All articles tagged with #burnham
France, the UK and Germany will co-chair a Coalition of the Willing meeting with Zelenskyy to step up Ukraine support after a deadly Russian drone attack; Paris pledged interceptor missiles, London will share data on SCALP missile components for local assembly, as leaders seek to bolster Kyiv and pressure Moscow.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he correctly managed a brief exchange with an impersonator claiming to be Donald Trump’s top adviser Susie Wiles, insisting there was nothing of consequence and that the incident was promptly reported. The episode has sparked questions about political-security vulnerabilities and prompted calls for inquiry into safeguarding procedures, as more ministers’ numbers were exposed in the breach.
President Donald Trump dismissed concerns about a reported exchange between UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and someone posing as White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, saying it was likely a miscommunication after he spoke with Burnham; the British Embassy raised security concerns but a White House aide said it wasn’t related to a device hack, and Trump also floated opening the North Sea as a potential boon for the UK.
UK political figure Andy Burnham reportedly exchanged a small number of messages with someone claiming to be White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles; officials said the contact was illegitimate and quickly reported to authorities. Downing Street declined to comment as the incident is reviewed, in a context of past impersonation and hoax attempts targeting UK and US officials, with the FBI previously probing Wiles' phone and other ministers' numbers having been exposed. No broad data breach evidence has been disclosed.
Britain's new prime minister Andy Burnham met Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Portsmouth, pledging a close UK-Ukraine partnership and inviting Zelenskyy to visit the UK, as London said it would share intellectual property and its Stone Cloak electronic-warfare system to aid Kyiv, while 200 Ukrainian sailors train in maritime exercises at the base.
In Burnham's first 24 hours as prime minister, he launches a rapid cabinet reshuffle, appointing John Healey as chancellor and elevating Wes Streeting and Miatta Fahnbulleh to defence and energy posts, while ally Anneliese Midgeley works to keep Labour MPs loyal. The government also announces a VAT cut on energy bills, drawing Conservative support but questions over funding, and Westminster buzz centers on the possibility of a snap general election amid shifting loyalties and party dynamics.
Britain’s new prime minister Andy Burnham announced his first policy move: remove VAT from domestic electricity bills from October 1, cutting about £45 off the average annual bill of £1,862, funded by scrapping a $2.4 billion digital ID program. The measure is intended to deliver quick cost‑of‑living relief, but some Labour allies question the funding and fiscal viability, as markets and international bodies watch how further support will be financed.
Andy Burnham forms his first cabinet and announces a six-month VAT cut on electricity bills funded by scrapping the digital ID scheme, as Labour faces polling challenges and marks record female representation.
BBC InDepth examines Britain’s divisions and whether Andy Burnham’s ‘place first’ approach can stitch the country back together. The piece argues the country is split along values, age and education, with tensions over immigration and social integration, but also finds pockets of common ground and local solidarity that could underpin a path to broader national cohesion by focusing on communities rather than parties.
Labour leader Andy Burnham is poised to become the UK’s seventh prime minister in a decade, with King Charles expected to appoint him and markets watching his inaugural policy stance. Trump praised Burnham’s plan to accelerate North Sea oil exploration, while analysts warn the new PM faces questions on funding potential spending, social care reforms, and possible tax changes such as inheritance and council tax, all while trying to stay within fiscal rules.
Powell says Andy Burnham will be bolder as Labour leader while sticking to the 2024 manifesto, focusing on cost of living and the economy. As PM, he plans a reset that includes scrapping the Digital ID, expanding public ownership of water and energy (including Thames Water), and a council house-building programme, while taking a pragmatic line on North Sea oil and gas. His approach centers on redistributing power and challenging vested interests, though some opponents call for a general election.
UK Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch brands Andy Burnham a 'people pleaser' with 'airy fairy' plans, saying the country needs tough decisions and not a blank cheque; she criticizes his Labour-first speech as ignoring national priorities. Burnham is the sole Labour leadership candidate after securing backing from 379 Labour MPs and all 11 trade unions, and he recently returned to Parliament in a by-election.
Labour's race to appoint a new chancellor intensifies as Burnham moves toward 10 Downing Street, with rival camps pushing for Ed Miliband while others argue for economists like Lord Jim O'Neill or Andy Haldane; floated No. 11 contenders include Shabana Mahmood or Yvette Cooper, and the choice could calm or unsettled markets and reshape a broader No. 10–No. 11 growth strategy, though no final decision is expected until Burnham's handover next week.
UK Labour figure Andy Burnham apologised for Labour’s initial Gaza response, saying it was wrong, and urged a stronger UK stance with sanctions and a ban on goods from illegal settlements, while pushing for a renewed ceasefire and condemning Hamas in line with international law.
Conservative Kemi Badenoch accuses Labour leader Keir Starmer of leaving a £5bn shortfall in his defence investment plan for Burnham to fix, as the plan promises £15bn in defence spending by 2030 but is funded by £10.3bn in savings with a £4.7bn gap to be resolved in the autumn Budget; Starmer defends the plan, Burnham is widely expected to become chancellor, and Downing Street indicates further cuts to other departments and transport projects may be used to cover the gap.