Author: Eniola Amadu

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he will contest any Labour leadership election triggered following Andy Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield by-election. He said he would not step aside if such a contest takes place and would remain in the race as the sitting leader. The prime minister cautioned that a leadership contest could destabilise the party and urged focus instead on the forthcoming by-election to select a new Mayor of Greater Manchester following Burnham’s return to Parliament. “If there is a contest, then, yes, I will stand,” he said, adding that he was not prepared to “walk away”. READ…

Andy Burnham has won the Makerfield by-election, securing a return to the House of Commons intensifying pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with senior Labour figures openly discussing the prospect of a leadership contest. Burnham, the outgoing Mayor of Greater Manchester, secured 55% of the vote to reclaim a seat in Parliament, defeating Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon by 9,231 votes Speaking to supporters after the victory, Burnham described the outcome as a “turning point”, saying voters had backed greater powers for northern England and demanded a new direction in politics. “The people have voted for change. They have voted…

Britain and India will commence a free trade agreement next month after New Delhi stated its concerns on the United Kingdom’s forthcoming steel tariff regime, which had threatened to delay implementation, had been addressed. The two countries agreed to the long-anticipated trade pact last year, linking the world’s fifth and sixth largest economies in one of the most significant agreements of its kind amid global trade tensions linked to tariffs introduced during the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. The estimation of the UK government projects that the deal will increase British gross domestic product by £4.8 billion and raise…

British officials have revealed that they have been in talks with senior members of US President Donald Trump’s administration over the United Kingdom’s(UK)  planned restrictions on children’s access to social media platforms. The proposed ban, which affects platforms including X, Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok, places the UK among the first countries to introduce restrictions on children’s use of social media, following Australia’s similar move. Officials said the discussions were aimed at assuring US authorities that the measures are not specifically targeted at American technology companies. According to a person involved in the discussions, British ministers adopted a three-pronged strategy…

UK Defence Secretary John Healey has resigned over the government’s military spending plans, accusing Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves of endangering the country’s security amid growing international threats. In his resignation letter, Healey criticised the government’s long-awaited Defence Investment Plan (DIP), saying it does not go far enough to meet the UK’s security needs at a time of heightened global risk. “You have been unable and the Treasury has been unwilling to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats,” Healey wrote. He added: “I would not be able to accept…

A document released under the Freedom of Information Act has disclosed that unaccompanied children were detained at UK-run centres in France nearly 300 times last year. The data forms part of about 900 cases in which lone minors have been held at British short-term facilities near Calais and Dunkirk over the past four years. Reacting to the released document, refugee charities expressed shock at the figures, raising concerns about the privacy and treatment of children held in UK-run facilities in France. Criticising the condition of the facilities, inspectors have raised concerns over the poor conditions and operational procedures at UK-run…

Resident doctors in England are set to embark on a new round of strike action in June. This follows a meeting between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Health Secretary, James Murray. It is understood that Murray ruled out pay negotiations, describing the union’s demands for higher wages as “unrealistic and unaffordable.” Resident doctors in England have seen pay increases of around 33% over the past four years, including a 3.5% rise this year. Their starting salaries now stand at just over £40,000, while the most senior resident doctors earn about £76,500 in basic pay. In addition, many doctors…

Keir Starmer has revealed that Russian aggression remains the biggest challenge facing the UK and Poland as both countries signed a new defence and security agreement. Starmer held talks with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk at RAF Northolt in west London to formalise the agreement. The UK Prime Minister said the pact comprises creating defence jobs, boosting cyber defence, securing borders more effectively, and breaking up organised crime groups, describing the agreement as a “generational uplift” in the relationship with Poland. Giving his reason for the agreement, Starmer said: “There’s no greater challenge for either of our countries than the…

Following the resignation of Wes Streeting from the UK goverment, James Murray has been appointed Secretary of State for Health and Social Care . The appointment was announced in a post on the prime minister’s official page on X. It stated: “The Rt Hon James Murray MP has been appointed Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.” The MP for Ealing North has held several positions in both government and opposition, including Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury from October 2020 and Deputy Mayor of London for Housing. Murray joined Keir Starmer’s cabinet as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury…

Former Health Secretary, Wes Streeting has expressed his readiness to contest against Keir Starmer as UK Prime Minister if there is an opportunity. He made this known at a conference organised by the thinktank Progress confirming his willingness, and accused Starmer’s leadership approach of discouraging innovative policy ideas within government, describing the culture as “heavy-handed.” Wes Streeting criticised the Labour Party’s performance during its first two years in government, arguing that the administration entered office without enough preparation. The former health secretary also described Keir Starmer’s proposed winter fuel allowance cut as a “catastrophe” and said the party had failed…