Parliament is about to go into recess from 17 July until 1 September, but that doesn't mean UK politics falls into a slumber and hibernates throughout the summer.
Starting with the EHRC's draft Code of Practice, which faced widespread backlash from trans+ campaigners and the wider LGBTQ+ communities: the 40-day period in which Parliament was able to challenge the guidance has now passed. Although 166 MPs from across the House signed EDM 240, tabled by Nadia Whittome MP, in an attempt to stop the guidance, the challenge was not successful. The way is now paved for the government to bring the Code into force, although that date has not yet been set.
Over the course of this recess period, we will undoubtedly hear more about timetables, and about actions by campaign groups.
No contest for leader: Andy Burnham will become Prime Minister in a few weeks' time.
There will be another seismic change in the political sphere. The Labour Party has officially started the nomination process for a new leader. Andy Burnham is the only candidate so far and has amassed the backing of 322 MPs. That means no other candidate would be able to reach the threshold of 81 nominations needed to enter the race.
Given that there will be no contest, Andy Burnham is expected to enter 10 Downing Street on 20 July, after being officially confirmed as Labour leader on 17 July and invited by the King to form a new government.
The country is still figuring out what kind of prime minister Andy Burnham will be. His communication style already forms a stark contrast to Keir Starmer's. Burnham and his team have been publishing a series of videos in which the PM-in-waiting gives previews of his everyday life as a new MP, while also using them to set out policy positions and explain the kind of politics he wants to pursue.
His most recent video explained his stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Foreign policy is considered Andy Burnham's weakness, an area he had little to no contact with as Mayor of Greater Manchester.
There is another policy field that leaves our communities in particular with plenty of question marks above our heads: what is Andy Burnham's position on LGBTQ+ equality?
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