Britain is on the brink of a political shift as Andy Burnham, the incoming Prime Minister and newly appointed Labour leader, delivered a speech on Friday criticizing the economic policies established by Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. He promised to strengthen public control over key services, marking a decisive move leftward from the era of outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Set to officially assume his role as prime minister on Monday, Burnham highlighted what he described as “a series of wrong turns” made during the 1980s, a time when centralized political power handed over economic control to private enterprises. His candidacy for party leader faced no opposition, backed by 379 Members of Parliament.

In his address on July 17 in London, Burnham emphasized, “The country surrendered control of the essentials—housing, water, energy, transport—and it left people burdened with higher costs,” as his speech transcript reveals.

He argued that the last four decades of neoliberal economic policy had been harsh on working-class and industrial communities, traditionally Labour supporters. Burnham framed his rise as the most pivotal political moment in the UK in four decades.

“The government I lead will confidently lay that path out starting next week,” Burnham declared. “That is why this change today is the most significant change moment in our politics for 40 years.”

Alan Mendoza, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, said Burnham’s speech offered a clear ideological signal but little detail about how his government would carry it out. “With Burnham, there is a lot of light and heat, but not much actual substance,” he added. “We are all still waiting to see what that substance might be.”
 

Mendoza said, “If he thinks Britain has been on the wrong track for the last 40 years, what is the right track? Is it socialism of a past kind? Is it some form of statism? What does he actually intend to do?”

Burnham’s speech offered the clearest indication yet that the former Greater Manchester mayor intends to move the party away from Starmer’s more cautious economic positioning and toward greater state ownership, expanded council and social housing, giving more power to regional government and increased state involvement in essential services.

Burnham said Labour would no longer attempt to imitate the right and far-left parties. “We won’t try to out-Green the Greens or out-Reform Reform.”

Although he did not explicitly advocate returning Britain to the 1970s or refer to the late Lady Thatcher by name, free-market critics portrayed his attack on her reforms as an effort to revive the state-dominated economic policies that preceded her government.

Britain experienced the Winter of Discontent in 1978-79, when millions of workers participated in widespread strikes over pay that disrupted daily life. The strikes left trash uncollected, reduced hospital services and affected public transportation. The unrest is widely seen as a major factor in the election of Margaret Thatcher’s Conservatives in 1979 as voters turned against the unions and the Labour government of that time.

The Adam Smith Institute responded to his speech by publishing a lengthy defense of the Thatcher era, highlighting reductions in income and corporate tax rates, privatizations, rising homeownership and fewer days lost to labor strikes.

“Since you mentioned the 1980s, Andy Burnham, here’s a reminder of what was achieved,” the free-market think tank wrote before listing economic indicators it said improved during the period.

According to the free-market think tank, the top rate of income tax fell from 83% to 40%, the basic rate dropped from 33% to 25%, and corporation tax was reduced from 52% to 35%. It said inflation declined from a peak of 21.9% in 1980 to 2.4% in 1986, while the number of working days lost to strikes fell from 29.5 million in 1979 to 1.9 million in 1990. The institute also said homeownership rose from 55% to 67%, the number of individual shareholders increased from 3 million to 11 million, and national debt fell from 47% of gross domestic product to 28%.

Emma Schubart, a research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society who previously worked at the Adam Smith Institute, told News Media that Burnham’s speech demonstrated what she described as a fundamental misunderstanding of taxation and economic incentives.

“The biggest takeaway is that he comes across as pretty economically illiterate,” Schubart said in an interview Friday. She called Burnham’s “demonization” of Thatcher polices “strange and needless.”

Schubart argued that Burnham’s message was internally contradictory because he presented his leadership as a national renewal while proposing to dismantle reforms associated with the 1980s.

“He keeps saying he’s bringing a renewal to the U.K. and a new chapter,” she said. “But then he also says, ‘We’re going to go back to the ’70s.’ You have to pick one.”

Burnham nevertheless insisted he would be a “pro-business leader,” while calling for greater public control of essential services, new powers for regional governments and closer cooperation with private businesses.

The ideological shift presents an immediate political gamble. Burnham must unite Labour’s competing factions, reassure financial markets and respond to Reform UK’s growing challenge — all while taking office without winning a national election. 

Mendoza warned that Burnham’s effort to appeal to the left could complicate relations with the Trump administration. “The government could most definitely clash with the United States under Burnham’s vision, because the voters he is trying to bring back into his tent include many of those who are deeply hostile to America.

“If he adopts U.S.-friendly policies, he risks alienating the voting coalition he is trying to create,” he continued. “But if he decides to pick fights with the United States, he risks damaging British national security and the alliance with America, which matters far more to the country than any electoral coalition.”

Burnham is expected to be sworn in as prime minister on Monday by King Charles III.

Fantasy baseball enthusiasts have found themselves in a tight spot this season, as the third base position has become a barren wasteland. Managers are desperately trying to patch up their rosters to cover this glaring deficiency.

Those who missed out on acquiring a top-tier player from the outset are now confronting an almost complete absence of offensive output, which is severely impacting their team’s performance in the rankings.

With a drastic decline in available talent, clinging to hopes that Alec Bohm or similar late finds might turn fortunes around seems unrealistic.

In the current competitive arena, tackling the challenges of the third base requires a proactive stance, with vigilance toward the waiver wire being crucial.

This task has transformed from a leisurely weekend activity into a relentless, daily pursuit, aimed at extracting every bit of potential from the remaining pool of players.

If you check your league’s waiver wire and find Nationals infielder Curtis Mead sitting out there unclaimed, you need to add him to your roster immediately.

The young infielder has completely transformed his approach at the plate this year, providing a legitimate, high-impact offensive surge that can single-handedly rescue your infield metrics. Through 80 games, Mead boasts an incredible .502 slugging percentage with 17 home runs and 44 runs batted in across 259 at-bats.

This breakout is entirely sustainable based on his underlying data profile. Mead is generating a spectacular 131 weighted-runs-created-plus, meaning his overall offensive production is 31 percent above the league average.

He pairs that with a premium .365 weighted on-base average (wOBA) and a career-high 11.9 percent barrel rate. By lowering his strikeout rate to an impressive 18.6 percent and maintaining a 42.6 percent hard-hit rate, Mead is making authoritative contact every night. He represents the absolute premier target to cure your third base headaches.

If a savvy league mate has already beaten you to Mead, your pivoting strategy might want to shift immediately to recent Athletics call-up Tommy White.

The former collegiate standout has hit his way into the big leagues after showcasing serious raw power throughout his professional development.

During his 2026 minor league campaign, White posted a strong .303 batting average with 10 home runs and 64 runs batted in over 314 at-bats. This translated to a heavy .489 slugging percentage and a highly productive .834 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage).

Plus, his career minor league track record is equally reassuring, featuring a steady .279 average and 129 runs batted in over 194 games.

He also kept his strikeout rate down at a disciplined 14.3 percent. And if you’re looking for a cherry on top of that sundae, White plays his home games at Sutter Health Park, a notorious hitter-friendly environment that significantly inflates offensive metrics.

Learn all you need to know about MLB Betting

Fantasy championships are not won by managers who accept mediocre production and wait for luck to change. If your third base slot is tanking your roster, get aggressive and work the waiver wire.

Grab Curtis Mead for steady, elite production, or gamble on the raw power of Tommy White before the rest of your league wakes up right now.

Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy , catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Ch. 87) weekdays from 6-8 p.m. and dominate your leagues with the latest baseball news and advice from Fantasy Alarm. 

In a thrilling performance at London Stadium on Saturday, Josh Kerr obliterated a world mile record that had stood untouched for 27 years.

Embraced by the cheers of an electrified crowd of 60,000 during the London Diamond League, the 28-year-old from Britain clocked in at a staggering three minutes and 42.66 seconds—222.66 seconds in total—surpassing Hicham El Guerrouj’s venerable record by an impressive 0.45 seconds.

Kerr had set a goal to complete the mile in 222 seconds, a feat he accomplished to become the fastest British runner to ever claim the world record at this distance.

The previous record had been established by El Guerrouj in 1999, back when Kerr was just a toddler of one.

Having seized the 2023 world 1500m champion title, Kerr declared his ambition as early as March, setting his sights on breaking the Moroccan’s record in front of a home crowd. His strategic training regime even involved recovery ice baths lasting 222 seconds—reflecting his unwavering commitment to achieving history.

‘It’s very overwhelming with the amount of hype [I created]. 

‘It’s silly to call [the attempt] that early because there’s a lot of things which can go wrong, but I am surrounded by amazing people and was able to stay consistent and put the work in,’ Kerr told BBC Sport.

‘If I am to leave my mark on this sport as a British legend, following in the footsteps of the legends behind me, I have to put in those performances.

‘Those performances take every single part of you, every single part of your team. 

‘The amount of work behind the scenes is incredible. Today, it was a performance I was able to bring out – I just hoped it would be a little bit faster!’

Kerr, who was presented with a cheque for £38,000 for breaking the record, shaved almost three seconds off his own personal best. 

The record had been untouched since 1999 – when Kerr would have been aged one. 

He was joined on the start line today by American Yared Nuguse, fourth on the all-time list and a fierce opponent to the Olympic silver medallist’s challenge.  

Nonetheless, the Scotsman came through victorious. He started off with two pacemakers, who both left by the 1,000-metre mark. 

His first 1,500m were faster than his British record for that distance and he did not stop there – continuing to the finish line with an emotional finish. 

He lifted his arms in elation as he crossed the finish line, punching the air as the crowd got to their feet. 

Josh Kerr has always made his daring ambitions known, having announced he would be aiming to smash the mile world record in London four months before this historic run. 

It’s a strong comeback for the athlete, who saw his gold medal dreams shattered at the World Championships in Tokyo last September when he suffered a calf injury. 

His coach, Danny Mackey, confirmed the Brit had set his sights on the mile world record months ago, and the pair had worked relentlessly since to make it happen today. 

Kerr even documented the training building up to Saturday’s world-record attempt. 

The endeavour was titled ‘Project 222’ – the total number of seconds standing between him and the world record. 

The documentary culminated in a 1,200m time trial which predicted he would be in good enough shape to achieve the world record, as Kerr clocked two minutes 42.45 seconds, leaving him with more than one minute to cover the remaining 400m. 

Kerr was kitted in specially designed spikes and a ‘bespoke speed suit’ by his sponsors Brooks in London for the world record attempt. 

He wore an all-in-one which had laser-cut perforations to improve breathability in the July heat and enhance his aerodynamics. 

The spikes were also customised to maximise Kerr’s biomechanics, featuring a carbon plate and aggressive rocker for propulsion, and titanium pins to keep the shoe lightweight. 

Kerr clocked an impressive set of 13.7 seconds for each of the final three 100m splits after passing the 1,200m mark at two minutes 46.5 seconds on Saturday. 

The athlete has become one of the biggest names in athletics over the past five years, known for his confident and bold challenges to other prominent athletes – including Norway’s middle-distance star Jakob Ingebrigtsen. 

Kerr has made the Olympic podium twice before and won three world titles. In one of his most nail-biting races to watch, he beat Ingebrigtsen in 2023 when he won the 1500m in Budapest. 

In an unexpected twist, a new track mysteriously surfaced on D4vd’s Spotify profile, even as the artist, whose real name is David Burke, faces incarceration on murder charges.

The track, intriguingly titled “Marcescence,” lasts about 2 minutes and 40 seconds. It remains visible on his Spotify account, although listeners are unable to play it.

The song is accompanied by an image showcasing Burke, in what appears to be a bathroom mirror selfie, reflecting his characteristic style.

The sudden appearance of the song raises questions, as the reasons behind its release are still shrouded in mystery.

A YouTube video, precisely the same length as the Spotify song, features scenes of Burke turning the camera on himself while posing in a mirror. The video transitions to a roadway backdrop, with dynamic shots capturing lights and offering sweeping panoramas, intermittently reverting to the mirror clips of Burke.

Listeners believe the track is actually the unreleased song “I Think She Knows” track, which matches video’s lyrics.

D4vd was charged with murdering Celeste Rivas Hernandez and chopping up her body, which police found in the trunk of his Tesla, on April 20.

He had a lengthy relationship with Hernandez, who was just 14 at the time of her death.

He’s pleaded not guilty to all charges against him, which also included lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under 14 and mutilation of a body.

Burke is awaiting a preliminary hearing in the case set for July 21.

For nearly three decades, Senator Lindsey Graham maintained a daily tradition with his communications director, Kevin Bishop. Each morning after 9 a.m., Graham would ring Bishop to get the latest scoop on the news.

“Lindsey was never an early riser,” Bishop fondly recalled in an interview with the Daily Mail, following Graham’s passing last Saturday.

Graham, widely recognized for his vibrant presence in Washington, D.C., enjoyed socializing over meals and drinks with peers. Known for staying up late, he embraced the city’s nightlife and camaraderie.

As the “early bird” in the pair, Bishop would prepare early each day to brief Graham. This set a pace that allowed the senator to start his duties on the right foot.

“We spoke daily, taking a pause only on Christmas,” Bishop added, emphasizing the consistency of their routine.

That’s the kind of senator that Graham was, Bishop said, a person who poured his entire life into his work and did not take off holidays, or sick days, or personal days.

‘Lindsey worked incessantly… that guy never took a day off. Even when he was on the golf course, he was working,’ he said. ‘I think in his mind, God gave you so much time on this earth, and that he wasn’t gonna waste any of it.’

Bishop spoke with the Daily Mail as he traveled to DC to meet with former friends and colleagues to remember their former boss.

Graham inspired great loyalty from his staff, Bishop said, as many of them stayed working for him for decades, some for even 32 or 34 years.

‘The joke was if you had been here only ten years, you were still new to the job and still learning,’ he said.

Graham would joke about everything, he recalled, ever the uncensored comedian making his way through his very busy life. 

‘I want to die, but no time soon,’ Graham would frequently joke with journalists and his Senate colleagues, citing the amount of work he had to do.

‘He took the issues and he took his job serious, but he never took himself too serious,’ Bishop said. 

When President Donald Trump first took office, Graham was one of many Republican senators who found the President abrasive, embarrassing, and politically foolish.

As Senate Republicans braced for a difficult four years, Graham started making a point of pushing back against Trump publicly.

‘When he was on your team, Lindsay could really move the ball and when he was on the opposite side, he could really stop things,’ Bishop said.

A group of influential mutual friends with both men, however, urged them to get together.

‘They said, ‘Listen here y’all need to go meet, we honestly think you’ll like each other a lot,’ Bishop recalled.

Before long, the pair hit the golf course together and became fast friends.

‘Their love language was golf,’ Bishop said.

Both of them had a great sense of humor and Graham learned what Trump appreciated most: honesty, directness, irreverence, and a healthy dose of respect.

‘If you thought he was funny in public, you should have heard him in private,’ Bishop said. ‘I tell you, the guy could have been a stand-up comedian, he had the best sense of humor I’ve ever seen.’

Livid Trump opponents in the Senate were furious when Graham emerged with a relationship with the President that resembled a buddy comedy.

‘They had a ball of laughs,’ Bishop said. ‘Lindsey always said if that if we had a lot more golf then politics would be a lot better off.’

Trump took his calls, and Graham loved phoning him at all hours of the day to offer his advice.

Democrats were appalled at the new Lindsey Graham who once denounced Trump in strong moral terms but soon became one of his fiercest defenders.

Graham’s friendship with Trump angered many of his Senate colleagues, including some ‘Never Trump’ Republicans.

‘There were some people that literally despised him, but Lindsey Graham never hated anybody,’ Bishop said.

No one was more saddened by Graham’s pivot than his old friend Joe Biden, who once traveled with him on a foreign Senate Congressional Delegation (CODEL).

‘Lindsey is about to go down in a way that I think he’s going to regret his whole life,’ Biden said in 2019. ‘I say, Lindsey, I’m just embarrassed by what you’re doing, for you.’

Graham’s friendship with Trump drew more angry protests wherever he went, but it did not change his demeanor.

Bishop recalled Graham crossing the street to meet with protesters and shake their hands.

‘He would say, listen here, sorry we disagree on this but I appreciate you caring enough for your country to make your voice heard,’ he said. ‘It shocked the living s**t out of them that he would do that.’

Graham was never an angry person, Bishop recalled.

‘I yelled at him more than he ever yelled at me, he was not a yeller, that was not his thing,’ he said.

That made the morning of September 27, 2018 all the more remarkable at the height of the controversy surrounding Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

As Kavanaugh made his way through the confirmation process, Democrats surfaced at the last hour a questionable allegation of sexual assault from Christine Blasey Ford who claimed the incident took place in high school.

Bishop recalled that Graham woke up furious the morning of the Senate hearing with Kavanaugh, which was very unlike the typically gregarious South Carolina senator.

‘He was so damn mad, he was madder than a hornet. I was honestly worried about what he would say because he can use colorful language,’ he recalled.

Graham prided himself in taking seriously the Senate’s advise and consent role, risking himself politically to vote to confirm President Barack Obama’s Supreme court Justice nominees Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor.

Senate Democrats were not returning the favor, doing everything they could do to stop Kavanaugh.

When Graham began using his time during the committee hearing, Bishop and his colleagues braced for impact.

Graham was clearly struggling to hold back, despite his fury staffers noted, until he finally unleashed.

‘What you want to do is destroy this guy’s life, hold this seat open and hope you win in 2020,’ Graham said, his normally cheerful face twisted into a scowl.

He described the proceedings as the ‘most unethical sham since I’ve been in politics.’

‘Boy, you all want power. God, I hope you never get it,’ he said. ‘I hope the American people can see through this sham.’

Graham’s staffers breathed a sigh of relief, after personally experiencing his uncharacteristic rage.

‘What you all heard was the calm and controlled version,’ he chuckled. ‘They would still be paying the FPC fines if he had said on the air or at that hearing what he had said to us beforehand.’

Bishop said the last time he communicated with Graham was on the Senator’s birthday, July 9th, when he sent him a text message. He knew his former boss was in Ukraine and didn’t like speaking on the phone as he suspected the Russians were always listening. 

In response, Graham texted back to say he would call him when he got back to the United States. 

That call never came.  

LOS ANGELES — In an unfolding legal development, Paul Pelosi, spouse of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, found himself facing a misdemeanor charge for a hit-and-run incident involving a parked vehicle.

The 86-year-old was behind the wheel of his brown convertible on July 3 while traversing Yountville, California—a picturesque town nestled in the wine country—when he collided with a vehicle legally stationed at the roadside. The Napa County Sheriff’s Office had previously relayed that Pelosi halted momentarily but allegedly left the scene shortly thereafter. Fortunately, the parked car was empty, and no one sustained any injuries.

Importantly, authorities confirmed that alcohol was not a factor in the accident, as Pelosi’s system was clear of any traces, according to the same statement.

The video in the player above is from a previous report.

California law mandates that drivers involved in property damage incidents must stop to exchange their vehicle and license details. Pelosi’s decision to leave led to a misdemeanor charge for violating this requirement, alongside a citation for making an illegal turn, as stated by Napa County prosecutors on Friday.

No attorney for Paul Pelosi was listed in court records. Nancy Pelosi’s press office did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment.

Paul Pelosi’s court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 14.

Pelosi pleaded guilty in 2022 to misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence in Napa County and was sentenced to five days in jail and three years of probation. He served two days in jail and received good conduct credit for two other days, leaving just one day to serve in a work program at the courthouse.

As part of his probation, Pelosi was required to pay thousands in fines and victim restitution, attend a three-month drinking driver class and install an ignition interlock device, which forces drivers to provide a breath sample to prove sobriety before the engine will start.

That same year he was attacked and severely beaten with a hammer at the couple’s San Francisco home.