Andy Burnham has backed controversial reforms to the asylum system ahead of his coronation as prime minister next week.The Makerfield MP, who is expected to take on the premiership next week, voted in favour of Shabana Mahmood’s plans, which aim to cut the number of small boat crossings and instead direct people to alternative “safe and legal routes”.They also include new tighter rules on how Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights will be applied, which the Home Office hopes will cut the number of asylum appeals being granted.The Immigration and Asylum Bill passed its second reading by 264 votes to 90, giving a majority of 174, but saw 14 Labour MPs rebel as a number of backbenchers criticised the legislation.Mr Burnham will become prime minister on Monday when Sir Keir Starmer is expected to meet the King to formally resign, and recommend the Makerfield MP as his successor.His ascension was all but confirmed on Monday when he received an extra 27 nominations from Labour MPs, taking his total to 349.'We did not stay silent': Hillsborough campaigners welcome third reading of billThe Hillsborough Law Now campaign has welcomed the tabling of the third reading of the Public Office Accountability bill (Hillsborough Law) today.The watershed bill will introduce a statutory duty of candour on all public officials and authorities as well as expand the availability of non-means-tested funding for bereaved families to be legally represented at inquests where the state is represented. In a joint statement, campaigners Charlotte Hennessy, Sue Roberts, Steve Kelly and Margaret Aspinall said: "Following the conclusions of the fresh Hillsborough Inquests in 2016, we knew that we could not stand by and let professionals and organisations continue to abuse their positions of power.“For 10 years we have campaigned for a change in the law to stop cover ups, and enable bereaved families, access to legal aid at a time when they need it the most.“It has been an honour and a privilege to fight for this monumental change of law alongside so many other strong, dedicated campaigners.“We have shown that true power belongs to ordinary people.“We did not stay silent, we were not ground down, we were not afraid to speak truth to power.“This is not just about legislation, but about changing the way the bereaved and survivors are treated and a change in culture and it is deeply empowering knowing that this protect others, forever.”Earlier this year, The Independent spoke to Ms Aspinall about her tireless campaigning for a Hillsborough Law as she featured on our influence list on International Women’s Day. You can read that piece below. Dan Haygarth14 July 2026 07:34Hillsborough Law to return to Commons after deal on transparency for spiesThe Hillsborough Law is to clear the Commons on Tuesday after ministers agreed its duty of candour would apply to the intelligence services.Sir Keir Starmer said he was “proud” to bring back the legislation, which aims to prevent cover-ups by requiring officials to be transparent during investigations and inquiries into failures by the state.The prime minister will personally steer the legislation through its final Commons stages as he seeks to secure his legacy in the closing days of his premiership.He has pushed back what is expected to be his final Cabinet meeting to Wednesday in order to speak at the third reading stage of the legislation.The law was a key promise in Labour’s 2024 manifesto, but has been delayed by wrangling over how the “duty of candour” would apply to spies.A planned debate on the legislation, officially the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, was pulled earlier this year because of the row, with campaigners saying they could not accept a version of the law that gave the heads of the intelligence services a veto over whether their officers could disclose sensitive information.On Tuesday, ministers will amend the Bill to bring spies within the scope of the duty of candour, but with a “secure process” for disclosing information that could affect national security.Dan Haygarth14 July 2026 07:28Lib Dem leader warns Burnham to change voting system 'before it is too late'Sir Ed Davey will warn incoming prime minister Andy Burnham to introduce proportional representation before the next election amid fears delaying would mean change would come "too late".Speaking to the Institute for Government on Tuesday, the Liberal Democrat leader is expected to warn Labour may be “powerless to do anything” to change the voting system after the next election.And he will urge Mr Burnham to work with him in office, saying if he is “serious about changing the way we do politics” then his “door is open”.Mr Burnham, the incoming prime minister, has previously spoken in favour of changing the voting system in parliamentary elections to more closely reflect the support parties receive across the country.But during his campaign in Makerfield, he suggested he would not change the voting system immediately if he became prime minister, but would instead include the commitment in Labour’s next manifesto in order to secure a mandate from the public for change.On Tuesday, Sir Ed will tell Mr Burnham to “be bold, be brave” in pushing for proportional representation, adding: “And do it now. Don’t wait until it is too late.“Don’t wait until after the next election – when you might be powerless to do anything about it.”Nicole Wootton-Cane14 July 2026 07:26Blair urges Burnham to maintain close ties with US 'whoever the president is'Andy Burnham served in government under Sir Tony Blair (Sang Tan/AP (PA Archive)Sir Tony Blair has urged Andy Burnham to keep up a strong relationship with the US regardless of who the president is.Speaking at the Tony Blair Institute (TBI)’s summer drinks reception at the National Theatre in London on Monday night, the former prime minister said Mr Burnham needed to maintain close ties because of the threat of an invasion to Europe from Russia.He also warned warned the former Greater Manchester mayor about continuing with energy secretary Ed Miliband’s net zero policies, and told him that despite riding a wave of popularity that has propelled him to No 10, “you are not going to be loved”.Nicole Wootton-Cane14 July 2026 07:25Andy Burnham votes in favour of controversial asylum reformsAndy Burnham is expected to become prime minister next week (Nigel French/PA) (PA Wire)Prime minister-to-be Andy Burnham has voted in favour of Shabana Mahmood's controversial plans for asylum reform less than a week before he is expected to take on the premiership.On Monday night the Immigration and Asylum Bill passed its second reading by 264 votes to 90, with a majority of 174.The proposals aim to cut the number of small boat crossings and instead direct people to alternative “safe and legal routes”.They include new tighter rules on how Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which covers an individual’s right to a private and family life, will be applied, which the Home Office hopes will cut the number of asylum appeals being granted.But the plans have been criticised by a number of backbenchers, 14 of whom rebelled against the government.Nicole Wootton-Cane14 July 2026 07:23