BBC Politics
Union Backing Seals Labour Crown for Burnham, Democracy Takes a Nap
Andy Burnham secures Labour leadership with union backing and 379 MP nominations, making a party vote unnecessary and democracy slightly less exciting.
2026-07-15
BBC Politics
BBC Politics
Cold War Secrecy Blamed for Messy Nuclear Test Veteran Records, Report Finds
Cold War secrecy and bureaucratic chaos left nuclear test veterans' medical records in shambles - some were even destroyed because their birth dates were listed as 1800.
BBC Business
Thames Water Posts Profit After Jacking Up Bills by 40%; Debt Still Bigger Than Small Country's GDP
Thames Water posts profit after 40% bill hike, but debt balloons to £18.5bn, complaints soar 77%, and the firm waits to see if new PM Andy Burnham will nationalise it.
The Guardian Europe
Palantir's Cozy British Cuddle: Paid Access and Thin Rules Let 'Scariest Company' Settle Into NHS
Palantir's £330m NHS deal and other British contracts show how paid access and weak rules let a 'scary' tech firm settle in - but escape is possible.
2026-07-14
BBC Politics
MPs Finally Set to Approve Hillsborough Law, Because Apparently Telling the Truth Is a Novel Idea
MPs are expected to finally pass the Hillsborough Law, which requires public officials to tell the truth - a radical concept that took 36 years and 97 deaths to propose.
The Guardian
South East Water to Pay £30.5m for Doing the Bare Minimum, and Failing
South East Water gets slapped with a £30.5m fine for failing to provide water, because apparently that's not automatic.
2026-07-13
The Guardian Europe
Homelessness Set to Increase by 25% by 2030, Because Apparently We Haven't Learned Anything
Projections show homelessness in England could rise 25% by 2030 unless bold action is taken; Burnham promises big housing push.
2026-07-12
BBC Politics
Burnham Adviser Promises to Make Poor People Slightly Less Poor, Eventually
Andy Burnham's adviser says he'll put money in people's pockets, but won't say how much or when. Also, water and buses.
2026-07-10
BBC Politics
Labour Under Burnham Promises to Be 'Faster and Bolder,' Which Sounds Great Until You Realize That's What They Said Last Time
Andy Burnham's Labour promises speed and emotional openness; opposition parties want actual policies, not just a relocated postcode.
2026-07-07
BBC Politics
Nigel Farage Does That Thing Where He Resigns to Grab Attention Again
Nigel Farage, facing an ethics inquiry over undeclared gifts, resigns as MP for Clacton to trigger a by-election he'll contest, framing it as 'people vs. establishment'.
The Guardian
Ex-Nato Chief Says UK Defence Plan: Too Little, Too Late, Also a Bit Embarrassing
The UK's defence plan gets a thumbs-down from the guy who wrote the review, just in time for a chilly Nato summit.
The Guardian
Thames Water Creditors Plot Rescue Bid Even If Nationalised, Because Why Not Add More Drama?
Thames Water creditors, holding £14bn in debt, plan to bid for the company even if it's nationalised, because who doesn't love a good financial drama with 16 million customers as the audience?
2026-07-06
BBC Politics
Treasury Still Views Defence Spending as a Black Hole, Not a Growth Engine, Says Ex-Minister
John Healey says the Treasury treats defence spending like a cost rather than an investment, leaving the UK lagging on NATO pledges and creating a £5bn hole for the next PM.
The Guardian
Labour MPs to Water Companies: Stop Letting Our Lidos Go Down the Drain
Labour MPs want water companies to fund reopening of Britain's lost lidos - because nothing says 'public health' like making a utility pay for your summer swim.
2026-07-05
The Guardian Europe
Blair's Globalisation Rant Aged About as Well as His Legacy, and Now Someone's Got to Fix It
Tony Blair's 2005 ode to globalisation didn't age well for Britain's former industrial heartlands, but at least the next PM-in-waiting acknowledges the mess.
2026-07-04
The Guardian
Labour Deputy Claims No 10 ‘Boys Club’ Silenced Critics, Hopes Burnham Will Bring Grown-Up Briefing Culture
Lucy Powell says No 10 was a boys club that silenced women via nasty briefings, and hopes Andy Burnham will bring a meritocracy where feet stay on the floor.
2026-07-03
BBC Politics
Starmer Warns Burnham: Good Luck Trying to Ignore the World on Fire While You're Busy Fixing Potholes
Outgoing PM Sir Keir Starmer warns Andy Burnham he'll be stuck dealing with global chaos too, because apparently the world doesn't care about your domestic agenda.
BBC Politics
Labour MPs Propose £1m Cap on Political Donations, Because Democracy Shouldn't Be an Auction
Labour MPs propose capping political donations at £1m, because democracy shouldn't be an auction - especially now that the other guys are winning.
2026-07-02
BBC Politics
Burnham Woos Union Bosses, Promises to Give the People Some of Their Stuff Back
Andy Burnham chats up union leaders, promises local control of stuff, and tries to avoid a civil war over Ed Miliband's potential chancellor gig.
The Guardian Europe
Andy Burnham Promises to Move No. 10 to Manchester, Because Who Needs London?
Andy Burnham wants to move No. 10 to Manchester, complete with civil servants, security headaches, and a barber hoping for a trim.
The Good Times
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