Tag: News Story

STORY

Sterling dipped as speculation mounted that Keir Starmer could announce a timetable for leaving office. Reuters reported that the pound fell by around 0.2% against the dollar on Monday as investors monitored the political uncertainty surrounding the Prime Minister’s future.

The market reaction came after several days of pressure on Starmer following Andy Burnham’s Makerfield by-election victory. Analysts said Britain’s fiscal position, high debt interest costs and weak growth meant that any new Labour leader would have limited room for large spending commitments, even if they promised a change of political direction.

Burnham has said he would respect the Government’s fiscal rules, but investors are expected to scrutinise any leadership campaign for signs of tax, borrowing or spending changes. The political uncertainty comes as the UK continues to face high borrowing costs compared with other major economies.

STORY

Keir Starmer is expected to set out a timetable for his departure as Prime Minister after growing pressure from Labour MPs following Andy Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield by-election. Reports on Monday said Starmer had spent the weekend considering his position after previously saying that he would contest any leadership challenge.

Reuters reported that Starmer could announce an orderly transition, with Burnham waiting in the wings after returning to Parliament. The pressure on the Prime Minister has increased since Burnham’s by-election win, which gave him the parliamentary seat needed to mount a leadership challenge from within the House of Commons.

The potential change of leadership would come less than two years after Labour’s landslide general election victory. It would also add to a decade of political instability in the UK, with questions now focusing on whether Labour would hold a full leadership contest or move towards an uncontested handover to Burnham.

STORY

The Ministry of Defence has awarded Leonardo UK an initial £27 million contract to supply essential consumable spares for military aircraft across the UK’s fixed-wing and rotary-wing fleet. The contract could be worth up to £70 million over seven years and will support 75 jobs in the UK defence industry.

The Aircraft Consumables Commodities contract covers around 11,000 NATO Stock Numbers, including parts and materials used to keep aircraft operational. The aircraft covered include Typhoon fighter jets, Apache and Chinook helicopters, and A400M and C-17 transport aircraft, some of which are currently deployed on live operations in the Middle East.

The MOD said the contract will give Leonardo responsibility for forecasting, procurement, stock management and obsolescence management for essential spares. Defence minister Luke Pollard said the investment would help maintain aircraft used to protect the UK and support operations overseas, while the MOD said the new system would provide a more efficient model for managing spares across defence aviation.

STORY

A number of Labour MPs have publicly rallied behind Keir Starmer as pressure continues over his leadership following Andy Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield by-election. The Prime Minister is facing renewed speculation about his future, with reports that senior Labour figures are discussing whether he should stand down or agree a transition timetable.

Samantha Niblett, the Labour MP for South Derbyshire, said on social media that constituents at a coffee morning had thanked her for backing the Prime Minister and that comments and emails about her support had been “almost entirely gratitude”. She also said that constituents already knew she backed Starmer and called on others to sign up and contact their own MPs. Michael Payne, the Labour MP for Gedling, also urged the party to “stop the noise”, back the Prime Minister and focus on delivery.

Payne later wrote in LabourList that Starmer’s support for Ukraine, work with allies and focus on public services formed a record “worth defending”. He said Labour should not “spend its time indulging Westminster psychodrama” and argued that changing leaders would invite demands for an early general election. The public backing came as it is reported that Starmer was considering his political future, while other Labour figures continued to debate whether Burnham should replace him as party leader and Prime Minister.

STORY

Jeremy Corbyn has criticised Andy Burnham’s economic approach following the Greater Manchester mayor’s victory in the Makerfield by-election. Corbyn said that Burnham seemed “to be accepting too much of the austerity that we’ve had imposed upon us and doesn’t appear to be doing anything, as I can see it, differently internationally”.

Burnham won the Makerfield contest on 19 June, returning to the House of Commons and strengthening speculation that he could challenge Starmer for the Labour leadership. He used his victory speech to call for “fundamental change” in Britain, including changes to the economy, immigration, education and industry, and said the result showed Labour had a final chance to change direction.

STORY

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has opened an investigation into a dangerous occurrence at Todmorden in West Yorkshire after an out-of-service Northern train made an uncontrolled movement towards Todmorden Viaduct Junction. The incident happened at around 22:28 on 7 May 2026 and was announced by the RAIB on 19 June 2026.

The RAIB said the driver of the out-of-service train had been given permission by the signaller to move closer to a signal on Todmorden West Curve. However, the driver was not aware that the train was already standing with its driving cab beyond that signal, resulting in an uncontrolled movement towards the junction. The driver realised what had happened and brought the train to a stop close to the junction.

Around 12 seconds later, the 21:57 Manchester Victoria to Leeds passenger service, also operated by Northern, passed through the junction at about 45mph after leaving Todmorden station. The RAIB said there were no injuries or damage, but its investigation will examine the sequence of events, signalling systems, staff training and competence, revised working arrangements and any underlying management factors.

STORY

Chris Elmore has been appointed as the UK’s Special Envoy on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has announced. The role will focus on international work to tackle the use of rape and sexual violence as weapons of war.

The Government said the appointment follows the launch of a UK-led international coalition to end violence against women and girls. Ministers said up to 30% of women and girls living in conflict zones face sexual violence, and that the envoy would work with international partners to strengthen action.

Elmore’s appointment places him in a diplomatic role linked to the UK’s wider human rights and foreign policy agenda. The Government said the work would include seeking accountability, supporting survivors and strengthening international commitments to prevent sexual violence in conflict.

STORY

The Government has announced a package worth almost £100 million to strengthen wildfire resilience ahead of the summer. Ministers said the funding would support specialist trained firefighters and improve fire and rescue assets as the country prepares for higher wildfire risks.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said the measures would help ensure specialist wildfire capability was available to communities. The announcement follows growing concern about the impact of extreme heat, dry weather and climate-related risks on emergency services.

Fire Safety Minister Samantha Dixon said the package was intended to support fire and rescue services in responding to future threats. The Government said the investment forms part of wider work to ensure emergency services are prepared for changing risks during periods of hot weather.

STORY

A survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations has found that two-thirds of EU citizens across 15 countries would back the UK rejoining the European Union. The polling, reported by the Guardian, also found strong support in Britain for closer ties with the EU ten years after the Brexit referendum.

The survey found that 66% of EU respondents viewed UK membership as a positive or neutral idea, with support highest in the Netherlands and Denmark. In the UK, 75% of respondents backed a closer relationship with the EU and 63% said they would accept freedom of movement in return for closer trading ties.

The findings come as the Government continues to pursue a reset in UK-EU relations without reopening the question of formal membership. The survey adds to the political debate over how far Britain should go in rebuilding economic, trade and security links with the bloc.

STORY

The Conservatives have attacked Andy Burnham’s economic approach as Labour MPs consider whether to replace Keir Starmer with the newly elected MP for Makerfield. Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride said Burnham taking over would be bad for the country and warned that financial markets would be watching his comments on borrowing and fiscal rules.

Stride told Sky News that Burnham had made what he described as foolish remarks about bond markets and said there was a difference between winning a by-election, serving as a mayor and becoming Prime Minister. He also said Labour remained addicted to debt and borrowing.

Burnham’s supporters argue that his record in Greater Manchester shows he can connect with voters and deliver a more devolved model of Government. The exchanges suggest that opposition parties are preparing to scrutinise Burnham’s fiscal credibility if he moves formally towards a leadership campaign.