Labour Party 

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Latest news on the Labour Party, covering Andy Burnham's premiership, the party in government, key figures and policies.

The Labour Party is one of the two dominant forces in British politics and, since its landslide win at the 2024 general election, the party of government. Founded as the political voice of the trade union and labour movement, it sits on the centre-left of British politics. Andy Burnham now leads the party as Prime Minister, with deputy leader Lucy Powell and a Cabinet drawn from across the parliamentary party.

Keir Starmer announced his resignation as Labour leader and Prime Minister on 22 June 2026, triggering a leadership contest. Pressure had built for months as poor election results, economic difficulties and internal division eroded confidence in his leadership. Andy Burnham, freshly returned to Parliament after winning the Makerfield by-election, emerged as the overwhelming favourite, securing enough nominations from MPs to be confirmed unopposed as leader. He was formally appointed Prime Minister soon after, becoming the seventh person to hold the office in a decade.

Labour faces serious challenges as it settles under new leadership. The party has been losing ground to a resurgent Reform UK, which has surged in national polls, while also shedding support to the Greens. Heavy losses in the 2026 local elections, a fall in membership from its 2019 peak and recurring questions of factionalism have all added to the strain. Restoring unity and a clear sense of direction is widely seen as the central task facing Burnham's leadership.

At its heart, Labour remains a movement as much as a party, rooted in trade unionism, co-operative societies and a tradition of collective action. Its annual conference, local constituency parties and affiliated unions give hundreds of thousands of members a direct voice in its direction. That broad coalition, spanning trade unionists, social democrats and the party's left, is both a source of strength and a frequent cause of internal debate.

Labour's history stretches back to 1900, when it emerged from the trade union movement, with Keir Hardie as its first parliamentary leader, to give working people a political voice. The post-war government of Clement Attlee built the National Health Service and the modern welfare state, while Tony Blair won three successive general elections under New Labour before Gordon Brown succeeded him. The 2024 victory returned the party to power after 14 years in opposition, placing its current transition within a long and often turbulent story.

Our NewsNow feed on the Labour Party gathers the latest headlines from a wide range of reliable sources, updated around the clock. Whether you are tracking Burnham's government, following policy announcements, or keeping up with the wider movement, this feed is your one-stop source for everything that matters in Labour politics.