Andy Burnham set to be next UK PM; historic Bayeux Tapestry arrives in UK

Andy Burnham is positioned to become the next UK Prime Minister, with nominations for the Labour Party leadership race underway. Having secured overwhelming support from Labour lawmakers, Burnham is expected to be confirmed as the new leader around July 17, 2026, and is set to take office as Prime Minister on July 20. His ascent follows his recent return to Parliament as the MP for Makerfield in June 2026.

Concurrently, the United Kingdom is experiencing a severe heatwave, its third official period of extreme heat this year. Temperatures are anticipated to reach between 35-36°C in parts of England, prompting health warnings and amber heat-health alerts from authorities due to potential impacts on health and social care services. This ongoing heatwave has already seen temperatures exceed 34°C for several days, breaking previous records.

Amidst these national events, former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe has passed away at the age of 78 on July 10, 2026. Tributes are being paid to Widdecombe, who had a lengthy and often controversial political career as both an MP and an MEP, and later became a prominent media personality and a member of Reform UK.