Rachel Reeves has said she is “backing” Andy Burnham to be prime minister - despite it looking increasingly likely she will be replaced as chancellor. Asked if she would accept a different role in his cabinet, she said she would not “pre-empt the decisions” the Makerfield MP would make. The former Greater Manchester mayor, who has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Sir Keir Starmer, is reportedly yet to settle on his choice of chancellor.Ms Reeves said: “I know that whoever is prime minister and chancellor in the future will inherit a stronger economy than the one I inherited two years ago.”Meanwhile, Donald Trump made his first comments about PM hopeful Mr Burnham during a meeting with the secretary general of Nato.After being asked on Wednesday by reporters about his opinion on the new Labour MP for Makerfield, Mr Trump said: “I hear he is extremely liberal, extremely.”The US president then suggested Mr Burnham “probably won’t open up the North Sea”, adding: “I gave Keir Starmer some pretty good advice, I said open up the North Sea.”It was the right decision for Starmer to quit, TUC chief saysThe general secretary of the TUC has said it "was the right decision" for Sir Keir Starmer to quit, but said he did so with "good grace".Asked whether he is glad the prime minister quit his job, Paul Nowak told Sky News: "No, I'm not glad that we saw the prime minister resign in the way that he did, but I think it was the right decision."I think it was a decision that he took with good grace, and I think now we've got an opportunity to really deliver the change people voted for back in July 2024."Paul Nowak, general secretary of the TUC, said Starmer made the ‘right decision’ to resign (PA) (PA Archive)Millie Cooke25 June 2026 08:32Treasure minister refuses to play 'fantasy cabinet' A Treasury minister declined to comment on who the next chancellor should be once the new prime minister is in office.Dan Tomlinson told Sky News: “That’s a decision for whoever the prime minister is.“As we all know, I think it seems very likely now that’s going to be Andy Burnham.“I’m not going to play fantasy cabinet with you here today.”Holly Evans25 June 2026 08:16Reeves and Healey 'were working very productively together' before his resignation, minister insistsRachel Reeves and John Healey were "working very productively together" before the former defence secretary quit his post accusing the Treasury of blocking defence funding, a minister has claimed.Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson said: "My understanding is they were working very productively together over the weeks while the government was working on the defence investment plan."I know the chancellor has been in touch pretty much every day with Dan Jarvis since he was appointed. And of course there are always tensions between individual government departments and between the Treasury, because it's the Treasury's role to look across the piece to make sure that we can manage public finance as well, and and invest in the things that we need to, including in defence."Holly Evans25 June 2026 07:56Starmer should be 'proud' of the work he did but it was 'overshadowed by errors', TUC boss saysTUC general secretary Paul Nowak has said Sir Keir Starmer can be "proud of the work that his government did" but said it was "overshadowed by self-inflicted mistakes".The union boss told Sky News there should be a "reset" under the new prime minister.He said: "Keir Starmer, I think, can be proud of the work that his government did in delivering the Employment Rights Act, record investment in our NHS, bringing railways back into public ownership, lifting that two child benefit cap. The list could go on and on."The reality is all too often that good work was overshadowed by self-inflicted mistakes, and I think for far too many people, they just feel that change, which was the one word was on the front of the manifesto in July 2024 hasn't been delivered."So we want the new prime minister to spend the first 100 days delivering policies with every single policy, every single speech proving they're on the side of working people, their families, and communities."And that's action to tackle the cost of living crisis and to rebuild our economy, which isn't working for far too many people."Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership was ‘overshadowed by self-inflicted mistakes’, union boss says (Andrew Matthews/PA) (PA Wire)Millie Cooke25 June 2026 07:52Rachel Reeves backing Andy Burnham as next PM despite cabinet speculationRachel Reeves says she is “backing” Andy Burnham to be the UK’s next prime minister amid speculation she could be replaced as Chancellor if he takes office.Speaking to the BBC, Ms Reeves, who is predicted to be replaced if Mr Burnham becomes prime minister, would not be drawn on reports she may accept another role.“I’m not going to pre-empt the decisions that the new prime minister will make,” she said.“I’m backing Andy.“I think he’d be a great prime minister, but those are his decisions, not mine to make.”The Makerfield MP, who has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Sir Keir Starmer, is reportedly yet to settle on his choice of chancellor.Ms Reeves added that “no one could doubt” her commitment to Sir Keir in recent years.“I’ve been by his side for six years now as shadow chancellor and then as Chancellor of the Exchequer,” she told the public broadcaster.The Chancellor said: “I know that whoever is prime minister and chancellor in the future will inherit a stronger economy than the one I inherited two years ago.”Holly Evans25 June 2026 07:34Rebecca Whittaker25 June 2026 07:00Rachel Reeves’ ISA tax raid could be her final own goal as chancellorWhen it comes to personal finance, so much of what Labour has tried to do over the past couple of years has had potential.The execution, however, leaves a lot to be desired – and the latest changes to the ISA landscape sit right in that bracket.Under new rules announced on Tuesday, and which come into force next year, those who hold cash in their stocks and shares ISAs will be hit with a 22 per cent levy on interest earned.Read more here:Rebecca Whittaker25 June 2026 06:00Rebecca Whittaker25 June 2026 05:00Recap: Trump says 'extremely liberal' Andy Burnham is unlikely to open up the North SeaUS President Donald Trump made his first comments about PM hopeful Andy Burnham during a meeting with the secretary general of Nato.After being asked by reporters of his opinion on Andy Burnham, the Labour MP for Makerfield, Trump said: “I hear he is extremely liberal, extremely”.The president then turned his attention to the North Sea and suggested Mr Burnham ”probably won’t open up the North Sea.”“I gave Keir Starmer some pretty good advice, I said open up the North Sea,” he added.He said Aberdeen was the “hottest city in the whole continent, it was the oil city”. But since the UK government has permanently blocked new oil and gas exploration in the North Sea, Trump claims the “UK is dying”.He added that oil companies “would give anything to drill in the North Sea.”Asked whether he'd like to be among the first on his list for a visit from Mr Burnham, if he is the next Prime Minister, Trump said: "No. But I think we're of a different persuasion. He's very liberal."NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte speaks during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office (Getty)Rebecca Whittaker25 June 2026 04:00Rebecca Whittaker25 June 2026 03:00