Politics
The House | Burnham’s on his way to No.10. Could I be on my way out of the House of Lords?
4 min read
“Scandalous”. This was the word used by Keir Starmer’s successor to describe the House of Lords just a few short weeks ago when referring to the fact that “half” of the UK’s legislature is unelected.’
I agree with him. It is scandalous, especially when the actual number is more than half. We have 650 Members of the House of Commons, chosen by voters, but at the time of writing, we have 791 Members of the House of Lords, many of whom reach the Lords through systems of patronage and personal networks. A world most people will never be privy to.
To be fair to the outgoing Prime Minister, he did at least attempt to reduce the number of hereditary peers – all male, all born with the opportunity to make laws that affect us all.
Eighty-Five lost their seats. Twenty-nine promptly regained them. A third returned. The system regenerates itself faster than anyone is willing to reform it.
It is no secret that I want to see the House of Lords abolished and replaced with a democratic second chamber. But it is also no secret how the incoming Prime Minister feels either.
Back in 2001, he said the case for Lords reform was “urgent”. If it was urgent twenty-five years ago, then surely it is overdue today. His recent comments on the Makerfield by-election campaign trail reinforced that urgency when he said that reform “cannot be delayed any longer” and that the Lords is the first place to look when “cutting the cost of politics”. He has long supported a Senate of the Nations and Regions, which is a model that would finally give Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the English regions a meaningful voice.
As a woman representing Wales – one of very few Welsh voices in the Lords – this is music to my ears. How can a legislature dominated by a handful of London and South-East England postcodes genuinely represent communities hundreds of miles away, whose lives and experiences many peers have never known the likes of?
So, given that we seem to see eye to eye on this, I thought I would set out how I think he can best go about it.
In the 2024 manifesto, the Labour Party committed to consult on proposals to replace the House of Lords with an alternative second Chamber, seeking the input of the British public on how politics can best serve them. The argument I hear time and again is that such reform is impossible – too big of a beast, too complex, and too much resistance from within the Lords itself.
But that simply isn’t true.
The Salisbury Convention is a constitutional convention that means that the House of Lords should not block legislation that implements a clear manifesto commitment. While the convention is not legally binding, it has mostly been respected for over 80 years and provides a strong foundation for delivering what voters were promised.
And if the Lords did attempt to obstruct it, the Parliament Acts provide a statutory route to ensure the elected House prevails. A Bill passed by the Commons in two successive sessions – with at least a year between its first and final passage – can be sent for Royal Assent without the Lords’ consent. Reform may be a bit of a bumpy ride, but it is not impossible, and it certainly shouldn’t be a reason for us to shy away from transforming the institutions that underpin our very lives to better serve the people of these nations.
Given the current UK Government’s sluggish approach to their 2024 manifesto commitment, I recently introduced a Private Member’s Bill to establish a framework for consulting stakeholders on replacing the Lords with a democratic second chamber. This is exactly what the Labour Party promised in its manifesto, so I thought I would give them a helpful nudge.
Some may think – when people are struggling with the cost of living and public services in need of support – why would this be the next Prime Minister’s priority? But as the ‘King of the North’ said himself, the “constitutional stuff” and the wiring of the country is part of the problem. For that reason, I sincerely hope he may be bolder still. After all, nothing says ‘man of the people’ quite like dismantling an ancient institution that was designed by and for the elite.
I would be delighted to work with anyone who shares this vision. So, Andy, my door is open – as I hope yours will be too.
Last year, fans of The Inbetweeners got some promising news: it seemed set for a revival after a 10-plus-year hiatus, as production company Banijay UK and the show’s creators came to an agreement that “pave[d] the way” for its return.
And now, Variety has confirmed that the original cast is working on a reunion flick with streaming giant Netflix.
It follows two hit movies based on the teen sitcom, which chronicles the misadventures of friend group Will MacKenzie (Simon Bird), Simon Cooper (Joe Thomas), Neil Sutherland (Blake Harrison) and Jay Cartwright (James Buckley). The comedy blockbusters were released in 2011 and 2014, respectively.
The first installment, The Inbetweeners Movie, raked in about £66 million globally against an estimated £3.5 million budget. And its sequel, The Inbetweeners 2, made about £47.5 million worldwide.
These were based on the 2008-2010 UK series, which acted as a kind of grimly relatable alternative to sex-and-drug-fuelled teen hit Skins, which also aired on E4.
Simon Bird said, “Skins is great because it’s this fantasy of what you want your teenage years to be whereas The Inbetweeners is what your teenage years actually were”.
We don’t yet know anything about what Netflix’s The Inbetweeners flick might look like, though it’s hard to imagine the original cast, who appear to be attached to the title, will be playing their former adolescent selves.
The cast’s real-life ages range from their late 30s to early 40s.
Blake Harrison, who plays Neil, told the BBC in 2014 when he was aged 29: “The humour comes from their naivety and ignorance towards the world and as soon as you start placing that naivety and ignorance into people in their 20s and 30s, it becomes a bit more offensive and less funny”.
The response by the UK Labour Government to the failure of a United Nations (UN) nuclear non-proliferation conference to reach a consensus has been criticised by a wide range of UK and international experts and campaigners.
The government had sent a minister to speak at the UN in New York at the start of the 11th Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which took place from 27 April to 22 May 2026.
Initially, the government chose not to comment when the Canary reported on the failure of the review conference to reach consensus on an outcome document. They have now provided a response to Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer, a Liberal Democrat peer, who asked an oral question about the conference in the House of Lords on 9 July 2026.
Miller’s question
Miller is one of five co-presidents of the international non-governmental organisation called Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (PNND).
She asked the government “what diplomatic steps” it intended to take “following the absence of consensus at the Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty”.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) minister of state Baroness Chapman of Darlington responded, saying:
The nuclear non-proliferation treaty is the cornerstone of the international nuclear order and the UK remains fully committed to it. It is a treaty that has kept us safe for over half a century, underpinning international security by constraining the spread of nuclear weapons.
Although it is disappointing that consensus could not be reached in New York, the review conference covered a thorough examination of global progress to implement NPT obligations over the past four years so as to identify positive progress and those areas that remain challenging.
Speaking after the debate to the Canary, Miller said she asked the question because she has:
been concerned about the threat nuclear weapons pose for decades.
She added:
That threat is increasing, not decreasing. The lack of progress of the NPT agreements toward disarmament and the P5 modernising and upgrading nuclear weapons means we face a terrifying threat.
The P5 are the five nuclear weapons states (NWS) who are also the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) – the US, Russia, China, the UK and France.
She also highlighted the fact that the Doomsday Clock has been set at its all time worst position – just 85 seconds to midnight.
“Genuinely disappointed”
Miller also said she hoped that the NPT review conference would agree on:
risk reductions, new treaty discussions to cover the gap left by [New] START’s demise.
She also said she thought the government was “genuinely disappointed” by the failure of the conference to agree on an outcome document.
In February, the UK Labour government was accused of “sitting on the sidelines” of international nuclear weapons risk reduction diplomacy following the expiration of New START (New Strategic Arms Reductions Treaty). The treaty limited the number of nuclear weapons the US and Russia could hold.
Reflecting on the government’s response to her question, Miller said she thought it was:
adequate, but not very energetic compared to the threat posed.
She added that she hoped the government would step up to:
be a leader amongst the P5 to ensure new treaties are put in place and to ensure diplomatic channels are open so as to avoid nuclear accidental misunderstandings.
First review of the TPNW
Towards the end of 2026, the UN will host the first review conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which goes further than the NPT in pushing for the abolition of all nuclear weapons.
It is supported by half of the world’s nations, but no nuclear weapons states have joined it.
Miller told the Canary that she wished the P5 would engage with the TPNW. She said:
After all, the final goal of the NPT is disarmament. However, successive UK Governments have been clear that, for them, the NPT is the only Treaty they will engage with.
UK Government breaching the NPT and uninterested in disarmament – anti-nuclear campaigners
Responding to the debate, Nuclear Information Service co-director Okopi Ajonye told the Canary:
This session is yet another example of how the government’s support for disarmament is more rhetorical than real, as the UK Government seems far more interested in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy than in furthering nuclear disarmament.
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) general secretary Sophie Bolt told the Canary:
Simply expressing disappointment at the failure of the review conference rings hollow when the government is replacing Trident, developing a new nuclear warhead and expanding Britain’s nuclear capabilities by purchasing F-35A’s. Those actions undermine the very trust the Government claims it wants to rebuild. In fact, it is total nuclear hypocrisy.
Bolt also argued that the UK should bring confidence back to the NPT by reversing its “disastrous nuclear expansionism”.
Government deflections
International Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) advocacy coordinator Florian Eblenkamp gave his reaction to the debate to the Canary. He said:
What stands out is how much of it was deflection. Chapman didn’t know a new Commons committee scrutinising nuclear spending even exists. She had ‘nothing new’ to say on New START, the last bilateral arms control treaty between the US and Russia, having lapsed in February.
During the debate in the House of Lords, Conservative peer Lord Bellingham asked:
Can the Minister say something about New START, the treaty which was the last remaining bilateral arms control agreement between the US and Russia, which has expired? What is the future of that treaty? I know that is a slightly separate issue, but it is related.
Responding, Chapman said:
That might be a question better addressed to my colleague at the Ministry of Defence. My understanding of these issues is that our position remains consistent with that of previous Administrations. I do not have anything new that would be particularly illuminating in response to the noble Lord’s question.
Eblenkamp criticised the UK’s and other nuclear weapons states’ “performance” of compliance, rather than real compliance, with the NPT.
He also demanded that the UK Government sends officials to attend:
meetings of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as an observer, rather than treating the treaty that bans nuclear weapons and has support of a global majority as something to be ignored.
He added:
None of that requires the UK to disarm unilaterally tomorrow. It requires the government to stop answering with ‘nothing new’ when asked about arms control efforts in parliament.
Eblenkamp concluded by saying:
The UK has surpassed Russia as the world’s third-largest spender on nuclear weapons. In 2025, the UK alone spent $12.6bn (£9.34bn) on modernising its nuclear arsenal; that’s a 17% increase from the year before. Nuclear weapons will make up close to 25% of the UKs national defence budget going forward.
And yet, there is no genuine sense of security from perceived threats. At what point do we call out nuclear deterrence as an expensive dogma rather than a defence strategy?
UK Government must find its voice and call for disarmament – nuclear policy expert
The European Leadership Network (ELN) describes itself as:
an independent, non-partisan, pan-European network of over 450 past, present and future European leaders working to provide practical real-world solutions to political and security challenges.
ELN head of programme on nuclear and multilateral disarmament Oliver Meier told the Canary:
Disarmament only comes up in the debate once, the focus is squarely on nonproliferation. This neglect of disarmament in the debate is indicative of the nuclear weapon states’ approach to the NPT.
As the majority of states have emphasized again and again in New York, progress on disarmament and nonproliferation are interdependent and intrinsically linked. So the UK also needs to ask itself how its own actions are affecting that broader issue of the salience of nuclear weapons.
Meier called on the UK Government to find its voice on disarmament and to call out the US – alongside Russia and China – for its actions on nuclear escalation.
He said:
UK (and France) as European nuclear weapon states have to find their own voice on disarmament and nonproliferation. They will continue to speak out against irresponsible actions and rhetoric by Russia and China’s nuclear build-up.
But they also need to speak clearly on irresponsible US nuclear threats and actions and violations of international law, including the attacks on Iran. Otherwise, their credibility towards the majority of the international community will suffer.
UK should be more transparent about its nuclear weapons policy – UN expert
The United Nations Association – UK (UNA-UK) says it works:
to strengthen the UK’s commitment to the UN and for foreign policy rooted in international law, human rights, peace and international cooperation.
Reflecting on the debate in the House of Lords, UNA-UK campaign manager Lauren Muir told the Canary:
Given the UK’s position as both a Nuclear Weapon State under the NPT and a recognised leader in nuclear verification research, there is scope for it to exercise greater diplomatic leadership in addressing this widening credibility gap.
Muir called on the UK Government to do more to further the cause of nuclear disarmament, saying:
UNA-UK would like to see the Government focus more on practical measures that demonstrate progress on its nuclear disarmament commitments.
This means being more transparent about UK policy, providing clearer reporting on progress under the NPT, continuing to support international nuclear verification work, and taking a more active role in developing measures that reduce the risk of nuclear conflict and build trust between states.
The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) includes significant funding for the UK’s nuclear weapons programme, so it appears unlikely that the UK Government will work towards the type of nuclear deescalation called for by experts.
Featured image via the Canary
By Tom Pashby
If your child’s starting Year 7 in September, there’s a strong chance you’ve already thought about their first day more than they have.
Every summer I meet parents worrying about whether their child will make friends, find their way around a much bigger building, or cope with going from top of the school to the very bottom overnight.
Those are all fair worries, and starting secondary school really is one of the biggest changes a child goes through.
But after watching hundreds of pupils make this exact move, I’ve come to think we tend to pin our nerves on the wrong day, because the transition is really made over the summer, weeks before the first bell.
The reassuring bit is that most children are far more ready than we give them credit for. By the time they leave primary, they’ve already learnt how to make friends, fall out and make up again; cope when a plan goes sideways; and ask an adult for help – and all of that will carry them through Year 7 just as well as knowing where the science block is.
None of which means every child sails through, because they won’t. But most of those worries do settle, and there’s solid research to show it. When University College London (UCL) followed around 2,000 children through the move for its STARS study, it found most had some worries beforehand that eased once they actually started secondary.
So, a bumpy first few weeks is usually just part of settling in, and a calm face at home is one of the best things a child has going for them while it passes.
Ahead of that nerve-wracking first day, here are some ways you can help prepare your child while they’re off for summer.
1. Keep the chat upbeat
Kids clock our tone of voice long before they take in the actual words, so keep talk of secondary school on the sunny side. A few nerves are normal, so say so, then steer the conversation around to the good stuff, like new friends, new subjects and all the clubs they never got to do at primary school.
2. Talk, and then talk some more
Ask Year 6s across the country what’s scaring them most and the answer is nearly always ‘getting lost’, which makes total sense when they’ve spent years in one building where they know every corner.
When your child asks “but what if I get lost?”, they usually want reassurance more than a plan, because underneath it they’re really asking whether it’s normal to feel nervous. It always is. Let them say the worry out loud, tell them how you felt on your own first day, and remind them that staff spend all of September helping Year 7s find their way.
3. Get the boring stuff bought early
Buy the bag, uniform and kit well before the last week of the holidays, because nobody wants to be tearing around town for the last pair of black school shoes or a scientific calculator the night before term.
Once it’s bought, hand it all over and let them unpack it, label it and sort it themselves, so it feels like old news by the time September comes.
4. Sneak some independence into the summer
Secondary runs on a hundred small jobs your child does without you, so treat the holidays as a low-stakes practice run. Let them nip to the shop, meet mates in town and get themselves ready for a day out. Once term starts, get them making their own packed lunch and laying their uniform out the night before.
5. Practise the journey together
For a lot of kids, getting to school is the first proper thing they’ll do on their own, so do a couple of trial runs. Walk, cycle or bus it together first, then let them try it with a friend, and time it while you’re at it. Talk through what to do if the bus doesn’t turn up or they take a wrong turn, because a plan they’ve already talked over does wonders for their confidence.
6. Hang on to old friends and routines
Those first few weeks are exhausting, with everything new at once, which is exactly why familiar faces and old routines are worth holding on to. An afternoon with primary school mates, or the usual Saturday footie, is a proper breather in the middle of the whirlwind, so give them room to find their feet and go easy on the questions at the school gate.
7. Get ahead of the new phone rules
This year’s intake has something new to think about, because most will start secondary with much stricter rules around phones during the school day. Rather than letting it become another worry, look at your school’s policy together before September, so your child knows exactly what to expect.
8. Keep the school in the loop
If something’s worrying you, the school really does want to hear about it, so drop a line to your child’s tutor or head of year, get along to the information evenings, and keep half an eye on the emails coming home. It’s the quickest way to know what’s going on.
Every September I watch new Year 7s turn up looking tiny in oversized uniform, and within a few weeks the same children are finding their classrooms without a second thought, joining clubs and coming home name-dropping teachers you’re still struggling to keep track of yourself.
That happens because we give them room to work things out, with support around them when they need it.
So, talk up what’s coming, hand over a bit more responsibility than you did last month, and trust that seven years of primary school have got them more ready than either of you quite believes right now.
It’s a big milestone, but in the end it’s only one morning, and the real work is the bit you get to do together this summer.
Andrew Wilson is the chief executive of OAK Multi Academy Trust.
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If there’s one thing we take good care of in summer, it’s our skin. Or the skin on our face, at least.
While we spend the sunny months and beyond prepping our faces with acids, primers, and sunscreens, other areas get ignored.
But it’s time we get real about the spots that get the most sweaty during the heatwave – our genitals.
Yep, I’m going there. You might be wearing breathable cotton and linens on the rest of your body, but most of us forget to protect our bits during the heat, and they need just as much attention.
I’m sure I don’t need to tell you this, but sweating down there gets uncomfortable pretty quickly.
You don’t need to suffer in silence, though, because I’ve found the solution to better comfort between your legs in the heatwave: bamboo underwear.
Although lots of underwear brands use polyester and synthetic materials in their underwear, that could contribute to excess sweat, and won’t let your genitals breathe properly. Talk about a one way ticket to thrush town.
To combat discomfort during the warmer months, Step One has created an underwear line crafted entirely from bamboo.
As well as being sustainable (thanks to how quickly it grows) bamboo also makes breathable, antibacterial, and moisture-wicking underwear.
Not only does this make them comfy enough to wear all day, but also means they’re great for sweating during training or long runs.
And whether you’re a briefs gal or a trunks guy, Step One has crafted a shape for every occasion – it even has period pants (which just so happen to be this shopping writer’s favourite).
If you’re looking for a sure-fire way to transform your comfort during the heatwave, I’ve rounded up the best pieces of Step One underwear to shop now.
And if you’re in pursuit of a bargain, good news: when you buy a multi-pack you’ll get a discount of up to 15% off. Yippee!
Westminster’s sleaze watchdog has launched an investigation into Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice.
The parliamentary commissioner for standards said he had begun investigating claims Tice had failed to declare an interest.
A separate probe into Nigel Farage’s failure to declare a £5 million gift from a Thailand-based crypto billionaire has been suspended while he fights the Clacton by-election.
Labour said: “The Reform sleaze scandals continue to pile up.”
In a post on X, Tice claimed the complaint against him had been made by an “anti semitic anti Israel lobby group over whether I should have referenced my register of interests at start of a debate on UK democracy and Israeli influence”.
A Labour spokesperson said: “Reform’s leader and deputy leader now have standards investigations hanging over them.
“With police probes, Nigel Farage’s secret £5 million gift, and reports of funding from a convicted fraudster – it’s clear Reform think the rules just don’t apply to them.”
Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.
“I had everything that could go wrong with me… go wrong with me,” he said at the time, adding that “drinking too much” left his kidneys “messed up”.
Phil has also explained he’s been dealing with a spinal injury as well as type 2 diabetes.
And speaking to The Times recently, the Genesis star shared that he almost died in 2024.
He said he was admitted to a Swiss hospital in late 2023 due to alcohol addiction before being discharged and brought back a second time. He added he was placed in intensive care on his return and was mostly unconscious during this second stay.
“My kidneys were packing up, my organs were just seizing up,” he told The Times.
“People were coming to say goodbye. But I don’t remember them coming. I didn’t have no idea this was going on. They were all worried that they wouldn’t see me again. It could all have gone so terribly wrong.”
His five children reportedly visited during this time.
Phil continued: “There were some decisions to be made about ‘Do we keep Phil on life support?’ kind of thing. I was very lucky to have come out of that… Needless to say, I haven’t had a drink since.”
Back in 2021, Phil said he could no longer play the drums. “I’d love to but I mean, I can barely hold a stick with this hand,” he told BBC Breakfast.
“There are certain physical things which get in the way.”
The singer told Mojo magazine in 2025 that he’d considered making new music: “I keep thinking I should go downstairs to the studio and see what happens. But I’m not hungry for it anymore.
“The thing is, I’ve been sick. I mean very sick.”
You can read The Times’ interview in full here.
If your grass is looking crispier than ever, you’re not alone.
Across the UK, once-lusciously-green lawns are drying out. In areas with hosepipe bans in place; brown spindly grass is a common sight.
You might be thinking all is lost and you’re going to have to deal with the troublesome task of starting over with your back garden when the weather cools (and rain finally makes an appearance).
But horticulturist Monty Don has shared some words of reassurance for those whose blades are looking fragile during this period of drought.
“If, like the cricket pitch, your grass is burnt entirely brown with not a blade of green grass, don’t worry,” said the seasoned gardener.
“And don’t waste water on it! I assure you it will recover full greenness very quickly once we get some rain.”
Why your brown grass probably isn’t dead
While your grass blades might look frazzled, the underneath of the grass likely tells a different story.
“Most UK lawns simply go dormant during prolonged hot, dry weather,” note the experts at Johnsons Lawn Seed.
Those tiny blades of grass are clever and dormancy is basically a “natural survival mechanism”, the lawn pros added, which helps them to conserve energy until rain arrives.
So long as the plant’s “crown” – the node at which soil and root meet – stays healthy, “the grass has the capability to recover once temperature and moisture conditions improve,” Utah State University explained.
This key section can survive despite, and in fact because of, brown grass blades.
How to tell if grass is dead or not
If you do think your grass might be on its last legs, a simple way to tell is by doing a ‘tug test’ – basically, grab a clump of grass and tug.
Dead grass will pull up incredibly easily, with practically no resistance, HuffPost UK previously reported, while dormant grass will remain rooted after being gently tugged.
My lawn is newly laid. How do I stop it from dying?
If your lawn isn’t well-established and you want to stop it from dying immediately, you might be able to still use a hosepipe to water it.
According to Thames Water’s hosepipe ban FAQs page, people can use a hose or sprinkler if their new lawn was recently laid by a business as a service.
“In this case, hose use is allowed for the first 28 days from the day of planting, sowing or turf laying. The hosepipe must only be used on the new planting, and not elsewhere,” reads the site.
After 28 days, gardeners should switch to a watering can instead (or use an approved irrigation system).
Irrigation system? Tell me more…
Some irrigation systems are allowed to be used during hosepipe bans – although you should check with your water supplier as rules vary.
Thames Water notes that customers can use approved drip or trickle irrigation watering systems.
But they “must be fitted with a pressure reducing valve and a timer”. Irrigation systems which cause surface run-off or dispersion of water through the air (using a jet or mist) aren’t allowed.
Back in March, the Labour government’s bill to restrict access to jury trials – a right enjoyed by English citizens for over 800 years – successfully passed its first reading. But last week, only hours after former Justice Minister David Lammy was dropped from Andy Burnham’s new cabinet, a Downing Street spokesperson announced that the newly coronated Prime Minister had no intention of following through with the plan.
Eyebrows were raised, however, at the ministerial re-appointment of Sarah Sackman, Keir Starmer’s ex-solicitor general and a key supporter of Lammy’s jury proposals. Sackman has previously worked as a foreign law clerk at the Israeli Supreme Court, and her grandfather once served as an ambassador for the settler state. Last week, Burnham extended her role in government with a re-appointment at the Ministry of Justice.
Sackman’s funders
At the end of June, and just eleven days after Burnham’s by-election victory in Makerfield, Sackman registered two new donations, each of £1250, from veteran pro-Israeli bankroller Trevor Chinn.
Sackman has long been a favourite of wealthy lobbyists, receiving tens of thousands of pounds from ex-Labour Friends of Israel chair Jonathan Mendelsohn, former Israeli soldier Jonathan Kestenbaum, and the Grabiner family. Anthony Grabiner, who is not amongst Sackman’s donors, was one of the UK Lawyers for Israel patrons recently subject to a “legal intimidation” complaint.
What do Sackman and Burnham really care about?
On Wednesday, at an event organised by Jewish Care, a charity whose Life President is former Tony Blair bankroller Michael Levy, Sackman announced:
It was wonderful to welcome the Prime Minister back to Jewish Care in Golders Green this morning … As Andy said, this time we are going to get this right.
However, a professed passion for reforming the care system is not the only thing the pair have in common. One of the funders of Burnham’s 2015 Labour leadership campaign was Michael Sternberg, who has also financed the current Courts Minister.
From 2015-2024, Sackman was vice-chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, which states that one of its aims is:
to promote the centrality of Israel in Jewish life.
In 2015, Sackman said:
The issue of Israel is something that is deeply personal and emotional.
Sackman’s opposition to the ICC
In May 2024, Sackman opposed International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defence minister Yoav Gallant, saying:
I trust the Israeli people to hold their leaders to account.
A 2025 Penn University poll recorded that 82% of Jewish Israelis supported the forced expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza. 47% agreed that the Israeli military should kill all inhabitants of enemy cities. This is the nation Sackman “trusts” to hold war criminals Netanyahu and Gallant to account.
Before entering politics, Sackman worked at Matrix Chambers with former attorney general Richard Hermer, who once declared that he has “dear family members” serving in the Israeli military. Last week, Burnham replaced Hermer with Ellie Reeves, a long-time supporter of the Labour Friends of Israel lobby group.
Burnham continues Starmer’s legacy
Starmer will always be remembered for the military and diplomatic support he consistently lent to the Israeli state. But in December 2024, just over one year into the Gaza genocide, Sackman insisted that Starmer’s administration had “broadly got it right” on the issue of Palestine.
She made the comments in a public conversation with Adrian Cohen, LFI’s lay chair. Last Thursday, the controversial lobby group published a new paper suggesting that a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements is “practically and politically impossible”.
LFI-affiliated MPs continue to dominate the Labour cabinet. On the issue of Palestine, Sackman’s re-appointment sends a loud signal to those who thought Burnham might change course.
Featured image via Facebook
Spider-Man: Brand New Day has just had the biggest ever global opening weekend of any Spider-Man film. In fact, it’s the second-biggest opening weekend for any movie, bested only by Avengers: Endgame, Deadline reports.
It raked in a mammoth $972 million (about £721 million) from 90,000 screens across the world, against Sony’s projected $425 million (£316 million).
Sony Pictures explained that $572 million (£425 million) of that came from international (non-North American) markets. $121 million (£90 million) came from China, the company said, while $49 million (£36.4 million) stemmed from UK office sales.
The previous best Spider-Man global opening weekend was for No Way Home, which was also the third-highest-grossing first weekend of any film at the time.
The movie, which made $600.5 million (£490 million), now sits in fourth place.
Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, has called these results “truly phenomenal”, thanking fans for “coming out and experiencing our film the way it was meant to be seen” in cinemas.
Critics, many of whom called Tom Holland’s performance in Brand New Day his best yet, have praised the movie for its stunning visuals. Den of Geek called the newest installment of the franchise “the best looking Spidey has been since the days of [director Sam] Raimi”.
Brand New Day tracks a forgotten Peter Parker as he undergoes a transformation he “may not have the power to control”.
Its runaway success comes after a comparative slump for Marvel. After its Avengers: Endgame peak, the BBC reports, films like The Marvels and Thunderbolts have proven some of the studios’ lowest-grossing films.
These early results might prove good news for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, set to come out later this year.
The UK has had several big by-elections over the past 12 months, with Reform UK underperforming in all of them. In the most recent, Reform’s underperformance wasn’t the only story; there was also the emergence of Restore Britain.
Now, Restore leader, Rupert Lowe, has called for something of a cooperation pact between the two parties.
What’s really going on here?
The Greater Manchester result showed what Restore Britain can deliver.
The next step is how we maximise the chances of delivering the change Britain needs – it means putting personal differences aside.
That is why today I am making a public offer to Nigel Farage and Reform UK. pic.twitter.com/vwQJYRkEFp
— Rupert Lowe MP (@RupertLowe10) August 2, 2026
Rupert Lowe: ‘I only care that it is done’
Lowe begins his video by talking about the public falling out he had with Farage — a falling out which was followed by Reform unceremoniously sacking him. He then repeats the far-right talking points we’re used to, including a reference to Enoch Powell’s ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech (emphasis added):
The country we both love is changing beyond recognition. Millions of people feel like strangers in their own communities.
Lowe ends his video by saying:
I do not care how that is done. I only care that it is done. So Nigel, my message is simple. If you are prepared to work together around serious policies, serious reform and serious government, then so are we. Not because it’s politically convenient for Restore Britain. Not because it’s personally easy. After the events of the last 18 months, I would certainly rather not be making this offer.
Reading between the lines, Lowe is saying, ‘Adopt all our policies or we will continue to oppose you’. Reform is unlikely to move as far right as Restore, though, because it’s functionally difficult for it to do so.
Reform is open to people who aren’t white, as long as said people are willing to accept the politics of white supremacy. Restore Britain, meanwhile, is full of activists who think that white supremacy belongs to the whites.
Should Reform move further right, it would struggle to hold on to politicians like Suella Braverman, Nadhim Zahawi and Laila Cunningham. The same is true of Restore in reverse, which is why many think Lowe is making his move first.
People have accused Restore of splitting the far-right vote. Now, Lowe can claim he attempted to bridge the divide, even if it’s obvious such a plan would never work.
Reform’s Raheem J. Kassam was among those who noticed what Lowe is doing, saying:
Rupert Lowe, polling nationally on 1%, has made a multi-camera, scripted video asking if he can work with Reform again.
Yep. Instead of sending a text or picking up the phone, he’s done what he’s always done: try and get himself a little attention.
What’s interesting is that Rupert doesn’t actually make a concrete offer in this video.
No, he makes policy DEMANDS of Reform, but doesn’t state what they’d get in return. It’s a total and utter grift, designed to try and make Reform look unreasonable, while actually offering nothing.
“Work together?” What does that look like? Is it an electoral pact? Would he fold Restore? Nah, no specifics, just some more “woe is me” crap and then an ultimatum dressed up in pseudo patriotism.
We trust Kassam about as much as we trust Lowe, but in this instance he’s pointing out the obvious.
Why a Reform-Restore takeover won’t work
Lowe also said:
In my view, failing to even try because of our own personal difficulties is simply not an option. The British people deserve nothing less than our best and sincere efforts to make it happen. Now is the time to put our differences aside and cooperate for the good of the country that we all love.
Let’s be real, the only way Restore could benefit Reform is by standing down completely (much like the Brexit Party did for the Tories in 2019). No one seriously thinks Lowe wants to step aside, but he could be up to something else.
When Lowe founded Restore, the Canary made the following point:
While it’s tempting to think Restore will split the Reform vote, there is another possibility. The spurned Lowe could use Restore as a weapon to damage Reform’s electability, and he could then use that to force Farage out and take control of both parties. This wouldn’t surprise us, as Lowe has already merged with Advance UK — a party formed by Ben Habib — i.e. another of the politicians Farage kicked out of Reform
Commentators like Don McGowan are making similar points today:
The beginning of a hostile takeover from Rupert Lowe?
Farage is finished, we can all see that now. Is Lowe making the first inroads into taking control of Reform UK when Farage, and probably Tice, have to stand away?
This is an interestingly timed interjection. https://t.co/RBFFbNrZfe
— Don McGowan (@donmcgowan) August 2, 2026
As noted, it would be difficult for any politician to combine Reform and Restore into one movement. Restore is too far right for many Reform people; Reform is too centre-right for many in Restore. Lowe is certainly egotistical enough to think he could make it happen, though, and given his many ongoing scandals, it does look like Farage’s days are numbered.
Featured image via Belinda Jiao/ Reuters
By Willem Moore
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