Andy Burnham said he would increase business rates on warehouse-based companies in order to lower costs for high street shops and bars as he set out details of what he would do if he continues on his path to becoming the next prime minister.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggested there’s room in the next UK budget to absorb a £4.7 billion ($6.2 billion) gap in spending that was revealed in the country’s defense investment plan, published on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was confident his likely successor, Andy Burnham, would maintain the UK’s commitment to defense, as he laid out plans to invest an extra £15 billion ($20 billion) to modernize the British military.

Standing across from Keir Starmer in the Commons chamber this week, opposition leader Kemi Badenoch drew on a particularly violent metaphor for how the Labour Party had ditched him when she conjured up an image of “400 knives stuck in the prime minister’s back.”

Green Party leader Zack Polanski backed Ed Miliband over “disastrous” Wes Streeting to become the UK’s next chancellor in the latest sign of pressure building on Andy Burnham to name someone who will please the disaffected left.

In his final weeks as Britain’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, has repeatedly warned how “dangerous and volatile” the world is becoming. Andy Burnham is on a collision course with it.

A long-time ally of Britain’s next expected prime minister, Andy Burnham, said the former Manchester mayor will seek to pursue “flexibility” within the government’s spending and borrowing rules, in an indication Burnham may look to depart from the course pursued by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Andy Burnham is all but certain to become the UK’s next prime minister after Darren Jones, who had been talked up as a potential rival, said he would not launch his own leadership bid.

Outgoing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is pushing ahead with a controversial plan to increase defense spending, setting up potential tensions with the man most likely to succeed him, former Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.

Andy Burnham is under pressure to outline an economic plan for the UK following his sudden and spectacular rise toward the pinnacle of British politics.

Even when it came to his own resignation, Keir Starmer was beaten to the punch by Donald Trump.

Even when it came to his own resignation, Keir Starmer was beaten to the punch by Donald Trump.

Andy Burnham appears set to become the UK’s seventh prime minister in a decade after Keir Starmer laid out a timeline for his own departure and potential rivals backed a quick transition to the popular Manchester politician.

UK Business Secretary Peter Kyle said Keir Starmer is reflecting on “political realities” as reports swirled that the UK prime minister may soon set a timetable for his departure ahead of leadership rival Andy Burnham’s return to Parliament.

A clear majority of Keir Starmer’s cabinet believe it’s now inevitable Andy Burnham’s will take over as prime minister, according to people familiar with the thinking of more than 15 cabinet ministers, who spoke to Bloomberg on condition of anonymity on Friday.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham won a decisive victory for the ruling Labour Party that delivers him a seat in Parliament and, with it, a pathway to challenge UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his job.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham won a decisive victory for the ruling Labour Party that delivers him a seat in Parliament and, with it, a pathway to challenge UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his job.

Supporters of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham expect senior members of Keir Starmer’s cabinet to tell the UK prime minister to agree a handover of power in the coming days, in an attempt to make it impossible for him to continue in post.

One of Keir Starmer’s leadership rivals, Wes Streeting, says he is ready to force an immediate contest if the UK Prime Minister does not step down after a special parliamentary election on Thursday.