David Lammy has defended Sir Keir Starmer's leadership amid speculation that Andy Burnham could challenge for the Labour leadership. The foreign secretary said the party is united behind Starmer, despite polling suggesting Burnham could narrow Reform UK's lead.
Former defence secretary John Healey and ex-defence minister Al Carns resigned last week, with Healey telling MPs the government's defence spending plan fell 'well short of what is required'. He criticised the Treasury's timetable, saying 'our adversaries don't follow timetables set by the Treasury'.
Ipsos polling indicated that if Burnham were Labour leader, the party would gain a 4-point boost against Reform UK. However, Deltapoll cautioned that the 'Burnham Bounce' could be 'small and short-lived', as voters are poor at predicting their behaviour in hypothetical scenarios.
The environment secretary has objected to a £10bn rescue for Thames Water, pushing the firm closer to public ownership. Refugee groups condemned Conservative proposals to strip judges of powers over asylum appeals as 'an attack on justice'.
A key byelection in Aberdeen South could also shift dynamics, with Scottish Conservatives hoping to unseat the SNP by opposing Labour's stance on oil and gas.
