‘My fear is that – without urgent action – the worst is still to come’: Sadiq Khan has said climate fears must be addressed. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA
London mayor points to ‘terrifying scenes’ this summer amid speculation Burnham may back Jackdaw and Rosebank projects
Sadiq Khan has called on the government to commit to revamped climate action and to reduce the UK’s reliance on oil and gas, as the UK endures a summer of drought, wildfires and heatwaves.
Writing in the Guardian, the mayor of London said that Andy Burnham’s administration must reaffirm its commitment to net zero and make clear it will continue to reduce the UK’s reliance on oil and gas “to get Britain back on track.”
There is growing concern among Labour MPs and climate experts that the new prime minister may support renewed drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea; since arriving in No 10, Burnham has remained largely tight-lipped on climate and environmental concerns despite speaking out about them during his time as mayor of Greater Manchester.
Last month, Burnham said he would be “pragmatic” about oil and gas and that decisions on new drilling would be made “in due course”. “The question isn’t whether Britain will still be using oil and gas, the question is where does it come from,” he said.
Nigel Farage urges you to ignore facts and reality and be a climate science denier like him and his Deputy Richard Tice. He says that Reform UK has received £Millions and £Millions from the fossil fuel industry to promote climate denial and destroy the planet.Donald Trump urges you to be a Climate Science denier like him. He says that he makes millions and millions for destroying the planet, Burn, Baby, Burn and Flood, Baby, Flood.Power-mad orange gasbag Donald Trump says Burn, Baby, Burn.
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Police take security measures as protesters gather and march through the streets during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Berlin, Germany, on August 08, 2026. [Volodymyr Sindieiev – Anadolu Agency]
Demonstrators in Berlin staged a protest in support of Palestine on Saturday, Anadolu reports.
Protesters carried banners and Palestinian flags as they marched through the city and chanted slogans to express solidarity with Palestine.
Since Israel launched its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023, the Israeli army and occupiers have intensified attacks across the occupied West Bank, killing at least 1,182 Palestinians, injuring around 13,000 and arresting nearly 25,000, according to official Palestinian figures.
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it’s fun to kill everyone … unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
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People attend a graduation ceremony for cadet, completed their military training under the name of “Aqsa Flood”, organized by the Houthis, in Arhab district of Sana’a, Yemen on February 4, 2024 [Mohammed Hamoud – Anadolu Agency]
The Yemeni army said Saturday that the Houthi group launched missiles from the southwestern province of Taiz toward the Red Sea, Anadolu reports.
The announcement came in a statement by the Defense Ministry-affiliated Taiz Military Axis published on US social media platform X.
“Reconnaissance teams affiliated with our forces detected the terrorist Houthi militia launching missiles toward the Red Sea,” the statement said.
The missiles were launched from Mount Uman in the Al-Hawban area east of Taiz city, it added, without providing further details.
The Houthis issued no immediate response to the army’s statement.
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it’s fun to kill everyone … unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
An aerial view of water treatment ponds and solar panel farm at Thames Water’s Chertsey Water Works in Surrey
ANYTHING less than a full restructure of the water industry would be a “total insult” to the public, ministers were warned today as the majority of English waters failed to meet ecological standards.
Clean water campaigners and the GMB demanded PM Andy Burnham take decisive action after new Environment Agency (EA) figures revealed only 14 per cent of England’s waterways are in good health.
While 15 per cent of rivers are classed as good, only around 7 per cent of lakes reached that threshold, the EA said.
Researchers cited phosphate as the largest individual polluter, which comes from sewage and farming runoff. About half of rivers still exceed safe levels.
Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) senior policy manager Henry Swithinbank recognised that Mr Burnham previously said “some promising things” on the water sector.
“But now is not the time for lip service,” Mr Swithinbank told the Morning Star. “Burnham must turn those words into urgent action. Anything less will be a total insult to our waters and the public.”
He added: “Despite promises from water companies, and government policies and targets, our waters continue to be degraded into an even more dire state.
“Are we surprised? After years of limp policies, slap on the wrist fines and tinkering, sadly, we are not.
“But we are furious. Our beaches, rivers and lakes are poisoned by sewage. This cannot be allowed to continue.
Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) protest sewage discharges.Image of a burst water main.UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
Back in March, the Labour government’s bill to restrict access to jury trials – a right enjoyed by English citizens for over 800 years – successfully passed its first reading. But last week, only hours after former Justice Minister David Lammy was dropped from Andy Burnham’s new cabinet, a Downing Street spokesperson announced that the newly coronated Prime Minister had no intention of following through with the plan.
Eyebrows were raised, however, at the ministerial re-appointment of Sarah Sackman, Keir Starmer’s ex-solicitor general and a key supporter of Lammy’s jury proposals. Sackman has previously worked as a foreign law clerk at the Israeli Supreme Court, and her grandfather once served as an ambassador for the settler state. Last week, Burnham extended her role in government with a re-appointment at the Ministry of Justice.
Sackman’s funders
At the end of June, and just eleven days after Burnham’s by-election victory in Makerfield, Sackman registered two new donations, each of £1250, from veteran pro-Israeli bankroller Trevor Chinn.
…
Burnham continues Starmer’s legacy
Starmer will always be remembered for the military and diplomatic support he consistently lent to the Israeli state. But in December 2024, just over one year into the Gaza genocide, Sackman insisted that Starmer’s administration had “broadly got it right” on the issue of Palestine.
She made the comments in a public conversation with Adrian Cohen, LFI’s lay chair. Last Thursday, the controversial lobby group published a new paper suggesting that a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements is “practically and politically impossible”.
LFI-affiliated MPs continue to dominate the Labour cabinet. On the issue of Palestine, Sackman’s re-appointment sends a loud signal to those who thought Burnham might change course.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel. New Labour UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham continues Labour party policy of active support and complicity in Israel’s genocide.
An aerial view of water treatment ponds and solar panel farm at Thames Water’s Chertsey Water Works in Surrey
