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Thursday, July 23, 2026

Category: Politics
49 minutes ago
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News
Politics

AOC, Buttigieg Lead Democrat Poll — Newsom a Distant Fourth.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-NY) early lead in New Hampshire over more moderate rivals signals the growing influence of far-left socialism within the Democratic Party.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has topped a New Hampshire Democrat primary poll, narrowly leading former Biden government Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
📺 DETAIL: On Wednesday, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, known as AOC, emerged as the favored Democrat candidate for President, with 22 percent support. Pete Buttigieg came in a close second with 21 percent. Meanwhile, Democrat Governor of California Gavin Newsom polled in a distant fourth, on eight percent, one point behind Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) on nine percent. Failed 2024 presidential candidate Kamala Harris is polling in sixth place, on five percent, behind Bernie Sanders, who will be 87 years old during the November 2028 presidential election, on six percent. Significantly, a separate Harvard CAPS/Harris poll shows that Vice President J.D. Vance is more popular than AOC. The poll similarly revealed that Governor Newsom was trailing other candidates.
🎯 IMPACT: New Hampshire holds significant weight in the presidential primaries. As one of the earliest states in the primary process, candidates who do well in New Hampshire gain early-race momentum. AOC’s lead underscores the growing influence of far-left socialism within the Democratic Party. This follows a comment from Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI) encouraging the Democrats to embrace the term “socialist.” The minimum age to run for President is 35-years-old. Having previously been ineligible to run for President, come 2028, AOC will be old enough to stand as a candidate. Given the sizeable support the New York Representative has garnered, it is possible that polls such as these encourage her to pursue the nomination. However, given that AOC only has a narrow lead, closely followed by Buttigieg, who is viewed as more moderate, such findings could also indicate a growing rift within the Democrats over whether to turn leftward following their crushing defeat to President Donald J. Trump in the 2024 Presidential election.

Image by Matt Johnson.

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D-NY) early lead in New Hampshire over more moderate rivals signals the growing influence of far-left socialism within the Democratic Party.

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8 hours ago
News
Politics
UK

EXC: New UK PM’s Head of Strategy Repeatedly Smeared Nigel Farage.

Social media posts first uncovered by The National Pulse show Matthew McGregor, former Director of Campaigns and Communications for Hope Not Hate turned top advisor to new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, aggressively smearing Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Matthew McGregor, Head of Political Strategy under newly-appointed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, has an extensive history of attacking Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
📺 DETAIL: On June 16, 2016, McGregor posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Another reason to vote Remain: to tell this racist piece of shit to do one” with a picture of then-UKIP leader Nigel Farage on the campaign trail during the 2016 referendum on leaving the European Union (EU). On October 1, 2025, McGregor posted: “Fracking is environmentally dangerous and economically stupid. But Reform politicians want to ‘drill baby drill’. So a proper ban is needed. It’s brilliant that [Ed Miliband] has listened to the many campaigners who have been fighting for this outcome,” with a link to an article by 38 Degrees, a progressive activist organization. McGregor served as Chief Executive Officer for 38 Degrees prior to entering Number 10. Titled “Ban Fracking For Good,” the article includes then-Secretary of State for Net Zero Ed Miliband responding to the organization’s petition to end fracking by promising a permanent ban ahead of his speech at the Labour Party’s national conference in 2025. On September 6, 2025, McGregor posted: “While the likes of Farage and Jenrick extol Trumpism, let’s check in on what the man himself is up to” with a screenshot of a post from President Donald J. Trump’s Truth Social account. The post includes an edited image of the President with the caption “I love the smell of deportations in the morning… Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Another reason to vote Remain: to tell this racist piece of shit to do one” – Matthew McGregor, Head of Political Strategy at Number 10 Downing Street under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, on X, as first reported by The National Pulse
🎯 IMPACT: As of Monday this week, McGregor has taken up his duties as Head of Political Strategy at 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister’s official residence. The role is roughly equivalent to that of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. As a hardline EU loyalist, McGregor’s appointment is rather incongruous, given that Prime Minister Burnham owes his position to winning the Makerfield by-election (special election). The Makerfield constituency (electoral district) voted to leave the European Union and supported Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, successor to the also Farage-led Brexit Party, during local elections in May. The catastrophic result for the governing Labour Party, both nationally and its heartland constituencies, resulted in the resignation of now-former Labour Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. As a hardliner on Net Zero, evidenced by his support for Miliband and 38 Degrees’ support for a total ban on fracking, McGregor’s position in Number 10 is likely to create problems for the new Prime Minister as he tries to establish a working relationship with President Donald J. Trump, someone McGregor also has an extensive history of attacking online. The White House has already expressed concerns about now-Foreign Secretary Miliband’s fanatical support for Net Zero. The fact that McGregor expressly links Farage to President Trump underscores the explicit hatred that he has for both of them. Less than a day after The National Pulse exposed his attacks on Farage and his supporters, McGregor deleted his X account.

Image via Eirik Helland Urke / Nordiske Mediedager.

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Social media posts first uncovered by The National Pulse show Matthew McGregor, former Director of Campaigns and Communications for Hope Not Hate turned top advisor to new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, aggressively smearing Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage.

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22 hours ago
News
Politics
UK

Hot Mic Catches New UK PM’s Cabinet Laughing About Releasing Dangerous Prisoners Early.

Wes Streeting and Shabana Mahmood, two Cabinet-level ministers in the Labour-controlled British government, were caught joking and laughing about early prison releases, prompting apologies on social media.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: British government ministers Wes Streeting and Shabana Mahmood have been criticized for joking about the early release of prisoners during a hot-mic moment.
📺 DETAIL: This week, Wes Streeting, the new Defense Secretary, and Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, equivalent to the U.S. Secretaries of War and Homeland Security, were caught joking about the Labor government’s decision to release many prisoners early. Talking about Alex Norris, the newly-appointed Lord Chancellor and Secretary for Justice, Streeting is recoded saying: “You know he’s [Norris] the enemy now, Justice Shabana?” to which Mahmood responds, “No, he’s not.” Streeting then quips: “He wants to let them all out,” prompting laughter. The incident was recorded without Streeting’s or Mahmood’s knowledge. The two Cabinet ministers subsequently issued apologies on social media. On X (formerly Twitter), Mahmood posted: “I think everyone can see there was no ill intent behind this ribbing of the new Lord Chancellor – a role I once filled and which comes with immense challenges thanks to the vandalism inflicted on our justice system by the last Conservative Government… But I appreciate this is an extremely serious issue and do not want anyone to mistake this moment of levity for a lack of serious intent.” Streeting posted: “I hope everyone can see there was no ill intent behind this ribbing of the new Justice Secretary – it was a reference to an old May/Clarke joke,” he said, referring to former Conservative Home Secretary (later Prime Minister) Theresa May saying of former Conservative Justice Secretary Ken Clarke, “I locked ’em up and he let ’em out.” 
💬 KEY QUOTE: “It’s incredibly disappointing and very hurtful, particularly to those friends and families of people who will be due for early release.” – Sir Mel Stride, Shadow Chancellor.
🎯 IMPACT: The incident adds to the controversy surrounding the government’s decision to release prisoners early. Back in June, it was reported that the Labour government planned to release up to 6,000 serious offenders from prison, including murderers and rapists, to tackle overcrowding. Specifically, the government plans to allow more offenders to be released halfway through their sentences. Originally, more dangerous prisoners were eligible for early release only after serving two-thirds of their sentence. “Once the MoJ [Ministry of Justice] starts writing to victims and saying this is what is happening, there will inevitably be individual victims who have suffered at the hands of an offender who will become very upset,” said Tom Wheatley, President of the Prison Governors’ Association.

Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

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Wes Streeting and Shabana Mahmood, two Cabinet-level ministers in the Labour-controlled British government, were caught joking and laughing about early prison releases, prompting apologies on social media.

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July 22, 2026
News
Politics
UK

UK PM Ditches Proposal to Cut Workers’ Taxes Soon After Taking Office.

New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has shelved a proposal to raise the tax-free personal allowance, citing financial challenges, despite having previously suggested the idea and growing voter concerns over the cost of living.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has U-turned on proposals to increase the tax-free personal allowance, roughly equivalent to the Standard Deduction in the U.S., after assuming office.
📺 DETAIL: Prime Minister Burnham announced there would be no change to the tax-free personal allowance. The tax-free personal allowance is currently £12,570 (~$16,800), meaning earnings up to this amount are not subject to income tax unless you earn over £100,000 (~$134,000), at which point it begins to gradually decrease until hitting zero at £125,140 (~$167,340). Significantly, the personal allowance has been frozen since 2021, resulting in its value being gradually eroded and more people paying taxes as inflation pushes up earnings. This process is known as fiscal drag. Burnham previously suggested that he would increase the personal allowance to help alleviate pressures created by the cost of living crisis, but later decided that altering the allowance would cost the government too much money. While Burnham’s allies now claim that changes in the personal allowance were not part of his immediate priorities, it was one of his most notable proposals during the Makerfield by-election (special election) which saw him returned to the House of Commons. Burnham resigned from his role as Mayor of Greater Manchester to run in the by-election and replace Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader and, ultimately, Prime Minister.
🎯 IMPACT: The decision to maintain the frozen allowance could exacerbate financial pressures on families already struggling with inflation. The fact that the new Prime Minister has U-turned so soon in his tenure on what was one of his most eye-catching proposals raises questions about the left-wing government’s direction of travel on taxes.
📺 FLASHBACK: Burnham has come under increased scrutiny amid reports that he intends to pursue a higher-tax agenda. According to analysis by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, this could add the equivalent of around $51 billion in new taxes. “Andy Burnham has spent 20 years reaching for other people’s money—a death tax on family homes, a graduate tax on young people getting their first pay cheque, a £14 billion raid on savings and investment, and new levies on everything from your parking space at work to your weekend away,” said Reform UK’s Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick. This is part of a broader warning from Farage that Burnham’s leadership will see a leftward shift that is likely to lead to tax hikes.

Image by Kirsty O’Connor / No 10 Downing Street.

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New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has shelved a proposal to raise the tax-free personal allowance, citing financial challenges, despite having previously suggested the idea and growing voter concerns over the cost of living.

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July 22, 2026
News
Politics
UK

UK PM Burnham Plans to Water Down New Immigration Restrictions, Making ‘Boriswave’ Permanent.

New Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Andy Burnham is preparing to dilute immigration reforms amid pressure from his party’s left-wing backbenchers.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Andy Burnham, the new British Prime Minister, will reportedly water down Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s immigration reforms to avoid backlash from left-wing Members of Parliament (MPs).
📺 DETAIL: On Tuesday, it was reported that Prime Minister Burnham would “tinker” with Home Secretary Mahmood’s proposed immigration reforms to avoid a rebellion from Labour MPs. Mahmood’s reforms would have doubled the time migrants must wait to gain Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from five years to 10 years, with retrospective application to those already in the United Kingdom, preventing millions of “Boriswave” migrants let in by the formerly governing Conservatives post-pandemic from accessing welfare benefits, at least for now. ILR, similar to permanent residency in the U.S., allows foreign nationals to live, work, and study in Britain without time limits or visa restrictions. However, it has been suggested that the new Prime Minister may exempt certain groups, such as social care and health workers, or reduce the proposed waiting period for ILR. This follows a demand from over 80 Labour MPs urging Prime Minister Burnham to water down the reforms contained in the Immigration and Asylum Bill. Labour MPs argue the reforms could alienate the party’s progressive voters.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Immigration is listed by many pollsters as the issue British voters are most concerned about. Yet Burnham did not mention it once in his first speech. He talks about listening to the people. He’s only listening to his insane open borders backbench MPs,” commented Zia Yusuf, Reform UK’s Shadow Home Secretary.
🎯 IMPACT: The decision to water down the government’s immigration reforms would likely undermine Labour’s credibility on immigration with the British public, which overwhelmingly supports the proposed measures, including a large chunk of Labour voters. This builds on reports from last month suggesting that Burnham could potentially ditch Mahmood’s reforms. Dropping the reforms would result in migrants who came over during the so-called Boriswave, a period of unprecedented mass migration under former Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson, remaining in the country, leading to massive cultural and economic damage.
📺 FLASHBACK: Reports of the government potentially watering down its immigration reforms coincide with a warning from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage that Britain’s government will lurch “further to the left” under the new Prime Minister. Farage warned that a Burnham-led government would result in higher taxes and uncontrolled immigration.

Image by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street.

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New Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Andy Burnham is preparing to dilute immigration reforms amid pressure from his party's left-wing backbenchers.

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July 22, 2026
News
Politics
UK

EXC: New UK PM’s Strategy Chief Has Long History of Attacking President Trump.

Social media posts first uncovered by The National Pulse show Matthew McGregor, former Director of Campaigns and Communications for Hope Not Hate turned top advisor to new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, is virulently anti-Trump.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Matthew McGregor, Head of Political Strategy under newly-appointed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, has an extensive history of attacking President Donald J. Trump.
📺 DETAIL: On June 29, 2024, McGregor posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Just saying this so I can tap the sign in the future – if Joe Biden is on the ballot in November, he’ll win and it won’t be especially close (albeit closer than comfortable given he’s up against a maniac with fascist tendencies.).” Two weeks later, President Trump was the target of an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. Later the same year, on July 15, 2024, during the Republican National Convention, at which then-former President Trump gave his first major speech since his attempted assassination, McGregor posted: “Donald Trump might be America’s Hitler.” Earlier this year, following the start of the Iran War, on February 28, 2026, McGregor posted: “This is an illegal war launched with a barrage of lies. The British government should clearly and unambiguously oppose what Trump and Netanyahu have done.” During the inauguration of former President Joe Biden, on January 20, 2021, he posted: “Today is a day of celebration in the US, and around the world – that the nightmare of Trump in the White House is over, and the opportunity of kind, progressive leadership in the shape of Joe Biden. But while we should celebrate today, there’s so much work to do tomorrow.” Following the re-election of President Trump and a letter from King Charles III inviting the President for an unprecedented second state visit to the United Kingdom, on March 1, 2025, in his capacity as Chief Executive Officer of 38 Degrees, a progressive activist group, McGregor posted: “More than 100,000 have now added their names calling for Trump’s state visit invite to be rescinded,” with a picture reading “No second state visit for Trump!” and a link to a 38 Degrees petition demanding the President be barred from the country.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Just saying this so I can tap the sign in the future – if Joe Biden is on the ballot in November, he’ll win and it won’t be especially close (albeit closer than comfortable given he’s up against a maniac with fascist tendencies.)” – Matthew McGregor, Head of Political Strategy at Number 10 Downing Street under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, as first reported by The National Pulse
🎯 IMPACT: As of Monday this week, McGregor has assumed his duties as Head of Political Strategy at the Prime Minister’s official residence, 10 Downing Street. The role is roughly equivalent to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. McGregor will influence the new Prime Minister’s relationship with and approach towards the White House. McGregor’s posts are notable for their explicit and intense hatred of President Trump. The posts also called for the British government to take action against the President and the United States, from demanding the British government to oppose U.S. foreign policy to personally steering a campaign to rescind the President’s second state visit invitation to the United Kingdom. Less than 24 hours after The National Pulse exposed his attacks on the President, McGregor deleted his X account. The appointment of McGregor is likely to worsen the already-strained relationship between Britain and the U.S. The White House has already raised concerns over Prime Minister Burnham’s decision to appoint Ed Miliband as Foreign Secretary, roughly equivalent to U.S. Secretary of State. Miliband, known for his fanatical support for climate ideology and often referred to as “Red Ed,” is another aggressive critic of President Trump. “The idea that we have shared values with a racist, misogynistic self-confessed groper beggars belief,” the newly-appointed Foreign Secretary said of the President back in 2016.

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Social media posts first uncovered by The National Pulse show Matthew McGregor, former Director of Campaigns and Communications for Hope Not Hate turned top advisor to new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, is virulently anti-Trump.

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July 21, 2026
News
Politics

Talarico Takes Funds from Epstein-Linked Billionaire, After Campaigning Against ‘Epstein Class.’

Texas Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico has faced backlash for accepting significant donations from billionaire Reid Hoffman, a billionaire with connections to Jeffrey Epstein, despite his campaign’s criticism of billionaire influence in politics.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Texas Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico has come under fire after accepting large donations from billionaire connected to Jeffrey Epstein. 
📺 DETAIL: Last week, it was revealed that James Talarico, Democrat candidate for the 2026 Senate election in Texas, took money from Reid Hoffman, a billionaire with connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Hoffman donated $11.5 million to Lone Star Rising, a super PAC supporting Talarico. He donated $10 million in June, approximately 80 percent of the PAC’s funds during the second quarter. Hoffman also made the maximum legal amount of $7,000 to Jon Ossoff, the Democrat Senator seeking re-election in Georgia. Hoffman is widely known as co-founder of LinkedIn, a networking and job search platform. Hoffman met Epstein in July 2013, almost five years after Epstein pleaded guilty to charges of soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution. He also visited Epstein’s island in 2014. That same year, according to The Wall Street Journal, Hoffman sent ice cream to Epstein, writing that it was for him and “the girls.” The following year, Hoffman attended a dinner with Epstein with several other high-profile figures, including Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Peter Thiel. Hoffman has admitted that he “helped to repair [Epstein’s] reputation and perpetuate injustice.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Democrats like Jon Ossoff and James Talarico vilify corporate billionaires in one breath and accept their cash in the next… They’re fueling the same ‘money in politics’ gravy train they claim to oppose,” a Republican operative told the media.
🎯 IMPACT: The donations expose the gap between the rhetoric of Talarico’s campaign about the “Epstein Class” having “no place in Texas” and the reality of Talarico’s campaign, undermining his credibility on campaign finance reform and billionaires’ influence in politics.
📺 FLASHBACK: Back in April, it was reported that Talarico received over $27 million during the first quarter, marking one of the largest hauls reported by a Senate candidate this election cycle. This far exceeds the $6.8 million given to Beto O’Rourke during his 2018 campaign over the same period.

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Texas Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico has faced backlash for accepting significant donations from billionaire Reid Hoffman, a billionaire with connections to Jeffrey Epstein, despite his campaign's criticism of billionaire influence in politics.

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July 20, 2026
News
Politics
UK

UK Deputy Prime Minister Who Branded Trump a ‘Neo-Nazi Sympathizing Sociopath’ Fired.

David Lammy, the stridently anti-Trump Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom under former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, has been sacked by new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Anti-Trump David Lammy has been sacked as Deputy Prime Minister by new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
📺 DETAIL: On Monday, newly-appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham removed David Lammy as Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor, and Secretary of State for Justice amid a Cabinet reshuffle. Lammy was appointed Deputy Prime Minister under Sir Keir Starmer, the former Prime Minister. Lammy is one of the most vocally anti-Trump politicians in Britain. The former Deputy Prime Minister described President Donald J. Trump as a “racist KKK and Nazi sympathizer” and the MAGA movement as a “cult of white supremacists.” As Justice Secretary, Lammy was central in pushing to end jury trials for most crimes and releasing dangerous criminals early, including killers and rapists. Lammy also stoked controversy by replacing portraits of the late monarch of the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II, with pan-African flags in the British Foreign Office while serving as Foreign Secretary, roughly equivalent to the U.S. State Department and Secretary of State, respectively.
💬 KEY QUOTE:  “I would have been proud to continue serving in Cabinet. But a new prime minister is entitled to build his own team, and I wish Andy Burnham and the new Cabinet every success,” posted Lammy on X (formerly Twitter).
🎯 IMPACT: Lammy is just one of many Starmer appointees to be removed from the Cabinet under Burnham. Lammy’s removal adds to a trend of Prime Minister Burnham removing ministers seen as being close to Starmer. Despite his verbal attacks on President Trump, it is unlikely that Lammy’s removal signals that the British government under Labour is becoming meaningfully less hostile to the President overall. 
📺 FLASHBACK: Also on Monday, Lord Richard Hermer was sacked as Attorney General in the same Cabinet reshuffle. Lord Hermer was a close ally of former Prime Minister Starmer and one of the central architects of the deal to surrender the Chagos Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the Indian Ocean, to Mauritius, a pro-China country in East Africa.

Image via House of Commons.

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David Lammy, the stridently anti-Trump Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom under former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, has been sacked by new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

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July 20, 2026
Bonkers Britain
News
Politics

New UK PM Proposes Rent Freeze to Tackle Cost of Living Crisis.

New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has outlined potential measures to address cost-of-living pressures, including rent controls.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Newly-appointed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that his government is considering introducing rent controls.
📺 DETAIL: On Monday, Prime Minister Burnham confirmed that his government is considering a number of policies, including rent controls and caps on bus fares and energy bills. While the Prime Minister emphasized that no final decision had been made, the government is expected to announce a package of reforms on Tuesday. “We’re looking at measures that could make a difference this year. So we are looking at all of those things, but we’ll make more announcements tomorrow,” Burnham told reporters. The Prime Minister conceded that the policies would not solve the cost of living crisis, but maintained that they could help people struggling to pay bills. “It won’t solve everything. It won’t take all of the pressure off, but it just shows a direction of travel and that we’re serious about helping them out,” the new Prime Minister added.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We’re just finalising the details, so it’s premature to say it will be any one of those particular things. We just want to do some things that people will feel and feel quite quickly.” – Prime Minister Burnham
🎯 IMPACT: The proposed measures signify the British government’s shift to the left, especially on economic policy. Rent controls have been regularly criticized by economists for reducing housing supply by discouraging construction, misallocating housing, and reducing investment in owned properties, leading to a collapse in quality housing. The fact that Burnham’s policies are explicitly not being pitched as lasting solutions to the cost of living raises questions about the government’s long-term economic plan, especially since the new Prime Minister announced a “10-year plan for the country” upon taking office.

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New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has outlined potential measures to address cost-of-living pressures, including rent controls.

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July 20, 2026
News
Politics
UK

UK AG Behind Plot to Surrender Strategic Islands Fired by New PM.

Lord Richard Hermer is one of several high-ranking government officials ousted as part of newly installed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Cabinet reshuffle.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Lord Richard Hermer, architect of the British government’s Chagos Islands surrender deal, has been sacked as Attorney General by the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “It has been the privilege of my life to serve my country as attorney general over the last two years. I’ve been so lucky to be a part of [former Prime Minister Staremer’s] team, as he delivered for the public at home while rebuilding the UK’s reputation abroad, in particular on the rule of law.” – Lord Hermer on Bluesky, having left X (formerly Twitter) after accusing the platform of racism
📰 DETAIL: On Monday, Andy Burnham, leader of the governing Labour Party and Member of Parliament (MP) for Makerfield, officially became Prime Minister. Following his first speech as Prime Minister, Burnham set about reshuffling his Cabinet. Among others, Lord Hermer was removed from the Cabinet. He had served as Attorney General, the highest law officer in the United Kingdom, under former Prime Minister and personal friend Sir Keir Starmer, who announced his resignation in late June. Lord Hermer was a central figure in creating and pushing the Chagos Islands deal, which involves handing over the Chagos Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the Indian Ocean, to Mauritius, an ally of China with no real claim to the archipelago. The treaty ceding control of the Islands to Mauritius was signed by the British government last year, although the legislation required to finalize the deal was shelved following widespread backlash, including from President Donald J. Trump. Under the deal, Britain is expected to pay Mauritius over a 99-year period for a lease of Diego Garcia, one of the Islands, which it currently owns outright for free, and which hosts a strategic British-American military base.
🎯 IMPACT: Lord Hermer’s departure suggests a possible change of direction at the Ministry of Justice. Roughly six months ago, President Trump described the deal as “an act of great stupidity.” Last month, the President even offered to buy the Chagos Islands to prevent them from being ceded to Mauritius. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was reportedly pivotal in influencing the President’s opposition to the deal. Its terms are widely considered bizarre, with Britain paying a foreign state to take away territory it is under no obligation to surrender.

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Lord Richard Hermer is one of several high-ranking government officials ousted as part of newly installed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham's Cabinet reshuffle.

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