Andy Burnham is preparing a significant offer on wider migration from the EU to get a future Brexit deal over the line, insiders believe, in a move likely to stoke further tensions on the heart of government.
Any move that would increase migration is likely to see resistance from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who has already been forced into a partial climb-down over hardline reforms.
Meanwhile Burnham is said to have been “irritated” by Chancellor John Healey, who publicly contradicted him over whether the UK should fully rejoin the EU.
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The left-wing firebrands about to make trouble for Trump (and the Democrats)
At a bar in New York City’s Harlem neighbourhood on Tuesday night, Democrats celebrated what some called not just a victory, but a revolution.
A growing force
The DSA was founded more than four decades ago and opposes both the Republican Party and moderate Democrats.
On Tuesday, several members celebrated victory, including the LA mayor elect and another eight elected into Congress.
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Why is the DSA becoming popular?
The election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York City in 2025 brought more attention to the DSA. Now, it claims to have more than 120,000 members.
Many of the candidates share views on the war in Gaza, healthcare and immigration.
The Democratic Party must undergo fundamental and immediate reform. With a return to power, it can no longer continue to ignore the major economic and political crises facing the majority of our people or that return to power will be shortlived.
Bernie sanders, us senator for vermont
DSA politicians to look out for
- : Elected into New York’s 13th congressional district. She is also the first Afro-Latina woman to represent the region.
- : Elected into Colorado’s 1st congressional district.
- : Elected into New York’s 10th congressional district.
- : Elected into New York’s 7th congressional district.
- : Elected into Pennsylvania’s 3rd congressional district.
Will Trump be impeached?
Many on the Democratic Party’s left want to aggressively go after Trump and it will be a hot topic when the Democratic caucus convenes next week.
From January, the Democrats will have a majority in the House to impeach, but not the two-thirds strength in the Senate needed for conviction and removal from office. However, Republicans may waver if the process gains momentum.
Italian chef sacked after refusing to put pineapple on pizza
Davide Tamburella was fired from the now-closed restaurant La Costa in Queensland, Australia, in May as he believed pineapple topping was an “insult to his culture”.
This occurred a fortnight after a meeting with his management, who voiced a string of complaints about the chef’s behaviour, reports claim.
What you need to know
La Costa stood as an Italian hub in the heart of Brisbane before it closed.
On Tuesday, a Fair Work Commission ruling heard that Tamburella was sacked on 20 May after he was called upon to “address performance concerns”.
One of the chief concerns was his refusal to put pineapple on pizza.
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The Italian was more than three years into a 186 visa process – an employer sponsored pathway to permanent residency in Australia.
However, his application had not been approved before he was sacked, and he now must start the process again.
Elliot Ingram, his boss, admitted that while pineapple on pizza was neither his own preference, 17 years in hospitality has taught him to “pick your battles”.
A frustrated boss
Do I go and buy a ham and pineapple pizza? It’s not my favourite but I’m not going to turn my nose up at it – that’s for sure.
The commission heard that Tamburella acknowledged this was the third time he refused Ingram’s direction. He had requested his boss to “check how important it is for Italians not to put pineapple on pizza”.
La Costa closed in July when its lease expired, with Ingram citing the high costs of running a business as a contributor.
How worried should you be about Ebola in the UK?
A British man is being flown back to the UK for treatment after testing positive for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The patient, who is thought to be a healthcare worker, is expected to be brought back later on Thursday.
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First confirmed case of a UK national
There have only ever been four confirmed cases of the virus in the UK.
The first was in 1976, resulting from a laboratory incident. The latter three involved health workers responding to an outbreak in West Africa between 2014 and 2015.
The current outbreak centred in the DRC is fueled by the Bundibugyo variant of the virus.
A closer look at the detail
25-90%
Ebola has a high fatality rate, with past outbreaks causing death in 25-90 per cent of infected people.
People with the disease tend to fall ill two to 21 days after contact with an orthoebolavirus.
- Early symptoms include fever, aches, pains, and fatigue, but they can then progress to diarrhoea, vomiting and unexplained bleeding.
What this means for the UK
The UK has well-established procedures for dealing with cases like this, and those processes have been activated. Further information will be shared in due course. The risk to the UK public from Ebola remains low
Government official
Channel 4 axes Married At First Sight UK after review following misconduct claims
Channel 4 has cancelled Married At First Sight UK following an external review triggered by “serious allegations of wrongdoing”.
What led to this?
Earlier this year, two women who participated in the show made allegations of rape and a third of sexual misconduct by their on-screen husbands, speaking in a BBC documentary which aired in May.
- In June, a cast member was arrested on suspicion of rape. All three men deny the claims.
- Channel 4 has now confirmed the series will not be returning.
What will happen to season six?
Channel 4 chief executive Priya Dogra confirmed season six of the show, filmed this year, will not be broadcast.
Second Married at First Sight, a spin-off set to bring contestants from the UK and Australian versions of the show for a second chance at love, was in pre-production with CPL before being paused during the review. It will not resume.
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What the production company said:
“CPL has always put contributor welfare at the heart of its programme making and will continue to do so,” CPL said.
“CPL have worked closely with Channel 4 for many years and throughout the review process, and we look forward to working with them again in the future.”
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Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international football
Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football.
Here is everything we know so far about his decision.
What did he say?
The day has come back for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team…It was not an easy decision. Because some decisions are not made with the mind alone. They are also made with the heart. A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end.
Cristiano Ronaldo
The background
- The 41-year-old has made 234 appearances for Portugal and scored 146 goals.
- He holds the all-time record for international appearances and for international goals.
“When I look back at everything with the national team, I don’t just see the matches, goals, records or trophies,” he added. “ I see the Portuguese people living abroad who, for 90 minutes, felt a little closer to home.”
Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong jailed for 10 years
Joshua Wong, 30, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to “foreign collusion” under the region’s national security law.
Wong is among hundreds of campaigners arrested under the law, which was enforced in 2020 following pro-democracy protests against Beijing’s control in Hong Kong.
Who is Joshua Wong?
Wong rose to fame as the face of Hong Kong’s 2014 pro-democracy demonstrations and “Umbrella Movement”.
He rallied more than 100,000 people to protest against Hong Kong’s plans to implement mandatory “patriotic education”.
In 2020, Wong stayed in Hong Kong and tried to run for a seat in its legislature – but was barred due to his opposition to the national security law.
The charges he faces
The activist has already spent the last six years in jail for subversion and was due to be freed in January – but will now spend another decade in prison.
Now, prosecutors have claimed he conspired with other campaigners to lobby for foreign sanctions and blockades against Beijing between July and November 2020.
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Wong not only severely undermined national sovereignty, security, and development interests, but also directly prejudiced the wellbeing of the general public and the stability of society.
john lee, Hong Kong’s chief executive
Opponents hit back
Cruel and unjust.
Critics argue that the national security law has completely silenced political opposition and debate.
Elaine Pearson, director of Human Rights Watch in Asia, believes this ruling serves “to keep Hong Kong society subdued”.
“The government appears to have adopted the tactic of stacking charges against influential pro-democracy leaders,” she said.
The 2.4 million households that could have energy debt wiped
Plans published alongside Chancellor John Healey’s Budget last week reveal a new strategy to help homes that have fallen behind on their gas and electricity bills.
The Government and energy regulator Ofgem’s new plan vows a one-off Debt Relief Scheme.
Ofgem estimates around 2.4 million customers have debt that could be considered for the scheme and help Britons “get back on top of their finances and make a fresh start”.
However, the exact figures on how many people will receive help and the amount of debt written off will be finalised next year.
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What has led to this new scheme?
- In 2022, energy costs soared after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pushed up wholesale gas prices.
- At the peak of the conflict, a typical household’s annual bill was capped at £2,500 – double the previous year.
- Great Britain’s household energy debt stood at £5bn in the middle of 2026 – three times that of 2021.
- Now, more than 2 million households are in debt with their suppliers.
- While Ofgem first proposed a debt-tackling scheme in November 2025, the plan never went ahead until its current revival.
- The strategy has expanded and is now aimed at the debt built up during the peak of the crisis.
- Government analysis suggests the expanded scheme could save households £130 over the next decade.
What makes people qualify?
Britons in “genuine financial need” will be prioritised under latest plans. This covers those on universal credit or pensioners.
People with little realistic prospect of paying back the sums of debt on their own will be helped.
It is also dependent on how willing households are to negotiate with suppliers on repayment plans and future bills.
Who pays for the scheme?
While the Government has not exactly outlined who will exactly fund the strategy yet, Ofgem is expected to announce this later in the year.
The i Paper understands it will add a small upfront cost to bills, but the Government expects to pay for it itself within two years.
Government analysis suggests the new scheme should prevent more than £5bn of new energy debt building up by 2036. The Budget promised that no new government costs would be added to energy bills until a new framework is in place.
What happens next?
- Ofgem will publish a fresh consultation on the scheme shortly.
- In early 2027, it will make a final decision on the scheme.
- In spring 2027, it is scheduled to go live, depending on the consultation.
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Typhoons batters East Asia as El Niño grows
In recent months across the Philippines, Taiwan, China and Japan, intense and volatile storms, worsened by the climate phenomenon El Niño, have destroyed major airports, ruined infrastructure and killed dozens.
What is El Niño?
El Niño is a naturally occurring complex weather phenomenon that transpires over the Pacific Ocean roughly every two to seven years.
It can increase global temperatures, as it weakens trade winds and allows warmer water to spread across central and eastern parts of the tropical Pacific.
- : Typhoon Mekkhala and Storm Higos forced 1 million people to evacuate Japan.
- : Storm Narra submerged villages along China’s southern coast and displaced tens of thousands.
- : Super Typhoon Dolphin triggered heavy floods and dozens of casualties in China over 16 days.
- : Typhoon Saudel made landfall in three Chinese cities in just one week, shutting transport and forcing evacuations.
The impact in pictures
East Asia vs El Niño
- Typhoon Champi cut off 15,000 Japanese homes from power at a speed of 295kph.
- Hundreds of flights were forced to cancel in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan.
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How are countries preparing?
Stockpile food, essentials and secure outside furniture that could become deadly when typhoons hit.
Local officials will identify vulnerable areas and upgrade warning and monitoring systems.
In lieu of food production disruption, farmers receive increased support.
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Burnham is understood to have been persuaded that freedom of movement may be the most significant bargaining chip to secure meaningful concessions from Brussels, and that it is better to have the difficult conversation now rather than avoid it.
The Prime Minister has made no secret of his hope that Britain might rejoin the bloc in his lifetime, and has reiterated this since becoming Prime Minister.
There is no suggestion he has settled on a policy position or an offer. But Michael Barnier – who led withdrawal negotiations for the EU after the Brexit vote – said on Thursday that while the door was open for the UK to rejoin the European Union, freedom of movement “is not negotiable”.
In the interview with Sky News he caveated that this was a personal view. However, freedom of movement is a key plank of membership of the single market and it is unlikely the UK could go as far as Burnham indicates he would like to without a concession.
Freedom of movement could prove difficult for the Home Secretary
That calculation, however, brings freedom of movement into direct conflict with Labour’s domestic immigration agenda. It could prove difficult for the Home Secretary given her tough stance on immigration.
Mahmood has already faced a backlash over her plans to extend the wait for indefinite leave to remain, the right to settle permanently in the UK. She softened the proposals after opposition from Labour MPs and unions, retaining a five-year route for some care workers while extending the wait to 10 years for many lower-paid migrants.
However, those familiar with the discussions claim Mahmood is less of a stumbling block than some fear. One source suggested Burnham had himself set the “mood music” for a climbdown, while Mahmood had quickly read the room and recognised the strength of opposition within Cabinet, including from Angela Rayner.
Despite the public divisions, the position eventually reached was more consensual than the earlier exchanges might have suggested.
On freedom of movement, a senior Whitehall source said the challenge for any Home Secretary would be the strength of public opposition, particularly given the government’s commitment to reducing net migration.
Another senior Whitehall source said any move towards freedom of movement would inevitably increase migration unless the government reduced it through another route.
It would also force ministers into difficult domestic arguments about prioritising migration from Europe over migration from elsewhere.
Healey comments ‘irritated’ No 10
Burnham’s next big test will be the UK–EU summit later this month, when attention will turn to whether he can translate his warmer rhetoric towards Brussels into concrete progress on food trade, youth mobility and defence.
The contentious issue of university tuition fees remains unresolved, while any concessions to the EU will need to be balanced against domestic political and financial pressures.
After the summit, Burnham is expected to want to open a wider conversation about Britain’s future relationship with Europe, including the question of freedom of movement.
Without a more substantial offer from the UK, any broader reset could take many years to achieve.
Last week Burnham said he would like to see the UK rejoin the EU in his lifetime, but insisted he would “not move ahead of the public” on the issue.
But in a later interview with Channel 4 News, Healey was asked whether he expected Britain to return to the bloc in his lifetime. “I’m older than Andy Burnham. I don’t expect to see that,” he replied, adding that his priority was to make the most of Britain’s position outside the EU.
Healey is 66, 10 years older than the Prime Minister.
Senior Whitehall sources suggested Healey’s comments had irritated No 10, amid concerns that public differences between ministers risk presenting a divided Government ahead of the UK–EU summit in Brussels on 20 November.
“It is seen as unhelpful for the Cabinet to be seen as divided ahead of what are expected to be quite complex discussions,” said one source. Another added: “He needs reining in.”
“Few Labour MPs who want a long-term future in the Labour Party are likely to want to commit hari-kari over [closer ties with the EU] and I would put Shabana Mahmood and Healey into this category,” a senior Whitehall source said.
One source suggested that if the political momentum continued in the Prime Minister’s favour, ministers would ultimately row in behind him.
Public support growing for EU ties
Private polling, reportedly showing growing support for closer EU ties even in traditionally Leave-voting constituencies, is expected to strengthen Burnham’s hand.
Senior Labour figures who served in Sir Keir Starmer’s government have begun to come out in favour of Britain rejoining the EU.
One senior Labour insider suggested it was only a matter of time before Starmer himself made a significant intervention on the issue.
Starmer was Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary when Britain left the EU and argued in favour of a second referendum, believing voters should have the final say on the terms of the UK’s departure.
After the 2019 election, however, he accepted that Labour needed to respect the referendum result and move on from the question of whether to leave the EU.
Rachel Reeves is the latest senior figure from Starner’s government to throw her weight behind Burnham’s reopening of the Brexit debate, declaring that she believes Britain’s future lies in the EU.
In an article for last weekend, the former Chancellor said Brexit had made the UK “poorer, weaker and less secure”, adding that she welcomed the Prime Minister’s leadership in confronting the question of Britain’s long-term relationship with Europe.
However, Reeves stopped short of calling for an immediate return to membership, arguing that supporters of rejoining must make a convincing case, demonstrate tangible benefits and get the next steps right.
She also identified two priorities for the UK–EU summit on 20 November: progress towards a proposed youth mobility scheme and closer cooperation through the EU’s SAFE defence partnership, which could open up opportunities for British defence companies.
Also in the background is the towering figure of Gordon Brown, officially the Prime Minister’s Special Reviewer on Global Finance and Co-operation, who helped lead the Remain campaign in the Brexit referendum.
The view from France
Much of the debate about Britain’s future relationship with Europe is likely to be shaped by the political climate in France, where Marine Le Pen is seeking to capitalise on strong polling ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
A National Rally victory would raise questions about the future direction of the EU and add another complication to any renewed push for closer UK–EU ties.
A source familiar with British foreign policy thinking suggested Le Pen would seek to present herself as a more conventional international leader while pursuing her aim of reducing France’s contribution to the EU budget.
A rough estimate suggests the UK’s return to the bloc could reduce France’s relative share of the bill by around 25 per cent, although much would depend on the terms of any re-entry deal. It could also leave Britain facing the prospect of negotiating alongside a French president from the National Rally.
Another source suggested Le Pen might be open to a similar arrangement with Burnham to the migration pact agreed between Jordan Bardella and Nigel Farage. The pact reportedly envisages cooperation on returning migrants who cross the Channel in small boats. Whether Le Pen would be prepared to offer similar terms to a Labour government remains unclear.
Ultimately, Burnham’s European ambitions will depend not just on how far he is prepared to go, but on whether he can bring his own party, his Cabinet and a sceptical public with him.
No 10 has been contacted for comment.