Former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation as an MP on Tuesday in a shock move, setting his successor Andy Burnham up for a fresh by-election.

Sir Keir’s decision to stand down from his role as MP for Holborn and St Pancras will trigger a by-election in the constituency just months after he stood down as prime minister.

His announcement comes ahead of Mr Burnham’s first address as prime minister in the House of Commons as Parliament returns from recess.

The speech will focus on the cost-of-living crisis as the Labour leader makes a case for bringing more essential services under public control, according to reports in The Guardian.

Mr Burnham has announced a range of policies over the summer that have largely gone uncontested but will now face scrutiny by MPs.

Chancellor John Healey has also promised to hike UK defence spending after Donald Trump said he was reviewing the United States’ position on the British sovereignty over the Falkland islands.

The US president is reportedly willing to oppose British rule of the overseas territory as an incentive to encourage Mr Burnham to increase defence spending.

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BREAKING: Sir Keir Starmer set to step down as MP

Former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is to step down as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras, a move that will trigger a by-election in the London seat.

Nicole Wootton-Cane1 September 2026 12:17

Iran bond selloff will mean higher borrowing costs for Burnham, reports say

A global selloff of Iran bonds means Andy Burnham and John Healey will face higher borrowing costs and an increased likelihood of interest rate rises, according to reports.

Bloomberg News reports that the the odds of a quarter point Bank of England interest hike coming in November have risen to almost 70 per cent, and that a second hike is more than fully priced in for next March and seen as 80 per cent likely to come by February.

That could a major obstacle to Mr Burnham’s plans to slash the cost of living.

Nicole Wootton-Cane1 September 2026 12:09

PM vows to ‘stamp out antisemitism for good’ as he pays tribute to synagogue attack victims

Andy Burnham has vowed to “stamp out antisemitism for good” as he paid tribute to the victims of the Manchester synagogue terror attack.

The prime minister wrote on X: “We send our love and support to the Jewish community in Manchester and beyond who last night gathered to remember Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby, who were killed defending their synagogue last year. My thoughts are with their families and all those who have been affected by the attack.

“I know for many Jewish people, the sorrow and fear from that day has not lifted, and I know we must do more to protect communities across the country.

“I want Jewish people to know that their safety is a priority of mine and I’m determined to stamp out antisemitism for good.”

Nicole Wootton-Cane1 September 2026 11:50

What is coming up in Burnham’s speech to the Commons?

Andy Burnham is set to make his first Commons address as UK prime minister on Tuesday afternoon.

His speech is expected to call for greater public control over water, energy and transport as he faces scrutiny from MPs for the first time.

Mr Burnham will argue that stronger public control over many of the country’s services can be an engine for economic growth, setting out his belief that essential services have not been run in the public interest.

In his first appearance at the despatch box in 16 years, he is expected to say that they have become neither reliable nor affordable, holding back British households and the wider economy.

The Guardian, which first reported details of the Commons statement, said Mr Burnham would make public control over important services a priority for the government over coming months.

“Andy is optimistic about our country’s future,” A No 10 source said. “He has a clear plan for how we turn things round. He is determined we make this the moment we bring back hope.”

Nicole Wootton-Cane1 September 2026 11:40

Cabinet meeting ends

Andy Burnham’s first Cabinet meeting of the new parliamentary term has ended.

Ministers were seen leaving Downing Street after around 90 minutes inside. Many of them are likely to be present in the Commons later when the prime minister makes his first address to the chamber.

Nicole Wootton-Cane1 September 2026 11:30

Nearly two-thirds of Britons think govt is wrong to allow early prison releases, poll says

Nearly two-thirds of Britons think the government is wrong to allow early prison releases, according to polling.

Ahead of an announcement in Parliament by the justice secretary on plans to ease prison overcrowding, YouGov said 64 per cent opposed the early release scheme in a survey of 2,087 adults.

The Government’s proposal to halve the time that some more serious offenders will have to serve in prison is opposed by 82 per cent of those surveyed while 61 per cent are against cutting the proportion of their sentences that less serious offenders have to spend in jail to around a third.

Building more prisons to tackle the overcrowding crisis has the support of 81 per cent of Britons while 78 per cent back releasing foreign nationals early so they can be deported, according to YouGov.

Nicole Wootton-Cane1 September 2026 11:20

Watch: Trump says he is reviewing US position on Falkland Islands

Nicole Wootton-Cane1 September 2026 11:00

John Healey tells counterparts to ‘step up’ as he arrives at first G20 summit

The UK’s new chancellor called on his international counterparts to “step up” co-operation in response to a “number of challenges” including the Middle East crisis, energy prices, cost of living and growth, as he arrived at his first G20 summit.

John Healey set out the UK’s priorities before the meeting of global finance ministers on Monday in Asheville, North Carolina.

“Britain faces these global pressures from a position of relative strength, the fastest growth in the G7 advanced nations in the first half of this year, the deficit being cut faster than in any other G7 country,” he said.

“But no country can face these pressures alone. And these shocks are being felt worldwide. They’ve been felt in people’s pockets, in their weekly shops, filling up their cars.

“And so I’m here to work with international partner nations to deepen our economic resilience, to deliver good growth and also to give families and businesses just a bit of breathing space.”

You can read more below:

John Healey tells counterparts to ‘step up’ as he arrives at first G20 summit

The new Chancellor urged a need to ‘step up international co-operation’ on the Middle East and energy pricesNicole Wootton-Cane1 September 2026 10:40

Darren Jones says Britain cannot get richer ‘based on public spending alone’

Darren Jones, former chief secretary to Keir Starmer, has said that Britain “won’t get richer based on higher public spending alone”, in an article for The Times.

“Britain is poorer than we often think,” he wrote, adding that “we can’t tax billionaires who don’t live here.”

“We shouldn’t rely on public spending as a route to some romantic version of making Britain great again as we look in the rearview mirror for a great history that is no longer available to us,” he continued.

“We must face the future, and I know my colleagues are up to the challenge.”

Maira Butt1 September 2026 10:20

In pictures: Cabinet members arrive at Downing Street

Andy Burnham’s Cabinet is meeting in Downing Street on Monday ahead of his first address to the Commons as prime minister.

Nicole Wootton-Cane1 September 2026 10:00NewerOlder

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