Baroness Harman praised Burnham for saying he will reach out more to the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), attending their weekly meetings and voting alongside Labour MPs in parliament. Politics latest: Follow live She also backed Burnham's claim that he will require ministers to engage with Labour MPs more, and to use the whipping system as more like a HR department rather than to "punish" MPs. But speaking to our political editor Beth Rigby on Sky's Electoral Dysfunction podcast, former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson called Burnham's plans "absolute vapid bollocks". Baroness Harman, who was deputy Labour leader from 2007 to 2015, said Burnham has "got this different organism now, which is not just ministers sitting in their departments and him sitting in Number 10 and issuing edicts from the whips, but a kind of bottom-up thing from MPs' constituencies right through to Number 10 and him as prime minister, because he'll be mingling with them on a regular basis". "And I cannot tell you how different that is from how things work currently," she added. Baroness Davidson, however, was sceptical that Burnham would attend a meeting of the PLP every week. She said that if Burnham attends the PLP more than once every three months it would be "nonsense". She criticised "the idea that he's gonna stay home and do that instead of go to the G7 or NATO". Burnham received 322 nominations to become Labour leader on Thursday, with nominations open until Wednesday. He's expected to become Labour leader on 17 July, and prime minister on 20 July. Baroness Harman added that while a lot of Labour MPs "wish we weren't here and it had worked out better for Starmer", most are "really, really happy" about Burnham likely becoming leader. But, she said there were still "tough choices" that Burnham would have to make, such as on welfare reform. It was the discontent of many Labour MPs over Starmer's attempt to reduce the welfare bill that some have cited as the beginning of his leadership troubles, which ended with his resignation last month. Burnham has said he will devolve more power to mayors to help people get back into work, which he hopes will reduce the benefits bill. To listen to Electoral Dysfunction twice a week - including the members-only Sky News Insider edition - click here. Subscribers to Sky News Insider will be able to enjoy ad-free access, bonus episodes and early releases. (Requires paid subscription. UK only. 18+).

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Labour MP Lauren Edwards is sponsoring the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill after coming second in a ballot of backbench MPs wanting to introduce their own draft laws. The bill would give people in England and Wales who are over 18, terminally ill, and in the final six months of their life, the ability to request assistance from a doctor to die. Politics latest: Follow live It will next be debated and voted on by MPs on 11 September. Speaking to Sky News, Ms Edwards said she was reintroducing it because the "conversation on the bill was interrupted. All we want is for that conversation to continue and conclude." The Rochester and Strood MP also told Sky News she had had "early conversations" with Andy Burnham's team over the bill. Mr Burnham - who is expected to become prime minister on 20 July - has previously said he was supportive of the principle of the bill, but that hospices need to be "properly funded and sorted out" before an assisted dying law was passed. Ms Edwards said she wouldn't expect the government's position of neutrality on the principle of assisted dying to change under a new prime minister. On the progress of the bill, she said her aim was for MPs to send it "back to the Lords as soon as possible" to give them "as much time as possible" to continue their scrutiny. The preferred option of Ms Edwards was that peers "finish their work on the bill" and send it back to the Commons to agree any changes they want to make to it. The bill ran out of time to pass during the last parliamentary session, with peers only debating half of the amendments proposed. Supporters accused critical peers of purposefully running down the clock - but they fiercely deny this and insist they are just trying to improve what they think is a poorly designed piece of legislation. Many supporters were angry at what they said was the "undemocratic" blocking of the bill by peers, since it had been passed by elected MPs. Ms Edwards was clear that the Parliament Act is there "as a backstop". The Parliament Act says that the same bill, passed twice passed by MPs but rejected by peers in two consecutive sessions, becomes law anyway. It's rarely used, only twice this century. Never before has it been used for a private members' bill - although officials have confirmed it could, in theory. Ms Edwards told Sky News her "understanding is the Parliament Act could be used again next session as well, so my message to MPs and peers is: let's get this dealt with". The bill is controversial, and some MPs are known to be unhappy with the bill as it stands, and think it doesn't contain enough safeguards for vulnerable people. Critics are concerned about people feeling like a burden or being coerced into seeking an assisted death. Ms Edwards, however, insists the bill is safe. In order for the Parliament Act to apply, the bill can't be changed in the Commons, with any amendments having to be handled in the Lords. More on assisted dying:MP urges peers 'not to block' assisted dying billHow the assisted dying bill could still become law Matthew England, researcher at the independent parliamentary charity the Hansard Society, told Sky News: "Supposing that the Commons passes an amended version of the assisted dying bill this [parliamentary] session, and the Lords again fails to pass it, the Parliament Act can't be used this session because the two bills would not be identical." But that amended bill could be reintroduced by an MP who comes high up enough in the next backbench ballot. "If the Commons passes a version of the bill in the next session which is identical to the version this session, the Parliament Act can apply if the Lords fails to pass that version again," Mr England said. 'Finish the process' Ms Edwards said that "now is the time to finish this process rather than risk it coming back again and again". She added that her "hope is the Parliament Act is only there as a deterrent to prevent peers running down the clock" on the bill again. While she said a "minority of peers talked out the bill", she said she wanted to work with peers who put down "good faith amendments". The bill's sponsors accept that some changes could be made to it, with its sponsor in the Lords, Charlie Falconer, agreeing to back almost 80. But critics hit out at the suggestion the bill could keep coming back until it was passed. A source close to Labour MPs opposed to the bill said that supporters "are so obsessed with this unsafe bill they seem to be prepared to twist this entire parliament out of shape". They continued: "Most MPs wish they would commit this much time and energy to fixing their deeply flawed bill or sorting palliative care provision so everyone has the care they need at the end of life." Assisted dying is set to be legalised in Jersey next week, making it the first place in the British Isles where assisted dying is legal. That bill officially became law on Thursday and will come into force when it is registered at Jersey's royal court "in the coming days". Assisted dying services are set to begin operating on the island late next year.

She served as a Conservative MP for Maidstone, Kent, for 23 years from 1987 to 2010 and held several positions in Sir John Major's government. A statement from her management said: "It is with great sadness that today we announce the death of the Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe, DSG. "We send our deepest condolences to Ann's family and friends. We ask that the family's wish not to be contacted at this sad time is respected." Ms Widdecombe left the Conservatives in 2019 and joined the Brexit Party, serving as an MEP representing South West England in Brussels between 2019 and 2020. She joined Reform UK, the successor to the Brexit Party, as a supporter in 2023 and appeared at the party's conference the following year as its immigration spokesperson. In a tribute on X, Reform leader Nigel Farage said: "When Ann Widdecombe decided to stand for The Brexit Party in the snap 2019 European Elections, it was a big moment and huge boost. The voters loved her. "She played a decisive role in getting Brexit over the line and will be missed by us all." A spokeswoman for Sir Keir Starmer described her as "a distinctive figure in British politics". She said the prime minister was "saddened" by her death and "pays tribute to the conviction and dedication with which she served her country". Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said Ms Widdecombe was a "formidable politician". She wrote on social media: "My deepest condolences and those of the Conservative Party to the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe. "She was a formidable politician who was never afraid to speak her mind and fought hard for what she believed. Always true to herself, her politics were strongly guided by her faith and her values. Rest in Peace, Ann." Former prime minister Boris Johnson described her as "a heroic Brexiteer and a great speaker". He said Ms Widdecombe "could move Tory audiences to such ecstasy that she was a very hard act to follow." 'Firm views' Health Secretary James Murray said Ms Widdecombe was "never shy of having quite firm views", adding that everyone "can recognise the contribution that she made to politics". Mr Murray told Times Radio: "I think she's been such a large part of our politics for many years. I mean, she was never shy of having quite firm views and sharing them quite willingly, and I can't say I always agreed with her views, but she was such a part of our politics. "I think everyone can kind of recognise the contribution that she made to politics and the role that she played in our public life." Ms Widdecombe also appeared on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, partnering with Anton Du Beke, in 2010. She famously clashed with her Conservative colleague Michael Howard, when she was a Home Office minister and he was home secretary, describing him as having "something of the night about him". She also faced flak for defending a policy of chaining pregnant prisoners to their beds. Prominent Eurosceptic Throughout her political career, Ms Widdecombe was a prominent Eurosceptic and supported the Vote Leave campaign in the 2016 Brexit referendum. In a statement, her management company said she "loved the cut and thrust of political debate" and was a "consummate professional". Read more from Sky News:Hosepipe ban for millions more peopleWoman forced to bury husband in Cape Verde Her management continued: "Her life and career were driven by her strong Christian values and commitment to public service. "She loved the cut and thrust of political debate and, 16 years after leaving Parliament, was still actively campaigning for Reform UK and offering forthright views on the hot topics of the day across numerous radio and television programmes. "Ann was a valued patron of many causes, particularly her animal charities. "As Ann once said on The Graham Norton Show, 'we get one go this side of eternity, one go. Life is not a dress rehearsal, you take opportunities that you like and you go for it, that's my philosophy'. "A consummate professional and a delight to work with, indefatigable to the last, we know this news will come as a great shock to the many colleagues and friends she made along the way and our sympathies go to them and her family."

Rachel Reeves says if Nigel Farage wants to "spend the summer arguing with a bin" then that's up to him. The Reform leader triggered a by-election by resigning this week. He is standing again to fight for the seat. Count Binface is one of those planning to stand against him in Clacton but the main parties will not be there. Beth, Ruth and Harriet dig into whether there are cracks in Farage's plan to reset the narrative after claims about his financial arrangements. Plus, Beth is fresh off the prime minister's plane from Turkey where Sir Keir Starmer was given an illegal gift he couldn't bring back with him. Andy Burnham has also promised MPs an overhaul in party culture. Harriet and Ruth debate whether the changes will ever happen. To listen without ads, get new episodes a week early, exclusive bonus episodes and much more, become a Sky News Insider. Find out more and subscribe at https://skynews.com/electoraldysfunction Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk. Sky News Insider requires a paid subscription and is available to UK listeners aged 18 and over. All those planning to stand in Clacton by-election: Adham Alkhatip, Forward Party Count Binface, Independent Piers Corbyn, Independent Nigel Farage, Reform Laurence Fox, Reclaim Party Ollie Granger, Independent Luke Worley, Independent