Jonn Elledge

Andy Burnham’s emerging political approach is presented as potentially more ambitious than Keir Starmer’s government, particularly through enthusiasm for devolution and a commitment to social care reform. Although the retention of Shabana Mahmood and Bridget Phillipson suggests continuity on immigration and trans rights, Burnham’s focus on rebuilding local government offers a possible diagnosis of Britain’s institutional problems. The writer welcomes the sense of purpose while warning that turning ambition into effective reform will be difficult.

Nigel Farage faces renewed scrutiny over the £5m donation he received from cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne before deciding not to run for Parliament in 2024. Farage first described the money as an unconditional gift that he could spend freely, then argued that it was needed for personal security. During a BBC Breakfast interview, he refused to disclose whether the money had actually been spent on security, insisting that this was not the public's business.

The Makerfield by-election was damaging for Keir Starmer, with Andy Burnham’s sizeable victory and reports of intense hostility toward the prime minister reinforcing doubts about Starmer’s future. However, victories for Labour and the Conservatives, including the Conservatives’ first Scottish by-election win in 59 years, challenge assumptions that Reform UK is ending Britain’s traditional two-party dominance. The results suggest that Nigel Farage’s anticipated momentum may be faltering and that the political duopoly could remain more resilient than Westminster commentators expect.

The Green Party of England and Wales rapidly removed Chris Kennedy as its Makerfield by-election candidate after reports linked him to posts portraying antisemitic attacks in Golders Green as a false flag. The piece contrasts that response with Reform UK’s failure to replace Robert Kenyon despite newspapers and Hope Not Hate uncovering controversial material in his social media history, arguing that the two parties differ fundamentally in how they handle problematic candidates.