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The Latest Breaking News from Andy Beckett

Monday briefing: You ask the questions – is Britain ungovernable?

In today’s newsletter: Andy Beckett takes your questions – and mine – about where UK politics is at and where it’s headed, from leadership churn and policy choices to electoral reform and more

The Guardian - UK

Britain’s dysfunctional dynamic: the public wants change, but those in power always tell them it’s not possible

Whenever major reform is proposed the media, big business and Westminster quickly conclude it’s too expensive and disruptive. This doesn’t bode well for Andy Burnham, says Guardian columnist Andy Beckett

The Guardian - UK

Burnham has brought hope back to Labour – but he must understand how quickly it can be punctured

The Makerfield MP’s surge towards No 10 is a seductive ad for the power of positive politics. How long that proves effective depends on his next moves, says Guardian columnist Andy Beckett

The Guardian - UK

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The rightwing counter-revolution is gaining ground – and Labour’s softly-softly approach won’t stop it

Multiculturalism and hard-won equalities are being attacked on all fronts. Labour should look to London’s leaders, past and present, for how to stand against the tide, writes Andy Beckett

The Guardian - UK

Reform and Restore are both hard right and poisonous – but their differences could be their undoing

It is not enough to revile them both. Understanding the personal and ideological divergence is essential to taking back the ground they now occupy, says Guardian columnist Andy Beckett

The Guardian - UK

Despite what the UK right will tell you, appeasing bond markets has actually led to instability

Austerity has benefitted bond traders but impoverished UK society and led to the rise of populism. Is it right that we carry on adhering to their interests, asks Guardian columnist Andy Beckett

The Guardian - UK

Forget the three-term project now: crisis-hit Labour needs a one-term mindset and priorities to match

History shows there have been more short-lived Labour governments than long-lasting ones. The party must secure a clear, progressive legacy, says Guardian columnist Andy Beckett

The Guardian - UK

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The Greens need to learn the right lessons from the destruction of Corbynism

Zack Polanski must be more nimble in fending off attacks than the former Labour leader or he risks suffering the same fate, says Guardian columnist Andy Beckett

The Guardian - UK

Rightwing populism is littered with broken promises. Its opponents need to make those failures count

As Trump lurches from tariffs to wars and Farage makes unrealistic pledges about immigration, their impunity needs to end, says Guardian columnist Andy Beckett

The Guardian - UK

The Preston model is not likely to unravel just yet

Letters: Gerrard Raven thinks Andy Beckett is worrying unnecessarily, while Misia Newsome says Barnsley has been regenerated by an effective council. Plus a letter from Austen Lynch

The Guardian - UK

The UK’s radical ‘Preston model’ faces an uncertain future with local elections looming

A Lancashire council has pushed on with plans to keep wealth and power in the area, despite such ideas being out of fashion in Westminster. But Reform could unravel it all, says Guardian columnist Andy Beckett

The Guardian - UK

I just watched 'Philadelphia' and I can't believe this was the only time Tom Hanks and Denzel teamed up for a movie

I'm watching one of Denzel Washington's 52 movies every week this year, and this week, I'm reviewing "Philadelphia," which is a contender for the best movie of Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington's careers.

Tom’s Guide

Governments controlling prices? It has long been unthinkable – but may now be inevitable

In Mexico and Spain, leaders who have capped public costs have been rewarded at the ballot box. As another cost of living surge arrives, it may be a policy our leaders are unable to resist, says Guardian columnist Andy Beckett

The Guardian - UK

How tacking centre left will help Labour win the next election

Tribalism and political ambiguity worked with a less fragmented electorate. The party must reconnect with its base – and be open to work with other progressives, writes Guardian columnist Andy Beckett

The Guardian - UK

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The Guardian - UK

It’s taboo to admit it, but voters bear some responsibility for the frayed state of Britain

Populists blame an ever-expanding list of enemies for social ills – many of which are in fact caused by changes in our habits and social norms, says Guardian columnist Andy Beckett

The Guardian - UK

The slow implosion of Keir Starmer’s government is the ultimate repudiation of ‘Labour minimalism’

This dominant tradition in the party has long insisted on appeasing powerful interests. But it’s unsuited to modern times, says Guardian columnist Andy Beckett

The Guardian - UK

We have entered a new age of political rhetoric – and that’s bad news for Keir Starmer

Pre-2008, voters with prosperous and improving lives didn’t mind being excluded from the conversation. Those days are over, writes Guardian columnist Andy Beckett

The Guardian - UK

The greatest threat facing Britain may soon be the US – but the establishment won’t recognise it

Since the end of the second world war, all eyes have been on Russia. Yet Trump’s increasingly hostile presidency is shattering old assumptions, asks Guardian columnist Andy Beckett

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The Guardian - UK

A new year brings new battles for democracy and for Labour

Letters: Readers respond to articles by Andy Beckett and Larry Elliott on British parliamentary democracy and whether Labour can turn the tide

The Guardian - UK

Did 2025 mark the end of British parliamentary democracy as we know it?

The conventions and rituals that define the way we do politics rapidly eroded this year – setting the UK on a course into the unknown, says Guardian columnist Andy Beckett

The Guardian - UK

Messy, combative and intoxicatingly fierce – don’t write off Your Party just yet

Spending time with its activists, I’ve seen signs of a refreshing challenge to stale mainstream politics, says Guardian columnist Andy Beckett

The Guardian - UK

Why Starmer’s desire to govern as ‘Mr Rules’ is bound to fail

In the face of multiple crises, disruptive technology and populism, making Britain orderly again is an impossible goal, says Guardian columnist Andy Beckett

The Guardian - UK

Labour must accept that the two-party age is over and embrace PR

Letters: Backing proportional representation would be in Labour’s interests, writes John Culley, while Austen Lynch says the greater risk is continuing with the current system

The Guardian - UK

Britain’s two-party politics is fragmenting: what unintended consequences await?

On one hand, no more safe seats or long careers could mean less complacency. On the other, no big parties could mean greater corporate influence, says Guardian columnist Andy Beckett

The Guardian - UK

What would you do if democracy was being dismantled before your eyes? Whatever you’re doing right now

In California, daily life under Trump is marked by sporadic resistance and avoidance. Neither will defeat the autocrats, says Guardian columnist Andy Beckett

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