UK debt ‘hits £3 trillion’ milestone Economics The size of the UK’s national debt has now risen above £3 trillion, analysis has suggested, reflecting the burden facing taxpayers across the country. A tracker by a rightwing campaign group and think tank has suggested that national debt had reached the long-awaited milestone after an explosion in spending since 2020. The Taxpayers’ Alliance based [...]
Burnham scraps digital ID scheme Politics Andy Burnham will scrap Labour’s digital ID scheme when he becomes Prime Minister, as part of a “reset of priorities” over the cost of living crisis. The incoming Prime Minister said on Saturday that he would ditch the programme, set out only months ago by Sir Keir Starmer, and spend the money saved on “improving [...]
Keir Starmer wasn’t weird enough for Westminster Opinion A Prime Minister more comfortable behind football stands than the dispatch box, Starmer was too normal for politics in the end, writes Tom Harwood.
Burnham’s new chief of staff ran City firm advising Thames Water and rival Heathrow bidder June 24, 2026 Andy Burnham’s likely chief of staff will move to Downing Street from a lobbying firm that counts Thames Water and the rival bidder for Heathrow’s third runway as clients, just as ministers mull decisions that could decide both organisations’ fate. James Purnell is widely tipped to become Burnham’s most senior right-hand man should the Makerfield [...]
Tony Blair has issued a call to arms – but will Labour listen? June 3, 2026 Tony Blair’s blockbuster intervention is a reminder of a time when the government believed business was part of the solution to Britain’s problems, says Steve Rigby For entrepreneurs, looking back can be anathema. Everything is about the future – the next customer, the next acquisition, the carefully-plotted route towards a big-money exit. But for those [...]
Brits back Blair’s growth calls – yet are squeamish over welfare cuts June 1, 2026 Most Britons back Tony Blair’s demands to prioritise cheaper energy over net zero and support the private sector to boost growth, yet are squeamish over slashing disability payments and reforming the triple lock pension, polling has shown. Following up on Tony Blair’s rallying call for potential Labour leadership contenders to focus on growth, Morning Wire/Freshwater [...]
Burnham hits back at Blair with more state control for ‘good growth’ May 29, 2026 Andy Burnham has called for stronger state intervention in the economy to deliver what he calls “good growth,” lashing back at Tony Blair’s blueprint for Labour’s future direction. The Greater Manchester mayor conceded areas of agreement with the three-time election winner — notably on the importance of economic growth— but accused Blair of a “gaping [...]
Tony Blair is the only sensible voice left in Labour May 28, 2026 After reading Tony Blair’s essay on the state of Britain (and the state of the Labour party) I was struck by the realisation that large parts of it sounded as if they’d come straight out of one of my own columns. Regular readers will know that I’ve often used this slot to point out the contradiction [...]
‘It’s important we increase spending’: Treasury minister defends triple lock pension May 27, 2026 A Treasury minister has defended the triple lock pension as a sustainable policy despite former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair attacking the benefit for being unaffordable. Dan Tomlinson said it was “important we have the triple lock and that we increase spending on pensioners”, doubling down on the controversial manifesto commitment that has been criticised [...]
Tony Blair accuses Starmer of damaging economy by clinging to manifesto pledges May 27, 2026 Sir Tony Blair has taken a swipe at Sir Keir Starmer for sticking to campaign pledges from Labour’s 2024 manifesto, which he says are economically damaging and should have been dropped “right at the outset.” In a 5,000-word essay published by his think tank, Labour’s longest serving PM pointed out that Budgets put forward by [...]