Andy Burnham, 'King of the North', to become Britain's prime minister

After enduring one of the worst moments of his career when he lost his second bid for the Labour leadership in 2015, Andy Burnham spoke of the pain of being "rejected by people you know" and left for Manchester to escape London politics.

Just over a decade later, the man whose stint ‌as Greater Manchester mayor saw him dubbed 'the King of the North' has taken over as Labour leader unopposed and, next week, will become Britain's seventh prime minister in that period.

The defeat ‌and self-imposed exile that appeared to end his chances of ever becoming prime minister instead helped propel him to the most powerful job in Britain.

What specific policies will Burnham prioritize as prime minister?

How will Burnham's 'business-friendly socialism' affect investors?

How did Burnham's mayoral experience shape his leadership style?

After being elected Labour leader on Friday, Burnham promised the biggest change in four decades to the way Britain was governed, arguing that centralised government in London had ignored the needs of local communities.

"I will work to build a new politics. The country is crying out for it," Burnham said. "People are looking for us to deliver, and we will."

BURNHAM BRINGS HOPE, CHARISMA - AND UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

Known for his easy-going manner and natural optimism, Burnham, 56, offers a marked contrast to the more restrained and stilted style of his predecessor, Keir Starmer.

Over nine years as Greater Manchester mayor, Burnham earned a reputation as a skilled communicator prepared to take on central government in pursuit of a better deal for his area of northwestern England.

Burnham's pitch to his party is that he has the experience ‌and vision to connect with voters and defeat the populist anti-immigration Reform ⁠UK party, led by veteran Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, which has topped the opinion polls for months.

One Labour lawmaker said Burnham's victory had transformed the mood among colleagues, convincing many that the party had finally found a leader capable of taking on — and defeating — Reform before the next national election in 2029.

"It feels like the dark ⁠clouds that had been sitting over the party have been lifted," the lawmaker said, on condition of anonymity. "There is an element of hope again."

Yet despite the enthusiasm surrounding Burnham, there is anxiety from some in his party about what his government will actually look like.

In his only speech since returning to parliament three weeks ago, Burnham said his main theme would be shifting power from central government towards regional leaders, something he called the "biggest rebalancing of power" in recent British history.

That ambition sits alongside his belief in "business-friendly socialism", a philosophy that seeks to combine greater state control of essential services such as energy and transport with close cooperation between government and business.

The approach ‌has left investors unsure how much he will prioritise either state intervention or market forces.

Even senior ministers do not know what Burnham's cabinet team will look like, according to their aides, making it difficult to gauge his government's priorities.

Those who worked with him in Manchester say this is the way Burnham likes to work: by listening, and testing ideas.

"He would spend the day out and about talking to people rather than ... writing reports," said Rose Marley, a mayoral adviser in Manchester and the head of Co-operatives UK, a not-for-profit body that supports member-owned businesses.

ROSE THROUGH RANKS UNDER TONY BLAIR AND GORDON BROWN

Burnham was born in Liverpool, where his father worked as a telephone engineer and his mother as a receptionist. He graduated in English from Cambridge and then followed a familiar route into politics, working first as a researcher and then as an ‌adviser in parliament.

He first served as a junior minister under then-prime minister Tony Blair, and later as culture and then health minister under Blair's successor, Gordon Brown.

He mounted his first unsuccessful bid for the Labour leadership in 2010, his second five years later.

Some Labour critics accuse Burnham of repeatedly changing priorities during his career.

In the last year, Burnham has criticised the government for "being in hock to the bond markets" with its fiscal conservatism. He has called for nationalisation of key industries and for Britain to ‌rejoin the European Union.

But in recent weeks, he has modified his message. He said his "bond markets" comment had been misrepresented; that the nation's finances were too constrained for large-scale nationalisations; and that Britain was not going to rejoin the EU any time soon.

In 2022, after the last soccer World Cup, Starmer as opposition leader poked fun at Burnham, always seen as a rival, likening him to someone who would switch allegiance to whoever might win the tournament.

Burnham "got to see his 'boyhood team' Argentina win the World Cup", he said in a speech. "It was a mixed bag because he also got to ‌see his 'boyhood team' France lose the final and his 'boyhood teams' Morocco and Croatia lose in the semis."

Yet Starmer eventually undermined his own standing in his time in office with perennial U-turns when his policies faced pushback.

To avoid this trap and rebuild support before the next parliamentary election, several lawmakers said Burnham would have to show he could lead boldly.

Otherwise, one Labour lawmaker said, he could also find himself out of power in two years.

Strong Earthquakes Hit Venezuela's Capital Region, Killing Dozens

A pair of major earthquakes hit near the Venezuelan capital of Caracas on Wednesday evening, collapsing buildings and killing dozens of people.

The first temblor -- a magnitude 7.2 -- hit at 6:04 p.m. local time and was followed 39 seconds later by a magnitude 7.5 strike, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

Wednesday was a holiday in Venezuela, and more people than usual were at home instead of on an evening commute.

The first earthquake struck about 14 miles southeast of Yumare, with the second temblor hitting about 17 miles from the northwestern Venezuelan city.

The USGS reported that high casualties and widespread damage were likely, saying that there is a 44% chance that fatalities will exceed 10,000 and a 30% chance that they will exceed 100,000. The USGS said aftershocks may still occur.

Unverified videos of the aftermath posted online show numerous concrete buildings reduced to rubble, roads split open and people cowering in fear.

Preliminary casualty figures state that the earthquakes killed at least 32 people and wounded more than 700 others, Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, said during an early Thursday press conference.

The figures, however, are expected to rise as rescuers scour the remains of collapsed buildings for survivors.

La Guaira state was the hardest hit, she said, calling it a "true tragedy."

Dozens of buildings have collapsed in the northern Venezuelan state and rescuers are on the scene seeking to "save lives," she said.

She declared a state of emergency throughout the country in an earlier press conference, describing the situation as "an event with serious consequences" for several states.

Authorities, security forces, medical services and civil protection personnel have been deployed across the country, she added.

Gas services have been disconnected from affected buildings and electricity services have been interrupted in parts of Caracas, she said.

"The first message to our people is to stay united to save lives," she said.

Numerous countries have been in contact with Venezuela to offer support, including the United States.

President Donald Trump said in a statement that "the U.S.A. stands ready, willing and able to help!"

"I have instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly," he said. "We will be there for our new and great friends. Early reports are not good!!!"

Preventive evacuations have been ordered and reception centers for those affected have been established, officials said.

The Venezuelan Red Cross told UPI in an emailed statement that its national headquarters had sustained "critical damage" and it was accounting for the safety of its staff and volunteers.

"While assessments continue, the most urgent anticipated needs are search-and-rescue, emergency shelter for families whose homes have been damaged or destroyed and emergency healthcare, including trauma care and psychosocial support," it said.

"Safe water and sanitation and essential household items are also expected to be priorities in the hours and days ahead."

Donald Trump Hits Rock Bottom As Record Americans Turn On Him

Trump has hit some of the weakest poll numbers of his political career, according to a recent NPR/PBS News/Marist survey. The poll suggests that many Americans are unhappy with the way he is handling the economy and his overall performance since returning to office.

The survey found that only 33% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, while 60% disapprove. This is the lowest economic approval rating he has received in this poll since Marist began tracking the question in 2019. For a president who has often pointed to the economy as one of his strongest selling points, the figures represent a significant setback.

Trump’s overall approval rating was also reported at 36%, while 59% of respondents said they disapproved of his job performance. That creates a 23-point gap between approval and disapproval, which is the largest negative margin recorded for him by Marist during either of his terms in office.

The poll suggests that dissatisfaction is not limited to Democrats. Independent voters appear particularly unhappy, with 65% saying they disapprove of Trump’s handling of economic issues. Even among Republicans, a notable number have expressed concerns, with 22% saying they do not approve of how he is managing the economy.

Some voters who supported Trump have also begun voicing frustration. One Georgia voter, Regina Kulenga, who previously voted for Trump, told NPR that she feels disappointed by the progress made so far. She said many of the promises made during the campaign have yet to become reality and that people are still waiting to see meaningful improvements.

Kulenga described some of Trump’s actions since returning to office as a “slap in the face” and said her disappointment has become so great that she is unsure whether she will participate in the upcoming midterm elections.

The poll highlights growing concerns among many Americans about the state of the economy. Rising costs, economic uncertainty, and unmet expectations appear to be affecting public opinion. For Trump, whose political image has often been tied to economic performance, these numbers could present a major challenge moving forward.

Perhaps most striking is that Trump’s current economic approval rating is now lower than the worst economic rating recorded for former President Joe Biden during his time in office. While polls can change over time and public opinion often shifts, the latest survey suggests that many Americans remain dissatisfied and are looking for stronger results on the issues that affect their daily lives the most.