Bev Craig Defends Andy Burnham Over Abu Dhabi Ties Amid Parliamentary and Policy Updates

Bev Craig has defended Andy Burnham over Manchester's relations with Abu Dhabi, telling the Manchester Evening News that the city's ties have been used for "cheap shots" against him. The remarks follow a report by HoldtheFrontPage stating that the MEN found "nothing conclusive" to implicate Burnham in the Manchester City scandal. Broader questions surrounding Manchester City have also drawn commentary in the national press. The Guardian reported that the football regulator has "absolute power" to force a Manchester City sale if a verdict is upheld, while Philipp Lahm wrote in The Guardian that football must not be detached from its roots as was the case with Manchester City.

Economic and parliamentary pressures affecting both Manchester and Burnham's administration have also been highlighted. According to The Telegraph, Burnham has been warned that a bank tax raid in Budget 2026 would hurt Manchester. At the national level, Al Jazeera marked three months of Prime Minister Andy Burnham by asking whether he can sustain the "hope vibe", while The Times examined the latest polls on Burnham's approval rating. During Prime Minister's Questions, the Manchester Evening News reported via Facebook that Prime Minister Burnham faced a grilling from MPs following a controversial Jackdaw oil approval and fears over "overspending".

Alongside parliamentary scrutiny, several domestic policy announcements affecting households and motorists have been reported. The Manchester Evening News reported that the Andy Burnham government has announced a major rule change for households without a driveway. Separately, About Manchester reported that Burnham has launched a campaign against unfair car parking charges, while a post on Facebook noted that Burnham's government confirmed a move to end "double provision".

Burnham has also commented on social, generational, and sporting issues. Third Sector reported that the Prime Minister said the voluntary sector is "absolutely critical" to the country's success, and LBC reported that Burnham "strongly agrees" Gen Z has life harder than Boomers. In football, AOL.co.uk reported that Burnham aired a major gripe with VAR as the Prime Minister was pushed on banning the technology.