Andy Burnham latest: Prime minister-in-waiting on the cusp of Labour leadership as 322 MPs back him

Andy Burnham has secured the support of 322 Labour MPs, leaving him on the cusp of leading the party and country.

There are just over 400 Labour MPs, and Mr Burnham remains the only candidate after nominations opened.

He said he was “deeply grateful” for their backing and commitment to his vision.

Earlier, the UK’s likely next prime minister apologised for Sir Keir Starmer’s stance on Gaza, and backed further sanctions against Israeli figures.

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.”

He said: “Let’s be honest, the UK was too slow to call for a ceasefire and we must now do more to strengthen our approach.”

He added that action would include “looking at further sanctions, both on those involved in the violence in Gaza, but also looking at measures to ban trade in goods with illegal settlements”.

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Key Points

• Andy Burnham 'deeply grateful to the 322 Labour MPs'
• Andy Burnham signals tougher policy on Israel over Gaza
• Clacton by-election could take place on 13 August
• Key Burnham ally claims Starmer government was sexist
• Downing Street defends Starmer picking new Labour peers on resignation honours list

Farage and the trap of boo-hoo theatrics – history tells us it won’t end well

07:55 , Holly Evans

What unfolded on 7 July was unexpected, even by Nigel Farage’s standards. After trailing a statement on his future in public life, he avoided saying anything meaningful. Instead, in a 15-minute speech straight out of the Trump playbook, he baselessly accused the media of harassment, dodged scrutiny around his donations, and avoided addressing any central questions about his political funding.

Something is clearly happening, and it was visible throughout the broadcast. Farage looked rattled, furious even, while his resignation suggests a panic he is desperately trying to gulp down.

But having run out of convincing answers, he has fallen back on the oldest trick in the book: flood the zone with chaos, turn your plight into a martyrdom circus by forcing a by-election.

Read the full analysis from Georgios Samaras here:

Farage and the trap of boo-hoo theatrics – history tells us it won’t end well

Minister says Labour was too slow to call for Gaza ceasefire

07:43 , Holly Evans

James Murray agreed with Andy Burnham that the UK was too slow to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Asked whether he agreed with the prime minister-in-waiting, the Health Secretary told Times Radio: “I think that yes, by the time we called for a ceasefire, it was overdue.”

Mr Burnham told The Guardian: "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."

Health secretary says he won't give 'running commentary' on Burnham conversations

07:33 , Holly Evans

James Murray said he would not get into “running commentary and conversations that I’m having with Andy or his team”, when asked whether he was speaking to prime minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham.

Asked how secure his job as health secretary was, Mr Murray told Times Radio: “As I said, I’m not going to give any running commentary, and any of those decisions are, of course, for Andy to take himself.”

Asked about Mr Burnham facing a potential grilling by the Parliamentary Labour Party next Monday, Mr Murray said: “I didn’t know that was happening but it’ll be interesting to go along and I think come together around Andy’s vision because some of the things that matter to me that Andy set out, his focus on devolution for instance.”

Labour says Reform faces 'legitimate questions' over donation probe

07:26 , Holly Evans

Labour has accused Reform UK of taking the public “for fools” amid further questions about the party’s financial affairs.

Anna Turley, the Labour chairwoman, said there were “legitimate questions” for Reform leader Nigel Farage following reports in The Times that the Metropolitan Police has been investigating £500,000 donations to Reform UK for more than a year.

According to the newspaper, officers opened an inquiry into possible offences related to evading restrictions on donations at the 2024 election, either through concealing donations from an “impermissible” donor or using false information about a donation.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said the force had opened an inquiry in February 2025 following a referral by the Electoral Commission “relating to donations made to a political party ahead of the 2024 UK general election”.

The spokesperson said two people had so far been interviewed under caution and “early investigative advice” had been sought from the Crown Prosecution Service, but no arrests have been made.

Ms Turley said it was “right” that the police were investigating the matter, adding: “The British public know when they’re being taken for fools – if Nigel Farage could clear his name, he would have done it by now.”

A spokesperson for Reform UK said: “The British people are tired of the establishment media doing anything they can to stop Reform. A daily routine of hit jobs and smears will not deter us from winning the next general election and fixing broken Britain.“It’s now clear that the establishment will try anything to stop us.”

Former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe dies aged 78

07:09 , Holly Evans

Ann Widdecombe, the former MP and MEP who also featured on Strictly Come Dancing, has died aged 78.

A statement from her management said: “It is with great sadness that today we announce the death of the Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe, DSG.

“We send our deepest condolences to Ann’s family and friends. We ask that the family’s wish not to be contacted at this sad time is respected.”

Miss Widdecombe was a Conservative MP between 1987 and 2010 for the Kent constituency of Maidstone, later Maidstone and the Weald, and held several ministerial positions in Sir John Major’s government.

She famously clashed with her Conservative colleague Michael Howard, when she was a Home Office minister and he home secretary, describing him as having “something of the night about him”.

Miss Widdecombe also faced flak for defending a policy of chaining pregnant prisoners to their beds.

A statement from Cloud9 Management, who represented her for more than a decade, said she would be missed “greatly”.

Burnham’s secret plot to get to No 10

07:00 , Jane Dalton

Burnham’s secret plot to get to No 10

Editorial: Burnham may regret promising to deport grooming gang leader

06:00 , Jane Dalton

Andy Burnham may regret promising to deport the Rochdale grooming gang leader

Key Burnham ally claims Starmer government was sexist

05:00 , Jane Dalton

Key Burnham ally claims Starmer’s government was sexist

No 10 defends Starmer picking new Labour peers

04:00 , Jane Dalton

Downing Street defends Starmer picking new Labour peers

Burnham signals tougher policy on Israel over Gaza – full report

03:00 , Jane Dalton

Burnham signals tougher policy on Israel over Gaza

Clacton by-election could take place on 13 August

02:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Clacton by-election could take place on 13 August after Reform UK chairman Lee Anderson formally moved the writ on Friday morning.

The party had said it would propose August 6 as the date but Tendring District Council, which will administer the election and decide the timetable, has not yet published the notice of election.

By-elections take place between 21 and 27 working days to allow the poll to be held on a Thursday, whenever the writ is moved.

Polling day must be no earlier than 17 working days after nominations close, and no later than the 19th day, suggesting that August 13 is the most likely date.

Jenrick: Farage thinks he is facing a 'kangaroo court'

01:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Robert Jenrick has said Nigel Farage concluded he was facing a “kangaroo court” and a “stitch-up,” adding that if a second by-election is triggered people will think “the establishment is persecuting this man”.

A caller on an LBC phone-in voiced concerns that a “political stunt” was taking place and that the people of Clacton would be left lacking support from their MP because “it’s by-election after by-election”.

Reform UK Treasury spokesman Mr Jenrick replied: “Well, I think the answer to that is let this be the final determiner of what happens to Nigel Farage. I mean, I quite agree with you that putting a constituency through by-elections over and over again becomes a complete farce. People are sick of it. They just want to get on with their lives, and so Nigel’s cut to the chase.

“He’s holding the by-election because it was inevitable there was going to be one. All the political party leaders have totally prejudged the situation.

“I don’t know if you saw… but Kemi Badenoch put out a tweet saying that they wouldn’t field the candidate in this by-election, but they would in the next one. Well, how does she know there’s even going to be another one?

“She’s obviously hoping, planning for there to be one, and so Nigel, not unreasonably, concluded that it’s a bit of a kangaroo court. It’s a stitch up. They’re going to call a by-election at some point. So for his sake, but also for his constituents’ sake, let’s just get it done. Let’s get it done in August. Let there be a judge. It’s a big gamble by him, but if he wins, then we can move on. And it would, I think, be completely ridiculous for there then to be another by-election later in the year.

“People really would then start to think the establishment are persecuting this man because they don’t want him to be prime minister because they don’t want the big radical change that he represents things to happen to this country, and I would say the change that the country needs right now.”

DWP hopes to save £1bn with disability car scheme reforms

Friday 10 July 2026 00:01 , Jane Dalton

Ministers hope to save some £1 billion by 2030 through reforms to a scheme that helps disabled people to get cars.

The Motability scheme came under scrutiny last year as luxury brand vehicles such as BMWs and Mercedes were reportedly available through it.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves removed them from Motability at the Budget and now further measures set out in the autumn are coming into force.

Motability customers who make one-off advance payments for larger and more expensive cars will have to pay VAT and all new leases will now be covered by the insurance premium tax.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: “Today’s changes are driven by the fairness that underpins this Government – fairness for the taxpayer, fairness for disabled people and fairness for the country.

“We’re saving £1 billion of taxpayer money by removing VAT relief from some new Motability leases whilst ensuring the scheme still supports disabled people’s mobility and independence.

“We’re building a fair welfare system and an economy that works for everyone.”

Robert Jenrick faces police probe over donation to Tory leadership campaign

Thursday 9 July 2026 23:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation into a political donation of almost £40,000 made to Robert Jenrick’s campaign for the Conservative Party leadership.

The Newark MP, who unsuccessfully sought to succeed Rishi Sunak as Tory leader in 2024, has since joined Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, where he serves as Treasury spokesman.

The probe into the donation's origins follows a referral from the Electoral Commission, The i Paper reported.

Robert Jenrick faces police probe over donation to Tory leadership campaign

Watch: What do Nigel Farage’s Clacton constituents think about his resignation?

Thursday 9 July 2026 22:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Reform faces questions over donation probe, says Labour

Thursday 9 July 2026 21:42 , Jane Dalton

Labour has accused Reform UK of taking the public “for fools” amid further questions about the party’s financial affairs.

Anna Turley, the Labour chairwoman, said there were legitimate questions for Reform leader Nigel Farage following reports in The Times that the Metropolitan Police have been investigating £500,000 donations to Reform UK for more than a year.

According to the newspaper, officers opened an inquiry into possible offences related to evading restrictions on donations at the 2024 election, either through concealing donations from an “impermissible” donor or using false information about a donation.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said the force had opened an inquiry in February last year following a referral by the Electoral Commission “relating to donations made to a political party ahead of the 2024 UK general election”.

The spokesperson said two people had so far been interviewed under caution and “early investigative advice” had been sought from the Crown Prosecution Service, but no arrests had been made.

Burnham 'deeply grateful to the 322 Labour MPs'

Thursday 9 July 2026 19:22 , Harriette Boucher

Andy Burnham says he is “deeply grateful” for the backing of hundreds of Labour MPs today, who he claims share his belief that “Britain needs a new approach to politics”.

He said he wanted to “empower MPs to bring the experiences of their constituents into the heart of government, and harness the full breadth of our Labour movement, drawing on all its traditions and beliefs in pursuit of a common purpose.”