Andy Burnham latest: Labour deputy leader explains scrapping digital ID and addresses Cabinet speculation – UK Times

Lucy Powell responded to whether Andy Burnham could renationalise Thames Water.

It comes amid reports that he intends to put the country’s biggest water company under a special administration regim.

The Labour deputy leader told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: “Well, look, let’s see. There’s lots of speculation around.

“This has been an ongoing issue and concern in government and has been around for many months now. The government has powers to bring a distressed water company under special measures, and let’s see if the government needs to – wants to – use those powers.

“We also have actually promised to bring forward a new piece of legislation around water reform as well. So there’s real opportunity there to look at how we can ensure we’ve got a sustainable water system in this country.”

Powell added that this is “something that we can all see: the privatisation of water hasn’t worked”.

She concluded: “It’s not created competition. What we’ve seen is bills going up and up and up over years and years and years of investment not being made.”

Sir Keir Starmer congratulated England’s footballers after they wrapped up their World Cup campaign and his time as prime minister with a thrilling 6-4 victory over France.

Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick with Ezri Konsa and Jude Bellingham also on target as England bounced back from their disappointment in losing to Argentina in the semi-final to clinch third place – their best World Cup finish outside winning the tournament in 1966.

Sir Keir, who will be replaced as Prime Minister by Andy Burnham on Monday, posted on X: “Great result tonight @England. You’ve done us proud.”

Millie Cooke, political correspondent reports:

Scrapping digital ID is “not just about the money”, Labour’s deputy leader has said.

Lucy Powell told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg that the decision to scrap the project was about ensuring the government was “laser focused on the cost of living, laser focused on rewiring the economy, rewiring the political system in this country, and clearing the decks, if you like, from of all of the other things that might distract and take away from that in terms of the focus of the government”.

Asked how much money it would allow to be spent on other priorities, she said: “The OBR said it would cost, I think, £1.8 billion over the over the coming years.

“That’s not an insignificant amount of money. That will obviously be reprioritised and redistributed in different ways.

“But but as I say, it’s not just about the money. It’s actually about the attention and the focus, so that the the whole of government machinery can work in service of the agenda and the vision that the Labour government is setting out under under Andy Burnham, and I think that is important.”

Millie Cooke, political correspondent reports:

There will be a “change of emphasis” on North Sea oil and gas, Labour’s deputy leader has said, but insisted Andy Burnham would stick to the party’s manifesto commitments.

Lucy Powell told the BBC that reports the incoming prime minister could allow more drilling in the North Sea were “speculation” but added Mr Burnham would take a “more pragmatic approach”.

She said: “We’ve been really clear that the way to achieve, in the long term, energy security and lower bills is by ensuring that we do have our our own homegrown, clean, much cheaper energy.

“But we’ve been absolutely clear that North Sea gas and oil is an important part of that transition.“It’s an important part of the mix, and I think what Andy’s talking about is taking a more pragmatic approach and working with the industry to make sure that it can contribute to that transition and to the the mix that is needed over the long term.

“So let’s see what he’s got to say about that. But I don’t think it’s a change of policy. It’s more a change of emphasis.”

Millie Cooke, political correspondent reports:

Lucy Powell has said speculation and briefings about who could get what Cabinet positions has been “horribly and unedifying”.

It comes despite Andy Burnham’s pledge to end the culture of briefings in the party.

Asked about briefings against energy secretary Ed Miliband, Labour’s deputy leader told BBC News: “There’s been a lot of speculation in the in the media about various individuals, which has has been really quite horrible, to be honest, and unedifying.

“I know that as political journalists, you know maybe you’ve not had the story of the Labour leadership crisis to write about for the last few weeks because actually I’m really proud of the way in which the Labour Party has handled this transition and come together in a consensus around Andy Burnham being the next leader.

“And I think we’ve given a really good account of ourselves over these last few weeks.

“And maybe because political journalists haven’t had all that to write about, you know, they’re looking for other personalities and other disagreements to write about.”

Millie Cooke, political correspondent reports:

Andy Burnham is going to stick to Labour’s manifesto, deputy leader Lucy Powell has said, but insisted he would still take “bigger, bolder measures” to change the country.

She told BBC Breakfast: “He is going to stick to our manifesto. He’s been really clear about that, and our manifesto did talk about a redistribution of power. It did talk about rewiring the country, and it did talk about taking on some of those vested interests.

“But I think, from Andy’s experience that he has had over the last 10 years, actually governing outside of Whitehall and the central government, he really understands the the bigger, bolder measures that are needed to actually live up to those that manifesto promises.

“And that’s what he’s about delivering. And I think you know this is an exciting agenda we can all get behind.”

Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell is about to appear on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.

We will bring you the top lines as we expect to hear more about what we can expect as her ally, Andy Burnham, enters 10 Downing Street on Monday.

Millie Cooke, political correspondent reports:

Boris Johnson has said he feels “a bit sorry” for Sir Keir Starmer, saying he “couldn’t quite understand why he was so unbelievably unpopular”.

Asked by Sky News what advice he would give the outgoing prime minister, Mr Johnson said: “I’d give the same advice that the late her Majesty the Queen, gave me, which was: there’s absolutely no point in bitterness ever about these things. And it’s a very good piece of advice.”

“And you can see why, from the monarch’s point of view, that’s the right thing for the country. You know, you don’t want politicians feuding with other politicians once they they left office, but it’s also the right thing personally, for your own spiritual health and growth.”

He added: “I did feel a bit sorry for Keir sometimes, and you know, sometimes I couldn’t quite understand why he was so unbelievably unpopular.

“I mean, I could see he was doing a lot of terrible things, but I couldn’t see personally. He didn’t strike me as being a bad guy. Really, I mean, you know, he’s totally misguided. He’s a hopeless lawyer. He does lots of terrible things.”

Millie Cooke, political correspondent reports:

Boris Johnson has said the Clacton by-election shouldn’t be happening, suggesting satirical candidate Count Binface was right when he said a vote for him would prevent a second by-election.

If Nigel Farage wins the upcoming by-election, which was called after he resigned earlier this month, he could face a second by-election if the Parliamentary Standards Committee suspends him for more than ten days and 10 per cent of his constituents sign a recall petition.

Mr Johnson told Sky News: “I don’t see the need for this by-election, to be perfectly honest… I thought its been a very peculiar bi-election and it shouldn’t be happening.”

He added: “All I say is this: I thought Binface had a decent point. Count Binface said that a vote for him would actually preclude a secondary the expense of. of a second by-election. So you know anybody like that? That’s a reasonable point.”