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Harriet Symonds

Harriet Symonds

@harriet_symonds

Business Leaders Left Disappointed By Reform UK Conference After “Disaster” Dinner And Donations Row
Political parties
Business Leaders Left Disappointed By Reform UK Conference After “Disaster” Dinner And Donations Row
Business leaders and stakeholders have told PoliticsHome that they have been left frustrated by Reform UK's annual party conference in Birmingham.
PM 'Increasingly Confident' PC Harper’s Killers Will Not Be Released Early
Home affairs
PM "Increasingly Confident" PC Harper’s Killers Will Not Be Released Early
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he is "increasingly confident" that plans to free up prison spaces will not mean the early release of PC Andrew Harper's killers.
Farage Says He Is “Open-Minded” About Deal With Restore Britain
Political parties
Farage Says He Is “Open-Minded” About Deal With Restore Britain
Nigel Farage has said he is open-minded about working together with Restore Britain and has reached out privately to Rupert Lowe to discuss a possible agreement to unite the political right.
MPs And Peers Urge Burnham To Launch National Commission On Lords Reform
Parliament
MPs And Peers Urge Burnham To Launch National Commission On Lords Reform
A cross-party group of MPs and peers has urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to expedite plans to abolish the House of Lords.
Bruised Starmer Loyalists Threaten Budget Payback
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Bruised Starmer Loyalists Threaten Budget Payback
Labour MPs unhappy with the treatment of Keir Starmer loyalists have warned that they could make life difficult for Andy Burnham at the Budget.
Burnham's Cabinet: Healey Chancellor, Miliband To Foreign, Rayner Returns, Streeting To Defence
Economy
Burnham's Cabinet: Healey Chancellor, Miliband To Foreign, Rayner Returns, Streeting To Defence
Andy Burnham has appointed John Healey as his Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Burnham Sacks Starmer Loyalists From Cabinet
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Burnham Sacks Starmer Loyalists From Cabinet
New Prime Minister Andy Burnham has sacked Rachel Reeves as chancellor ahead of appointing his first Cabinet.
Burnham Says It Is Labour's Last Chance As He Is Crowned Leader
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Burnham Says It Is Labour's Last Chance As He Is Crowned Leader
Andy Burnham has said this is the Labour Party’s “last chance to change” in his first speech as the party's new leader.
Bring Back The Minister For London, Labour MPs In Capital Urge Burnham
Political parties
Bring Back The Minister For London, Labour MPs In Capital Urge Burnham
Labour MPs in the capital have called on incoming prime minister Andy Burnham to restore the role of minister for London.
Labour And Tories Refuse To Stand Candidates In Clacton By-Election
Political parties
Labour And Tories Refuse To Stand Candidates In Clacton By-Election
Labour and the Conservatives say they will not stand candidates against Nigel Farage in the Clacton by-election.
Has Nigel Farage Won Over The Voters Of Clacton?
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Has Nigel Farage Won Over The Voters Of Clacton?
Nigel Farage has resigned as an MP, triggering a by-election in Clacton in which he says he will stand. How do the locals feel about him after his first stint? Harriet Symonds reports
How Reform Lost Makerfield: 'Restore Is What People Wanted Reform To Be'
Political parties
How Reform Lost Makerfield: "Restore Is What People Wanted Reform To Be"
Reform entered Makerfield expecting a breakthrough. Instead, a crushing defeat exposed the party’s vulnerabilities. Harriet Symonds reports
'Beginning To Look A Little Bit Silly': Al Carns' Leadership Bid Is Fading
Political parties
"Beginning To Look A Little Bit Silly": Al Carns' Leadership Bid Is Fading
Labour MPs dismiss Al Carns leadership bid, leaving Andy Burnham on course for coronation as party leader.
Starmer Loyalists Plot Late Move To Block Burnham Coronation
Political parties
Starmer Loyalists Plot Late Move To Block Burnham Coronation
Labour MPs who remain loyal to Keir Starmer have told PoliticsHome they will force a leadership contest to stop an Andy Burnham coronation if the PM doesn't stand.
Burnham Vows To 'End Trickle Down Economics' In By-Election Victory Speech
Political parties
Burnham Vows To "End Trickle Down Economics" In By-Election Victory Speech
Andy Burnham has told Labour it is the party's "last chance to change" in a speech following his landslide victory at the Makerfield by-election.
The Sánchez Doctrine: How The Greens Are Remaking Their Foreign Policy Offer
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
The Sánchez Doctrine: How The Greens Are Remaking Their Foreign Policy Offer
The left insurgent party has swelled with those backing its stance on Gaza, but how will the Greens formulate a new foreign and defence policy that will satisfy members and attract swing voters? Harriet Symonds investigates
Starmer Loyalist Labour MPs Resist Campaigning For Burnham In Makerfield
Political parties
Starmer Loyalist Labour MPs Resist Campaigning For Burnham In Makerfield
Exclusive: A number of Labour MPs who oppose replacing Keir Starmer are refusing to campaign for Andy Burnham in the Makerfield by-election.
Battle For Britain – How Reform Plans To Take On Andy Burnham
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Battle For Britain – How Reform Plans To Take On Andy Burnham
The outcome of the Makerfield by-election will determine the direction of Britain. Harriet Symonds explores how Nigel Farage’s Reform are taking the fight to the King of the North
Ed Miliband Allies Say He Has Numbers for Leadership Challenge
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Ed Miliband Allies Say He Has Numbers for Leadership Challenge
Ed Miliband has the numbers to stand in a leadership contest if Andy Burnham is unable, his allies say.
Wes Streeting Ally Resigns As Health Minister
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Wes Streeting Ally Resigns As Health Minister
Zubir Ahmed, a junior minister in the Department of Health and Social Care, has resigned from government saying he has "irrevocably" lost confidence in the Prime Minister.
Starmer Enters The Danger Zone
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Starmer Enters The Danger Zone
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been put on notice by Labour MPs after a dismal set of local election results.
East London Labour Deploys Rayner In Bid To Avoid Seismic Locals Defeat To Reform
Political parties
East London Labour Deploys Rayner In Bid To Avoid Seismic Locals Defeat To Reform
Angela Rayner has accused Reform UK of being anti-working class in a bid to help Labour keep hold of a London council that it has controlled since its inception over six decades ago.
Ed Miliband Says He Will “Double Down, Not Back Down” On Clean Energy
Environment
By Harriet Symonds
Ed Miliband Says He Will “Double Down, Not Back Down” On Clean Energy
Ed Miliband has said he will “double down, not back down” on the government’s clean energy mission in the face of critics calling on him to change course.
Political Donations From Overseas To Be Capped At £100,000
Foreign affairs
Political Donations From Overseas To Be Capped At £100,000
Political donations from British citizens living overseas will be capped at £100,000 as part of a major reform to the role of money in politics.
Lib Dems Fear Frustrated MPs Could Defect To The Greens
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Lib Dems Fear Frustrated MPs Could Defect To The Greens
There is concern within the Liberal Democrats that some of their MPs could defect to the Greens amid restlessness over the direction of the party.
Shabana Mahmood Warns Labour MPs They Cannot “Retreat To Comfort Of Fairytales” On Immigration
Home affairs
Shabana Mahmood Warns Labour MPs They Cannot “Retreat To Comfort Of Fairytales” On Immigration
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said reforms to the immigration system are about "compassion and control" as she faces down Labour MPs concerned by the changes.
Labour Deputy Leader Opposed By-Election Attack On Green Drug Policy
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Labour Deputy Leader Opposed By-Election Attack On Green Drug Policy
Lucy Powell was among the Labour figures privately concerned about attacking the Greens' drug policy during the Gorton and Denton by-election campaign, PoliticsHome understands.
John Healey Warns UK Bases At Risk Of ‘Indiscriminate’ Strikes After Ayatollah Death
Foreign affairs
John Healey Warns UK Bases At Risk Of ‘Indiscriminate’ Strikes After Ayatollah Death
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed in a coordinated United States and Israeli military offensive.
Government Abandons Plan To Delay 30 Council Elections
Home affairs
Government Abandons Plan To Delay 30 Council Elections
Keir Starmer has scrapped plans to postpone dozens of local elections.
Tim Allan Quits As Keir Starmer's Director Of Communications
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Tim Allan Quits As Keir Starmer's Director Of Communications
Tim Allan has resigned as Keir Starmer's director of communications, further deepening the crisis facing the Prime Minister's premiership.
Peter Mandelson To Retire From House of Lords
Parliament
By Harriet Symonds
Peter Mandelson To Retire From House of Lords
Lord Mandelson is to step down from the House of Lords after it was revealed he leaked sensitive government documents to the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Inside The Battle Over Banning Under-16s From Social Media
Technology
Inside The Battle Over Banning Under-16s From Social Media
Under pressure, Starmer has opened the door to an Australia-style ban on under-16s using social media. But the Prime Minister’s own thinking on the issue is changing as he fights with Kemi Badenoch to champion online safety. The House reports on an issue inflaming passions like few others
Labour MPs Divided As Andy Burnham Eyes Westminster Return
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Labour MPs Divided As Andy Burnham Eyes Westminster Return
Andrew Gwynne’s resignation may have cleared a path for Andy Burnham’s return to Westminster, prompting a stark divide among Labour MPs and a fresh headache for Keir Starmer.
Ministers Tell Labour MPs Jury Reforms Could Come With Review Clause
Home affairs
Ministers Tell Labour MPs Jury Reforms Could Come With Review Clause
The government has told Labour MPs that the decision to scale back jury trials could be reviewed if the court backlog is reduced to a certain level, PoliticsHome understands.
Lord Hermer Urges Labour MPs To 'Not Throw Away' Government Achievements
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Lord Hermer Urges Labour MPs To "Not Throw Away" Government Achievements
Attorney General Lord Hermer has urged Labour MPs to focus on the government's achievements amid speculation about the party leadership.
Will Major Welfare Reform Happen In 2026?
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Will Major Welfare Reform Happen In 2026?
The Labour backbench rebellion that forced Keir Starmer to abandon welfare reform was one of the most bruising moments for the Prime Minister in 2025. He is determined to try again next year. Will he succeed?