Andy Burnham becomes Prime Minister
Following Keir Starmer’s decision to resign as Leader of the Labour Party, Andy Burnham was elected unopposed as the new Labour Leader, and on the 20th of July he was asked to form an administration by the King.
As he said from the steps of Downing Street, he is clearly focusing on trying to do something about the cost-of-living. We can see that in new policies already announced, including getting rid of VAT on electricity bills, scrapping ID cards and capping bus fares at £2 from January. He is also radically reforming the way government works by setting up a No10 operation in Manchester.
As a result of the reshuffle, I am no longer Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. My replacement is Chris Bryant, and I wish him every success in the role.
Murder of Anne Widdecombe
Following the appalling killing of the former MP Anne Widdecombe, a man has been charged with her murder.
This truly shocking attack on someone living alone is a reminder of the risks that current and former elected representatives face simply for doing their job and speaking out. We must make sure that there is proper protection for those who are in public life, but we also have to tackle the hatred that is fuelled by malign social media.
Cutting VAT on Electricity Bills
The Prime Minister has promised to give people some breathing space now through help with the cost of living. On Tuesday Andy Burnham announced the abolition of VAT on domestic electricity bills from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. The removal of 5% VAT on electricity will benefit all 30 million households in Britain. Care homes, some charities and some small businesses will also benefit.
This rapid action ahead of the Budget means that this will be factored into the Ofgem energy cap decision in August which will come into effect from October. It is expected to take around £45 off the yearly Ofgem price cap. This £850m commitment this financial year is just the first immediate step the government will take to bring down the cost of living, funded by the abolition of Digital ID.
The Hillsborough Law
The Public Office (Accountability) Bill was introduced into Parliament in September. It will reset the balance between state and citizens to ensure injustice has no place to hide. It belongs to the families of the 97 who have carried the torch of justice through decades of darkness; they were ordinary people who faced denial, defensiveness, and deceit from the British State and who refused to give up until the truth was known.
The Bill establishes a new duty of candour at inquiries, inquests and other investigations to ensure the truth will out. Those who fail in this duty will face tough penalties including time behind bars. For the first time, individual intelligence officers will be subject to a legal duty of candour, backed by criminal sanctions. This is a fundamental shift in transparency and public accountability. It will create a new criminal offence of ‘misleading the public,’ aimed at those who wilfully mislead the people they are bound to serve.
We are also abolishing the common law offence of misconduct in public office and replacing it with two new statutory offences, making it clear that those who abuse their position or fall short of the behaviour expected of those in public office will continue to face serious consequences, including prison. We will also bring forward the largest expansion of legal aid in a decade so that any family facing the might of the state will no longer have to beg and borrow to afford a lawyer. We’ll require public authorities to use legal representation only where it is necessary and proportionate to do so, and we’ll crack down on the conduct of legal teams at inquests to ensure they focus on supporting the fact-finding nature of investigations.
This landmark legislation will help ensure that truth and justice will no longer have to be prised from behind closed doors, and that families seeking answers will never again be left to fight alone.
Local, Political and Parliamentary Activity
- Meetings with Northern Ireland Party leaders on the Budget
-
Answered NI oral questions in the House of Commons and spoke in an NI Estimates Debate
-
Attended the Beeston Festival and the Belle Isle and Holbeck Galas
-
Attended the first Middleton Pride in Place project board meeting
-
South Leeds Life Column