Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
Sir Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham held discussions earlier on Tuesday as Sir Keir aims to manage a smooth transition of power following his announcement to step down as prime minister. This meeting marks their first encounter since Burnham’s victory in the recent Makerfield by-election. The conversation lasted about an hour and was initially reported by The Times. During this period, Sir Keir sanctioned access talks with civil servants for potential Labour leadership contenders, allowing them to prepare for governing responsibilities.
Andy Burnham remains the only confirmed candidate for the Labour leadership so far. Should he face no opposition, he could assume the role of prime minister as early as 17 July. These access discussions are a standard procedure typically provided to opposition leaders in advance of a general election. A spokesperson for the prime minister stated that these talks would commence “as soon as possible” and be arranged before nominations for the Labour leadership race close on 16 July. The briefings are expected to cover forming a government, key policy objectives, and include security information.
The backdrop to these developments is Sir Keir’s announcement to resign after less than two years in office, following a loss of confidence from Labour MPs. At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, Sir Keir expressed his desire for the next prime minister to succeed and pledged to address challenging issues in the coming weeks to aid his successor. Additionally, he has agreed to postpone any major policy decisions or spending commitments until a new prime minister is appointed, aiming to facilitate an orderly handover.
Meanwhile, Andy Burnham has yet to present a comprehensive policy plan or identify who would fill senior government roles such as chancellor under his leadership. He plans to outline a fresh approach through several speeches starting next week, with topics covering devolution and the economy. Having returned to Parliament after his by-election win, Burnham has reaffirmed his commitment to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ fiscal rules, signaling no intent to significantly increase government borrowing. Additionally, he supports Labour’s manifesto pledge to maintain existing rates for income tax, VAT, and National Insurance, limiting his capacity to boost tax revenues. Burnham has, however, advocated for increased public control over utilities like water, more council house construction, and efforts to “reindustrialise” the economy.
Within Labour, some MPs are considering other potential leadership contenders, including cabinet minister Darren Jones and former armed forces minister Al Carns, reflecting concerns about Burnham becoming prime minister without a leadership contest. Although it is unclear whether they can secure sufficient support to appear on the ballot, Jones has stated he is not presently inclined to run but would seek clarity on Burnham’s economic policies amid possible market apprehension. Carns, on the other hand, has not dismissed the possibility of entering the race, as he told reporters at the Foreign Press Association in London
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.