Joe Cook

For a man who rails against trickle down economics, what is life like in the most deprived area of Greater Manchester? Over the last month @SamCoatesSky and I have been taking a deep dive on Manchester. Watch here: youtu.be/_nIHyRGck2s?is…

So, what'd you reckon? How many buttons? 'Cause like one is old school, Blair on holiday. Two is the new one. So I was thinking maybe three, but then if I'm doing three maybe four?

@JoeCookJ Exactly. Nothing about buttons.

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Andy Burnham has revealed a three point plan to overhaul social care - and gave a surprise answer to Sky's deputy political editor @SamCoatesSky.  trib.al/mFMNzvd

👀Watch Andy Burnham shut down the assisted dying debate, for now: although a private members bill, is now expect the retuning legislation to be voted down at second reading in September after this signal from the PM

Andy Burnham tells me that the assisted dying debate should be delayed until after social care and palliative care debates and fixes have been found More on @skynews

Breaking: Andy Burnham says there shouldn't be a debate over assisted dying until social care is fixed and palliative care is better funded. Great and important question from @SamCoatesSky

Another clearly intentional change from Starmer and many other politicians, Andy Burnham is doing this social care speech without any autocue

As Andy Burnham gives his big speech on social care, what are the real challenges? Here’s our deep dive on the issue from earlier this month A @JoeCookJ film youtu.be/TnhqnEgTMeM?is…

Whatever the merits of the argument - "If you want to be an astronaut and live in Cornwall" - that's probably the best place to be, since it's the only place with a Spaceport....

🔺 A sword, cocaine, abuse: Inside 'nightmare' care company for disabled people Our @itvnews investigation has uncovered allegations of physical assault, sexual abuse and drug-taking at an award-winning care company for adults with learning disabilities. itv.com/news/2026-07-2…

NEW: The Prime Minister has said there “must be consequences” after our investigation exposed allegations of abuse at a care firm for people with leaning disabilities @andyburnham: “It's beyond me how Blue Ribbon Healthcare Group could let this happen.” itv.com/news/2026-07-2…

A Burnham bounce and a tax change ruled out - just as the new prime minister begins meeting other world leaders.   @SamCoatesSky has spoken to Andy Burnham on behalf of broadcasters and has this analysis

Andy Burnham has shut down suggestions that he would scrap stamp duty and council tax in this year’s budget, stating, ‘that won’t be happening’ Sky’s @SamCoatesSky reports

BREAKING: Labour has drawn level with Reform UK in a YouGov poll following the takeover of Andy Burnham as party leader and prime minister. Sky's @SamCoatesSky reports

Photo du Jour: Members of the press photograph a dead mouse caught by Larry the Downing St cat (left). By Stefan Rousseau/PA

Scots lab source:Anas’s departure was inevitable after a campaign that was completely detached from reality and let candidates,activists and Scotland down. Jackie Baillie should now follow him out of the door.Scottish Labour needs a fresh start that reconnects with the people

Sky news understands Anas Sarwar set to accept peerage and serve in Andy Burnham’s government It will mean that Anas Sarwar will leave the Scottish Parliament and role as Scottish labour leader

Andy Burnham has set the direction of government with some surprises among his top team. But has he risked things by putting many of his friends and closest allies into cabinet? Sky’s @SamCoatesSky looks at the key appointments in Burnham's new cabinet.

***NEW: Bloomberg read on one of the most extraordinary days I can remember reporting on British politics*** Andy Burnham today promised the most transformational government in four decades with a long list of expensive policy ambitions that will cost tens of billions of pounds. The question is how on earth he’s going to pay for it. Major new borrowing and tax rises look inevitable. It sets up months of uncertainty before an historic budget. Burnham cut a confident figure showcasing his change in style from Keir Starmer. His rhetoric, heavy on ambition to totally rewire Britain’s economy and fix seismic problems his predecessors shied away from, won immediate plaudits from MPs on the left who wanted this from the start. But he has set himself a vast challenge fraught with fiscal risk. Reforming social care is a noble aim and he will be lauded if he succeeds, but it will cost billions however he does it. He says he’s looking at raising the personal tax allowance. That would be hugely popular but will cost billions more. His remarks to reporters this afternoon on looking for “all flexibility” in the fiscal rules spooked investors and sent gilts sliding. That’s an early warning shot from markets on his limited room for manoeuvre on borrowing. Burnham saved the big shock for after markets closed. John Healey as chancellor means 3% of GDP on defence spending by 2030 - huge for national security but yet billions more spending. Bloomberg is told Burnham and Healey are looking at defence bonds to pay for it. But that is still borrowing. Economists are already extremely sceptical that all this is deliverable. “Either he can’t deliver this or we’re in for big tax hikes,” says @PJTheEconomist. The left like it so far with some MPs saying his address felt like the first “proper Labour” speech delivered by a leader for a while with a focus on more left-wing policies.  Others on the right express concerns about the amount of spending and the sacking of fiscal hawks from the cabinet. “Totally bonkers,” says one. “This is completely mad,” says another. And by purging Starmer’s loyalists he has stored up big political risk for the future with a growing list of enemies. One calls it a “dangerously hubristic reshuffle.” Some MPs praise the scale of his ambitions but warn of the battle he’ll face to deliver on them and not disappoint. By promising so much he’s given himself a huge amount to live up to, one says. The left might be happy now but they’ll turn when he tries to cut welfare, another MP predicts. They say most prime ministers want to under-promise and over-deliver, but Burnham risks doing the opposite. With top team @ChaplainChloe @EllenAMilligan @LucyGJWhite