Dan Bloom

Great to speak to Dan about some of the policy challenges involved when you take over as a new PM mid-flight.

— More political briefing & broadcast focus in No10 — No plans to tear up and have a new king's speech — Burnham set to meet Labour NEC on July 28 — But no imminent big recruitment plans at party HQ — And Qs over finances from unions, members and donors politico.eu/article/andy-b…

Today Andy Burnham promised nothing less than "the most significant change moment in our politics for 40 years." He has under 3 years to pull it off. My big read on how we are entering the very long general election campaign (... Although some MPs suspect he'd go early 👀) ⬇️

EXCL: Diplomats expect Iran crisis to get worse this weekend and don't know who to prep from the incoming government. Just one feature of the "black hole" Burnham handover

He also vows to fight to "eradicate the insidious briefing culture"

"I haven't made any decisions yet" about who will be in my Cabinet, says Andy Burnham

Andy Burnham says he wants to end the 'insidious briefing culture' and 'move beyond' factionalism 'I will work relentlessly to build a culture of one Labour team. Change starts with us. We won't beat Britain's new right if we are consumed by infighting and pulling in different directions. 'Fighting to eradicate it and the insidious briefing culture that goes with it will characterise my leadership. In future when a Burnhamite walks into a bar I want the barman to say great to see you. We don't like factional politics in here' He insists he has not made any decisions about who will be in his top team. 'When I have you will see it reflects all parts of our party. All communities'

More such insights on our liveblog politico.eu/article/andy-b…

One does not simply move a cat 🐈

My look at what we do — and don't — know about Mahmood It includes the nugget that she spoke to MPs at a private dinner in late 2025 about the future of the left, which included setting out her views on the economy. Josh Simons was among those there politico.eu/article/andy-b…

NEW: Shabana Mahmood's economic views are cloaked in mystery. But some of her allies have quietly talked them up for a while — a "post-globalization" tilt towards domestic production "She won't be leader," said one admirer eight months ago. "But she will be chancellor" ⬇️

A "formidable foreign secretary"? The only Labour figure with the "economic chops" to be Chancellor? Or neither of the above? The fate of Ed Miliband could be Burnham's biggest strategic decision, before he's even in the door of No 10 politico.eu/article/inside…

SCOOP: Hayden Munro will be Andy Burnham's political director in No.10. The former campaign director for New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern has been working for Labour vet Jim Murphy's firm Arden Strategies. He was drafted in to co-ordinate the Burnham leadership campaign.

Team Burnham insisting to us that Andy Burnham has genuinely not made up his mind about who his chancellor will be. A senior figure in Burnham’s team said: “No decision has been taken.” (But ofc reporting about Shabana Mahmood is now very widespread)

To upsum Westminster state of knowledge on that first Burnham cabinet today - Shabana Mahmood is next Chancellor, or maybe Yvette Cooper is but Ed Miliband isn't or Pat Mcfadden could be - David Miliband is the next Foreign Sec or maybe it is John Healey or maybe it is still Yvette Cooper - Wes Streeting is something More as we have(n't) it...

Write-up here by @BlewettSam politico.eu/article/new-po…

Farage v Binface head to head (2,024 UK adults) 🗑️ Binface wins on likability, anti-establishment credentials and honesty 🩵 Farage wins on "in touch", understanding the problems of Clacton and caring about its people Via Public First / POLITICO

EXC: Reform is overhauling its party machine again - Some 60 staff are being recruited to build a new network of campaign staff at a cost of 'millions' - Inspiration comes from the old Tory agents model and the Labour 2024 strategy of ruthlessly targeting seats - A 'Burnham bounce' is expected to hit polling... but Farage's aides want to use it to recapture the party’s insurgent message and branding spectator.com/article/inside…

Quote of the day to @NoahKeate

The U.K. has agreed to lock in controversial intellectual property protections for pharmaceutical firms as part of a new trade deal with Switzerland. Story from me and @carolinee_hug politico.eu/article/uk-cav…