UK politics

Badenoch eschews niceties and takes lumps out of Starmer’s cabinet in first PMQs after quitting

Presumed incoming prime minister Andy Burnham should get ready for a weekly battle with the rambunctious Tory leader

Keir Starmer holds ‘frosty’ talks with Andy Burnham to thrash out transition of power

Burnham had initially hoped to take over in September but could become next UK prime minister within weeks

Andy Burnham could still face challenge in race to become UK prime minister

A handful of outside-bet candidates have not ruled themselves out of the leadership competition

Andy Burnham sworn in as new MP after ‘broken’ Starmer holds back tears as he resigns

As it happened: Keir Starmer stands down

Wins, losses and U-turns: Keir Starmer’s successes and failures in No 10

Where did it go wrong for the outgoing prime minister? And how much – if at all – was positive?

British political stability a thing of the past as Keir Starmer says he will step down

More rumblings in Fianna Fáil over triple lock, and more work for civil servants when Ireland takes up EU presidency

Keir Starmer expected to announce departure as British prime minister on Monday

Starmer, who has faced ‘political realities’ of his situation, set to be replaced by newly-elected MP Andy Burnham

Ireland gears up for EU presidency and Andy Burnham sweeps Makerfield byelection

Inside Politics podcast with Hugh Linehan

Andy Burnham: How quickly could he become the UK’s prime minister?

Keir Starmer could reflect on the scale of Burnham’s win and step down immediately. He could also put up a fight

Keir Starmer signals openness to Burnham cabinet role amid leadership tensions

British prime minister seeks to head off internal Labour challenge ahead of key byelection

Andy Burnham eyes byelection finishing line while for Starmer it might truly be the end

Greater Manchester mayor is favourite to win on Thursday but the spectre of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK isn’t banished yet

In praise of the Wigan kebab: ‘Want Irish curry sauce with it?’

Locals are surely the carbohydrate kings and queens of England

Labour hoping Nigel Farage will lose some of his flock to right-wing Rebecca Shepherd

Rebecca Shepherd running in the Makerfield byelection could help Andy Burnham realise his dream of leading Britain

Palestine Action: UK government’s ban is lawful, court of appeal rules

London’s high court ruled ⁠in February that ​the ban interfered with freedom of expression

Nigel Farage vows to ban foreign nationals from social housing

Reform UK leader hardens anti-immigration rhetoric before crucial byelection involving Labour’s Andy Burnham

Jeremy Corbyn: ‘The disillusionment with Labour is huge’

Former UK Labour leader tells The Irish Times Keir Starmer’s 2024 election victory was ‘loveless landslide’

Prominent MP tells Dublin event UK Labour Party faces ‘chaos’ if Andy Burnham fails to win byelection

John McDonnell says Keir Starmer has lost public confidence and no other candidate has the support to replace him

Tinderbox Britain: violence over Henry Nowak case stirs fears of another summer of disorder

Two years after Britain was consumed by riots led by white nationalists, authorities are trying to prevent a repeat

Elon Musk accused of ‘interfering’ in British politics with posts on Henry Nowak death

Billionaire owner of social media platform X ‘trying to whip up division’, says Keir Starmer, following riots in Southampton

Crypto billionaires donate £7 million to Reform UK in the first quarter of 2026

Nigel Farage’s party significantly outstrips the fundraising efforts of Labour and the Conservative Party

Starmer condemns ‘disgraceful’ attacks on police after Henry Nowak murder case

Eleven officers injured in Southampton during unrest over police response to student’s death

Former SNP chief Peter Murrell used false invoice to buy motorhome with party funds

Ex-husband of Nicola Sturgeon has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000

Latest Mandelson files show what former ambassador really thought of Keir Starmer’s government

Tranche of 1,500 pages of emails and WhatsApps released on Monday

Irish GP in England: My husband recognises very rocky times are on the horizon in the UK

As our children became enmeshed in their lives, coming back to Ireland became harder

What would a radical alternative look like for this island?

A reconnected Ireland could meet the challenges of the future and materially improve the lives of ordinary people

Ghost of Tony Blair continues to haunt Labour

Intervention by former prime minister almost feels designed to inflict maximum annoyance on his party

UK government is still paying the cost of Brexit

Leaving the European Union has proven to be an economic slow puncture, rather than a car crash

Keir Starmer revolt revives Brexit row. So, how could the UK rejoin the EU?

Labour leadership contender Wes Streeting calls Brexit a ‘catastrophic mistake’ while Andy Burnham sees ‘long-term case’ for rejoining EU

How did Nigel Farage go from crank to bookies’ favourite for prime minister after the next election?

Farage’s carefully crafted persona plays on nostalgia for an imagined world sourced from the golden age of British TV

Burnham approved to run in byelection; Pound heading for worst week in 18 months

British government bonds, stocks and sterling fall

Andy Burnham clears Labour committee hurdle as possible date for crucial byelection emerges

UK prime minister Keir Starmer’s biggest leadership rival edges closer to race that could open path to Downing Street

Andy Burnham: the political chameleon making a bid for Labour’s top job

Having traversed Labour’s ideological spectrum, the Greater Manchester mayor is recasting himself as the party’s potential saviour

Early Edition Podcast: Dublin Central byelection; trouble for Keir Starmer; Trump in Beijing

Early Edition podcast brings the top stories from The Irish Times Monday to Friday

Andy Burnham makes his move as Keir Starmer’s troubles mount

Manchester mayor finds seat he may be able to contest in a byelection, opening up a route to challenge the UK prime minister

Wes Streeting: Is the man who wants to lead Labour a reformer or performer?

Critics see Streeting, who has resigned as UK health secretary, as a schemer who appears to prioritise announcements over delivery

Keir Starmer is bland, stable, boring – he should have gone a long way

The beleaguered UK prime minister may not be entirely up to the moment – but as moments go, who would be?

Streeting seeks backing for leadership contest, Starmer to fight any attempt to unseat him

Would-be challenger Andy Burnham in need of sitting MP to give up seat and win byelection to have chance of becoming PM

Labour leadership phoney war set to end as real battle begins

Wes Streeting expected to fire the starting gun on Thursday on bid to unseat UK prime minister Keir Starmer

Unions predict Keir Starmer will not lead Labour into next election

Statement by 11 Labour-affiliated unions threatens to further destabilise UK prime minister

Keir Starmer is clinging to power but for how long?

In the News podcast: Heavy losses for Labour at local elections prompts calls on PM to resign

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE...

Stardust

Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people

Common Ground

How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands