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***EXCLUSIVE*** Andy Burnham fully rules out changing Rachel Reeves’ fiscal rules if he becomes PM At the weekend his team had left it open whether he might change them in future But tonight his spokesperson tells Bloomberg he is explicitly ruling out any changes to the existing fiscal rules AND crucially Burnham is now also ruling out exempting defence spending from the fiscal rules to spend more on the military He had floated that idea in a Bloomberg interview a few weeks ago but his spokesperson tonight says he won’t pursue it This is a big attempt by Burnham’s campaign team to reassure markets who were spooked on Friday by his potential premiership But it may risk disappointing some on the left who had hoped for a more radical fiscal policy It may also mean tax rises are the likely main revenue raiser in the event Burnham wants to increase spending

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The First Order fleet looks stunning, but honestly, how did they build ships of that size AND Starkiller Base? The world-building of this trilogy is just so incomprehensible. Kylo Ren's TIE Silencer is a fantastic ship though!

🚨 BREAKING: Wes Streeting calls for the Government to rejoin the EU "Leaving the EU was a catastrophic mistake"

🚨 NEW: The pound has hit a one-month low as Andy Burnham announces his plan to return to Parliament

Catherine West now on Radio 4 saying Keir Starmer could win a leadership election and not ruling out voting for him

I can confirm that I will be requesting the permission of the NEC to stand in the Makerfield by-election. I grew up in this area and have lived here for 25 years. I care deeply about it and its people. I know they have been let down by national politics. Ten years ago, I decided to leave Westminster. Why? Because, after 16 years, I came to the conclusion that our national political system does not work for areas like ours. I learnt this fighting its failure to invest in the Wigan borough, for justice for the Hillsborough families and against its treatment of Greater Manchester during the pandemic. Over the last decade, I have been challenging this failure from the outside and building a new and better way of doing politics. We have built Greater Manchester into the fastest-growing city-region in the UK and put buses back under public control, introducing a £2 fare cap to help people with cost-of-living pressures. However, there is only so much that can be done from Greater Manchester. Much bigger change is needed at a national level if everyday life is to be made more affordable again. This is why I now seek people’s support to return to Parliament: to bring the change we have brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK and make politics work properly for people. Millions are struggling and they need the Labour Government to succeed. It has already made changes to make life better for them in its first two years. After this week, we owe it to people to come back together as a Labour movement, giving the Prime Minister and the Government the space and stability they need as the by-election takes place. I want to recognise the difficult decision taken by Josh Simons and the sacrifice he and his family are making. I have worked closely with him as Mayor on issues like flooding and illegal waste dumping and have seen first-hand how effective he has been. He has put the communities of Makerfield first, made a real difference for them and should take great pride in that. Finally, I truly do not take a single vote for granted and will work hard to regain the trust of people in the Makerfield constituency, many of whom have long supported our party but lost faith in recent times. We will change Labour for the better and make it a party you can believe in again. ENDS

Those close to Streeting say he has more than 81 nominations and could trigger a leadership contest. But they believe Streeting’s announcement could be pre-empted by the PM announcing a timetable for his departure, even today. This could all be feverish wishful thinking. But I have been told by less partisan government sources that we are “in the end game”. The alleged background is that some signatories of the “I back Keir letter” are telling him privately his time is up, that assorted cabinet ministers are set to tell him the same, and that one of those who works closest to the PM has been briefing such to backbench MPs. BUT Downing Street is saying the ball is in Streeting’s court and there is no chance of the PM announcing a departure timetable today. And that if Streeting wants a leadership contest, he will have to trigger it. It is quite the game of chicken, with the future of the government at stake

UK GDP per head grew by 0.6% in q1 2026 to which is the fastest economic growth per capita in a quarter for 4 years… UK GDP growth itself is fastest of the 6 G7 countries that have reported so far (and Japan expected at 0.4%, would be fastest full stop) Quite the backdrop for a leadership challenge…

🚨 NEW: Over 100 Labour MPs and PPSs have signed a letter saying "this is no time for a leadership contest"