'Andy Burnham has one weapon - but he’s about to blow it up with this move'
Andy Burnham has a secret weapon – but he’s about to blow it up with 1 move
OPINION - MIEKA SMILES: Express columnist and Conservative councillor Mieka Smiles gives her thoughts on the new hopeful PM, Andy Burnham
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Add us as preferred source Comments By Mieka Smiles, News Reporter 17:00, Mon, Jun 29, 2026 
The only time I have ever seen Andy Burnham in person was at a Conservative Party Conference. Yep, really. I diligently attend as a Conservative councillor, and a few years ago, I was surprised to see the Labour politician on the bill at a fringe event. The room was packed.
The Labour Greater Manchester mayor spoke passionately about his area – the opportunities and challenges – and what the then Conservative government could do to help the region thrive. What struck me most about it wasn’t that he was a Labour politician speaking to a room full of Tories, but that he seemed more interested in promoting Manchester than promoting Labour. He genuinely put Manchester first.
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That’s what I like about many regional mayors. I have seen the same in Teesside, where I live, with our Conservative mayor, Lord Ben Houchen. He is cut of a similar cloth in that he puts the region first and politics second. He’s the first to call out his party if he thinks that the area is being done dirty by a particular policy.
I have also seen Andy Burnham adopt Conservative measures if he believes they’ll work well for his area. He championed Mayoral Development Corporations (MDCs) as a way to unlock regeneration in beleaguered parts of his patch. Sadly, in Middlesbrough, our own Labour politicians couldn’t afford local Conservative leadership the same grace, kicking and screaming to fight a similar plan every step of the way.
It is this people-over-politics approach that clinched Andy Burnham's extraordinary win in Makerfield. However, if reports are to be believed, then the new hopeful PM is planning some kind of rabid left-wing takeover of the Labour party. But I reckon he’d be very foolish to do so, stepping away from the approach that has served him so well.
Of course, he also mustn’t forget the North. I live in the Red Wall, that, in one joyous moment, turned Tory blue. Boris promised to “Get Brexit done”, but what kept his popularity high in these parts was never forgetting those voters who put their support behind him, many for the first time.
Both Boris, and then his chancellor and then successor, Rishi Sunak, kept support for the region coming in all manner of ways: from huge announcements on freeports, to relocating part of the Treasury to one of our towns to investing huge pots of money to the regeneration of areas, including my town of Middlesbrough.
Right now, Burnham’s to-do list will be as long as a queue for Oasis tickets. But if I could offer some advice (which I’m sure he’ll lap up from a random Tory councillor) it’d be to keep doing what made people vote for you. Fight for places outside of the Westminster bubble and put people ahead of Labour tribalism. Because the moment he forgets is the moment his greatest political strength evaporates.
PIP makes a mockery of state benefits
Retirement in Spain is something many work hard to achieve. Laying on a sun lounger in the Costa Del Sol, cocktail in hand, is a dream for many. So it came as quite a surprise to learn how thousands of expats are bolstering their income in countries like Spain, Italy, Portugal and France via disability benefits.
I think if you move abroad then, and you’ve paid all of your stamps, then you should be entitled to your state pension. However, disability payments are quite different. Firstly, Personal Independent Payments (PIP) don’t require you to have paid into the system. Secondly, it is paid regardless of if you have a hefty income or not. And, finally, if you’re receiving them from Spain you don’t need a face-to-face assessment to establish genuine need leaving the whole thing wide open to abuse. No wonder they’re calling it Costa Del Dole.
I'm officially middle-aged now
Well, that’s it. My transformation into middle age is now officially complete. This was confirmed the other day as I was delighted to find out that there were ten different species of birds singing in my garden.
The answer came courtesy of a Jeremy Clarkson recommendation. He recently told viewers of Clarkson’s Farm about an app which listens for birds and tells you how many are nearby. Using an app called Merlin Bird ID, on that morning alone we had birds including Great Tit, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Jackdaw and House Sparrow. Genius!
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
