By GABRIEL MILLARD-CLOTHIER, POLITICAL REPORTER and BRENDAN CARLIN

Published: 22:00 BST, 18 July 2026 | Updated: 00:23 BST, 19 July 2026

Andy Burnham is poised to announce plans for new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.

The incoming Prime Minister is understood to be considering opening up the Scottish oil and gas fields, Jackdaw and Rosebank.

Regulators initially approved oil exploration at the two locations in 2022 and 2023 under the then-Tory government, but were overturned in 2025 after a legal challenge.

Because of this, supporters say the decision would not technically break Labour’s manifesto pledge not to issue new licences.

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As well as boosting the economy, the move is likely to please the unions who fund the Labour Party – many of whom have made clear their displeasure at attempts to block new exploration over worries about job cuts.

While Mr Burnham is said to hope his announcement sends a signal he plans to make good on his pledge to be ‘pro-business’, it is a slap in the face for Ed Miliband – who has long resisted the move despite mounting public pressure.

It will also enrage other MPs on Mr Burnham’s Left who want to prioritise Net Zero.

In a further blow to Mr Miliband, insiders expect the new PM to wrest control of North Sea oil drilling away from him altogether.

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Andy Burnham is set to allow new North Sea oil and gas drilling to prove his ‘pro-business’ credentials

Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary and a frontrunner to be Mr Burnham’s Chancellor, has been opposed to new drilling licences

Sources say his new Business Secretary, tipped to be Jonathan Reynolds, will run Britain’s energy policy instead as part of a beefed up ‘Ministry for Industry’.

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Managing his unruly MPs, including ‘Red Ed’, will be one of Mr Burnham’s biggest challenges. But this plan was already welcomed by some of them.

Last night, Labour MP Al Carns hailed the move as ‘absolutely the right call’, adding that using more home-produced energy ‘does change who gets the jobs [and] who gets the tax revenues to fund our public services’.

And Tory leader Kemi Badenoch last night told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Burnham shouldn’t stop here. He should end the destructive ban on new licenses, drop the Energy Profits Levy and adopt our plan to Get Britain Drilling.’

There is expected to be increased smoke carried over Manchester over the next 24 hours

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The fire service have warned of increased smoke over the next 24 hours as a controlled burn is carried out as part of its response to the continued Tintwistle Moor wildfire.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service issued an update at 10.30pm on Saturday, July 18 after they have been tackling the blaze for three weeks.

Crews are expected to remain at the scene in Tintwistle into next week, continuing to ‘work tirelessly to contain the fire’.

The controlled burn that started on Saturday night will take place along the Pennine Way in the Crowden area in an attempt to stop the fires spreading.

As a result, there will be more smoke produced and carried over Manchester due to the easterly winds.

The fire service have urged residents to avoid the Tintwistle area and to keep your windows and doors closed.

A statement said: “Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service is carrying out a controlled burn this evening as part of its response to the Tintwistle Moor wildfire.

“This is a planned tactical measure along the Pennine Way in the Crowden area to help contain the wildfire in Derbyshire, while also supporting Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service’s response to the separate wildfire across the border.

“By carefully burning vegetation in a controlled way, firefighters can remove fuel that would otherwise allow the fires to spread further.

“We are aware that the controlled burn will result in increased smoke over the next 24 hours. Current easterly winds are continuing to carry the smoke plume towards Manchester.

“We appreciate that this may be noticeable to residents, but please do not call our Control team to report the smoke, as they are already aware of the situation and specialist crews are carrying out this planned operation.

“Please avoid the Tintwistle area and, if you are affected by smoke, keep your windows and doors closed. We appreciate the impact this may have on local communities and thank them for their patience and understanding.”

The fire service earlier announced they had two helicopters dropping water on both the Tintwistle Moor wildfire and a separate wildfire across the border in Greater Manchester.

They are working closely with Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service to lead their own operations and share specialist resources.

Kynren – The Storied Lands welcomed its first visitors to the site in the shadow of Auckland Castle, following years of planning, design and construction, 

Developed by the team behind the award-winning Kynren – An Epic Tale of England, the new daytime attraction has been created on a 150-acre site in Bishop Auckland.

It has been transformed into a series of immersive worlds where history, myth and legend are brought to life through live performance, spectacular sets, music, animals and storytelling.

The aghast cast of the Legend of the Wear, one of Kynren’s five new daytime productions, the first performances of which were staged at the Bishop Auckland site today (Image: Kynren/Peter Haygarth)

Visitors will experience five large scale productions each staged in its own purpose-built performance space.

The Lost Feather is a unique free flight bird experience featuring sea eagles, vultures, African crowned cranes, macaws, owls and many other species flying overhead.

African grey crowned crane featured in the Lost Feather production at Kynren – The Storied Land (Image: Kynren/PeterHaygarth)

It is said to explore humanity’s relationship with birds and the natural world.

A sea eagle featured in Kynren – The Storied Land’s Lost Feather production (Image: Kynren/Pete Haygarth)

Land of the Vikings allows visitors to explore a recreated Norse settlement before witnessing an action-packed live show of fire and battle.

The Trusty Steed celebrates the remarkable partnership between horse and rider through stunt riding and horsemanship.

Legend of the Wear is a dramatic lakeside retelling of the of the traditional North East tale of the Lambton Worm.

Victorian Imaginariums is an outdoor world inspired by invention, curiosity and imagination.

An owl taking flight in Kynren – The Storied Land’s Lost Feather production (Image: Kynren/Pete Haygarth)

Two of the productions, The Lost Feather and Legend of the Wear, feature original musical scores recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Kynren chief executive officer Anna Warnecke said: “Saturday marks far more than the opening of a new attraction.

“It represents years of ambition, creativity and dedication from an extraordinary team who believed we could create something completely new for the UK.

“For the past 10 years we’ve welcomed audiences to Kynren – An Epic Tale of England, and now we’re opening an experience that allows visitors to spend an entire day immersed in spectacular live entertainment.

 “We can’t wait to welcome our very first guests and begin this exciting new chapter,” she added.

Creative director Charlotte Boissinot said: “For years these shows have existed only in sketches, storyboards, rehearsals and the imagination of our creative team.

“To finally stand in each arena and see audiences experiencing them exactly as we imagined is incredibly emotional.

“Every costume, every soundtrack, every set and every performance has been crafted to transport visitors into another story.

“Opening day is the moment those stories truly come to life,” she added.

Chief technical officer Graham Emmerson said: “Behind every show is years of engineering, innovation and craftsmanship.

“Creating five completely different live action productions, each with its own purpose-built performance space, specialist effects and complex technical systems, has been an enormous undertaking.

“Seeing everything ready for opening day is something the entire team is immensely proud of, and we can’t wait for visitors to experience what we’ve created.”

The Lost Feather has been developed under the direction of Curator of Birds and Conservation Jimmy Robinson, whose team has created one of the UK’s largest free flight bird experiences.

He said: “Every bird in The Lost Feather is an ambassador for its species.

“We hope visitors leave amazed by their beauty and inspired to care about the incredible wildlife we share our planet with.

“Watching sea eagles, vultures, crowned cranes, macaws and owls soaring freely above the audience is a truly unforgettable experience, but at its heart the show is about celebrating our relationship with birds and why conservation matters.”

Today’s (Sat) opening of Kynren – The Storied Lands builds on the success of Kynren – An Epic Tale of England, which has become one of the UK’s leading outdoor live shows since its debut in 2016.

The evening spectacular continues every Saturday throughout the summer, together with additional performances on Friday 21 August and Friday 4 September, allowing visitors to combine both attractions in a full day and evening experience.

Kynren – The Storied Lands is open from 18 July to 12 September, Tuesday to Sunday.

Read next … more culture stories from The Northern Echo, by clicking here

Each visitor receives a personalised itinerary to ensure they experience all five live productions during their visit.

Advance Saver tickets are available from £30 for adults and £20 for children, with youngsters under three admitted free.

For more information and tickets visit www.kynren.com.

Ross Kemp has revealed his beloved mother, Jean, has been rushed to hospital. 

The star, 61, took to Instagram Stories on Saturday to thank paramedics for caring for her and explained he would be missing England’s third-place play-off against France, which ended in a 6-4 victory for the Three Lions.

A passionate England supporter known for his enthusiastic matchday celebrations, Ross said family comes first as he stayed by his mum’s side.

He said: ‘I hope they win but there are some things, like your mum, that are more important than football.

‘Come on England. 

‘We’ll be back there in four years’ time and hopefully we’ll win.’

A passionate England supporter known for his enthusiastic matchday celebrations, Ross said family comes first as he stayed by his mum’s side

Earlier this month, Ross delighted football fans with a wild outburst, declaring ‘Jude, I love you’ as the Three Lions sailed into the quarter finals of the World Cup. 

In the wake of England’s 3-2 win over Mexico, the EastEnders legend took to Instagram to share his rip-roaring reaction – including a gushing profession of love for double scorer Jude Bellingham.  

The clip saw the soap star shout: ‘Come on England, come on England. You just keep it calm. Keep it calm. Go… two!!! Come on England. Shut them up. Shut that crowd up, shut everybody up…

‘Come on England, come on England. Jude, Jude, Jude, Juuuude. I love you. Love you. Keep cool heads, keep cool heads and we will shut them out.’

Similarly to his other outbursts, fans reacted with joy, with users writing: ‘amazing. Spot on Ross… Yes Ross!!! We were all thinking of you during that!’

His video came just days he tickled fans with his hilarious reaction to England’s victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The star, best known for his depiction of hardman Grant Mitchell in EastEnders, was likened to his legendary soap character thanks to his aggressive and coarse delivery in a video he shared with his 200k Instagram followers.

Following the 2-1 triumph, he screamed and spat into the camera with excitement and congratulations aimed at Captain Harry Kane.

The comments section was soon flooded with comments, predominantly likening Ross to his character and some urging him to ‘calm down’.

Proving just how widespread the clip had reached, while discussing the match on talkSPORT, Olly Murs did his own hilarious impression of Ross after presenter Andy Goldstein requested he reenact the clip.

Ross’ comments section was soon flooded with comments, with users writing: ‘Hello, Grant Mitchell, my old friend, I’ve come to talk with you again…

Earlier this month, Ross delighted football fans with a wild outburst, declaring ‘Jude, I love you’ as the Three Lions sailed into the quarter finals of the World Cup

Proving just how widespread the clip had reached, while discussing the match on talkSPORT, Olly Murs did his own hilarious impression of Ross 

‘Grant Mitchell has entered the chat… This is definitely Grant, not Ross here… Nah grant Mitchell is vibes get him as assistant manager fam…Chill out Grant before I get Phil to batter you… Go on Grant… Grant Michael gone rogue.’

Ross has hit headlines of late after he enjoyed a mini reunion with his on-screen brother Steve McFadden last month.

The two stars, who portrayed Mitchell brothers Grant and Phil in the BBC soap, enjoyed a rare day out together as they went out on a boat.

Talking to the camera, Ross said: ‘The Mitchell brothers are reunited, but this time on the river!’ As Steve, 67, added: ‘Ahoy there, ahoy there!’

Captioning his post, Ross penned: ‘The Mitchell brothers are reunited.’

The duo sent fans wild as they branded Ross and Steve as ‘iconic’ and thanked the pair for unlocking their ‘core childhood memories’.

It has been an emotional week for the England players and staff and that was obvious in Anthony Barry’s half time interview

England assistant manager Anthony Barry was on the verge of tears in his half time interview against France. Barry has fronted up for the half time interviews in every World Cup match this summer.

When he and Thomas Tuchel have been unhappy about a first half display, Barry has been the one to express their criticism and honesty. His tone has often been blunt and hard hitting, but after the Three Lions put four past France before half time in the bronze medal match, Barry was completely different.

He was visibly emotional when he spoke about the breathless first half which saw Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa find the net, before Bukayo Saka scored a brace. After reflecting on the mood of the players after the loss to Argentina in the semi-final, Barry struggled to hold back the tears.

He said: “I have to be honest no frustration. I’m a little bit emotional, I’m struggling to find the words to describe how proud I am of these players. They’re playing the game with broken hearts.

“I see 11 lads with broken hearts, seen them in the last two days broken hearts, they can build a performance like that through playing for England, the team spirit we built the last seven weeks, it’s been a privilege to watch.

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“I know what the cynics will say, ‘It’s too late’. But we still play against a world class opponent. That 45 minutes I’m so proud. There’s still 45 minutes to go, anything can happen but in isolation, I’m proud of the team and hopefully everyone back home is too.”

Before the clash in Miami, both Tuchel and France manager Didier Deschamps made it clear they, and their players, were not looking forward to playing in the match.

By the way the Three Lions came out of the traps in this first half, Tuchel and Barry had combined to generate a reaction from them. Rice intercepted a loose France pass, drove forward and found the far corner from 20-yards.

He then turned provider by whipping a cross onto the head of Konsa, who flicked it across goal into the far post. The hydration break did not quell England’s momentum, as Saka squeezed the ball in after he and Marcus Rashford both saw efforts be saved and cleared off the line.

He then completed a first half brace by finding the far corner in emphatic fashion after Eberechi Eze found him with a wonderful reverse pass. Things became nerve-wracking after half time when Kylian Mbappe and Bradley Barcola found the net within the first nine minutes after half time to halve England’s 4-2 lead.

Mbappe then grabbed a second to really jangle England nerves, but after Les Bleus missed several chances, with Michael Olise fluffing his lines with the goal at his mercy, Bukayo Saka eased any tension by completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot.

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Upgrade your World Cup TV setup with the Sky Glass ‘designed for football’

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The acclaimed series starring Kris Marshall, Keira Knightley and Sam Neill boasts a 78% Rotten Tomatoes rating with viewers describing it as a ‘masterpiece’

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A ‘masterpiece’ period drama featuring Kris Marshall that has long been overlooked is now available to stream on ITV.

Doctor Zhivago was released in 2002, adapted from Boris Pasternak’s acclaimed 1957 novel of the same name, which had previously been adapted for cinema in 1965, reports the Mirror.

The 2002 series can currently be viewed on ITV and ITVX, where a synopsis states: “Having witnessed his father’s suicide, Yury is sent to live in Moscow with his uncle, aunt and cousin. Whilst there, he becomes captivated by a stunning young girl called Lara.”

The impressive ensemble cast features Hans Matheson as Yuri Zhivago, Keira Knightley in the role of Lara Guishar Antipova and Sam Neill as Victor Komarovsky. Further cast members include Kris Marshall portraying Pasha Antipov/Strelnikov, Celia Imrie as Anna Gromeko and Hugh Bonneville as Andrey Zhivago – among others.

Kris, 53, is perhaps most recognised for his performances in My Family and the beloved 2003 film Love Actually. Though in more recent times, he has gained widespread recognition as DI Humphrey Goodman through his appearances in Beyond Paradise and Death in Paradise.

Doctor Zhivago, directed by Giacomo Campiotti, holds an impressive 78% Rotten Tomatoes rating with countless viewers hailing it as a ‘masterpiece’. One viewer commented: “A masterpiece by Giacomo Campiotti”, adding: “It deserves an Oscar.”

Another viewer commented: “I have never seen the original Doctor Zhivago film, so I can’t take any prejudged bias. This mini-series is possibly the best UK mini-series I have ever seen and is a sign that perhaps the UK networks are serious about creating some top quality drama television that HBO have been producing for ages!”.

They continued: “Kris Marshall as Pacha is a welcome revelation, worlds away from the tired “My Family” ‘comedy’. The scene always looks great and you can see the time and effort (not to forget money! ) has gone into the creation of this great series. The overall look is very convincing and there is some beautiful theatrical-quality cinematography.”

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Meanwhile, another viewer praised Kris’ performance, stating: “Kris Marshall turns in a stellar performance, truly suspending disbelief and losing himself in the role to deliver solid convincing work. It would be marvellous now to see him in further challenging roles!”.

A different admirer remarked: “A truly amazing performance comes from Kris Marshall who plays Strelnikof/ Pasha Antipof- I am in love with this man! ! I am now forever a fan. The film is thought-provoking, harrowing and heart-warming in equal measure. Watch this film!”.

The drama is even more poignant following the sad news of Sam Neill’s death.

It was confirmed earlier this week that Jurassic Park legend Sam had passed away at the age of 78. Sam sadly died after contracting pneumonia, according to a statement from his management.

Doctor Zhivago is available to watch on ITV and ITVX

Firefighters have been at Dovestone since Saturday (July 11) evening when the blaze initially broke out.

In an update Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said that this weekend their firefighters have seen people lighting barbecues in the affected areas, despite warnings to avoid such practices.

There are “challenging conditions” for crews working to control the fires, GMFRS said.

(Image: MKDronePhotography/ Facebook)

Firefighters are creating additional firebreaks to limit the spread, alongside water drops from helicopter support.

The fire service is urging members of the public to stay away from the affected areas.

Barbecues, campfires, and open flames are prohibited.

The statement from GMFRS read: “Our firefighters continue to tackle two major moorland fires at Swineshaw and Dovestones.

“This weekend, we have already seen people visiting the area and lighting BBQs. People must stay away from affected moorland areas and must not light BBQs, campfires or any other open flames. 

“With our partners we continue working in difficult conditions to bring both fires under control.

(Image: Sean A.F.C)

“Crews are creating additional firebreaks to limit the spread of the fires, while helicopter support continues to carry out water drops and aerial surveys.

“The images show crews working in challenging conditions yesterday as they continue their efforts to tackle these large-scale moorland fires.

“For more information on these incidents, wildfires and public safety advice check out our website.”

Three arrests have been made in relation to the Dovestones fire so far.

A 19-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of arson yesterday (Thursday, July 16) and has been bailed pending further enquiries.

Then yesterday (Friday, July 17), a 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of the same charges and remains in custody for questioning.

This follows the arrest of 20-year-old Shania Care-Slede earlier this week.

She has been charged with aggravated arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered, and dangerous driving, and is due to appear at Manchester Crown Court on August 18.

By LIAM MORGAN, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Published: 20:54 BST, 18 July 2026 | Updated: 23:28 BST, 18 July 2026

Argentina’s rugby stars appeared to join the mocking of England after their World Cup victory over their arch-rivals by wearing a kit paying homage to Diego Maradona‘s 1986 team.

Players wore a jersey similar in colour to that of Argentina’s 1986 World Cup-winning side – made famous by Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ and superb solo goal in a win against England – for their Nations Championship clash in Santiago del Estero.

The Pumas’ limited edition kit has been created to mark the 40th anniversary of Argentina lifting their second World Cup. 

‘With this tribute, the Argentine Rugby Union and Los Pumas celebrate that legacy and renew their commitment to representing Argentina with the same pride, passion, and dedication that distinguish our national teams,’ the Argentine Rugby Union said.

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England’s rugby team had already been forced to switch hotels in Buenos Aires because of the chaos caused by Argentina’s World Cup victory.

Tens of thousands of fans gathered in the Plaza de la República on Wednesday night, celebrating their football team’s 2-1 win over England with a huge street party.

Argentina’s rugby stars wore a kit similar to the one worn by Diego Maradona’s team in 1986

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The jersey was made famous by Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ en route to Argentina winning the 1986 World Cup

Argentina fans also displayed banners touting their country’s claim to the Falkland Islands

Flares and fireworks were set off throughout the night, with barricades erected outside England’s team hotel to provide additional security.

Steve Borthwick’s side were due to return to the same hotel on Sunday, but Argentina’s progression to the final means the area is braced for more chaos.

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The contest between the two sides comes just days after Argentina broke English hearts in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday. 

Argentine fans attending the Nations Championship match were also seen displaying banners touting their country’s claim to the Falkland Islands.

FIFA is exploring disciplinary action against Argentina after several members of the team lifted a sign declaring ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’ – the country’s term for the South Atlantic islands.

The banner triggered a fierce backlash in the UK, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying he supports calls for FIFA to open an investigation made by Business Secretary Peter Kyle.

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FIFA’s rules forbid the use of any political messaging at the World Cup but have previously turned a blind eye to continued references to the 1982 conflict in a song sung by the players – and posted on social media by the country’s association – in the dressing room throughout the tournament. 

England were also mocked by Argentina star Enzo Fernandez, who shared a post on Instagram featuring a picture of him smiling alongside Lionel Messi and Leandro Paredes. 

The post was accompanied by the Oasis hit Wonderwall, which had become the soundtrack to England’s World Cup campaign in North America. 

The divisive England back-row was met with a remarkable reaction during the Nations Championship

Henry Pollock was met by a chorus of boos as he stepped onto the pitch during England’s Nations Championship clash with Argentina in Santiago del Estero.

The Northampton Saints flanker was already a divisive figure in Argentina, having been filmed goading football fans ahead of the World Cup semi-final between the two countries on Wednesday.

Steve Borthwick had to step in to defend the 21-year-old later in the week, after he was filmed shushing supporters from the team bus in Buenos Aires.

Argentina were mounting a comeback when England turned to the divisive Pollock from the bench.

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Having been 19-3 up at half-time, Argentina got the scoreline back to 19-17 – with England losing two to the sin-bin in relatively quick succession.

The second yellow card for Alex Coles handed Argentina a penalty try to close the gap to two points.

Amid the celebrations in the ground, England brought Pollock – who scored a hat-trick against Fiji last week – on, with the back-row’s introduction met by boos.

“Henry Pollock comes on and listen to the boos,” said ITV commentator Nick Mullins.

“His reputation has travelled far and wide. They all saw the photograph from the team bus before the football on Wednesday.

“Boos now mingling with celebration and this place is soudning like an Argentinean sports stadium.”

By GLEN OWEN and DAN HODGES, DAILY MAIL COLUMNIST and BRENDAN CARLIN

Published: 22:02 BST, 18 July 2026 | Updated: 23:09 BST, 18 July 2026

Andy Burnham‘s pledge to unite Labour was branded ‘dead on arrival’ last night, amid mounting mayhem over who will serve in his Cabinet.

At the centre of the chaos is the divisive figure of Ed Miliband, whose hopes of becoming the next Chancellor appeared to have been dashed last week following briefings that Mr Burnham was planning to give the job to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

However, Ms Mahmood is now being accused by Burnham allies of trying to ‘brief herself into the job’. In his coronation speech on Friday, Mr Burnham pledged to end factionalism and the ‘insidious’ briefing culture in Westminster, saying: ‘We won’t beat Britain’s new Right if we are consumed by infighting and pulling in different directions’.

But the fierce resistance to Mr Miliband’s proposed appointment has already served to poison relations. And a source said: ‘There’s a lot of anger at Shabana and her team for the Treasury briefing. Andy and James [Purnell, the new No 10 chief of staff] were furious.

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‘It’s why he included the line about not having made any decisions in his Friday speech, with her sitting there. They felt it was a naked attempt to bounce him into appointing her.’

A second source added: ‘Shabana tried to convince Andy and James she wasn’t behind the briefings. She claimed she was in the Home Office secure room for four hours when the briefings were happening. But no one believed her. It’s well known among Home Office staff that she hates that room.’

Burnham allies also claim that the new Northern Secretary could even rank ahead of the Chancellor in the Cabinet pecking order, something the all-powerful Treasury is likely to resist.

To add further to the chaos, Sir Keir Starmer’s remaining rump of supporters in the Commons are lying in wait to ambush his successor. His allies were said to be angry at Mr Burnham’s claim on Friday that he had ‘supported all our Labour leaders in my lifetime’, and had played no role in Sir Keir’s ousting.

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Andy Burnham’s pledge to unite Labour was branded ‘dead on arrival’ on Saturday 

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood was accused by Burnham allies of trying to ‘brief herself into the job’ of Chancellor

One senior MP said last night that was ‘manifestly untrue and Keir’s people will be very angry with it’. He added: ‘Andy may be the King of the North and South just now but the Starmer loyalists will be lying in wait for him.

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‘His hopes of ending the infighting are dead on arrival.’

There are also nerves within Whitehall over plans to establish the new No 10 North by abolishing Liz Kendall’s Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), transferring officials to the new Northern department and handing its responsibilities to the Business Department.

Amid all the jostling for position, Labour sources claim that Chief Whip Jonathan Reynolds has already called current Business Secretary Peter Kyle to request ‘access talks’ about his plans – because he had been promised the job.

It has led to concern about disruption to DSIT’s work on the social media ban and AI, with one source saying: ‘I know he [Burnham] wants to take Britain back to the 1970s, but trying to pretend the internet doesn’t exist is going a bit far.’

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Housing Secretary Steve Reed, an ardent loyalist of Sir Keir, is expected to leave Government along with Attorney General Lord Hermer and David Lammy, the hapless Deputy PM and Justice Secretary.