Burnham is in, and Starmer is out. A change of Prime Minister brings a change to the philosophy at the heart of government, a focus on devolution in an attempt to “bring growth to every postcode” and “bring back hope” to politics. These are progressive causes that many people, including myself, agree with – these are reasons that build a left-wing case for returning power to local communities. However, the original advocate for this approach sat in the opposite political camp

Over ten years later, Brexit remains era-defining, indirectly toppling yet another prime minister. Starmer has resigned. A resignation catalysed by the local elections that saw Labour lose almost five times as many voters to the Greens and Liberal Democrats as to Reform UK. Pressure from the pro-EU progressives and centrists was key to the end of the Starmer project, a fact that is at the front of Andy Burnham’s mind as he plans an ascent to Downing Street and has to take o

The political centre does not have a divine right to govern; it must prove itself worthy of trust again, or face being wiped out. In March, the two main parties of UK politics found themselves trailing in the polls for the first time to insurgent populists on the left and right. There is no denying that parties that thrive on pitting the people against a perceived corrupt elite are rising and winning elections. For some time, the primary explanations of populism surging have