The Latest Breaking News from Andy Burnham

ON THE GROUND: The fate of Keir Starmer’s premiership could be decided in Gorton and Denton on Thursday, where Labour faces a struggle to cling on to a 13,000 majority. Dan Haygarth speaks to despondent constituents who are considering switching their allegiance to the Greens or Reform

Mr Burnham, long seen as a potential leadership rival to the Prime Minister, also called for ‘stability’ in the Labour Party.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces a leadership crisis over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the U.S. The release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein suggests damaging details about Mandelson, putting Starmer's position at risk

The Hong Kong democracy activist is suffering for his principles; Sir Keir is another matter. Yet Labour must stick with him

Top aide’s resignation may buy PM time, but coming weeks bring events that could yet end his time in office

Northern leaders urge government to support proposal as Manchester mayor says a London bid ‘wouldn’t be right’

Plans for a Northern Games could help rebalance the north-south divide and ensure a fairer national redistribution of major events, campaigners say.

A new campaign has been launched calling for future Olympics and Paralympics to take place in the north of England

Lucy Powell tells The Independent the Gorton and Denton by-election represents ‘a line in the sand’, as MPs fear it has become a referendum on Starmer in the wake of the Mandelson scandal

NEWS ANALYSIS: With the prime minister rumoured to be ‘in a dark place’ and considering quitting over the Mandelson scandal, political editor David Maddox looks at the possible replacements, including a rapidly emerging surprise contender

VAT for restaurants and bars in Europe is around nine per cent. Why is it so much more here, asks Sacha Lord