Andy Burnham has backed controversial reforms to the asylum system ahead of his coronation as prime minister next week.
The Makerfield MP, who is expected to take on the premiership next week, voted in favour of Shabana Mahmood’s plans, which aim to cut the number of small boat crossings and instead direct people to alternative “safe and legal routes”.
They also include new tighter rules on how Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights will be applied, which the Home Office hopes will cut the number of asylum appeals being granted.
The Immigration and Asylum Bill passed its second reading by 264 votes to 90, giving a majority of 174, but saw 14 Labour MPs rebel as a number of backbenchers criticised the legislation.
Mr Burnham will become prime minister on Monday when Sir Keir Starmer is expected to meet the King to formally resign, and recommend the Makerfield MP as his successor.
His ascension was all but confirmed on Monday when he received an extra 27 nominations from Labour MPs, taking his total to 349.
Key Points
- Andy Burnham votes in favour of controversial asylum reforms
- Blair urges Burnham to maintain close ties with US 'whoever the president is'
- Hillsborough Law to return to Commons after deal on transparency for spies
- Lib Dem leader warns Burnham to change voting system 'before it is too late'
- Fears over safety are deterrent from entering public life, minister says
Burnham told growth is 'big issue' for his government
10:27 , Dan HaygarthThe boss of the Bank of England has said his key message to Andy Burnham’s incoming government is that the “big issue” for the UK is slow economic growth.
Andrew Bailey told the Treasury Committee: “The overall message I would give is that I think the big issue is growth in the economy.
“I do actually think that there are signs of a very resilient financial system.
“What I think is much more challenging is we’ve had low growth in the economy now for the best part of 16 to 17 years.
“So this is not a story about any one government… but I think it’s important because a critical structural issue.”
But he stressed: “We will not get growth if we don’t have financial stability” when asked whether regulation in the financial system may be restricting growth.
Starmer attends Bastille Day parade in Paris before saying au revoir to No 10
10:07 , Dan Haygarth
Sir Keir Starmer attended Bastille Day celebrations in Paris as one of his final engagements on the international stage.
The prime minister met British troops involved in the ceremonial events in the French capital before watching the parade alongside Emmanuel Macron and other leaders including Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky.
Sir Keir will be succeeded as prime minister by Andy Burnham on Monday after the former Greater Manchester mayor secured enough support to make it mathematically impossible for anyone to stand against him for the Labour leadership.
Sir Keir and other European leaders watched a military parade and flypast in Paris.
Troops from the Grenadier Guards marched alongside the French Garde Republicaine.
Mahmood issues plan to close loophole blocking deportation of Rochdale grooming gang leader
09:38 , Dan Haygarth
Mahmood sets out plan to allow deportation of Rochdale grooming gang leader
Sir Keir Starmer eyes dash to World Cup final and flight home in time for Burnham’s coronation
09:14 , Dan Haygarth
Sir Keir Starmer is eyeing a last-minute dash to the US for the World Cup final if England beat Argentina on Wednesday as one of his final acts as prime minister, reports suggest.
The outgoing prime minister would plan to watch the game at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Sunday before touching back down in London for his final morning in the top job, sources told The Times.
The newspaper reports the final details of the plan are still being drawn up, but that a No 10 source said there would be no delay to the transfer of power.
Timings would be tight on the day, but should allow the prime minister to enjoy the potential clash at 3pm local time on the east coast before flying back to London to arrive at around 7:30am.
Burnham vows to restore Labour’s ‘broad church’ in pledge to change party culture to MPs
09:05 , Dan HaygarthAndy Burnham has made a pitch to Labour MPs promising a change of culture in the way their views are valued after some complained that Keir Starmer had presided over “a reign of terror”.
In a one-candidate leadership hustings to MPs over Zoom on Monday evening, The Independent understands that Mr Burnham emphasised his desire to recognise that Labour “is a broad church” with a wide range of views.
The hustings took place as Mr Burnham was confirmed at the next prime minister after receiving an extra 27 nominations from Labour MPs on Monday, taking his total to 349.
Read more below.
Burnham vows to restore Labour’s ‘broad church’ in pledge to MPs
There may need to be 'another look' at security arrangements for people in public life, Lucy Rigby says
08:50 , Millie CookeA government minister has admitted there may need to be "another look" at security arrangements for people in public life following the death of Ann Widdecombe.
Lucy Rigby told Sky News: "The home secretary said yesterday she is going to look at security for former MPs specifically, and there may well be be others, other categories of people who are involved in public life but not currently serving members of the House of Commons or of the House of Lords, where there needs to be another look at the security arrangements which are provided.
"But look, across across the piece, this is it's grim, frankly, that those in public life or those thinking about gaining public life have to consider this."
She added: "I remember exactly where I was when I found out what had happened to Jo Cox... it sticks with you."
Burnham expected to speak in Commons for first time since returning to parliament
08:36 , Dan Haygarth
Andy Burnham is expected to speak in parliament today, for the first time since he was elected as Makerfield MP, to hail the Hillsborough Law as a force for redistributive justice in Britain.
The law was a key promise in Labour’s 2024 manifesto, but has been delayed by wrangling over how the “duty of candour” would apply to spies.
A planned debate on the legislation, officially the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, was pulled earlier this year because of the row, with campaigners saying they could not accept a version of the law that gave the heads of the intelligence services a veto over whether their officers could disclose sensitive information.
The law takes its name from the 1989 disaster at Hillsborough Stadium, in Sheffield, when 97 Liverpool fans were killed in a crush during an FA Cup semi-final match.
Writing in the Liverpool Echo on Tuesday, Merseyside-born Mr Burnham said that speaking at the 20th anniversary memorial service at Anfield in 2009, when he was secretary of state for culture, media and sport, “changed” him.
Mr Burnham wrote: “It forced me to confront uncomfortable questions about how power operates in our country, and why an entire city could spend twenty years telling the truth only to be ignored.
“How could Liverpool be right all along, yet dismissed for so long? How could so many voices be raised, and so few people in authority be prepared to listen?”
His speech in parliament today is expected to echo those sentiments.
Starmer continues farewell tour with Burnham set for No 10
08:23 , Dan HaygarthSir Keir Starmer will continue his final visit to France as prime minister on Tuesday after Andy Burnham was effectively confirmed as his successor.
He is expected to attend Bastille Day celebrations alongside other world leaders in Paris, where troops from the Grenadier Guards will march alongside the French Garde Republicaine.
The celebrations follow Sir Keir’s final “coalition of the willing” summit on Monday, at which fellow leaders Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelensky and Friedrich Merz paid tribute to his impact on the world stage.
French president Mr Macron told Sir Keir that “we owe you a lot, prime minister”, while Mr Merz, the German chancellor, said he would “phone you occasionally to get your opinion on this or that”.
Mr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, thanked Sir Keir for his “constant, steadfast support”, which the Prime Minister said would continue under his successor.
That successor is now guaranteed to be Andy Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor, who secured the backing of 349 Labour MPs on Monday.
Full story: Tony Blair warns Andy Burnham ‘you are not going to be loved’ in leadership advice
08:00 , Dan Haygarth
Blair warns Burnham ‘you are not going to be loved’ in leadership advice
Fears over safety are deterrent from entering public life, minister says
07:48 , Millie CookeFears over safety act as a deterrent from people entering public life, a minister has said, adding she considered not becoming an MP over concerns for her wellbeing.
Lucy Rigby, chief secretary to the Treasury, told Sky News: “There are issues of safety, and this climate of abuse - including on social media, intimidation in some of the horrific cases we’ve seen, violence - is really really troubling.
“It's not just peculiar to the UK but it is nevertheless something which we are dealing with in this country.”
She added: “Speaking from a personal point of view, I thought twice about standing for Parliament - I know what I believe and I wanted to stand up and speak for my community … - but particularly as a woman and particularly as one with a family, I’ve thought about my own safety and my families safety.”
“This is something that we shouldn’t need those that want to be in public life to have to consider… it’s a deterrent. It’s awful”, she said.
'We did not stay silent': Hillsborough campaigners welcome third reading of bill
07:34 , Dan HaygarthThe Hillsborough Law Now campaign has welcomed the tabling of the third reading of the Public Office Accountability bill (Hillsborough Law) today.
The watershed bill will introduce a statutory duty of candour on all public officials and authorities as well as expand the availability of non-means-tested funding for bereaved families to be legally represented at inquests where the state is represented.
In a joint statement, campaigners Charlotte Hennessy, Sue Roberts, Steve Kelly and Margaret Aspinall said: "Following the conclusions of the fresh Hillsborough Inquests in 2016, we knew that we could not stand by and let professionals and organisations continue to abuse their positions of power.
“For 10 years we have campaigned for a change in the law to stop cover ups, and enable bereaved families, access to legal aid at a time when they need it the most.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to fight for this monumental change of law alongside so many other strong, dedicated campaigners.
“We have shown that true power belongs to ordinary people.
“We did not stay silent, we were not ground down, we were not afraid to speak truth to power.
“This is not just about legislation, but about changing the way the bereaved and survivors are treated and a change in culture and it is deeply empowering knowing that this protect others, forever.”
Earlier this year, The Independent spoke to Ms Aspinall about her tireless campaigning for a Hillsborough Law as she featured on our influence list on International Women’s Day. You can read that piece below.
Margaret Aspinall: Why I’m not afraid to tell Starmer how it is
Hillsborough Law to return to Commons after deal on transparency for spies
07:28 , Dan HaygarthThe Hillsborough Law is to clear the Commons on Tuesday after ministers agreed its duty of candour would apply to the intelligence services.
Sir Keir Starmer said he was “proud” to bring back the legislation, which aims to prevent cover-ups by requiring officials to be transparent during investigations and inquiries into failures by the state.
The prime minister will personally steer the legislation through its final Commons stages as he seeks to secure his legacy in the closing days of his premiership.
He has pushed back what is expected to be his final Cabinet meeting to Wednesday in order to speak at the third reading stage of the legislation.
The law was a key promise in Labour’s 2024 manifesto, but has been delayed by wrangling over how the “duty of candour” would apply to spies.
A planned debate on the legislation, officially the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, was pulled earlier this year because of the row, with campaigners saying they could not accept a version of the law that gave the heads of the intelligence services a veto over whether their officers could disclose sensitive information.
On Tuesday, ministers will amend the Bill to bring spies within the scope of the duty of candour, but with a “secure process” for disclosing information that could affect national security.
Lib Dem leader warns Burnham to change voting system 'before it is too late'
07:26 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Ed Davey will warn incoming prime minister Andy Burnham to introduce proportional representation before the next election amid fears delaying would mean change would come "too late".
Speaking to the Institute for Government on Tuesday, the Liberal Democrat leader is expected to warn Labour may be “powerless to do anything” to change the voting system after the next election.
And he will urge Mr Burnham to work with him in office, saying if he is “serious about changing the way we do politics” then his “door is open”.
Mr Burnham, the incoming prime minister, has previously spoken in favour of changing the voting system in parliamentary elections to more closely reflect the support parties receive across the country.
But during his campaign in Makerfield, he suggested he would not change the voting system immediately if he became prime minister, but would instead include the commitment in Labour’s next manifesto in order to secure a mandate from the public for change.
On Tuesday, Sir Ed will tell Mr Burnham to “be bold, be brave” in pushing for proportional representation, adding: “And do it now. Don’t wait until it is too late.
“Don’t wait until after the next election – when you might be powerless to do anything about it.”
Blair urges Burnham to maintain close ties with US 'whoever the president is'
07:25 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Sir Tony Blair has urged Andy Burnham to keep up a strong relationship with the US regardless of who the president is.
Speaking at the Tony Blair Institute (TBI)’s summer drinks reception at the National Theatre in London on Monday night, the former prime minister said Mr Burnham needed to maintain close ties because of the threat of an invasion to Europe from Russia.
He also warned warned the former Greater Manchester mayor about continuing with energy secretary Ed Miliband’s net zero policies, and told him that despite riding a wave of popularity that has propelled him to No 10, “you are not going to be loved”.
Andy Burnham votes in favour of controversial asylum reforms
07:23 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Prime minister-to-be Andy Burnham has voted in favour of Shabana Mahmood's controversial plans for asylum reform less than a week before he is expected to take on the premiership.
On Monday night the Immigration and Asylum Bill passed its second reading by 264 votes to 90, with a majority of 174.
The proposals aim to cut the number of small boat crossings and instead direct people to alternative “safe and legal routes”.
They include new tighter rules on how Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which covers an individual’s right to a private and family life, will be applied, which the Home Office hopes will cut the number of asylum appeals being granted.
But the plans have been criticised by a number of backbenchers, 14 of whom rebelled against the government.
