My letter to the Prime Minister

I’ve been writing about Andy Burnham in Manchester for a while. We’ve had a few run-ins but I think he has qualities that many people don’t appreciate and weaknesses that spell trouble. I wrote this for @ManchesterMill - I hope it’s insightful and fair. manchestermill.co.uk/stop-lo…

🥀 I still can't believe that Reform won Gateshead, my home town, last week. Amid all of the Labour chaos, we've almost lost sight of the electoral earthquake. The red wall has collapsed again — this time it is likely for good. Latest @thetimes column thetimes.com/comment/columni…

BREAKING via @BBCBenWright Catherine West is not standing for the leadership but she calls for an "orderly transition" by September "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 Prime Minister has failed to inspire hope. "What is best for the party and country now is for an orderly transition. "I am hereby giving notice to No10 that I am collecting names of Labour MPs to call on the Prime Minister to set a timetable for the election of a new leader in September. "I want to thank everyone who has been in contact over the weekend to offer good wishes. We need our best top team in place to fight the next election. We owe working people up and down the country nothing less."

Keir Starmer has appointed Harriet Harman as the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Women and Girls.

I’m over the moon to be re-elected as a councillor for Abbey Road alongside my brilliant colleagues @FestAKINBUSOYE and Caroline Sargent. It has been a fantastic night here for the @Conservatives. Westminster City Council is blue once again!

EXCLUSIVE with @patrickkmaguire and @Geri_E_L_Scott Ed Miliband has privately suggested to Sir Keir Starmer that he should consider setting out a timeline for his departure amid concerns he will be forced out of No 10 in the wake of the election results, The Times has been told Two sources familiar with the discussion said that the energy secretary and former Labour leader made the suggestion during a private meeting with the prime minister about a fortnight ago While Miliband remains supportive of Starmer he is concerned that Labour will descend into a bitter and damaging leadership contest in the wake of the elections, which are expected to be disastrous for Starmer Angela Rayner, the former deputy prime minister, and Wes Streeting, the health secretary, are both said to have the support of the 81 Labour MPs needed to trigger a contest. Rayner is considering making a move despite the fact she has not been cleared by HM Revenue & Customs over her tax affairs Miliband is viewed by allies as a “kingmaker” to a potential run for the leadership by Andy Burnham. Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, is understood to have told supporters in recent days that a backbench MP is willing to stand down as soon as this weekend to facilitate his return to Westminster Miliband will join cabinet loyalists in backing Starmer this weekend, but he has significant concerns about the risk of Labour descending into a civil war and the damage it would do to the party and the government unless the prime minister sets a timeline for his departure He is understood to have raised his concerns during a private discussion with Starmer during which the two men talked about the aftermath of the elections A spokesman for Miliband would not comment on “private conversations” but said: “We do not accept this account.” He did not dispute that the discussion had taken place and declined to say how the accounts differed. “Ed has always supported the prime minister and continues to do so as he delivers on his mandate for change,” the spokesman said. Burnham has told several Labour MPs on Merseyside and in Greater Manchester that a backbencher is willing to resign their seat to facilitate his comeback. Those who have spoken to the mayor said an announcement could be made as soon as Saturday thetimes.com/article/8fe95de…