Labour’s likely next leader Andy Burnham faces a sharp public rebuke over his plan to sidestep a full leadership contest, as a POLITICO poll published on Wednesday shows voters want Keir Starmer gone but reject any shortcut to Downing Street. The survey, released the same day Starmer formally resigned, indicates that while 58 per cent of respondents believe the prime minister should step down immediately, only 34 per cent support Burnham becoming leader without a ballot of party members .

Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, has nonetheless accelerated preparations for a radical devolution push that he will unveil in a major speech on Thursday. Ahead of the address, the Financial Times reports that he is drafting plans to transfer sweeping powers from Westminster to England’s cities, explicitly modelling the approach on Manchester’s post-devolution experience . The blueprint envisages deeper fiscal autonomy, control over transport and skills policy, and a permanent shift of budgetary authority to combined authorities.

The contest to succeed Starmer is already narrowing. Czech and Slovak outlets describe Burnham as the clear favourite, with only two credible challengers emerging inside Labour’s parliamentary party . Supporters acknowledge lingering nerves among left-wing activists who question whether Burnham can fully reverse Tony Blair’s centrist legacy, while his own camp insists the Manchester model proves he can reconcile economic growth with social justice .

Ten years after the Brexit referendum, the vote’s legacy continues to shape the political landscape. Analyses published on Tuesday show persistent divisions over the UK’s relationship with the European Union, with maps and charts illustrating enduring trade frictions, labour shortages in sectors reliant on EU workers, and divergent regional economic performance . Commentators note that Burnham’s devolution agenda is partly a response to these centrifugal pressures, seeking to insulate regions from the instability of Westminster-driven policy swings.

Meanwhile, Burnham’s supporters have begun to frame his candidacy as the last credible chance to restore Labour’s left-wing identity, with one Hungarian outlet dubbing him “the Everton fan who could save the British left” . Critics, however, point to his recent parliamentary debut as evidence of vulnerability, while allies counter that his decade-long tenure as Manchester mayor has equipped him to govern in an era of fragmented authority.

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Articles

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financial times · about 3 hours ago

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gdeltproject.org · about 3 hours ago

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gdeltproject.org · about 3 hours ago

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financial times · about 3 hours ago

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financial times · about 3 hours ago

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financial times · about 3 hours ago

Poll: UK voters wanted Starmer gone, but not an immediate Burnham coronation Results from The POLITICO Poll suggest that while U.K. voters were eager for new leadership, they were less interested in a shortcut for selecting the countrys new leader.

politico.eu · about 3 hours ago

The northern conquest Andy Burnhams march on No 10 was swift, ruthless and meticulously planned. Now comes the hard part

new statesman · about 3 hours ago

Chmurný Starmer se dotrápil a odchází Ještě v pátek podepsal Keir Starmer zákony, které měly Britům usnadnit stěhování. V pondělí už rovnou začal chystat vlastní stěhování, i když „jen ze sídla britských premiérů. Z jeho strany to ovšem nebyl žádný vtípek, protože pokud se něčím jako politik vyznačoval, tak mimořádnou suchopárností.

irozhlas.cz · about 3 hours ago

Burnhams supporters are still nervous Is the new MP vulnerable on his left?

new statesman · about 4 hours ago

Bomberdzsekis Everton-szurkoló lehet a brit baloldal utolsó esélye Andy Burnham lehet Nagy-Britannia következő miniszterelnöke – miután Keir Starmer bejelentette lemondását. A volt manchesteri polgármester megpróbálja visszakormányozni pártját a baloldalra, ahonnét még Tony Blair térítette el. Egész Európa figyelni fogja Burnham kísérletét.

444.hu · about 4 hours ago

Andy Burnham does a Lenin The epic register does not come naturally to British politics

new statesman · about 4 hours ago

Velká Británie hledá nového premiéra. Favorit Andy Burnham má dva vyzyvatele Britská vláda se ocitla bez lídra. Premiér Keir Starmer v pondělí rezignoval, ihned se proto začalo debatovat o tom, kdo ho v čele Labouristické strany nahradí. Přestože se skloňují čtyři jména, jedno vyčnívá. „Je složité najít někoho, kdo si nemyslí, že bude Andy Burnham příštím premiérem, píše britská stanice BBC. Kdo je Burnham a kdo jsou jeho možní vyzyvatelé?

irozhlas.cz · about 4 hours ago

Björn Söders skräck: SD förstår inte vanligt folk Han har varit med och tagit SD från avskytt skinnskalleparti till samarbete med regeringen. Nu är Björn Söder petad från toppen. Och han oroas över vad som händer med partiet – när Sverigedemokraterna blir en del av etablissemanget.

svenska dagbladet · about 4 hours ago

3 UK journalists reflecting on BrexitMy only contribution at the time was to plead with the believers: For Gods sake, tell us what you need. Do you mean soft or hard Brexit? Do you really mean were going to leave the European community in the larger sense, which I think would be a disaster, or do you just mean were going to get out of Brussels? And they hadnt a clue#brexit #euPol #ukPol #geopolitics

mastodon bot · about 4 hours ago