Political news

• Home Office admits forcing immigrants to take DNA tests

  03-07-2018 22:30 via ft.com
  Caroline Nokes, immigration minister, denied the practice last month
  
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• Former defence minister Al Carns turns down ministerial offer

  23-07-2026 00:12 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Carns quit following the resignation of John Healey as defence secretary in a row over military funding.
  
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• Natalie Fleet leaves 'triggering' safeguarding minister role

  22-07-2026 19:33 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The MP for Bolsover has spoken about how she was groomed and raped as a teenager.
  
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• UK education secretary accused of misleading claim about Oxford entry

  22-07-2026 19:23 via ft.com
  Former Xaverian College pupils say Lucy Powell was not the ‘only one’ in her year to attend elite university
  
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• Burnham rebukes ministers after prisoner releases joke

  22-07-2026 18:18 via bbc.co.uk
  
  It comes after Wes Streeting apologises over comments caught on camera ahead of Tuesday's cabinet.
  
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• PC Harper's widow criticises early prisoner release plan as Burnham to review scheme

  22-07-2026 17:43 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Lissie Harper says the possible early release of prisoners is "deplorable", after reports that two of PC Harper's killers could be freed early.
  
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• Streeting refuses to commit to 3% defence spending ambition

  22-07-2026 16:38 via ft.com
  Previous defence minister resigned after warning current spending plan was not enough to keep UK safe
  
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• Can ‘Brand Burnham’ survive the move to Number 10?

  22-07-2026 16:08 via ft.com
  The new prime minister looks to be continuing the everyman style cultivated as mayor of Greater Manchester
  
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• NHS England adds caveat to pro-Palantir data after watchdog probe

  22-07-2026 16:07 via ft.com
  Regulator urges health service to ensure communications about benefits are ‘clearly and appropriately labelled’
  
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• Defence must cut waste and maximise value for money, says Streeting

  22-07-2026 15:34 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A £15bn increase in military spending announced by the last government is not yet fully funded.
  
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• Bus travellers respond to fare reduction

  22-07-2026 15:14 via bbc.co.uk
  
  'It's going to help us' - public respond to bus fare cut.
  
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• Burnham signals review of early-release scheme for prisoners

  22-07-2026 14:33 via ft.com
  New prime minister makes first intervention in area of criminal justice in England and Wales
  
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• Most bus fares in England to be capped at £2 from January

  22-07-2026 14:26 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The government says the policy will "help with the cost of living and give people the breathing space they need"
  
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• Burnham can be the failure that Britain needs

  22-07-2026 12:59 via ft.com
  Big government must be tested to destruction for serious reform to finally happen
  
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• No immediate change to income tax allowance, says Burnham

  22-07-2026 12:55 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The new prime minister previously said voters were frustrated over the freeze in tax-free personal allowance.
  
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• 'This phase of government is about reprioritising'

  22-07-2026 12:41 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Andy Burnham addresses the latest government policy announcement saying this phase of government is a reprioritising.
  
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• Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar set to become a minister in Burnham's government

  22-07-2026 11:22 via bbc.co.uk
  
  It would mean Sarwar leaving the Scottish Parliament and his leader role, then taking up a seat in the House of Lords.
  
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• Cutting VAT from energy bills is a painkiller, not a cure

  22-07-2026 10:44 via ft.com
  Fighting cost-of-living pressures this way may symbolise change but it cannot be a long-term solution
  
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• Who's in Andy Burnham's cabinet?

  22-07-2026 10:23 via bbc.co.uk
  
  An in-depth look at which Labour MPs have been appointed to cabinet roles by new Prime Minister Andy Burnham
  
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• Transport secretary quizzed on bus fare change

  22-07-2026 10:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Labour MP is asked about the lowering of the bus fare cap, after Starmer increased it in 2025.
  
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• Burnham launches £2 cap on bus fares

  22-07-2026 09:18 via ft.com
  New prime minister says measure will reduce prices by up to a third for millions of people
  
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• How will Burnham fund £2 bus fare cap?

  22-07-2026 08:47 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Most single bus fares in England will be capped at £2 from January, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announces.
  
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• Chris Mason: Sarwar ministerial role sees promotion of another Starmer critic

  22-07-2026 07:22 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Months after calling on Keir Starmer to quit, the Scottish Labour leader is set to become a minister in Burnham's government, the BBC's political editor writes.
  
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• The UK’s biggest university is a private company

  22-07-2026 06:00 via ft.com
  Supporters say franchised providers widen access to further education, but others doubt the real value of their ‘no frills’ courses
  
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• New UK energy secretary previously called for acceleration of net zero target

  22-07-2026 06:00 via ft.com
  Fahnbulleh was head of a think-tank when it pushed for a total end to new drilling in the North Sea basin
  
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• Investors could do with their own ‘Number 10 North’

  22-07-2026 06:00 via ft.com
  Those willing to venture outside London should find they have less competition for good companies
  
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• Boost youth jobs by cutting employers' national insurance, MPs urge

  22-07-2026 01:17 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A select committee says it has heard "overwhelming evidence" that rising employment costs are reducing training and job vacancies.
  
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• Burnham tells cabinet to tackle living costs at first meeting

  22-07-2026 01:15 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The new prime minister chaired his first cabinet after announcing a cut to VAT on household electricity.
  
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• MPs call on Burnham to extend employer tax break for under-25s

  22-07-2026 01:01 via ft.com
  New prime minister has pledged to help jobless young people find work
  
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• Should there have been a general election?

  21-07-2026 22:26 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Members of the public are asked if they think they should have being given a vote before Andy Burnham was appointed the new UK prime minister.
  
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