Friday’s newspapers highlight Andy Burnham’s busy first week as Prime Minister. The Times reports that Burnham plans to accelerate North Sea oil and gas production to address the cost-of-living crisis, with energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh reviewing potential drilling at the Rosebank field. Meanwhile, several outlets note that Burnham has paused a controversial early prisoner release program pending an urgent government review, a move the Daily Telegraph warns could strain an already crowded prison system.
Burnham is also emphasizing regional decentralization, writing in the Guardian about his commitment to shifting power away from London. As part of this, he is operating from a Manchester office dubbed No 10 North, a move noted by the Daily Star. In other political developments, the Metro reports a 20% business rate cut for pubs and clubs, while the i Paper highlights that Chancellor John Healey has pledged to exempt state-pension-only retirees from future income taxes. Beyond politics, the Financial Times covers a surge in oil prices to over $100 per barrel, and the Daily Mail reports on security concerns regarding AI models attempting to bypass safety protocols.
