concerns Articles 3 and 8 of the ECHR concerning “cruel and inhumane treatment” in an asylum seeker’s home country and the “right to a family life”.The government is also reviewing other conventions relating to “refugees, torture and children’s rights”, he said.“All international instruments have to be applied in circumstances as they are now,” the prime minister said. “We are seeing mass migration in a way we have not seen in previous years. Those genuinely fleeing persecution should be afforded asylum – that is a compassionate act, but we need to look again at the interpretation of some of those provisions – not tear them down but look at the interpretation.”Starmer has said he will review the way courts apply the European Convention on Human Rights More

Reform will “betray” every young person and future generations by waging a war on clean energy, Ed Miliband is expected to say.The Energy Secretary will announce a host of initiatives aimed at bringing energy bills down and boosting green jobs during his speech at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool on Wednesday.But he will also use his speech to attack Reform leaders who said they would “declare war” on green energy projects, which are being championed nationwide by the Labour government.It comes as Labour have been drawing battle lines at the conference to take on Reform, who they are trailing in the polls.Mr Miliband is expected to say: “What is so exciting about clean energy is that it can answer that call for a different kind of economy … run for working people.“It offers the biggest opportunity for job creation for decades. Skilled jobs in proud professions.“And behind these statistics is the potential for each and every one of these jobs to change the lives of working people and their communities,” he will add.“Reform would wreck everything we are doing. They’ve said they would ‘wage war’ on clean energy.“Let’s spell out what this war means. A war on the workers at the Siemens wind turbine factory in Hull. A war on the construction workers building carbon capture and storage in Teesside. A war on the working people of Britain.“Reform’s war on the future would betray every young person in our country and every person yet to be born.”Ed Miliband will slam Reform’s policy on green energy in his speech More