Cabinet wooing Burnham for top jobs - with Miliband eyeing chancellor
Cabinet ministers are scrambling to secure positions in a future Andy Burnham government after his selection triggered what one Labour insider described as a full-scale “race for jobs” inside the party.
Senior ministers are preparing visits to Makerfield amid growing expectations in Westminster that Burnham could ultimately take the Labour leadership – and with it the power to appoint the next Cabinet.
“The equation cabinet ministers are making is that if they go and he wins they will get a plum job,” one senior source said. “If they don’t go and he wins, he will remember. And if they don’t go and he loses, he will remember.”
Key takeaways from ‘explosive’ Andrew trade envoy papers
What you need to know as easyJet warns of price rises
Radio station apologises after announcing King’s death
UK net migration drops to 171,000 in 2025 – lowest since pandemic
Journalist admits stalking George Osborne and his wife
Why migratory bird numbers are falling in Britain
All the named candidates for Makerfield by-election so far
I saved £560 a month without sacrificing fun – this is how
Key takeaways from ‘explosive’ Andrew trade envoy papers
Documents published by the Government today reveal the late Queen’s involvement in her son Andrew’s appointments. They also raise more questions over Mountbatten-Windsor’s expenses and his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Queen ‘very keen’ to get Andrew trade role
Letters to the foreign secretary on behalf of the Royal Family reveal the Queen pushed for Andrew’s appointment, suggesting he was a “natural fit” for the trade role.
The secret about Andrew the Royal Family won’t admit
What else we know
No vetting on Andrew before he took up post
The former prince wasn’t allowed to play while on official visits.
Only expenses as part of the role were covered by the Treasury.
He visited New York as part of the role, meaning he could have met Epstein.
Three key details you might have missed from Andrew trade envoy revelations
How has Andrew responded?
Mountbatten-Windsor has always rejected any wrongdoing in his associations with Epstein and denied any personal gain from his role as trade envoy.
The Royal Family can't escape their part in Andrew's downfall – these files prove it
Watch more from The i Paper
@theipaper King Charles III has set out the government’s priorities in the King’s Speech, warning of a “dangerous and volatile world” as conflicts in the Middle East impact UK security. Written by Keir Starmer’s government, the speech outlined plans to boost energy independence, strengthen EU trade ties and tackle the cost of living, as Starmer faces mounting pressure over his leadership. #UKPolitics#KingCharles #KingsSpeech ♬ original sound – The i Paper – The i Paper
King Charles III has set out the government’s priorities in the King’s Speech, warning of a “dangerous and volatile world” as conflicts in the Middle East impact UK security. Written by Keir Starmer’s government, the speech outlined plans to boost energy independence, strengthen EU trade ties and tackle the cost of living, as Starmer faces mounting pressure over his leadership. #UKPolitics#KingCharles #KingsSpeech
What you need to know as easyJet warns of price rises
The budget airline has just posted a record loss, with bookings slowing dramatically as a result of fuel price rises and uncertainty over the conflict in the Middle East.
In the last half-year easyJet made a loss of…
This is the worst performance since it was founded. Airlines usually lose money in the winter but this was a far more than previous years.The country has been hit by extra fuel costs of…
This is due to the rise in global oil prices.
Lowest ticket prices to rise in response
An active review of all discretionary costs.
An active review of all discretionary costs.
The company warned it would be passing rising fuel costs onto customers, increasing the minimum ticket fares for summer.
Watch more from The i Paper
@theipaper Former Towie star Gemma Collins has found herself at the centre of a growing backlash after appearing in official Department for Education videos alongside Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. Parents have branded the videos “tone deaf” after they were published just one day after the government’s consultation on SEND reform closed, with many families fearing the proposed changes could strip away some of their legal rights to support. A DfE spokesperson said: “This collaboration has enabled us to reach a wider audience and make them aware of the opportunities they can benefit from, which is a key part of our commitment to transform the life chances of all children and young people.” gemmacollins thegc towie departmentforeducation send ♬ original sound – The i Paper – The i Paper
Former Towie star Gemma Collins has found herself at the centre of a growing backlash after appearing in official Department for Education videos alongside Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. Parents have branded the videos “tone deaf” after they were published just one day after the government’s consultation on SEND reform closed, with many families fearing the proposed changes could strip away some of their legal rights to support. A DfE spokesperson said: “This collaboration has enabled us to reach a wider audience and make them aware of the opportunities they can benefit from, which is a key part of our commitment to transform the life chances of all children and young people.” gemmacollins thegc towie departmentforeducation send
Radio station apologises after announcing King’s death by mistake
Radio Caroline in Essex said the announcement on Tuesday was a “computer error” and pulled the programme from its website.
The former pirate radio station broadcast in Essex has apologised to the King, after a “computer error” led it to initiate the “death of the monarch procedure”. Producers realised the mistake when the station fell silent after the announcement.
Three key details you might have missed from Andrew trade envoy revelations
What was the King doing?
The false announcement came on the first day of the King and Queen’s trip to Northern Ireland, where they greeted crowds and joined in with local folk dancers.The three-day trip includes a visit to Belfast, Hillsborough and Newcastle, where the King was seen joking with crowd after seagull droppings landed on his suit jacket.
Watch more from The i Paper
@theipaper Rachel Reeves was heckled at a petrol station in Leeds as a driver shouted: “Get Keir Starmer out!” Reeves responded by repeatedly saying “I love our country” as pressure continues to mount on Starmer following Labour’s heavy local election losses and growing calls for him to resign. #UKPolitics #News ♬ original sound – The i Paper – The i Paper
Rachel Reeves was heckled at a petrol station in Leeds as a driver shouted: “Get Keir Starmer out!” Reeves responded by repeatedly saying “I love our country” as pressure continues to mount on Starmer following Labour’s heavy local election losses and growing calls for him to resign. #UKPolitics #News
UK net migration drops below 200,000 for first time since Covid-19 pandemic
UK net migration dropped to an estimated 171,000 last year, the lowest level since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.The figures for the 12 months to December are down 48 per cent compared to the previous year (331,000), according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
What you need to know
It is the first time the estimate – which is the difference between the number of people arriving and leaving the country – has fallen below 200,000 since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak. In the year to March 2021, it stood at 132,000, at a time when travel restrictions were still in place to contain the virus and the post-Brexit immigration system had been introduced.
What Burnham as PM would mean for housing and landlords
Angela Rayner warns Mahmood's asylum reforms would be 'un-British'
A closer look at the figures
The continued fall in net migration is being driven by fewer people from outside the EU arriving in the UK for work, the ONS said.
Some 813,000 people are estimated to have arrived in the UK in 2025, while 642,000 are likely to have left.
The figures suggest more British nationals left the country during the 12-month period (246,000) than returned home (110,000).
Capture victim's huge payout – but Post Office delays wife's conviction appeal
Journalist admits stalking George Osborne and his wife
The “nightmare” is over for former chancellor George Osborne and his wife Thea Rogers after 29-year-old Lydia Suffield pleaded guilty to two counts of stalking today.
‘Deeply distressing’ ordeal for family is over
The freelance journalist was accused of sending messages to the couple, as well as reporting them to the children’s charity NSPCC and contacting their friends and family, between June 2022 and July 2023.
The charts that show how HS2 descended into farce
Couple’s wedding ‘disrupted’ by stalker
No one who has been spared the ordeal of a stalker can fully understand how vulnerable and unsafe it makes you feel
No one who has been spared the ordeal of a stalker can fully understand how vulnerable and unsafe it makes you feel
More serious charges of stalking involving “serious harm” were dropped, and Suffield will be sentenced next month.
Why migratory bird breeding numbers are falling in Britain
Despite last year’s warm spring and summer, the number of baby birds born to several migratory species was lower than ever. A number of factors could be to blame.
Last year’s breeding season was disastrous for willow and garden warblers, blackcap and common whitethroats, according to the British Trust for Ornithology. There were also significant declines for sedge, reed warblers and lesser whitethroat.
These birds all travel to Africa for the winter, returning to the UK in the warmer months. The data showed that those who winter in Iberia, closer to home, such as the chiffchaff, fared better.
Year-round birds fared better
Birds that remain in the UK, like the woodpigeon and stock dove, showed a rise in numbers, though smaller breeds like the turtle dove declined. Researchers are not sure why numbers have declined, but habitat loss here and abroad may have affected their ability to breed.
How to still care for birds in your garden, as RSPB warns not to feed in warm months
More science from The i Paper
@theipaper Why are deadly disease outbreaks suddenly appearing everywhere? From a growing Ebola emergency in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to hantavirus and meningitis scares, multiple outbreaks are now spreading across the world at the same time. More than 130 suspected deaths have already been linked to the current Ebola outbreak, raising fears over how quickly dangerous viruses can spread. #Ebola #Hantavirus #Meningitis #Diseases ♬ original sound – The i Paper – The i Paper
Why are deadly disease outbreaks suddenly appearing everywhere? From a growing Ebola emergency in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to hantavirus and meningitis scares, multiple outbreaks are now spreading across the world at the same time. More than 130 suspected deaths have already been linked to the current Ebola outbreak, raising fears over how quickly dangerous viruses can spread. #Ebola #Hantavirus #Meningitis #Diseases
All named candidates for the Makerfield by-election so far
As Andy Burnham prepares to challenge Starmer for the Labour leadership, he first needs to win a seat in Parliament.Here are all the candidates he’ll have to see off before he can set foot in Westminster.
Mayor of Manchester to face off local rivals
Robert Kenyon for Reform UK could be the greatest challenger.
Chris Kennedy for the Greens will also pose a threat.
Michael Winstanley is standing for the Conservatives.
'My dog bit Andy Burnham on the bum, I think he'll win the by-election'
Route to No 10
Other parties such as the Liberal Democrats are expected to announce a candidate soon, and the Monster Raving Loony Party has already declared theirs, as well as an ex-Reform MP’s new party, Restore Britain. Josh Simons, a Labour MP and close ally of Burnham, resigned to trigger the by-election, to be held on 18 June, to get the so-called ‘King of the North’ into Parliament.
Andy Burnham 'to reward' MP who stood aside with top No 10 job
Watch more from The i Paper
@theipaper Could Labour’s new voting plans completely change UK politics? Keir Starmer’s government wants to let 16-year-olds vote and automatically register millions more people, a move that could shake up future elections as parties like Reform UK and the Greens gain younger support. Some Labour figures now fear the changes could actually hurt them instead. Tap the link above for the full breakdown of what’s changing and why it could decide the next election ⬆️ #News #UKPolitics #Voting #Elections ♬ original sound – The i Paper – The i Paper
Could Labour’s new voting plans completely change UK politics? Keir Starmer’s government wants to let 16-year-olds vote and automatically register millions more people, a move that could shake up future elections as parties like Reform UK and the Greens gain younger support. Some Labour figures now fear the changes could actually hurt them instead. Tap the link above for the full breakdown of what’s changing and why it could decide the next election ⬆️ #News #UKPolitics #Voting #Elections
Can I save money without giving up fun?
When it comes to financial planning, I’ve always lived month to month, but recently I’ve wanted to be slightly more serious. So I spoke to a range of financial experts for the easiest, idiot-proof ways to be savvier with money – without just hibernating.
Print out your bank statements“This is the hardest step but you’ve got to know what’s coming in and out, down to the pound,” says financial coach Ian Dempsey. You’re more likely to remember what’s on there, and pay attention to it on paper.
Draw an image of what you’re saving for“Anything that requires discipline is much easier to achieve when you [can picture] the end goal,” says Ruth Power, from the Financial Management Bureau.
Go on a money date
If you’re in a relationship, for 30 minutes once a month, take a notebook to the pub/cafe and talk about money with your partner.
They are designed to be compulsive. Removing them gives you an extra layer of resistance.
Marketing emails are designed to reach you when you’re likely to spend money.
How it went when Kasia followed the expert advice
I delete Vinted and only re-download it when I actively want to replace something for my son that he’s grown out of.
I’m no longer buring my head in the sand. Sections of my bank statement flash into my mind when I go to use the Uber app.
Money dates have been uncomfortable. We did have a small argument about buying own-brand beans versus Heinz for example, but scribbling down numbers we want to save has also been exciting.
I have found it easier to be mindful about spending and broke some unhelpful habits, like associating walks with always getting a coffee.
How the UK currently saves
The average person in the UK has £16,067 in savings in 2025.
However, 2 in 5 Britons have £1,000 or less in savings. A quarter have £200 or less.
1 in 6 UK adults (16 per cent) have no savings at all, equating to around 8.4 million people.
Men are estimated to have 82 per cent more in savings than women.
Almost three in 10 (28 per cent) of adults state saving money is a habit.
The truth is, I’m never going to be someone with five side hustles and the financial savvy to become a bitcoin billionaire. But I’m no longer thinking, “where did my salary go?”. The small changes have, over time, made a difference to my bank account, but also my mind and self confidence. KASIA DELGADO
The truth is, I’m never going to be someone with five side hustles and the financial savvy to become a bitcoin billionaire. But I’m no longer thinking, “where did my salary go?”. The small changes have, over time, made a difference to my bank account, but also my mind and self confidence.
Even the most loyal Cabinet ministers are expected to make appearances in Makerfield over the coming weeks as they seek to avoid being shut out of Burnham’s inner circle – even if this means they could be ultimately campaigning for a man who is preparing to oust their boss.
All eyes on Rachel Reeves
The Prime Minister is not expected to join the by-election campaign, with allies citing a long-standing convention against sitting PMs intervening directly in such contests.
Attention is now focused on whether Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, will go to Makerfield, with MPs viewing her decision as a key test of where loyalties inside the party are shifting.
Back in 2015, when Burnham last stood for the Labour leadership, Reeves was among the first Labour MPs to endorse him. Allies say the pair’s relationship was so close that had he been victorious Burnham would have made her his shadow chancellor.
However, relations are understood to have soured since then. Reeves is said to have given Burnham the “hair dryer treatment” after he told the New Statesman in September that the country “has to get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets”.
His comments were blamed for causing the markets to wobble.
Instead, many now believe that Burnham is lining up to make Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, as his chancellor. It comes as Miliband’s special adviser was seconded to work with Burnham for the by-election campaign. The same adviser was also sent to cover the Denton and Gorton by-election.
A party insider said: “Ed is very protective of his staff. He would never lend them to other people unless he had been guaranteed a fairly significant return favour.”
Lucy Powell for deputy, Mahmood wants to stay, Lammy out
Burnham is also widely expected to make Lucy Powell, the deputy leader of the Labour Party, his deputy prime minister. Multiple sources said that other women likely to be given top jobs include Angela Rayner, the former deputy prime minister, Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, and Louise Haigh, the former transport secretary, who is also the co-chair of the influential soft-left Tribune group of MPs.
Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, who last week broke ranks and told Sir Keir Starmer to set out a timetable for his departure, is understood to be keen to stay on in her current post.
One person who is unlikely to keep their job in the Cabinet, is Lord Hermer, according to Burnham’s allies.
They say he is “too close” to Starmer and has also “blotted is copybook” over the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, which special forces veterans have warned risks prolonging the persecution of soldiers of former soldiers.
David Lammy, the current Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, could also be shuffled out of Cabinet, according to those close to the Mayor of Greater Manchester. He has come under fire for his decision to restrict just trials for all but the most serious cases.
The tension between him and Karl Turner, a solicitor, over the issue reached new levels on Tuesday when the Labour MP goaded him in the House of Commons chamber. Turner told him: “Not long now Dave. You’ll be gone soon.” Lammy is understood to have responded by calling Turner an “a***hole”, according to two MPs present, although a source close to Lammy denied this.
However, sources close to Burnham said the jockeying for position could all be in vain as he wants this by-election campaign to be “different”.
Frontbenchers would be expected to door knock
Instead of a rota of frontbenchers coming to the constituency as part of a series of media opportunities, the source said that visitors would only be welcome if they wanted to go out on the doorstep.
A spokesperson for Burnham said: “Andy doesn’t want to be speaking to the London-based media, he wants to be speaking to the people of Makerfield.
“He is going to be focused on local issues and wants the people of Makerfield to know that this campaign is about them and their priorities. It’s his ambition to known on every door and have a conversation with everyone he can before the end of the campaign.
“He knows some of those conversations will be tough, but he understands that it’s the Labour that has moved rather than them and he wants to take the party back to where it used to be.”