The release of the much-awaited second tranche of documents on Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador is being delayed until at least next month, MPs have been told. The government has been under pressure to release all the documents. Chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs select committee Dame Emily Thornberry said obstacles were being put in the way of investigations into the appointment. Meanwhile, Andy Burnham has been confirmed as Labour’s candidate in the forthcoming by-election in Makerfield, Greater Manchester – the next step in his plan to replace Sir Keir Starmer as party leader.New polling has shown the Greater Manchester mayor – who needs to become an MP before he can challenge the prime minister – is the preferred candidate for the top job among Labour members and would win a leadership contest. YouGov found that 59 per cent said they would back Mr Burnham while only 37 per cent would support Sir Keir Starmer. The Independent has revealed that allies of Sir Keir have warned that Mr Burnham could bring back former leader Jeremy Corbyn, who was expelled in 2024 in a row over antisemitism. Minister rejects reports supermarkets urged to cap prices of essential groceriesA minister has rejected reports that the government has urged supermarkets to voluntarily cap the prices of essential groceries.Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson told Sky News “this isn’t something we’re looking at” when asked if there had been conversations with supermarkets about bringing in price caps.He said: “You have to talk to the supermarkets about that.“The government is not looking at doing this.“Instead, what we’re doing is looking across the economy at what are the different ways that we can help households.”Nicole Wootton-Cane20 May 2026 07:52Reeves insists UK has 'right economic plan' as CPI fallsIn response to fresh inflation data which shows the rate of Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation fell to 2.8 per cent, Rachel Reeves said the UK has the “right economic plan”.The chancellor said: “The war in Iran is not our war but one we will need to respond to, and the decisions I took in the Budget last year have kept inflation down as we deal with global instability.“We have the right economic plan, and to change course now would risk our economic stability and leave working people worse off.“We have already taken £117 off energy bills, frozen rail fares, and lifted the two-child limit, and over today and tomorrow I’ll set out the next phase of how we will support UK households.”Rachel Reeves insisted the UK is making the right economic choices (AFP/Getty)Nicole Wootton-Cane20 May 2026 07:45Starmer 'unlikely' to step down before Christmas, reports saySir Keir Starmer could stay at No 10 until early next year, his allies have said, as the prime minister refuses to set out a timetable for his resignation.Andy Burnham could still face significant challenges getting the keys to Downing Street even if he wins the by-election in Ashton-in-Makerfield, sources told The Times.They suggested Mr Burnham could not take over as prime minister until at least November following the mayoral by-election that will take place if he is elected as an MP.Some also said his campaign to become leader could face further challenges if Labour lose that by-election, undermining his credibility.In that scenario, sources close to Sir Keir predicted a full contest for the succession that could run into early 2027 while Starmer remains in Downing Street.Nicole Wootton-Cane20 May 2026 07:30CPI falls to 2.8 per cent The rate of Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation fell to 2.8 per cent in April from 3.3 per cent in March, the Office for National Statistics said.Experts say the drop came from a fall in household energy bills which offset a jump in fuel prices – but warned of turbulence ahead as the Iran energy price shock “catches up” with the cost of living.Nicole Wootton-Cane20 May 2026 07:19Jane Dalton20 May 2026 07:00Jane Dalton20 May 2026 05:59Government 'creating obstacles' over Mandelson investigationIn case you missed it:Chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Dame Emily Thornberry said obstacles were being put in the way of her committee and the International and Security Committee (ISC), who are trying to “get to the truth” of Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment.Dame Emily said she was disappointed at the answer that the Government have given to the ISC.She added: “It is very important that the public know and understand that we are learning from the mistakes that were clearly made, and we cannot know that those lessons have been learned unless they are checked.“And the committees in this House, my committee and the ISC, are trying our best to get to truth of this, and we are having obstacles put in our way.”Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones said the documents had been referred to the Intelligence and Security Committee.“What has not been referred was the raw data collected as part of interviews undertaken with Peter Mandelson, which in any circumstance we wouldn’t share in any in relation to any appointment.”Jane Dalton20 May 2026 04:35Candidates announced so for for key by-electionSeveral parties have announced their candidates for the the Makerfield by-election in what is expected to be a two-horse race between Labour and Reform UK.So far, these are the candidates announced:Andy Burnham, Labour Robert Kenyon, Reform UK Rebecca Shepherd, Restore BritainAlan ‘Howlin’ Laud Hope, the Monster Raving Loony Party The Tories, the Greens and the Lib Dems have yet to name their candidates, but have confirmed that they will be standing in the Manchester seat.Jane Dalton20 May 2026 03:15Jane Dalton20 May 2026 02:00Labour's credibility in government at stake, minister warns partyThe credibility of Labour in government is at stake, the defence secretary has warned, as he praised Sir Keir Starmer.John Healey said he did not care about “photo ops or PR firms”, in an apparent swipe at leadership hopefuls jockeying within Labour.He said: “We must not lose sight now of the duty people gave us in 2024. The special opportunity of government. We must not throw away so lightly the power we were given.“I don’t care about photo ops or PR firms. Politics – to me – is not about the individual. People will not forgive us if they think we’re more concerned about ourselves than we are about them.“And I say to my colleagues what Michael Gove once said: that ‘we govern by consent’. Through the way we behave, the change we deliver, the trust with the public.“And right now, the very credibility of Labour in government is at stake.“We must get serious. It’s not about us, not about the insiders of politics, it’s about the interests of the country. We must be a government that steers Britain through the conflicts and looming crises we face, and be a party that manages ourselves in a constructive, well ordered way.”(Getty)Jane Dalton20 May 2026 00:50