Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed he will join Andy Burnham campaigning in Makerfield as speculation over the Prime Minister's future rumbles on.
The Prime Minister said he wanted the "whole Labour movement" to be involved in the by-election campaign and back the Greater Manchester Mayor.
When asked if he would be campaigning with Mr Burnham, the Prime Minister said: "Yes, and I’ve said to the whole Labour movement that I want everybody to be involved in the campaign, whatever other discussions are going on, it’s really important, that’s a straight fight between Labour and Reform.
"It’s about the values that we take into politics, and it’s really important that we all pull together and fight in that by-election, as we will do...we’ve got a very good story to tell."
The Prime Minister also declined to say if he was frustrated by his own MPs talking about a potential leadership contest between Mr Burnham and former health secretary Wes Streeting.
He said: "What it is important for me to draw out is that actually the last week in terms of what we’ve delivered is really significant, because economic growth is at the highest predicted in the G7.
"That’s really important, because it means more money into the economy, more money to be spent on our public services.
"The NHS waiting lists, which we’ve been investing in, and driving down, they fell. The numbers came out last week, the sharpest rate for 17 years. Migration has come down. The last government lost control. It was nearly a billion.
"It’s down to about a fifth of that in the figures that came out today, so all of these things show that, and I’m really proud of this, that despite all the other discussions that are going on, this is a Government that is delivering for people across the country."
Conservatives say guidance on singe-sex spaces is a 'welcome step forward'
The Conservatives said long-awaited guidance on single-sex spaces being laid before Parliament was a "welcome step forward in ensuring the rights of women and girls".
Claire Coutinho, shadow minister for equalities, said: "Today marks a welcome step forward in ensuring the rights of women and girls that were so hard-won in the Supreme Court last year.
"However, we cannot gloss over the fact that it comes after months of dither and delay. There is still much work to do to make sure every organisation, from the NHS, to schools, to charities, is complying with the law.
"The truth is Bridget Phillipson has been too distracted by furthering her own political career than standing up for women and girls across this country.
"Only Kemi Badenoch and the Conservatives have the team and plan to protect single-sex spaces and stand up for the safety of women and girls."
Labour minister condemns 'manmade and preventable' suffering in Gaza
A Foreign Office minister has warned of "manmade and preventable" suffering in Gaza as he said a peace plan for the much-destroyed Palestinian enclave was "yet to be fully realised."
Hamish Falconer said: "Children are living amid sewage, parasites, and disease. UN has now reported that infestations are now affecting almost 1.5 million people. This suffering is manmade and preventable."
The minister said the UK backed the 20-point Gaza peace plan which US President Donald Trump helped to negotiate.
However, he warned: "But the full promise of the 20-point plan has yet to be fully realised."
He later said: "In the West Bank, the House will know that settler violence and settlement expansion continues to drive Palestinians from their homes, including over the recess period.
"The [Benjamin] Netanyahu government is imposing a stranglehold on the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian economy."
Cabinet minister hit with pre-recess resignation
Luke Charters has resigned
| HOUSE OF COMMONSLuke Charters, Labour MP for York Outer, has resigned as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) for Business Secretary Peter Kyle, saying Labour must be "bolder" and "more confident".
He posted on X: "As the Commons rises for recess, I have let colleagues know that I’ve chosen to step back as PPS in the Department for Business and Trade. It has been a genuine privilege to put Labour values into practice in this role."
He added: "As a party, we have to be bolder with our ideas and more confident in our approach, kinder to ourselves as one Labour family, and we must make people in every corner of this country feel that politics is genuinely working for them in their everyday lives."
Rachel Reeves says 'I'll still be Chancellor in Autumn'
Rachel Reeves has insisted she will deliver the next Budget as she vowed to fight on as Chancellor.
When asked by Sky News if she would be the Chancellor delivering the next budget, Ms Reeves said: "Yes, I do, and I'll tell you why.
"Because in the almost two years I've been chancellor, I've got the economy growing, beating the forecasts.
"We were the fastest growing economy in the G7 in the first quarter of this year, defying the forecasts. Inflation: just yesterday the numbers came out that inflation is down."
Foreign Office says Israeli minister's behaviour is 'disgraceful'
A Foreign Office minister criticised Itamar Ben-Gvir’s behaviour as “a disgrace”, warning the Israeli security minister "has been behaving outrageously towards Palestinians day in, day out".
A video posted by Ben-Gvir's office shows dozens of detained activists kneeling in rows with their hands zip-tied behind their backs, in what appears to be an outdoor Israeli port facility.
Ben-Gvir's behaviour was met with global condemnation, with British Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis calling it a "shameful display" that was "the very antithesis of our core Jewish values".
Hamish Falconer told the Commons: “While yesterday it was Europeans and others who were subjected to humiliating treatment, which has rightly caused international condemnation, we should be clear that Mr Ben-Gvir has been behaving outrageously towards Palestinians day in, day out, ever since he became a minister.
"That is a disgrace and it was why the UK led an international group of our partners to impose sanctions both on Mr Ben-Gvir and (finance minister Bezalel) Smotrich in their personal capacities, which I announced from this despatch box late last year."
Steel nationalisation Bill clears first Commons hurdle
The first hurdle has been cleared
| GETTYA Bill paving the way for ministers to take control of parts of the steel industry has cleared its first Commons hurdle.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle said having the option to nationalise companies in the steelmaking sector "heralds the new dawn of an age of British industrialisation".
But the Conservatives launched a bid to stop the Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill becoming law at second reading, tabling an amendment to argue that "politicians should not be running businesses" and warned that the move could deter inward investment into other businesses.
MPs struck down the Conservatives’ bid by 242 votes to 68, majority 174.
The Bill is one of 37 which the Government would like to start steering through Parliament during the current session, which began with the King’s Speech last week.
Green Party WITHDRAWS candidate from Makerfield by-election
The Green Party candidate for the Makerfield by-election Chris Kennedy has withdrawn for “personal and family reasons", the party has said.
A Green Party spokesperson said: “We wish Chris the best and understand that family has to come first.
“As a party, we are re-opening nominations now because we believe people in Makerfield deserve a real choice at this by-election, and the Green Party will be standing to offer exactly that."
Bridget Phillipson says Supreme Court ruling 'made it clear that sex means biological sex'
Women and equalities minister Bridget Phillipson said the landmark Supreme Court ruling "made it clear that sex means biological sex" under the Equality Act.
She added that "trans people are still protected by the Act" as she laid the long-awaited updated single-sex spaces guidance in Parliament.
Zack Polanski warns Reform is the 'greatest threat' in Makerfield
Zack Polanski issued a dire warning against Reform UK
| GETTY/PAGreen Party leader Zack Polanski said the "greatest threat" in the upcoming Makerfield by-election was Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
Mr Polanski was speaking as the party confirmed local children’s safeguarding specialist Chris Kennedy as their candidate in the by-election.
He said: “It is in hock to corporate interests and seeks to divide our communities rather than uniting them.
"We have shown we can take votes from Reform in a way Labour just can’t. We know there are many voters fed up with the status quo who will only choose between Reform and Greens."
He also said his party would use the by-election to "press Andy Burnham on what kind of MP and Prime Minister he would be, given his mixed track record, and interviews this week suggesting he isn’t committed to fair voting, public ownership and a genuinely new economic settlement".
Andy Burnham's team welcomes endorsement from Keir Starmer
Andy Burnham’s office welcomed Sir Keir Starmer’s offer to campaign for him in Makerfield.
A spokesperson for Labour’s candidate in the by-election said: "Anyone who wants to embrace Andy’s campaign message is welcome on the campaign."
Five people arrested on suspicion of local election fraud offences in Greater Manchester
Five people have been arrested on suspicion of fraud offences relating to a local election in Greater Manchester.
The five people, four men and a woman aged between 23 and 47, were arrested at addresses in Tameside this morning.
All five of them currently remain in custody, Greater Manchester Police said.
A spokesman for the force said it received reports surrounding concerns about candidates within St Peter's ward in Ashton-under-Lyne in the days up to and following the election on May 7.
Jeremy Corbyn writes to Andy Burnham asking to launch public inquiry into Britain's role in Israeli operations in Gaza
The letter was posted on X by Jeremy Corbyn
|X / JEREMY CORBYN
Jeremy Corbyn, co-leader of Your Party and former leader of the Labour Party has written a letter to Andy Burnham, asking him to launch a full, independent inquiry into Britain's role in Israeli operations in Gaza.
He wrote: "Over the past two years, we have been witnessing a genocide in Gaza, livestreamed across the entire world.
"Israel has not carried out these genocidal acts alone. Instead, it has relied on the military, economic and political support of governments around the world, including our own.
"The government said there was 'no need' for an inquiry since 'there is no confusion about UK military operations in Gaza'.
"The people of Britain deserve to know the full scale of British complicity in genocide — and the people of Palestine deserve justice."
Great British Summer Savings scheme is a 'serious response', says Prime Minister
Sir Keir Starmer said the summer cost-of-living package would allow "families to enjoy moments that matter without the same level of financial strain".
Writing on Substack, the Prime Minister said it was "not right" that everyday treats and days out were becoming increasingly unaffordable for too many families, citing trips to the seaside, visits to the zoo, bus rides into town and simple weekly treats as examples of things that were starting to feel out of reach.
He said the VAT cut on summer activities and free bus travel for children would mean "the cost of a day out drops overnight", adding that the measures would give parents more freedom and young people more independence to explore towns, parks, seaside resorts and countryside that might otherwise have felt inaccessible.
He described the package as "a serious response" to the concerns people had about the months ahead, saying the Government was determined to help families "make memories they will cherish for life".
Mel Stride: the fuel duty 'U-turn has finally come'
Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride declared the "U-turn has finally come" after Rachel Reeves announced a delay to the planned rise in fuel duty.
Responding to the Chancellor's statement in the Commons, Sir Mel said: "It was always obvious that the fuel duty increase would need to be cancelled -obvious to everyone except the Chancellor.
"So can I ask, why did the Chancellor fight us on fuel duty for so long? Why has she been so hell-bent on raising fuel duty during an energy crisis? Well, inevitably, the U-turn has finally come."
Ms Reeves responded: "I have always said, since the Middle East conflict began, that I would keep an eye on what was happening to oil and gas prices and set out plans ahead of the change due to come into effect in September, and that is exactly what I have done.
"I have also gone further in three specific areas, with additional support for hauliers, additional support for red diesel, particularly helping the rail freight industry and farmers, and the higher mpositions mileage rates."
Great British Summer Savings scheme to cost £300million
Rachel Reeves' "Great British Summer Savings" scheme is estimated to cost around £300million, the Treasury has said.
The final cost of all the measures will be detailed at the next budget in the Autumn, with the Office of Budget Responsibility recording spend.
Mel Stride: 'Today's announcements will bring little comfort'
Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride responded to Rachel Reeves' announcements, saying it will bring "little comfort to the hundreds of thousands of people who have lost their jobs", given the economic climate.
He said: "Today's announcements will bring little comfort to the hundreds of thousands of people who have lost their jobs, to the countless businesses that have folded, and to those high streets which are now hollowed out.
"The reality is that we are in a terrible position to deal with the consequences of this latest energy crisis, thanks to the actions this Government has taken."
VAT cut for holiday attractions
Rachel Reeves has announced a VAT cut from 20 per cent to five per cent on holiday attractions, including theme parks, zoos and museums, as part of her Great British Summer Saving scheme.
She said: "It will include children's tickets for cinemas, concerts, soft play and the theatre, and it will cut the cost of children's meals in restaurants and cafes from 20 per cent to five per cent as well.
"These changes will apply across the UK from the start of the Scottish school holidays on the 25th of June and run until the end of school holidays in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on the first of September."
String of proposals announced to support UK businesses facing rising energy costs
The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced a string of proposals in order to limit the rising cost of living.
On energy prices: Ofgem will confirm next week the level of the energy price cap from July, with current forecasts suggesting it will be at a similar level to April last year. She said the Government stands ready to act if market conditions worsen significantly later in the year.
On business competitiveness: Support for the most energy-intensive industries has been increased and brought forward through the existing scheme. This includes a new £350million fund to support strategically important producers in the critical chemicals sector.
On British industry: A new £120million fund has been announced to support the UK's ceramics sector.
Rachel Reeves: 'We have the right economic plan'
Speaking to the House of Commons, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the Government is carrying out "the right economic plan".
She said: "Since the election, interest rates have been cut six times. Real wages have continued to rise in every single month since I became Chancellor, and yesterday the Office of National Statistics confirmed that inflation fell in April faster than expected, making the UK the only G7 economy where inflation fell last month.
"We have the right economic plan, but the conflicts in the Middle East pose a significant challenge to a world economy, including our own. I have not shied away from my criticism of the war. I believe it to have been a mistake."
Queen Elizabeth was 'very keen' for Andrew to take on trade envoy role, new documents show
The Queen was “very keen” for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to take on a “prominent role in the promotion of national interests”, then-chief executive of British Trade International Sir David Wright said in a memo to then-foreign secretary Robin Cook dated February 2000.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office and released under investigation.
He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The British Government has published historic documents on the 2001 appointment of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor.
Read Dorothy Reddin's story here.
Foreign Office summons Israeli charge d'affaires over detainee video
'We must restore order and control to our borders' - Home Secretary responds to new migration figures
Shabana Mahmood heading to a Cabinet meeting earlier this week
|PA
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood reacted to the latest migration figures, which show long-term net migration has nearly halved, saying the Government "must restore order and control" to UK boarders.
Ms Mahmood said: "Net migration has fallen by 82% in just three years.
"We will always welcome those who contribute to this country and wish to build a better life here.
"But we must restore order and control to our borders.
"As these statistics show, real progress has been made, but there is still work to do.
"That is why I am introducing a skills-based migration system that rewards contribution and ends Britain’s reliance on cheap overseas workers."
Number of asylum seekers being housed in hotels down 35 per cent
The number of asylum seekers being housed in UK hotels has stood as a new low at the end of March, down 35 per cent year-on-year, figures from the Home Office show.
Long-term international net migration halves
Long-term international net migration stood at 171,000 for the year ending December 2025, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has revealed.
This figure has nearly halved from the previous year, which stood at 331,000 - reducing by 48.3 per cent.
It is the lowest figure since early 2021, when the post-Brexit immigration system was implemented and Covid-19 travel restrictions were still in place.
Net migration is the difference between the number of people moving to the UK and the number of people leaving the country, on a long-term basis.
The fall in net migration is said to be driven by fewer people from outside the EU arriving to work in the UK, the ONS said.
Wes Streeting 'won't fight' Andy Burnham if he wins by-election as 'no one can beat him', allies say
Wes Streeting "won't fight" Andy Burnham if he wins the Makerfield by-election as "no one can beat" him if he makes it back to Parliament.
Insiders who have worked with Mr Streeting have indicated there is a growing feeling of the Greater Manchester mayor being unbeatable in a leadership challenge for the top job.
However, a different source dismissed the rumours as "rubbish", arguing the former Health Secretary is focused on the challenge at hand, come what may.
Yesterday, Mr Streeting said he had "no regrets" after stepping down from the frontbench and put his support behind Mr Burnham, also a former Health Secretary, but under Gordon Brown, in the Makerfield by-election.
Reading out his resignation statement to the House of Commons, Mr Streeting painted a bleak picture for Labour unless it changed its direction as it was losing the fight against "nationalism".
He said: "We risk handing the keys of No10 to Reform.
"This is our fight. It's Andy Burnham's fight in Makerfield and it is Labour's fight for the soul of our country."
Wigan Council confirmed yesterday the Makerfield by-election will take place on Thursday, June 18.
'Totally irresponsible' - Mel Stride discusses Russian jet incident
Following the incident yesterday where a Russian jet flew within 20 metres of a RAF spy plane over the Black Sea, Sir Mel Stride said the episode underscored the need to stand firm against Vladimir Putin, adding that doing so meant "proper robust sanctions".
Speaking to GB News, Sir Mel said on the actions from Russia: "This is totally irresponsible. We saw this kind of behaviour previously, some years ago, as well.
"This is international airspace. It's reckless and the wrong thing for the Russians to be doing, but it underscores the importance of standing up to Vladimir Putin. And to get back to the oil point, standing up to Vladimir Putin means proper robust sanctions and not buying Russian oil."
This comes as the Government announced they had lifted some sanctions on Russian oil amid concerns over rising fuel prices.
Great British Summer Savings scheme is 'absurd', says Shadow Chancellor
Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride called the Government's package to ease the cost of living is "absurd", having little impact and accused the increasing cost of living being down to some of the Government's own policies.
Speaking to GB News, he said: "If the price of anything comes down through lower tariffs or taxes, then that will ease things very, very, very slightly, but to the extent that people are going to be benefiting from slightly cheaper chocolate bars, dried fruit, or peanuts, I think is a fairly debatable point.
"The fundamentals here are that we've got our economy in a position where we've had low growth, very high taxes, which is causing people to have to tighten their belts from high and rising unemployment and high inflation across the period that this Government's been in office and their policies have fed into all those problems.
"That's why we're in a weaker position now to lean into the challenges of higher oil and gas prices due to the Middle East conflict than we would otherwise have been."
Green Party announces Makerfield candidate
The Green Party has announced their Makerfield by-election candidate as Chris Kennedy, a children's safeguarding specialist, who said he was "proud" to have been selected to stand.
He said: "We want to defend our area against the politics of hate and division and bring people together around a positive vision for the future.
"At the same time, we can’t let this election be dominated by a Westminster psychodrama. It must be about protecting what makes Makerfield special. People here are feeling the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis, and they deserve real support.
"Greens will fight for warmer homes, lower bills, and a fairer economy. And we will always stand up for our NHS, properly funded, publicly owned, and there for everyone when they need it."
Labour has 'world-leading sanctions regime' despite lifting Russian oil restrictions, says Lucy Rigby
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Lucy Rigby pushed back firmly against suggestions the Government is softening its stance on Russia after some sanctions on Russian oil were lifted, insisting the broader package announced this week makes life significantly harder for Vladimir Putin than it did last week.
Speaking to GB News, she said: "The sanctions that we've got in place today as a result of the package that's been announced are much tougher than they were last week.
"We have a world-leading sanctions regime. We've already sanctioned 3,300 Russian individuals, entities and businesses, and our support for Ukraine is absolutely steadfast."
Lucy Rigby: Labour 'understands family budgets are stretched'
The Treasury is due to set out a package of measures today which are designed to ease pressure on family budgets, including free unlimited bus travel for children in England throughout August, the removal of tariffs on around 125 agri-food products to help reduce the cost of the weekly shop and a continued freeze on fuel duty following the Prime Minister's announcement yesterday.
Lucy Rigby, Chief Secretary to the Treasury told GB News: "This package altogether is all about trying to help families right across this country with the cost of living, because we understand that family budgets are stretched at the moment.
"This comes on the back of a whole host of things we've been doing as a government - raising the minimum wage and the national living wage, freezing rail fares, freezing prescription charges."
What is happening in Westminster today?
Good morning, happy Thursday from the Politics Team at GB News.
Today, we are expecting to hear from the Chancellor Rachel Reeves on her Great British Summer Savings Scheme - which we expect to see tariffs cut on some food imports and free bus travel for children in August.
What we are not going to see if food price caps enforced on the supermarkets, after Ms Reeves backed down from the idea when retailers and the Bank of England pushed back on the idea.
We have already heard from Lucy Rigby MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury (update to come) and we'll be hearing from Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride in just under an hour.
Stay tuned for more politics updates throughout the day.