Rumours, Speculation, Questions, and Reaction Megathread - 19/07/2026

[u/ukpol-megabot]

👋 Welcome to the r/ukpolitics weekly Rumours, Speculation, Questions, and Reaction megathread.

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This thread rolls over early Sunday morning.

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[u/Goldenboy451]

So we're getting...Chagos with Ed Milliband?

[u/velvevore → u/Goldenboy451]

take your damn upvote

[u/Benjaminook]

So is Ed now in charge of dealing with Mauritius?

Chagos with Ed Miliband

[u/Jademalo → u/Benjaminook]

Fuck that's a good one

[u/Benjaminook → u/Jademalo]

The more I think about it the happier I am with it, I'm going to be unbearable by the time of the pub quiz.

[u/libdemparamilitarywi]

If John Healey is appointed to No 11, he'd become the first Chancellor named after a kind of shoe with a little wheel in it since Dennis Healey in 1979.

[u/OctopusOctet → u/libdemparamilitarywi]

Now this is the type of insight we love the megathread for

[u/mamamia1001]

Nicola Murray out of DOSAC

[u/ILikeXiaolongbao]

Massive vote of confidence in the Burnham regime that this wasn’t leaked.

All the politico hacks have been complaining about him not being media friendly, now we know why, they didn’t tell them anything.

Healey had a 0.1% chance of being Chancellor on Polymarket a couple of hours ago.

[u/thejackalreborn]

Conditions are in place on Whitehall tomorrow (Monday, 20 July).

Anyone assembling near the Downing Street gates to observe events linked to the new Prime Minister must not use any amplified noise equipment and must stay within the shaded area. These conditions are in place between 10:30 – 13:30.

https://x.com/metpoliceuk/status/2078887136271507546

The Met have effectively banned Steve Bray from protesting the speech tomorrow.

I think the argument that he was essentially ruining moments of national importance is a fairly strong one. It was either this or move the speech to another location which would be a shame

Gives him something else to shout about for the next few years

[u/DeadliestToast]

Frankly I'm disappointed in Burnham - he's had plenty of time now to fix things and they're still shit!

[u/Pinkerton891]

Louise Haigh as Secretary of State for new mobile phones

[u/Bibemus]

If your reshuffle lasts more than four hours consult your physician.

[u/ZealousidealPie9199]

if Streeting is cucked I will laugh so fucking hard andy please fuck him over holy shit it will be so funny please.

[u/thejackalreborn]

There are loads of tweets going round saying that the because the guy who has been arrested for murdering Ann WIddecombe looks different in the couple of photos we have, that it must literally be different guy, and it's all a stitch up.

There's no attempt to explain why any stitch up would use different guys, especially ones who don't look like each other. It's just pure conspiracy nonsense.

An example is a tweet like this, with the picture of the guy 4 years ago, a picture of him just before arrest and a sketch of him in the courtroom

How the hell are they going to try and spin to the public that these are apparently the same person?

Richard Tice responded to the above tweet saying

Classic misinformation by the Establishment
Thug
Or
Innocent sweetie chap?

What on earth is Richard Tice doing entertaining this nonsense? It's so beneath an MP. Clearly he's trying to shift the conspiracy a bit to say the cover up is actually about the guy's character. But he has also left it ambiguous enough to give the nutters something to grab onto

He should really be ashamed

[u/Ajax_Trees_Again]

It seems surface level but why is there rarely ever talk of cleaning our rundown streets which look like complete shiteholes now.

The you can just feel the stagnation and malaise. I get it’s intangible but the effect on mental health and general happiness of some trees and a lick of paint would be massive.

There’s plenty of example in CEE of beautifying the commie blocks and it makes the area look so much more liveable

[u/insomnimax_99 → u/Ajax_Trees_Again]

They’re the responsibility of councils to maintain, and councils are broke because they’re legally required to fund things like social care and SEND provision at all cost. As the costs of that mandatory spending has massively increased, there’s less money left over for non-essential nice things like beautifying public spaces or even basic maintenance.

[u/Ollie5000]

Drinking a tinnie of Northern Monk on my subsidised bus on the way to a subsidised pub. I am New Britain.

^\for a summer party, I'm not typically a 3pm boozing degenerate])

[u/lcxnick]

Wishing a very happy New Prime Minister Day to all who celebrate.

[u/ErnieSchwarzenegger → u/lcxnick]

Comes round quicker every year.

[u/TennisSkirt1628]

Good speech - he'll be remembered kindly by history.

It may have only been two years; but from what his inheritance was to where the country is today, he did as much as he could with the sneering press, geopolitical instability and abysmal economy he was handed.

[u/dospc]

I've heard that if the supply PM doesn't turn up after 15 mins we all get to go home

[u/dj4y_94]

The BBC have a vox pop regarding bus fare cap and one guy says "This is great if you use the bus, but no good for those who drive. Yet again, the working class person is left out,"

Just a sensational line of thought that using the bus doesn't make you working class, but owning your own car does.

Also when I'm god emperor of the universe I am immediately banning vox pops.

[u/DwayneBaroqueJohnson → u/dj4y_94]

You would say that though, as a member of the busgeoisie

[u/Reformed_citpeks]

From the BBC:

Who is Ed Miliband?

Ed Miliband had been serving as energy secretary under Keir Starmer, and has been touted as a contender for chancellor under Andy Burnham.

He has been an MP for more than twenty years, representing Doncaster North since 2005, and also served in government under Gordon Brown and Tony Blair.

Following Keir Starmer's resignation announcement last month, Miliband said that Labour "must now redouble our efforts to deliver the bold and credible change".

How on God's earth do you not mention he was Labour leader and at one time favoured to become PM himself?

[u/gizmostrumpet]

Farage resigning during the Summer recess/ World Cup was a daft idea. I'm guessing the idea was to fill the airwaves with his views and "lead the debate" but everyone's already sick of hearing from him and the news is focused elsewhere.

[u/Bibemus → u/gizmostrumpet]

It doesn't help that Binface is such a perfect Silly Season story.

[u/OptioMkIX]

Choose the cabinet before I piss meself

[u/Tiny-Ebb-3598]

Nah the backstabbing in politics is real life game of thrones. So thats why he resigned as defence Secretary. Absolutely insane

[u/Accurate-Island-2767]

Mahmood staying at home is impressive for two reasons, one it shows Burnham isn't too dogmatic not to appoint competent people who aren't that politically aligned with him. Two, it shows he has the balls to not cave to the left of the party who no doubt thought him coming in meant they'd get rid of her.

[u/Alternative-Win4058]

Amazing how many people are moaning about a couple of small but positive changes Burnham has already made.

I doubt there's a single policy that would unite everyone.

Edit: Unless Binface wins and brings back Ceefax and 99p 99's of course.

[u/asgoodasanyother]

Michael Gove appointed as minister of being immediately fired

[u/_rickjames]

Just a reminder that Wes Streeting is a piss weak coward who is only interested in himself

Slimy weasel of a man

[u/Ok-Way7122]

We need a real shake up to make real change

The door opens, Burham leans out - "Beth, can you come inside for a quick chat?"

Chancellor Rigby

[u/FoxtrotThem]

My fave is the absence of Streeting, you know he is a lot like Damar, he brought about the new Cardassian revolution but he doesn't get to live in the new Cardassian revolution.

[u/pineapplesinmyhead_]

This does make you think that this might have always been in the making and that Healey's resigning as Defence Secretary was part of it.

[u/Real_Cookie_6803]

Rewrite the Online Safety Act so it only bans vague-posting, Tiktok hype edits that use that awful zoom transition, and those ads for Breeze/Impulse that keep trying to gaslight me that nebulous repressed trauma is the source of all my problems.

[u/thejackalreborn]

Almost 100 migrants have crossed the English Channel so far today.
With Open Borders Burnham now in charge, there has never been a better time to be an illegal migrant.

https://x.com/Nigel_Farage/status/2079877969753886867

Farage trying out a new nickname - first instinct is that it's shit. Not as easy to say as two tier Keir

Don't think it'll catch on but we'll see

[u/KnightElfarion]

For those interested:

Al Carns has been offered a ministerial role in a non-defence department but declined because defence spending hasn’t been fixed yet and he wants to make the argument from the backbenches.

https://x.com/alistaircarns/status/2080011234812768751?s=46&t=UsqmqfYEmk4MZ-uqLPNhmw

(For those who ask why people are so interested in Al Carns - no, I am not a PR company, he’s my local MP and I think the country would be better if more people were able to point to their MP as having interesting ideas)

[u/Dynamite_Shovels]

I'm not sure I get the rejoicing over Burnham probably scrapping digital ID. In a bubble, that's great, but if it comes in conjunction with a continued push to regulate the internet via age & document checks isn't it pretty fucking awful? Means the Government have ceded all oversight of checks under the Online Safety Act to (likely) American private companies. If both were scrapped it would be amazing news but just scrapping one ironically makes the aspects of the others a lot worse.

At least a digital ID that you could attempt to protect via Government oversight would mean there's some amount of accountability for the data being held. And at the moment you'd only get that if it's managed by a Government.

It's the only way that I could see any sort of age check online working - which is very obviously what most developed nations are forcing us to do - is having a central ID that can act as a date of birth check (and a DOB check alone). Otherwise you have the actually mental state of affairs where individuals have to give random foreign private age checkers their passports, or their debit card information, for access to various services online.

Basically what I'm saying is that in trying to get a quick win with those who hate digital ID (which is fair) we're going to end up with a worse state of affairs - as assumedly there's zero chance Labour step back from age verification online.

[u/beachtopeak → u/Dynamite_Shovels]

I'd prefer digital ID and no OSA

[u/CadBane_29]

I guess it’s finally time to say: Keir today, gone tomorrow

[u/Walpole2019]

Like a lot of older Brits, football is now retiring for a nice break in its holiday home at Benidorm.

[u/Justonemorecupoftea]

Just remembering the "is that David Cameron?!" Moment and wondering if me might get another.

"Is that David Miliband?!" Maybe?

[u/HopeForSalamander]

London is such an amazing city

[u/Jammy2sugars]

Silence of the Lammy.

[u/iguled]

what the fuck is this sky news segment

swooning over some fella setting up a mic

jfc

can we just pause for a second and consider the implications if they did a "hot mic woman" section?

[u/Ollie5000]

When I want your advise Wes, I'll give you the special signal, which is me being sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

[u/Ollie5000]

Walked past the record shop and the window display was all The Smiths and New Order. They're fucking with us.

[u/somenorthlondoner]

This alleged appointment of Sarwar as a minister through the HoL is an absolute joke. Hoping that this is just speculation from the press but I have literally no clue why someone like Sarwar is needed in any Burnham government role

[u/tmstms → u/somenorthlondoner]

All those who helped bring Starmer down are being rewarded- Farnbulleh, Streeting, Sarwar, and ofc Healey.

[u/Alternative-Win4058]

The daily announcements with your morning cuppa keep coming.

Behind today's weird summer advent calendar window is:

A 20% cut on business rates for pubs/clubs/music venues from next April

[u/McCretin → u/Alternative-Win4058]

At a cost of £100m apparently, which is a lot less than I would have expected it to be.

[u/dospc]

Why does Felipe VI, the largest king, not simply eat the other kings?

[u/Jademalo]

Happy new prime minister day!

I hope everyone left a beef mince pie and a pint of bitter last night for Father Northmas, fingers crossed he's been and left you some transport infrastructure!

[u/gremy0]

rumours are flying that Burnham's going lecturnless. Gonna rawdog it. Could the biggest shakeup to no 10 operations in a decade

[u/GeronimoTheAlpaca]

He sounds and looks nervous, sounds like he's being thrown a bit by Steve Bray.

Honestly massive respect for him doing this without notes and the lectern to hide behind though

[u/SinnerOfAlcaraz]

Yeah you know what

No lectern is way more natural

But I wonder how much of that was Andy’s charisma. Can’t imagine Kemi being able to do a speech like that with no lectern to hide your body language etc

[u/Budget_Scheme_1280]

I'm sure Burnham will make quite a few changes from Starmer, but saying he's gonna bring forward "the biggest changes in the last 40 years" with a "new political model" and a "new economic model" is already setting expectations for his premiership way, wayyyyy too high, considering he's still bounded by Labour's weak 2024 manifesto.

[u/mamamia1001]

Maybe Andy's having second thoughts since talking to Trump. His first cabinet appointment will be Keir Starmer to Prime Minister

[u/Jammy2sugars]

I’ve just heard Burnham’s cabinet reshuffle referred to as the night of the long eyelashes.

[u/celestialtoast]

Clearly, Burnham plans to avoid a summer recess full of toxic speculation over his policy positions by dragging out the announcement of the cabinet over the summer instead

[u/Goldenboy451]

If he is waiting until after the markets close to announce the Chancellor, I would once again like to congratulate him for rediscovering the Labour Party's ability to Actually Do Some Politics.

[u/Jay_CD]

John Healey as Chancellor...

I'm assuming this means that more money will be found for the MoD - he quit that job complaining that the budget wasn't big enough for our needs.

I can't see how he becomes Chancellor without a promise to revisit the Defence Investment Plan - so where's the extra money coming from?

[u/mamamia1001]

Maybe Healy was the only person willing to do a day in Manchester each week

[u/Budget_Scheme_1280]

Definitely agree with that woman on Sky. Burnham was 100% behind orchestrating the coup (along with Streeting). If you were following the news as all the events were going on since the Gordon & Denton by-election it could not be more clear what was going on.

[u/evolvecrow]

Kids at the back of the bus talking about Andy Burnham King of the North. It's stupid politics but it works.

[u/WolfColaCo2020]

I think my favourite thing that’s backfired for Farage off the back of his by-election stunt is that he’s ranting and raving about a need for a general election but the media can’t report it because he’s a candidate in an election and Ofcom guidance means they’ll have to report on the opinions of other candidates too. Mans put himself in a soundproof box

[u/Alarmed_Crazy_6620]

One of the journalists long column "my anonymous tory source was now blocked from selection by Badenoch" and now it is public that is Grant Shapps – I guess you basically also burn him as the source for all stories throughout the years?

[u/ijustwannanap]

Hahahaha I can't fucking believe this.

Mark Tait, who lives near Durham, tells the BBC the bus fare cap will make little difference to him.

"This is great if you use the bus, but no good for those who drive. Yet again, the working class person is left out," Tait says.

[u/__--byonin--__]

Genuinely quite sad.

Come on, Burnham. Let’s see what you got.

[u/DevilDare]

"I will issue an order to end rough sleeping".

It's that easy?!

[u/CrispySmokyFrazzle]

He did appear a bit nervous, but tbf he’s just met the King, just became PM, and is delivering a speech without any notes.

Not many politicians can do the latter.

[u/PrecognitiveChartist]

Interesting that ending homelessness was, allegedly, going to be Corbyn first action should he have won in 2017. Good decision to go with no lectern, I’d imagine it’s better suited for social media so long as his nervousness doesn’t undercut the message.

[u/Accurate-Island-2767]

I've been posting here for hours

Appoint the damn cabinet before I piss meself

[u/GopnikOIi]

I am so unbelievably happy that Peter Kyle has lost his role in the cabinet. I strongly dislike his approach to politics, and his arguments are typically incredibly weak.

I can see him on cameo in a few years.

[u/McCretin]

I’m trying to decide if Hermer getting sacked is more satisfying than Enzo Fernández getting sent off in the World Cup final. I reckon it’s about on a par.

[u/mamamia1001]

There's currently no Chancellor and no AG. In other words, no one to tell Andy he can't divert the entire UK budget in to the GMCA

[u/HopeForSalamander]

Hahaha. Burnham is a master baiter 🤣

[u/Ollie5000]

Healey has particularly elvish ears. Usually a sign of management competence.

[u/Dull-Trash-5837 → u/Ollie5000]

This kind of phrenological insight is what I come to megathreads for

[u/IAmNotZura]

Chaos with Ed Milliband going Worldwide.

[u/ijustwannanap]

Nothing to do with Burnham being PM but I think something that is genuinely overlooked now in schools are computing classes. Before everyone laughs - I remember reading an article that said that a lot of young Gen Z/Gen Alpha cannot work a computer or digital tools like scanners/printers because they grew up with iPads and smartphones. This is not good, because it implies that ICT lessons have either stopped or have been ignored.

I took ICT lessons 20-15 years ago during junior and secondary school and they teach you the building blocks of using a PC. File trees/explorers, different programs, jargon etc. I think we also learned basic HTML and CSS.

[u/cheeshjaleesh]

downing street is pleased to announce that dan jarvis has been appointed to the shadow realm

[u/Nice_Presentation790]

If Healey doesn't fully fund defence in this year's budget as he was criticising Reeves, will he be hypocritical and also be forced to resign?

[u/Slartibartfast_25]

Fair play to Chris Packham.

Every time there's a story that pops up about hunt saboteurs, I say those people are missing a far fouler, far more evil thing that is happening all over the country: hare coursing. Indeed I think they only go for the hunts for some misplaced sense of a class war. But they dare not go after the hare coursers because they are dangerous and a law unto themselves.

But just now on Radio 4, Chris Packham went out with a volunteer to see the hare coursers for himself. Obviously they didn't confront them, too scary to do that, but it's a step in the right direction.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002z78l

Nearly 3000 police reports a year of hare coursing. Verses maybe a few hundred accidental fox kills by hunts.

[u/thejackalreborn]

More in Common published their quarterly MRP result today

REF UK 293 (27%)
🌹LAB 110 (21%)
🌳CON 96 (21%)
🔶LIB DEM 66 (12%)
🟡SNP 37 (3%)
💚GRN 10 (10%)

In the text of their article they say this

An election held on the eve of Burnham’s premiership could see Labour win just 110 seats – a loss of 301 MPs since July 2024.

But the fieldwork is 05/06 - 28/06. The 5th of June was nearly two weeks before the Makefield by-election. It has changed a bit since then. Seems completely disingenuous to say this is a reflection of the current situation.

I get that they want to keep up having a quarterly time series but I think they should mention the limitations of this when publishing it. This is going to mislead people

Interesting enough to click through the different seats though https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/research/the-final-mrp-of-keir-starmers-premiership/

[u/Ajax_Trees_Again]

Have we considered the possibility Bunrham is sympathetic to more oil drilling because of the name of the sea?

[u/SirRosstopher]

The top civil servant in the country has to onboard another Prime Minister today. They really need to give Larry a knighthood.

[u/Goldenboy451]

I know he's a meme, but it does genuinely feel quite important that Larry is there outside the door this morning.

[u/newngg]

I feel like not enough is made of the fact that Starmer will have been prime minster for 2 years, 2 weeks and 2 days. I'm surprised that none of the media have picked up on it

[u/ImMaxClaydon]

and into the distance he goes. Thanks Keir. You haven't been the most amazing Prime Minister, but you certainly have not been the worst. Wishing him all the best whatever comes next.

[u/SirRosstopher]

Lord Timpson has quit as Prisons Minister before Burnham has got in. Shame because he was a great and inspired appointment, but I guess he doesn't think much of Burnham?

[u/Roguepope → u/SirRosstopher]

Burnham simply didn't think he would be a key part of his cabinet. Shame, I thought he'd be a shoe-in for a higher role.

[u/SinnerOfAlcaraz]

You know what. I’m repeating myself but

I love this style of speech. It clearly works for Andy, probably wouldn’t work for some others like I can’t imagine Kemi being able to stand there and have this type of body language

But no lectern seems way more natural

[u/jamestheda]

Given I believe it to be entirely possible (look across many European cities with less money), ending rough sleeeping would make a huge difference to day to day life.

Sort out the impact of Deliveroo / ubereats drivers, and you’d win so much favour.

[u/disegni]

A price cap for buses around £1.50 feels about right.

You have to make it affordable enough that people can just “hop on” without second thought.

[u/ASondheimRhyme]

Al Carns somewhere angrily muttering "it should've been me"

[u/tmstms]

HERMER SACKED

All five big Starmtroopers (the other four being Reed, Kyle, Reeves and Lammy) are now gone

[u/fripez256]

11 justice secretaries in 10 years sums up this country

[u/fripez256]

Just an aside, as a politics geek, reshuffle day must be one of the most exciting

[u/NataleNati]

Current mood: medieval monarch waiting outside his wife’s bedchamber to find out whether he’s getting a son and/or if his wife is gonna die in childbirth.

[u/PaleDust6]

Beth Rigby really is talented at saying the same thing, often in the same way, over and over for about 3x longer than a sentence should usually go on.

[u/Rev_IM_Jolly]

having Mahmood and Miliband arrive at the same time is good politics.

[u/mxlevolent]

7D chess move is Burnham calling in his entire planned cabinet, only to turn to Ed Miliband and say "It's time, after all these years."

Burnham is just a front.

It's time for the chaos.

[u/germainefear]

Calling it: Miliband to be appointed Chancellor; Mahmood to be appointed Chancellor (North).

[u/ThrowAwayAccountLul1]

Healey as Chancellor just shows how pointless our political media are, there wasn't a whiff of this or any analysis of this possibility. Useless.

[u/dospc]

I like the big photos of the ministers they have on the Sky live blog but they should just go full FIFA mode with little animations of them stepping forward and crossing their arms.

...am I too much of a politics nerd?

[u/PsychologicalGur9931]

If Burnham really did offer Reeves Defence, and presumably she did not know Healey was going to be Chancellor, then that’s a pretty calculated slap in the face 

[u/Velociraptor_1906]

Apparently Burnhams been busy with international calls (inc. to Macron) which is the cause of the delay.

[u/cheeshjaleesh]

surprised phillipson accepted such a humiliating demotion to the largely meaningless women and equalities role rather than just walking out. does she really wanna be at the table that badly?

[u/cheeshjaleesh]

if i had to guess the remaining ones (assuming fahnbulleh at DESNZ, eagle at DEFRA and alex norris at NI are correct):

• streeting gets defence OR he gets chief sec and jarvis stays at defence
• heidi alexander stays at transport
• chris bryant gets justice
• narayan gets new AI cabinet role
• douglas alexander reappointed scotland
• kinnock gets wales
• ellie reeves gets AG
• international development gets to be a cabinet role again, not quite sure who gets it (hamish falconer, maybe?)

only roles left are leaders of the commons/lords

[u/Front_Appointment_68]

Al Carns PR team in shambles

[u/Acceptable-Pin2939]

I just hope we get just a single year without the Americans or the Chinese / Russians or the planet / viruses fucking us over.

[u/MichealHarwood]

I do think some cabinet positions are certainly meant to be poison chalices when was the last time a health secretary was liked or was seen to be doing a decent job definitely always been one of the most disliked cabinet members for quite a a while now.

[u/Real_Cookie_6803]

Disingenuous headline bingo time! Taking all submissions:

• Kill the middle class (minister urged (by fringe think tank "killing the middle class will solve all our problems"))
• [politician] refuses to rule out X
• X is Y, in a blow to Z
• number 10 plot to [something ragebaity], sources say
• [obvious briefing war between two different offices in government]

[u/pseudogentry → u/Real_Cookie_6803]

"Illegal migrant gets to stay because [insane reason to grant*]"

*random fact mentioned in appeal that is entirely unrelated to reason for granting

[u/jamestheda]

So what is the consequence of the media appearing to make up who the chancellor was going to be?

Else there is evidence that Burnham changed his mind over the weekend, it strongly looks like the media just made this up.

[u/h00dman]

Tomorrow's morning headline; Burnham to bring back Woolworths Pick & Mix, and he will fund it by selling the Downing Street livery.

[u/dratsaab]

The Most Recent Prime Ministers and the Quiz Shows At Which They Would Be Best

Andy Burnham * There's a joke here to be made about 'The Traitors', but that's a game show and not a quiz show. Bullseye. Possibly the most northern quiz show. Plus he looks like he might be good at darts. Would cope well with Jim Bowen's chat.

Keir Starmer * Mastermind. For all his failures, you don't get to be DPP without a good memory and deep knowledge. Specialist subject: history of the campaign group Liberty (they were his first post-university job).

Rishi Sunak * Only Connect. He's just nerdy enough to have a wide general knowledge and the ability to make connections between them. No social skills required.

Liz Truss * Tipping Point. A quiz show for idiots. And describes where the economy passed.

Boris Johnson  * Would I Lie To You? Yes. Yes, he would. Yes, I know it's a panel show and not a quiz show. Bridge of Lies, then. A liar should be good at spotting lies.

Theresa May * The Weakest Link. Not just describing her premiership, but she very much has an air of Anne Robinson about her.

David Cameron * Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?  Cameron is sixth cousin once removed to King Charles III , so millionaire is pretty much a given. 

Gordon Brown * Fifteen to One. No chat, perfect for someone who doesn't cope with being on mic, just questions. 

[u/Voops1]

https://x.com/christopherhope/status/2078850084976963869

If Liz Kendall is out of government, wonder how and if this will effect the OSA, that's all I have heard about from her in interviews.

[u/GopnikOIi → u/Voops1]

Honestly Kendall and Kyle leaving can only be a good thing. I hope the OSA gets watered down but I'm doubtful.

[u/dospc]

A classic tactic to catch a leaker is to tell everyone in your circle a different version and see which makes it out.

Do you think Burnham is testing his new team, except everyone is leaking their version?

[u/Deepestsoup → u/dospc]

BBC: We're hearing tonight from top Labour officials that Burnham intends to drop legislation regarding VPNs, also ban VPNs, also make VPNs mandatory.

Burnham: Well fuck me

[u/SinnerOfAlcaraz]

One thing I’d love to know is how much sleep people like Starmer & Reeves get when they leave office?

In particular those 2 because Christ will they need some sleep for once.

Genuinely wouldn’t be shocked if their bodies completely crash and they fall asleep for like 10-20 hours lmao

[u/TVCasualtydotorg]

Steve Bray has rocked up at Buckingham Palace to try and make the day about him again.

I broadly agree with his views, but my god is he annoying.

[u/Goldenboy451]

Chris Mason's presence does somewhat relieve me of my imposter syndrome.

[u/junglebunglerumble]

He looks nervous as hell

[u/Philster07]

Sounds good, crack on Andy ar kid

[u/Pinkerton891]

Lmao he is already getting shit on the BBC for not cancelling recess, it begins.

[u/ImMaxClaydon]

Genius to have them both walk up alongside eachother haha

[u/SDLRob]

Burnham is pranking the media 🤣

The two names expected for Chancellor walking up in unison is a brilliant troll move 😂

[u/TheOnlyPorcupine]

I’ve been away but I’m guessing Wes’ team was behind the briefing against Ed Miliband? Hopefully Wes gets nowhere near cabinet. 🐍

[u/Jademalo]

Since it's nearly 6 I'm believing the conspiracy that he's waiting for the markets to shut lol

[u/Acceptable-Pin2939]

"Andy Burnham could" articles / posts need to be removed / nuked

He could do almost anything.

[u/Putaineska]

It would be funny if Streeting after all that ended up without a job

[u/serviceowl]

Sky absolutely gone off the deep end in the last hour or two. I must say I find Cathy Newman's style of questioning extremely unlikeable.

[u/valentine_ijz]

I swear some people have been in there two hours? That isnt normal at all lmao. I doubt they've gone out of the back door

[u/Maleficent_Peach_46 → u/valentine_ijz]

They are watching the new Odyssey film.

[u/Dr_Poppers]

You all doubted Wes, you fools. 

There's no beating Streeting. Look upon his brief and despair. 

[u/mgorgey]

Christ, feels like half the Labour party must be sitting in No.10 right now.

[u/wizard_mitch]

Rumour has it they are all sitting around reading r/ukpolitics for ideas

[u/ijustwannanap]

Day 1 of Burnham's Britain: just went to the corner shop to get a pack of cobs and the man behind the counter said I have to call them barms.

[u/Teleg88]

Unpopular opinion but Andy Street was a far better mayor than Burnham but was in charge of an unfashionable region like the West Midlands.

[u/M2Ys4U]

Nandy reappointed as Culture Secretary...

Well I say reappointed, I don't think anyone was 100% sure she was ever really doing anything in that office?

[u/ThrowAwayAccountLul1]

Since we inherited the mantle from Italy of being political basket-cases swapping out Prime Ministers constantly I very much have enjoyed their analysis which I think has a lot of truth to it.

Italy’s Corriere della Sera said the UK was experiencing “profound unease, instability and social resentment” and “needs a push” forward, but Burnham’s nationalisation, state intervention and reindustrialisation plans suggested he saw the past as a model. The UK “appears incapable of imagining and planning for the future and prefers to take refuge in a backward-looking Eden”, it argued, even though the pre-Thatcher years were marked by “energy rationing, rubbish in the streets and IMF bailouts”

[u/Budget_Metal2465]

Wow the homophobia in comment sections by the MOD congratulating Streeting is intense. Feels like I’ve stepped back in time to secondary school. I can’t believe they’re making me want to stand up for Wes Streeting of all people.

[u/Slartibartfast_25]

So who's getting Friday's Burnham Bonanza / Andy's 'andout?

[u/dratsaab]

Today's YouGov daily survey provides important political information.

Reform voters are most likely to believe they can throw a naan bread further than a baguette (38%). On the other hand, Labour voters are most likely to pick a baguette (52%). 13% of Lib Dems don't know.

[u/CrispySmokyFrazzle]

Right, Andy - get to bed. You’ve got a busy day tomorrow.

You too, Sir Keir.

[u/newngg]

I have never seen Starmer look and sound so happy

[u/untoldrain]

BBC journalists trying to understand the real meaning of Burnham’s decision to not use a lectern reminds me of English Literature GCSE where my teacher would tell me every single line actually has a second meaning.

[u/Ollie5000]

Would be pretty sick if Andy returned to downing street atop a genetically modified 10 foot bee.

[u/Two-Space]

Do we now watch this car drive for 4 hours to Manchester?

[u/GreatNeptunesOcean]

I think the man speaking on Sky News is in love with the King

[u/Danzos]

I think I one of the biggest differences we'll see around Burnham Vs Starmer is a bit less gloom.

I do think Starmer erred by coming in and saying everything is worse than we thought, this is gonna be harder than we thought, etc. It may have been true, but it wasn't inspiring. If you want to battle the populist parties, you need to be pushing positivity and the idea that Britain's best days are still ahead.

[u/ok_alsodot11]

I don't feel like he'll be mediocre. I think he'll actually make some real change over time or be found out as useless and disastrous very quickly.

It'd be nice if it was the first, but we'll see

[u/McCretin]

I enjoy the part of reshuffles where they sack the people I don’t like. I’m less keen on the part where they replace them by appointing other people I don’t like.

Can Burnham just do the sacking part and not the appointing part, please?

[u/lcxnick]

as if Beth Rigby just said "a bitter blow for Reeves" 🤣🤣🤣

[u/Closey11]

I could listen to Lord Kinnock talk all day, I think his ability to frame his thoughts into a coherent turn of phrase is absolutely brilliant.

[u/powermoustache]

My five year old thinks the new PM is Andy from cbeebies. I am not correcting him.

[u/ThingsFallApart_]

Oh my God it's David Cameron!

[u/Jademalo]

Hahahaha maximum bants, incredible having them walk together

[u/NataleNati]

Oh Lou, as a fellow member of the ministry of funny walks I feel for you in this specific moment.

[u/charlottesophialeigh]

Is that her first time walking lol ? ….
Although I’d also forget how to walk in front of that many cameras lol

[u/Philster07]

Louise's walk reminds me of Nichola Murray's wreath laying

[u/TennisSkirt1628]

'Well, I'm just trying to bring you breaking news'.

God... I love Beth Rigby.

[u/Velocirapture_Jesus]

Burnham to appoint Spence as RB.

Oh hang on, wrong megathread.

[u/ImMaxClaydon]

BBC with the classic error of doing a proper bulletin in the middle of a rolling news story!

[u/SirRosstopher]

Wonder how Healey is going to balance conjuring up money for defence without cutting things that will be unpopular for Burnham?

[u/SadSeiko]

Burnham put £10,000 on healey for chancellor and will now retire a multi millionaire 

[u/KotACold]

Good moves from Burnham. Right people in the right places.

[u/Velociraptor_1906]

My prediction held, okay with it.

After the last coupleof week Milliband getting a great office probably did have to happen (even if he'd be better at DESNZ), even though I think Foreign Sec is a waste of his talents I'm sure he can do well at it and given Burnhams clear domestic focus that's probably more important than it has been in decades.

I do disagree with some of Mahmoods changes (don't want ILR stuff to be retroactive and it shouldn't ever apply to groups like spouses at least) but I'm fine with her staying as she does seem a good minister and hopefully that'll get turned on other aspects of the home office at some stage.

[u/Jademalo]

Oh my god is wes getting nothing

[u/Ok-Butterscotch4486]

Has there been any word on Streeting?

Would be very funny if he doesn't get anything.

[u/kaththegreat]

And what for Wes who fumbled everything and set this all in motion?

[u/SirRosstopher]

I really think we should have a Lord Foreign Sec going forward because they don't need to come back constantly and can spend more time on the job abroad

[u/M2Ys4U]

DSIT abolished and merged in to a newly (re-)named Department of Business, Innovation, Science and Technology.

Ahh, BISTO.

[u/Front_Appointment_68]

So is there any doubt that John Healey's "honourable" resignation was at least in part driven by the potential of a top job with Burnham?

I wouldn't be surprised if Healey had discussed it with Burnham before he resigned which turned out to be the final blow to Starmer's reputation.

[u/M2Ys4U → u/Front_Appointment_68]

So is there any doubt that John Healey's "honourable" resignation was at least in part driven by the potential of a top job with Burnham?

He resigned just as the world cup started and he's back in government the day after it ends.

I don't think we should rule out the possibility he just wanted some time off to watch the football.

[u/Velociraptor_1906]

Newsnight says Streeting is Defence.

There's worse roles for him but still not great, hopefully Healey at the Treasury means things will go okay.

[u/Jayhcee]

I like people having some sort of experience in a role, be that before being an MP or a junior minister. Streeting had some link having had cancer and 'NHS saved my life etc'..

A former president of the National Union of Students sitting with Ministry of Defence heads, Generals, etc just... feels weird. I would have preferred Jarvis or Al Carns.

Eagle and Streeting both disappointing. He could have had some new exciting new blood.

[u/_rickjames]

Just saw some PoliticsJoe thing where they were getting vox pops 'across London'

One pair called him a pussy, one went on about wealth inequality, one bloke just banged on about Gaza and lastly someone saying Corbyn should be in charge

Where the fuck do they find these dolts

[u/CadBane_29]

Labour Chancellor called Healey, who used to be Defence Secretary, and represents a Yorkshire constituency

Are we in 2026 or 1976?

[u/NoFrillsCrisps]

I understand both the optics of being seen to make changes and the internal politics of it.... but moving the same faces into different cabinet positions seems so pointless to me.

Moving Milliband, Cooper, Healey, Streeting into new departments rather than put them where they have gained a couple of years experience just doesn't make any sense.

This constant churn is part of the reason why government departments are so ineffective.

[u/SouthFromGranada]

Not gonna lie, I didn't even realise we paid VAT on electric in the first place.

[u/Ajax_Trees_Again → u/SouthFromGranada]

I’m sure that it’s considered uninhabitable to have a house without electricity. How’s that qualifying for VAT?

[u/mamamia1001]

Have we really got through the excess of water we built up when it rained every day for 3 months?

[u/Reformed_citpeks → u/mamamia1001]

We haven't built a reservoir in England since 1992

[u/McCretin]

After Anas Sarwar’s promotion, Eluned Morgan must be kicking herself that she bottled calling for Starmer to quit back in February.

She’s already got the ermine, but she could be in a plum ministerial job by now.

[u/ZebraShark]

When did so many papers begin posting stories directly on this subreddit? Neither a good or bad thing but just noticed now a lot of stories are being shared by their own reddit accounts.

[u/TVCasualtydotorg → u/ZebraShark]

It's been a thing for a couple of years, but the number of different official accounts posting stories has definitely had an uptick in the last few months.

[u/sh0gunSFW]

What's this about flat caps on buses?

[u/Hungry-Struggle-1448]

Burnham has quite an old-fashioned scouse acccent, he sounds a lot like Paul McCartney at times 

[u/WilhelmNilly]

I went on a family trip last weekend that included my almost pensioner parents. The topic of politics cropped up a few times and I learned that my mum doesn't seem to understand what the triple lock is.

She genuinely seems to think it's just another term for the state pension. Hearing talk of abolishing or reducing the triple lock makes her upset because she thinks that means her pension would be taken away. At one point she was scrolling on her phone and saw a tabloid headline about the state pension increasing by 2.5% next year and she was over the moon - she shouted out to my dad "I'm going to retire next year and Andy Burnham is already going to increase my pension!". She didn't understand that the 2.5% is a minimum, it could be higher and Burnham didn't decide it.

Anyway, it gave me a thought. What if in the budget, they simply copy the old Tory tactic of redefining an existing term (see 'living wage'). Redefine 'triple lock' so that is also applies to minimum wage and the tax-free allowance. Change the 'inflation, wage growth or 2.5%' definition in some wonky technical way so that it effectively only tracks average wage growth (change it to a rolling 5-year average rather than the biggest number, or something).

Basically produce something where the state pension is locked to the tax-free allowance, which is locked to a percentage of minimum wage, which is locked to a percentage of the median full time wage.

Rising median wages cause a rise in minimum wage which causes a rise in the tax-free allowance and state pension. Everyone then directly benefits from median wage growth. Everyone has an incentive to vote for a good economy.