Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has delivered his verdict on Andy Burnham's 10-year devolution plan.

Mr Farage, who railed against plans to hand devolved administrations more power, shared a short clip on social media in which he criticised the man vying to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.

He said: "So, the big Andy Burnham speech today, he's going to rebalance power in Britain.

"What he means, of course, more and more devolution. As if, by magic, that is going to solve everything.

"Ask yourself the question: Has devolution in London, with Mayor Sadiq Khan, made London's streets safer? No.

"Has devolution in Wales given a better NHS or education? No, they're the worst in the country.

"And has devolution in Scotland cleaned up Scottish politics? Well, I think the recent jailing of one of the former bosses of the SNP would say no."

Mr Farage went on to warn that Mr Burnham's plan would fail to stop the boats or tackle the national debt.

The Reform UK leader added: "He says, 'It'll take 10 years to lift Britain back up to where it needs to be'.

"I would suggest those of us who believe that Britain is broken would say that we haven't got 10 years.

"The country will be totally unrecognisable in 10 years. What the country wants is immediate action."

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Resident doctors across England have backed a government offer on pay and working conditions, marking the conclusion of industrial action that has disrupted NHS services in recent months.

The ballot, which also included final-year medical students, secured approval with 52.9 per cent voting in favour of the deal.

Turnout stood at 57 per cent, according to the British Medical Association. The result was notably tight, with 47.1 per cent of participants rejecting the proposed terms.

The Department of Health and Social Care confirmed the outcome brings strike action to an end.

The Prime Minister hosted the Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte at Downing Street today, with Sir Keir Starmer hoping to secure a strong defence plan for Britain before stepping down.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "The leaders began by discussing the publication of the Defence Investment Plan. The Prime Minister set out how his plan would focus on readiness and autonomous capability, ensuring British forces would have the equipment they need to keep the UK and its Nato allies safe.

"The leaders then reflected on their recent diplomatic meetings, including at the G7, the E5 in Berlin and the Secretary General's visit to the US. They discussed the strong international support for Ukraine and looked ahead to the outcomes of the upcoming Nato Summit in Ankara.

"Ukraine would form a key part of European security long into the future, with the strongest armed forces in Europe, the leaders agreed.

"On the Strait of Hormuz, the Prime Minister and Secretary General discussed the need to ensure the safe passage of global shipping and the Prime Minister updated on the UK's military assets in the region to support a multi-national mission when the conditions allowed.

"They both looked forward to speaking again soon."

Scotland’s First Minister has said “rhetoric alone will not cut it” as Andy Burnham, the likely next prime minister, set out his vision to transform Britain.

While the new Makerfield MP - the frontrunner to replace Sir Keir Starmer - promised there would be “new opportunities to extend devolution in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland”, his speech failed to include details of what these changes could be.

John Swinney responded to Mr Burnham that Scotland needs more job creating powers and the ability to control its energy.

Mr Swinney said: “I have heard Andy Burnham’s proposals, but rhetoric alone will not cut it when Scotland so badly needs more job creating powers and the ability to lower energy bills.

“I look forward to further detail on the substance of these proposals, and how they will fundamentally improve people’s lives in Scotland and bring down the cost of living.

"I will engage with the new Prime Minister in good faith, with Scotland’s interests always at the top of my agenda, and look forward to welcoming him here in the coming weeks. ”

The Greens have criticised Andy Burnham for recomitting to the chancellor's fiscal rules, saying it will ensure "continued austerity and cuts to vital services".

Zack Polanski said: "Labour has done little to restore council budgets that were slashed under the Conservatives, and Burnham's commitment today to stick to the so-called fiscal rules ensures continued austerity and cuts to vital services.

"While no one expects a transformation overnight, people cannot be told to wait another decade before their lives start getting better."

He also criticised Mr Burnham's devolution plans, saying the former Greater Manchester mayor must "challenge the economic model that has concentrated wealth and power in the hands of the few, otherwise the majority of people will continue to be left behind".

Mr Polanski called on the Makerfield MPto tax extreme wealth "fairly", allow councils to introduce rent control, nationalise water and energy and commit to "replacing our undemocratic electoral system".

He added: "Burnham is right to talk about building council housing, but his record on affordable housing in Greater Manchester tells a different story.

"Under his watch, the developer-first model has continued, with luxury city-centre towers going up while genuinely affordable homes have failed to keep pace with need."

Downing Street has confirmed the St George's Cross will fly from No10 on Wednesday to mark the World Cup, after Sir Keir Starmer was accused of being a "plastic patriot"

Asked by journalists why this is the case, a spokesman for the Prime Minister said: "It's our flag, heritage and values. We will be flying our flag for knockout matches; we will put it up on Wednesday."

England is playing the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday at 5pm, marking the first match of the next stage of the tournament.

Sir Keir Starmer is known to be a huge football fan, and is a regular at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium.

A former Conservative MP and aide to Rishi Sunak has pleaded guilty to cheating at gambling with bets on the date of the 2024 general election.

Craig Williams, 41, who was Tory MP for Cardiff North between 2015 and 2017 and then Montgomeryshire between 2019 and 2024, admitted using confidential information to place bets on the timing of the poll.

He was formerly part of Mr Sunak’s inner circle, having been appointed to be the then-prime minister’s parliamentary private secretary, and he attended a series of planning meetings in Downing Street ahead of the 2024 election.

Williams, of Llanfair Caereinion, Welshpool, Powys, entered his guilty plea at a hearing at Southwark Crown Court earlier today.

Unite, the UK’s leading union, has reacted positively to Andy Burnham first speech setting out his vision for the UK.

The union believes the speech shows Mr Burnham is listening to the key issues, and is prepared to make much needed changes to tackle the challenges facing Britain.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is clear that Andy has been in listening mode. Britain needs a vision that deals with its current rampant inequality and jobs vacuum.

"Actions will speak louder than words but this is the start of a discussion about a better path for workers and communities. His promise to reindustrialise our regions and nations with support for UK steel, defence, energy, food and agriculture is much needed.

"As is his plan to bring our utilities, like water, energy and transport, back into public control and his proposal to revise our procurement rules to ensure taxpayers money is used to buy British. These are all things Unite has long argued for.

“The breathing space that he spoke about will also be vital for everyday people who have been hit with frozen tax thresholds and rising energy prices during a cost-of-living crisis. These issues need to be addressed.

“Of course, we will need to see the detail but this is a good start.”

Reform UK has become the last major political party to announce their candidate to replace Andy Burnham as the Mayor of Greater Manchester.

Sian Astley, a councillor for Baguley ward in the area, has been a presenter for BBC's DIY SOS and the BBC2 series Your Home Made Perfect.

She condemned "the vice-like grip that Labour has held over Manchester has been evident for decades".

Andy Burnham could be seen scurrying away from journalists after setting out his radical 10-year plan to fix Britain.

The leading candidate to become the next Prime Minister avoided questions from the media as he swiftly left the museum.

Andy Burnham has been slated for fuelling fear among taxpayers over increased spending.

Responding to Andy Burnham’s first speech since becoming an MP, John O’Connell of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "Andy Burnham said that families need breathing space to deal with rising costs, but taxpayers and businesses will fear that this is simply code for more spending rather than much-needed tax cuts.

"With the tax burden heading for a record high, working people are already being hammered by frozen thresholds, higher bills and a government taking more of every extra pound they earn to fund a welfare state that has spun out of control.

"Burnham must ditch the tired clichés and give taxpayers genuine relief by ruling out further tax rises, ending the stealth tax raid and bringing spending under control."

Andy Burnham has declared that Westminster is "broken" as he set out his 10-year plan to fix Britain.

Delivering a speech in Manchester, the Makerfield MP and Downing Street hopeful said: "After 10 years of political turbulence since Brexit and 20 years of falling living standards since the 2008 financial crash, Westminster hasn't been working for people and it hasn't been working for a very long time.

"In fact, it is broken and as a result, the country isn't where it should be. It is stuck in a rut and clearly we can't go on like this."

Andy Burnham has set out his plan for a radical overhaul of Britain in a speech pitching for 10 years as Prime Minister.

The Labour leadership frontrunner vowed that he hopes to "lift Britain back up to where we all want it to be" and "give the nation the circuit-breaker it needs" in the top job.

Speaking from Manchester, Mr Burnham outlined plans for the "biggest transfer of power out of Whitehall in modern times" in a wider regional power-sharing arrangement.

Since the financial crash, Westminster is "not working" and has left the UK "stuck in a rut", Mr Burnham said, adding it left politicians resorting to "finger-pointing political point-scoring".

Andy Burnham has heaped thanks onto Manchester backers before he started to set out a major devolution overhaul.

"It's been such a wrench to leave that I’ve had to get special permission from what people in Westminster call my Manchester clothes. I have had to get special permission to wear them this morning," he told supporters.

He added: “However, I have bowed to public pressure on one front. I have bought some new running shorts.”

Andy Burnham is set to deliver his major speech in just a few minutes' time as Labour's mayoral candidate for Greater Manchester makes her opening remarks.

The Makerfield MP is addressing supporters from a venue in central Manchester.

The Conservative Party leader has offered up Tory votes for Andy Burnham to push through "tough legislation" in Parliament.

Mrs Badenoch said: "I would be happy to lend him Conservative votes in Parliament to pass tough legislation his back benchers don's have the stomach for.

"No one in this country wants a Prime Minister held over a barrel by a load of left-wing MPs.”

Kemi Badenoch has laid into her opponents for dodging media scrutiny in her speech this morning.

When asked by The Telegraph about Andy Burnham refusing to take questions from journalists later today, Mrs Badenoch said: "Well, it’s funny, Andy Burnham doesn’t like questions, Nigel Farage doesn’t like questions, even Keir Starmer in Parliament, he doesn’t like questions.

"If you want somebody who can answer questions, please come to me, I will answer all of your questions."

Kemi Badenoch has compared Andy Burnham's devolution arrangement to that of Boris Johnson's.

She said: "(Andy Burnham) says Britain has underperformed because power, money, and decision making are trapped in Whitehall and London. Where have I heard this before?

"Another mayor who became Prime Minister (Mr Johnson) had a devolution agenda, he had a Treasury in the North. Andy Burnham wants a No10 in the north.

"But Burnham’s devolution agenda, unlike ours, is stripped of private enterprise and ownership, it is loaded with Labour instincts, more public control, more regulation, more taxes, all of the very things which have caused the problems we have today."

Kemi Badenoch has been left speechless after Andy Burnham was dubbed Labour's "first female leader".

"I don't know what to say," Mrs Badenoch said in response to a question from The Spectator on what she thought on the "revelation", leaving the room roaring with laughter.

Adding the party "still doesn't know what a woman is", she cited the Conservative Party has had four female leaders, allowing "whoever was best" to take the top boss.

Kemi Badenoch has slapped down Chancellor hopeful Ed Miliband while businesses are "left in limbo".

She said: "Andy Burnham is not taking charge and shutting down the speculation, it is already happening again.

"People are worried about capital gains tax, so they’re changing their investment decisions. The car industry is in limbo again, because they don’t know when petrol cars will be phased out. Everyone, everyone is terrified about what will happen if Ed Miliband becomes the Chancellor.

"The same is true in every sector of the economy. Britain is facing a summer of chaos. Investment decisions across the country will be put on hold every time the newspapers are briefed about new tax rises."

Kemi Badenoch has told GB News who should not be the next Chancellor of the Exchequer, admitting that Labour has "slim pickings".

She mocked Labour for failing to find a leader across their own MPs, instead having to catapult the Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester back into Parliament.

Mrs Badenoch also warned against Ed Miliband becoming the Chancellor, warning that he would "make us poorer" and end up "bankrupting the country".

Kemi Badenoch has told Britons to gear up for a "summer of chaos" under lame duck Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.

Mrs Badenoch said: "We have a caretaker Prime Minister, barely in office, definitely not in power.

"All major policy and spending decisions have been put on hold. The last Defence Secretary resigned because the money needed to keep Britain safe has not been found. Ministers at the Home Office are fighting each other."

Sir Mel Stride has set out Labour's failures in a scathing takedown this morning.

The Shadow Chancellor said: "This Labour Government has failed. They have spent, borrowed, taxed, and regulated until our economy has reached breaking point. We have seen jobs destroyed, businesses closing, investors fleeing.

"As Kemi will set out to you now, we are the only party with a plan to do that, and the only party who can deliver it."

Kemi Badenoch has said that Rachel Reeves should have resigned alongside Sir Keir Starmer.

Sir Keir resigned last Monday after Andy Burnham was catapulted back into the heart of Westminster when he won the Makerfield by-election.

The Tory leader said: “Rachel Reeves is ringing round businesses, trying to get them to say that sacking her would risk destabilising the economy, as if that hasn’t happened already.

"What she should have had was the good grace to resign alongside Keir Starmer."

Andy Burnham could dodge any scrutiny thrown his way until September as Richard Tice hurls criticism at "power without accountability".

Mr Burnham has been widely criticised by lobby journalists for refusing to take questions from the press following his major speech later this morning.

And the leadership frontrunner would not have to face Prime Minister's Questions until the autumn as MPs will leave Westminster for the summer recess by the time the Makerfield MP ascends to the top job.

Fuming at the lack of scrutiny, Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice said: "No debate in Parliament. No scrutiny from MPs until September. Power without accountability."

Wes Streeting has come out in support of Andy Burnham's plan to complete the "biggest devolution of power in modern history".

He said: "The UK remains one of the world’s biggest economies, but it’s also deeply unequal.

"We need more growth engines in more places, with power, wealth and opportunity in every part of the country. Andy Burnham's plans for biggest devolution of power in modern history are spot on."

Robert Jenrick has issued a response to suggestions that Andy Burnham is the "man to beat Reform UK".

Over the weekend, a shock poll revealed that support for Labour, led by the Makerfield MP, would leapfrog Reform UK's support.

"Look, if that is the zenith of Andy Burnham, then it is all downhill from here on in," Mr Jenrick replied.

"And I am confident that the British public will see through Andy Burnham very quickly indeed.

"I think people are going to find that Andy Burnham talks a good talk, but there's no substance behind it at all.

"And this is at a moment where the British public want to see radical change being delivered quickly, to stop the boats, to bring down energy prices, tobring back good jobs, to get people's livelihoods back up again after a period of stagnation. It's going to be a big, big disappointment."

Robert Jenrick has ridiculed Andy Burnham for 'already playing for time before even walking into No10' ahead of the MP setting out a 10-year vision for Britain.

"I'm all for spreading prosperity and opportunity across the country. I'm from the Midlands," Reform's Treasury spokesman told GB News.

"I want to see every person in this country have lower energy bills, better prospects, good jobs, benefit from a stronger country. But I don't see any of that in what's being announced today.

"This sounds like it is just a load of waffle. Andy Burnham hasn't even walked into number ten and he's already playing for time. He's saying it's going to take him 10 years to turn this country around."

He added that people "can't wait" that long and that voters are "crying out for radical change".

Sir Mel Stride has taken aim at Andy Burnham on GB News this morning over his plans to devolve further power across England.

Mr Burnham is examining taking Britain's power-sharing to the next level by creating a No10 in the North - although critics and allies alike have questioned how such an organisation would operate.

While the Shadow Chancellor said that further devolution could be a "positive" development, he fell short of encouraging Mr Burnham to complete his agenda.

"The Conservatives, of course, we brought in a substantial amount of devolution back in the 2010s... There was very much part of a Conservative design and that approach can work," he told GB News.

"And so I'm not saying that there might not be space here for further devolution in a positive way. But moving an office of No10 physically up to the North of the country doesn't actually address the fundamental issues.

"And right in the centre of those fundamental issues is getting on top of the welfare bill."

Andy Burnham has called for a change in the way Britain is governed in the lead-up to his first major speech as Makerfield MP later this morning.

In the speech, the leadership frontrunner is expected to layout his plans if he were to become Prime Minister, which could become a reality as soon as next month.

"Changing who governs Britain isn’t enough. We need to change how Britain is governed," he said this morning.

Sir Keir Starmer has been branded a "plastic patriot" after quietly scrapping a 16-year-strong tradition to fly the St George's Cross.

The famed football fan Prime Minister has chosen not to drape the English flag across Downing Street for the World Cup despite pledging to "fly our flag proudly" on St George's Day this year.

Former Prime Ministers have either flown the flag on matchdays or for the entire tournament, a tradition which began in earnest under David Cameron in 2010.

Then-Local Government Minister Grant Shapps at the time urged councils across the country to show their support "to avoid accusations of being overzealous or spoilsports".

The Conservative Party has described Andy Burnham's plan as the "politics of distraction" ahead of the Makerfield MP's first major speech.

The Labour leadership frontrunner will set out his 10-year plan for Britain later this morning.

But, before he can even get a word in, the Tory Party chairman, Kevin Hollinrake said: "Andy Burnham's big idea is to shuffle power between politicians.

"Not fix the welfare system. Not cut the taxes strangling working families and British business. Not fund the defence our country desperately needs. Just more devolution, more committees, more process.

"It's the politics of distraction from a Labour Party that is deliberately avoiding the questions that actually matter."

Andy Burnham is bracing for a clash with the White House as soon as he walks into No10 over Britain's faltering defence spending.

The US is not confident Britain will honour a commitment to allocate five per cent of GDP on defence - with insiders revealing how Washington believes the UK and other European nations have offered a "false promise" on Nato.

Mr Burnham is thought to have indicated to allies he will boost defence spending.

But that may not be enough for the Commander-in-Chief - whose growing frustration with the alliance and its Secretary General Mark Rutte has left US personnel stationed in Brussels "nervous" Mr Trump may skip the July 7 Nato summit in Ankara altogether.

Shortly before his return to the Oval Office, it was widely reported that Mr Trump would publicly call for five per cent commitments - but settle for 3.5 per cent.

A White House spokesman said alliance members must assume greater "responsibility for their own defence" when questioned about Britain's spending plans by The Telegraph.

"Nato members must take greater responsibility for their own defence and all of them should have been there for the United States when we were in the middle of the successful Operation Epic Fury," they blasted.

Some Labour MPs are already sounding uneasy when confronted by news of Andy Burnham's speech today.

The Makerfield MP is centring the address around the idea of "the biggest transfer of power out of Whitehall in modern times".

But onlookers have pointed out similarities between both Sir Keir Starmer and Boris Johnson's plans to devolve - which Mr Burnham appears to already feel the need to fix.

Sir Keir had promised the "biggest ever transfer of political power" and "boldest devolution project in a generation" through devolution deals across England, expanding mayors' powers and passing a "Take Back Control Act".

Mr Johnson had pursued the "levelling up agenda" - which was rebranded as "Pride In Place" or "Local Government" under this Labour Government.

One Labour MP told the FT they harboured worries about Mr Burnham's emphasis on the North.

"It's all very well going on about the North West but we do have loads of seats in London and elsewhere in the south... I'm worried that Andy could alienate them if he overdoes it," the MP, who sits in London, told the newspaper.

Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride last night joined the Tories' broadside against Andy Burnham, branding the Prime Minister-in-waiting's tax plans a "disaster".

"We are about to see what a real left-wing Government looks like," Sir Mel warned. "It's clear that Burnham will double down on the mistakes Starmer and Reeves have made.

"All the signs are that he has no ideas other than yet more borrowing, taxes and spending."

Though Mr Burnham is not expected to set out detailed tax policies in his "10-year plan" speech today, allies have suggested his programme could include a property tax which will punish Britons who enjoy valuable homes through careful planning or saving.

He may also hammer ambitious investors with an increase to capital gains tax - as well as a new form of "death tax".

So far, Mr Burnham has backed Labour's "fiscal rules" - but he is thought to believe they can be stretched to allow the state to borrow billions of pounds more.

Andy Burnham will pledge to give Britain the "circuit-breaker it needs" in his major speech unveiling his plans for devolution and the economy with ambitions for a decade of Labour government.

In Manchester, he will confirm a flagship proposal to move part of his prime ministerial operation to the North of England, and outline his plans for "good growth in every postcode" with what allies have billed as the largest transfer of power out of Whitehall in modern times.

In a mirror to two-year Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's own former pledges, Mr Burnham will also detail his plans for a "10-year mission" to raise living standards through reindustrialisation, housing, infrastructure and reform of essential utilities.

Mr Burnham will set out plans to boost economic growth by giving regional mayors more control over social housing, welfare and post-16 education, according to The Times.

But that sparked warnings of leaving No10 rudderless - just as the country stares at war abroad, a ballooning benefits bill at home and a migrant crisis on the South Coast.

Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake MP dismissed Mr Burnham’s plans as "the politics of distraction", saying Mr Burnham's "big idea" is to "shuffle power between politicians, not fix the welfare system".