The Know Daily - Monday 6 July 2026

_{Read in 4m 09s ∙ Listening to Demi Lovato ∙}

New research suggests London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) has been linked to a drop in hospital admissions for both cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Researchers found admissions fell by 8.1% for cardiovascular conditions and 6.2% for respiratory illnesses in central London, adding to growing evidence that cleaner air can have real benefits for public health. 💚

🇬🇧 Andy Burnham: who is he and what does he stand for?

After Sir Keir Starmer announced he would step down, Andy Burnham looks set to become the UK's next Prime Minister. But who is he, and what happens next?

A quick bio.
Andy Burnham is the Labour MP for Makerfield and is expected to take over from Starmer after he resigned two weeks ago. If confirmed, he will become Britain's seventh prime minister in 10 years. Before returning to Parliament, he spent almost a decade as Mayor of Greater Manchester and previously served in several senior Labour cabinet roles, including Health Secretary under Gordon Brown. 

OK, so how does he become Prime Minister without an election?
The UK doesn't elect its Prime Minister directly. Instead, the leader of the political party that commands a majority in the House of Commons becomes Prime Minister. Because Labour already has a parliamentary majority, the party can choose a new leader without holding a general election. Once the leadership contest concludes, the King is expected to invite the new Labour leader to form a government.

So what does Burnham stand for?
One of Burnham’s big-hitters is that he wants to shift power away from Westminster and give more decision-making to regions and cities across England. In his first policy speech last week, he even launched the idea of a "No 10 in the North" which would include a new Downing Street team based in Manchester.  He has also spoken about:

🏘️ Building more affordable and social housing.
🚆 Investing in transport and infrastructure outside London.
🏭 Supporting manufacturing and the regeneration of former industrial towns.
💧 Giving the state greater oversight of essential services such as water, housing, energy and transport.
🌍 Pursuing economic growth while placing greater emphasis on reducing regional inequalities.

He's also expected to keep Labour's broad commitments on defence, NATO and fiscal responsibility, although many detailed policies are still being developed.

What are people saying about him?
Supporters say Burnham has a strong track record as Mayor of Greater Manchester, pointing to improvements in transport and his work to bring more investment to the region. They also say he understands the concerns of people outside London better than many politicians in Westminster. Critics, however, question whether running a city-region is enough experience to lead the whole country. Others say his plans to spend more on housing, transport and public services could be difficult to pay for while keeping within Labour's spending rules. Some have also criticised the idea of him becoming Prime Minister without a competitive leadership contest, arguing he should face more scrutiny before taking office.

So what happens next?
Labour's leadership contest formally opens on Thursday, but Burnham is expected to face little or no opposition. According to Politico, he is expected to become Labour leader and move into Downing Street on 20 July, with civil servants already holding "access talks" to prepare for the transition. Parliament will then be in its summer recess, meaning Burnham's first weeks in office are likely to focus on appointing his Cabinet and setting out his priorities before MPs return in September.

💰 Money Monday: A new €3 customs duty has begun taking effect across the EU, ending years of tax-free shopping from platforms like SHEIN and Temu.

• The bigger story: The new charge applies to products imported into the EU that were previously exempt from customs duties if they were worth less than €150. The European Commission says the changes are designed to create a fairer playing field for EU retailers, improve checks on imported goods and make people think more about paying for fast fashion’s environmental impact. Shoppers may also see higher checkout costs on multi-item orders, with further handling fees and stricter border checks being considered later this year.

⚽ ️ England have won 3-2 against Mexico after a delayed kick-off followed by a “heroic” performance (dare we say, it could be coming home? 👀).

📱 The NHS app is set to use AI to determine which service is most appropriate for patients, it has been announced. 

✈️ One of the more unusual jobs we’ve spotted: a Global Charisma Scout will spend eight weeks travelling around Europe having chats with strangers. Here’s how you can apply.

🍃 The natural history of every US state is on display at a new museum exhibition in Washington DC, celebrating the country's 250th anniversary.

🫧 The “bubble wrapping” workplace trend is sweeping across social media – this is what the experts have to say about it.

🔗 Last week’s most clicked: WhatsApp usernames, the EU Entry/Exit system and the most beautiful cities in the world.

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Trivia answer: A) Apparently their cure for it was a holiday in France… we can get on board with that!

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