Carmen Aguilar García

Andy Burnham’s first cabinet is the first in British history to achieve equal representation of women, with women holding half of the positions. MPs from North West England are disproportionately represented, reflecting Burnham’s Greater Manchester base. Private-school representation has risen to 22%, though it remains below levels seen under recent Conservative governments. More than half of the cabinet attended Oxford or Cambridge, far above the proportion in the general population, while four ministers from ethnic-minority backgrounds account for 14% of the cabinet—close to the UK population share but below the level reached under Rishi Sunak.

Analysis of Elon Musk’s X activity shows he posted far more about UK race and immigration than about SpaceX in the days leading up to the company’s IPO. Nearly three-quarters of his 303 posts on race and immigration focused on UK politics, drawing government criticism over accusations of stoking division. Musk amplified far-right figures including Rupert Lowe and Tommy Robinson and commented extensively on the Henry Nowak murder case and subsequent unrest. Researchers warn his wealth and influence distort democratic debate, while data shows his posts generated tens of millions of views for far-right accounts.