Newslinks for Monday 26th January 2026

Labour war as Starmer blocks Burnham bid to be MP

“Labour MPs are in open revolt against Sir Keir Starmer after he oversaw a “stitch-up” that blocked Andy Burnham from returning to Parliament. Loyalists on the ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) voted on Sunday to bar the Mayor of Greater Manchester from standing in an upcoming by-election, preventing him from becoming an MP and potentially challenging the Prime Minister’s leadership. Sir Keir’s allies claimed they did not want Mr Burnham to run for the Gorton and Denton seat because it would lead to a contest for the mayoralty that Reform could win. But the move unleashed a civil war as furious backbenchers demanded another about-turn from the Prime Minister. It was described as “completely outrageous”, “disgusting”, a “huge mistake” and “incredibly disappointing” by Labour MPs, many of whom went public with their anger. A letter circulating among backbenchers claimed that the decision amounted to a “remote stitch-up from a small group of people at the very top in London”. It is understood that Angela Rayner, the former deputy prime minister and a leading figure on the Left of the party, also considers the decision to be a mistake. Mr Burnham said he was disappointed and suggested the ban would harm Labour’s election chances. He also criticised the NEC for telling reporters the outcome before him, adding: “You would think that over 30 years of service would count for something but sadly not.” But while Mr Burnham himself appeared to accept the decision on Sunday night, supportive Labour MPs were plotting to force the Prime Minister to reconsider.” – Daily Telegraph

• Labour MPs revolt after Andy Burnham is blocked from standing as MP – The Times
• Starmer faces Labour civil war after blocking Burnham – as allies fear Streeting bid – The i
• Lame duck Starmer has ‘only hastened his demise’ after he personally helped block Burnham’s return – Daily Mail
• Embattled Starmer ‘led from front’ in blocking Burnham’s takeover plot giving 3 reasons to stop rival’s MP bid – The Sun
• How Keir Starmer dashed Andy Burnham’s hopes of returning as an MP – The Times

Comment:

• Keir Starmer can block Andy Burnham but can’t save his premiership – Patrick Maguire, The Times
• The Labour Party is forcing the nation to live through its messy divorce – Tim Stanley, Daily Telegraph
• By blocking Burnham, Starmer has made the biggest mistake of his premiership and sealed his fate. This is what will happen next… – Dan Hodges, Daily Mail
• Blocking Andy Burnham betrays more weakness – Trevor Phillips, The Times
• Labour can reverse its decision to block Andy Burnham. Here is why it must – Neal Lawson, The Guardian
• All hapless, loathed Starmer has done by blocking Burnham’s by-election bid is to delay his day of execution – Rod Liddle, The Sun
• Starmer has sealed his own fate – Tom Harris, Daily Telegraph
• Starmer sees challengers everywhere – but blocking them makes him look weaker – Anne McElvoy, The i
• Burnham’s botched coup will only quicken Starmer’s exit – and awful though he is, this is why any successor would almost certainly be much worse – Stephen Glover, Daily Mail

Thousands protest as migrants move into army camp in Crowborough

“Almost 2,000 people gathered outside an East Sussex army training centre on Sunday to protest the government’s decision to house up to 540 male asylum seekers inside. Locals marched towards Crowborough military training camp for the 12th-consecutive weekend, waving St. George’s flags and chanting “we want Labour out”, as the first 27 migrants moved into the site overnight. The protest came a day after Sussex police said three protesters had been arrested for “threatening and intimidating” behaviour, including striking a vehicle outside of the barracks and targeting the drivers and passengers. A 36-year-old man and 62-year-old woman from Crowborough and a 54-year-old man from Newhaven were arrested on Saturday at their homes on suspicion of an offence under section 4A of the Public Order Act. They were taken to the custody centre in Eastbourne and later released on bail. But police said no arrests were made during Sunday’s protest, where an estimated 1,800 people took part, adding that the “police presence has been increased … for engaging and reassurance”. The march was in response to Home Office plans that outlined using the army camp in Crowborough as part of a wider strategy to end the use of hotels for asylum seekers’ accommodation.” – The Times

• Crowborough locals issue doomsday migrant camp warning ‘this is coming for ALL of Britain’ – Daily Express
• Thousands chant ‘Keir Starmer’s a traitor’ as they march through Crowborough protesting against migrants at their town’s former army camp – Daily Mail
• ‘Biggest protest yet’ as first migrants move into barracks – ITV News
• Thousands march in Crowborough over asylum plan for former military camp – The Guardian

Comment:

• Where’s the respect in this new asylum plan? – Libby Purves, The Times

700,000 graduates claim jobless benefits

“Hundreds of thousands of graduates are claiming benefits amid a post-pandemic surge in people who say they are too sick to work. Analysis of official data by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) showed there were 707,000 people with a university degree at the end of last year who were out of work and claiming one or more benefits. This is up 46pc compared with pre-lockdown levels in 2019 and has been driven by a doubling in the number of graduates who claim they cannot work because of a health condition. The figures show the number of degree holders who are not working for health reasons climbed from 117,000 in 2019 to 240,000 in 2025 – representing an increase of more than 100pc. It means one in three graduates now cite a health reason for not working. According to the CSJ, increasing numbers of graduates have obtained degrees which fail to match with the skills required from employers, leaving rising numbers on benefits. The think-tank questioned the value of so-called “Mickey Mouse degrees” that it warned were simultaneously saddling students with debt and failing to improve their earnings potential. The CSJ analysis also laid bare a worrying post-pandemic trend of graduates going straight from university onto sickness benefits.” – Daily Telegraph

• One in three UK graduates say poor health stops them working – The Times
• Bridget Phillipson ‘failing to protect free speech’ – The Times

Comment:

• Reckless public spending is destroying our children’s futures – Sir John Townsley, Daily Telegraph

News in brief:

• Starmer has written Labour’s suicide note – Jonny Ball, UnHerd
• The two winners from the Burnham block – James Heale, The Spectator
• Britain needs to go back to basics on foreign policy – Sebastian Milbank, The Critic
• If not Burnham, who could defeat Starmer? – Ben Walker, The New Statesman