More than half of British voters view Farage and his Reform UK party as ‘very sleazy’, according to a polling expert. The finding underscores the challenge Farage faces as he prepares for the Clacton byelection, called for 13 August.
Andy Burnham faces a series of challenges. Jim Pickard, George Parker and Jennifer Williams report in the Financial Times that Burnham is considering appointing a deputy prime minister based in Manchester to run his No 10 North office. Deputy Labour Lucy Powell is the favourite for the role. Caroline Simpson, formerly head of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, is set to lead the new office.
John Bew, a former No 10 foreign policy adviser, warned in The Times that Burnham could face an international crisis within weeks of taking office. ‘I would say there is a high probability of a series of quite challenging contingencies,’ Bew said. ‘One is a horizontal or vertical escalation by Putin over this summer and beyond, because the war [in Ukraine] is not going well for him.’
Several ministers are lobbying to keep their posts. Business Peter Kyle told the Guardian: ‘I want to stay, I’m just staying where I am.’ Former Foreign Secretary David Miliband reiterated his support for electoral reform and devolving power from Westminster. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has already advised Burnham on foreign policy, as she revealed at Chatham House.
Source: www.theguardian.com
