News

WATCH: Rayner Blasts Starmer for Blocking Andy Burnham

Applause in the room from the trade unionists. Tanks on lawn…

LIVE: Rayner Gives Speech

“Our party has suffered historic defeats… It’s clear what we are doing isn’t working and it needs to change.” “We as a party have to do better than this… putting the common interest ahead of factionalism… start by accepting that Andy Burnham should never have been blocked.” “We need immediate action to cut the cost…

No10: Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman Will Not Attend Cabinet

Downing Street has admitted Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman will not attend Cabinet in their unpaid, potemkin roles as ‘Special Envoy on Global Finance and Cooperation’ and Adviser on Women and Girls’ respectively. As was obvious the moment these positions were announced, they exist purely as a firefighting exercise. A bit like bringing a water…

Stalking Horse Catherine West Petitions for Leadership Contest in September

Weekend stalking horse Catherine West’s message to Labour MPs just now: “I have listened to the Prime Minister’s speech this morning. I welcome the renewed energy and ideas. However, I have reluctantly concluded that this morning’s speech was too little too late. The results last Thursday show that the PM has failed to inspire hope.…

Labour Wars: Values and Convictions

Guido members get exclusive access to Labour Wars, the inside track on what’s really happening at the top of government. Tomorrow’s news, today… Fawkes Friends and Premium Plotters also receive priority tickets to all our events, including our upcoming debate, Is Britain Broken, featuring Zia Yusuf, Fraser Nelson, and David Frost. Click here to become a…

Starmer’s Emergency Reset Speech Falls Flat With Reheated Policies

The key points from Starmer’s do-or-die speech, featuring three reheated policies and repeated soundbites from previous resets: Refused to resign and vowed to fight any leadership challenge: “I’m not going to walk away”. Will “put Britain at the heart of Europe” and “repair” the UK-EU relationship at the next EU summit. Suitably vague… Legislation this…

LIVE: Starmer Delivers Emergency Leadership Reset Speech

His (many) enemies in the PLP are watching closely… UPDATES: “I know I have my doubters, I know I need to prove them wrong. And I will.” Tory leadership changes did lasting damage: “Labour would never be forgiven for inflicting that on our country again.”

Sadiq Khan Attacks Reeves and Mahmood, Says Burnham Should Enter Commons

Sadiq Khan has done an interview with ex-New Statesman hack George Eaton’s new magazine. Khan has laid out his personal platform: Rejoin the EU: “A general election victory would give us a mandate to rejoin the European Union, we should have it on the ballot paper: a vote for Labour is a vote to rejoin.”…

Peter Kyle: Burnham Should Not Return Before Next General Election

Peter Kyle on Sky News this morning, acting as Number 10’s ambassador from the bunker: “Andy Burnham left Westminster to go to Manchester, and he made a series of promises. I think promises matter…” Kyle also reckons Starmer should serve another eight years in Downing Street. He doubled down on LBC: “[Burnham] chose to leave…

Rich’s Monday Morning View

Rayner Calls for Burnham’s Return as Leadership Hype Explodes

The state of play currently: Rayner’s first public remarks since Labour’s local election defeat: She calls on Starmer to end a “toxic culture of cronyism.” Says Labour must tack left: “What we are doing isn’t working, and it needs to change. This may be our last chance.” Warns Labour is “in danger of becoming a…

Phillipson Admits Labour’s “Shortcomings” But Insists Starmer Will Still Be PM at Election

An exasperated Bridget Phillipson speaking to Laura Kuenssberg: “We’ve had a real kicking. Keir knows that, I know that… I’m not going to come on here and say that there aren’t big and serious national issues that we have to address. We can, and we will. But I just do not believe that the message…