The Labour Cabinet has been split after a key minister rallied behind "friend" Andy Burnham following his failed bid to enter Westminster.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester was controversially blocked by Keir Starmer from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election in February, following Labour MP Andrew Gwynne's resignation.
Just one of the Labour National Executive Committee's ten members — including the Prime Minister himself — voted in favour of the popular Mr Burnham standing in the seat: Deputy PM Lucy Powell.
Labour ultimately lost the pivotal by-election, a seat they had won with more than 50 per cent of the vote in 2024, to Hannah Spencer of the Green Party.
Now, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy has become the latest Labour frontbencher to show public support for Mr Burnham.
Speaking to the House Magazine, Ms Nandy said: "[Andy Burnham] is a friend of mine. He’s my mayor, and he was my neighbouring MP for seven years.
"I think he’s a huge asset to the party. And I’ve said before, I’ll say again, I’ll support him in whatever he wants to do.
"I think it is right that members are allowed to make their own choices about who they want to be their candidates in elections – I’ve always thought that right.
"And while I respect the views of colleagues on the National Executive Committee, had I been sitting in that seat… I would have voted to allow him to stand, as Lucy [Powell] did."
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Ed Davey launches Lib Dems local election campaign
Ed Davey has launched the Lib Dems' local election campaign in Surrey this morning.
The party leader said: "If you want something in your community fixed, it's the Liberal Democrats who will do it.
"We don't sneer at local people and what they care about. We care about what they care about."
He added: "There are some politicians who just want to divide us, to divide our communities, who are too busy pointing the finger of blame at others rather than rolling up their sleeves and getting things done.
"They want to import Trump-style divisive politics into our country. We don't. We don't want that division."
He said his party is "different" and vows to "fix things for communities".
Fuel prices rise again in the UK, government data shows
Fuel prices have risen in the UK again, according to government data released this morning.
Average price per litre of petrol rose by 3.9p from last week, while diesel rose by 8.1p, figures from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero show.
Oil prices have surged since the US-Israeli joint offensive in Iran, which effectively resulted in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. It is responsible for an estimated 20 per cent of the world's energy shipments. Donald Trump suggested on Monday he would run the Strait with the new Ayatollah in a fresh attempt to open the route.
Net Zero Minister Ed Miliband is set to face the Tories this morning in response to these figures, while Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to make a statement to the Commons this afternoon detailing how the Government will protect the public from economic issues caused by the ongoing war in Iran.
WATCH IN FULL: Labour MP grilled by Stephen Dixon over North Sea oil policy
Keir Starmer's Iran strategy branded an 'embarrassment' to the nation: 'We're not Great Britain, just Britain!'
Sir Keir Starmer's Government has been "completely compromised" and Britain is a "sitting duck" to the rest of the world, Adam Brooks has claimed.
Speaking to GB News, the commentator declared he is "embarrassed to be British" following the Prime Minister's actions in the Middle East.
Taking aim at the Government for their Chagos deal following reports of missile strikes aimed at the Diego Garcia base, Mr Brooks argued "no one of sound mind" would give away the territory.
He told GB News: "It's my opinion that our Government is completely compromised. No one of sound mind would give away foreign territory and then ask the public to pay for that territory."
WATCH IN FULL: Claire Coutinho urges Government to drill in North Sea saying people have been 'taxed to the hills'
Plaid Cymru responds to independence claims: 'We will never apologise for believing in Wales'
Plaid Cymru has said they will "never apologise for believing in Wales," and accused both Labour and Reform UK of "shameless fearmongering".
Both Labour and Reform have accused the Welsh party of "secretly planning" independence from the UK. They claim Plaid are keeping plans quiet ahead of the May elections. Reform's leader in Wales, Dan Thomas, accused Plaid of seeking an "independence by stealth".
But the Welsh party have fiercely responded, telling GB News: "People know that when they choose Plaid on May 7, they are choosing a government that finally stands up for Wales.
"They are choosing a party that will bring down NHS waiting lists and support families with the cost of living by delivering universal free childcare. They are choosing a party that will back Welsh businesses and grow our economy. They are choosing a party that will give Welsh students the opportunities they deserve while also making sure our universities are fit to thrive in he future.
"Plaid Cymru will never apologise for believing in Wales and having ambition for our nation.
"Labour has had its chance. Their legacy is nothing but record high NHS waiting lists, struggling public services, falling standards in our schools, and an unfair system that denies Wales more powers and fair funding. Even in No10, Labour is working against Wales' interests with the Prime Minister actively encouraging his cabinet to undermine Welsh democracy.
"Meanwhile, Reform UK is using Wales as Nigel Farage's stepping stone to 10 Downing Street. They show no respect for our language, culture, or the priorities of Welsh communities.
"Neither party is offering leadership that actually works for Wales and their shameless fearmongering just won't work. The people of Wales are ready for change and they are ready for new leadership with Plaid Cymru."
Plaid are also said to be considering encouraging more Welsh students to attend Welsh universities by scrapping the £1,000 grant to those who choose to study elsewhere.
The spokesperson added: "Plaid Cymru is calling for a full review of how universities are funded, because after 27 years of Labour, Welsh universities are struggling to survive. Universities themselves have said this is needed, but Labour have done nothing to help them. Plaid Cymru wants a comprehensive and independent review of higher education funding to make sure our universities thrive and give Welsh students the opportunities they deserve."
Latest voting intention poll revealed
The latest YouGov voting intention poll has been revealed this morning.
Reform UK remain at the top, with 23 per cent of the prospective vote. This represents a two per cent drop, and decreases their lead to four points.
Labour have returned to second, with an increase of two points. They now sit at 19 per cent.
For the Greens, they slump down one point to 18 per cent, and slip down to third.
Conservatives then sit on 17 per cent, identical to last week, while Lib Dems sit on 13 per cent.
While changes are all within the margin of error, this does put the Greens back into third place. The public impact of Gorton and Denton by-election victory is expected to be gradually receding.
WATCH: Lib Dems says drilling in the North Sea 'would not impact prices in the short term'
Labour to hand hundreds of millions to Britain’s least 'cohesive’ areas amid claims of trying to 'avoid local election wipeout'
Labour is set to pour hundreds of millions into Britain's least "cohesive" areas, in a move critics say is designed to boost its chances in May’s local elections.
Over the next decade, 40 additional neighbourhoods will receive £20million each, on top of 146 areas already selected under the Pride in Place programme.
The scheme was originally based on deprivation levels to target the most disadvantaged communities.
But the latest round introduced a new metric based on perceptions of community spirit.
What's on the agenda for today?
Good morning from the GB News political team.
It's quite a busy day or the Lib Dems, Labour and Reform UK, so here's a brief breakdown of what we can expect to see and when:
- The Lib Dems launch their campaign this morning at an event in Surrey at around 10am, where leader Ed Davey is expected to accuse Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage of having "cheered on" the Iran war, and the spiralling of costs as a result. GB News was also joined by Lisa Smart, Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office Spokesperson, this morning.
- Kemi Badenoch will be visiting the Jewish community in Stamford Hill around the same time, where she will visit a branch of the volunteer ambulance corp.
- The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will issue the latest weekly petrol prices at 9.30am, with Net Zero Minister Ed Miliband posing the Tories questions in the Commons at 11.30am.
- Chancellor Rachel Reeves will give a statement to MPs after 12.30pm. It is expected to be an update on last night's Cobra meeting.
- And Reform leader Mr Farage will be campaigning throughout day in Yorkshire, with visits to Leeds and Hull on the cards.
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