“Burnham’s first steps as Labour leader indicate his intention to preserve the soft-blue alliance that delivered Starmer's downfall and brought him to power.” www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...

I reckon transport secretary @heidialexander.bsky.social is one of three Labour MPs who have nominated Andy Burnham in every one of his leadership bids - in 2010, 2015 and 2026 Guesses for the other two?

How the Clacton by-election, and Count Binface, could damage Nigel Farage Farage turned to Clacton in search of popular vindication, but humiliation awaits Latest for @politics.co.uk 👇 www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...

🚨 NEW: One in four MPs demand electoral reform commission in ‘open goal’ for Burnham The amendment to the Representation of the People Bill, tabled by Labour MP @alexsobel.co.uk, is now the most-signed amendment since the 2024 general election Full story ⤵️ www.politics.co.uk/news/2026/07...

🚨 NEW: Defence secretary wishes Count Binface ‘good luck’ in by-election showdown with Farage Dan Jarvis said Farage was in “real trouble” as he rowed in behind the satirical candidate Full story ⤵️ www.politics.co.uk/news/2026/07...

In 2008, David Davis resigned as an MP over the Brown government’s 42-day terror detention proposals. He stood in the by-election as an independent on a "David Davis for Freedom" platform. Labour, Lib Dems and Tories did not stand. The then-culture secretary was not impressed:

Nigel Farage resigns as MP to force by-election www.politics.co.uk/news/2026/07...

Andy Burnham wields the knife, and wins the crown Some thoughts on the fall of Starmer and the definitive refutation of Michael Heseltine's famous maxim Latest for @politics.co.uk 👇 www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...

Makerfield must be the first by-election to directly trigger the resignation of a PM Eastbourne (1990) was a factor in Thatcher's defenestration, but didn’t itself set events in motion 1/...

🚨 Keir Starmer: “Every decision I have taken has been about putting the country I love first. “That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party. I have spoken to His Majesty the King this morning to inform him of my decision.”

“A great deal was left unsaid during the campaign. But Burnham’s implicit message to Labour MPs was simple: if I can win Makerfield, I can win the country.” www.politics.co.uk/week-in-revi...

The meaning of Makerfield As Burnham heads to Westminster, his principal problem is that all which was left unsaid during the campaign must now be articulated Latest long-read for @politics.co.uk 👇 www.politics.co.uk/week-in-revi...

Some thoughts on Andy Burnham and the meaning of Makerfield for @politics.co.uk www.politics.co.uk/week-in-revi...

“For too long we have reached for a cities-first playbook – as though towns exist to serve the economies of nearby cities rather than to drive their own”, writes @leighinghammp.bsky.social 🗣️ The government must buy British, build British and back British www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...

Little remembered that in the dying days of the 2005-2010 parliament, Brown attempted to force legislation through parliament requiring a referendum on the alternative vote by October 2011 Brown referred to a “progressive consensus in favour of change” - www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... 1/…

Reform’s messaging all over the place in Makerfield A consequence of the by-election’s novel character but also strategic confusion over how to tackle Burnham + Lowe’s Restore Britain (which looks set to play some part in the story) + a weak/poorly vetted candidate

After foreign secretary Patrick Gordon Walker’s 1965 by-election defeat, Willie Hamilton criticises his party “We must not take the electorate for granted… “This by-election was little more than a crude attempt at ballot rigging and I do not defend that” www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...

Patrick Gordon Walker’s 1965 defeat is a cautionary tale for Andy Burnham www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...

🚨 Breaking: Josh Simons to stand down as MP for Makerfield so Andy Burnham can run for parliament

🚨 BREAKING: Wes Streeting resigns "Where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift. This was underscored by your speech on Monday. Leaders take responsibility, but too often that has meant other people falling on their swords."

A successful stop-Streeting candidate in a race with no Andy Burnham will need to unite those currently behind Starmer and soft left types John Healey is one that appears to fit that profile Would win lots of second preference votes in the membership stage if there are multiple candidates

Zubir Ahmed resigns Ahmed was a PPS in the Department for Health and Social Care (July 2024 - September 2025). Then appointed to parliamentary under-secretary of state in the department in September 2025 Streeting plot afoot

There have been two formal challenges to a Labour leader in recent history, in 1988 and 2016 (both in opposition). In each case, the incumbent survived So it’s not hard to understand why Keir Starmer is choosing to stay put ... 1/

Jenny Chapman, the international development minister, to BBC News:

🚨 BREAKING: First minister to resign says Starmer has lost ‘confidence of the public’ Read Miatta Fahnbulleh’s letter of resignation in full ⤵️ www.politics.co.uk/news/2026/05...

🚨 Miatta Fahnbulleh is the first ministerial resignation

Keir Starmer is ‘listening’ to rebel colleagues, says ‘sad’ cabinet ally www.politics.co.uk/news/2026/05...

🚨 Breaking: Starmer suffers first resignation as calls to quit grow www.politics.co.uk/news/2026/05...

Labour's lack of an efficient regicidal apparatus is telling at the moment An ousted Boris Johnson referred wryly to his party's “brilliant Darwinian system”. Under Conservative rules, Starmer would be gone - which explains Catherine West posturing as a latter-day Sir Graham Brady 1/...

Rayner not following her obvious incentive to move now and best Streeting is further evidence, I think, that soft left sentiment has coalesced around Burnham How does this now play out? 1/…

“This is bigger than personalities, but it is time to acknowledge that blocking Andy Burnham was a mistake.” Angela Rayner says Starmer must ‘meet the moment’ – statement in full ⤵️ www.politics.co.uk/news/2026/05...

The stalking horse returns... What does the 1989 challenge to Thatcher's premiership from “Sir Anthony Whats’isname” tell us about Starmer's test? www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...

The most detailed profile yet of the MP who could bring down Keir Starmer. (And a taster for a much larger Politics.co.uk project in the works) West, who left her Foreign Office role in September, currently serves as trade envoy to Pakistan (appointed January 2026)

Starmer’s ‘stalking horse’: who is Labour challenger Catherine West? If West succeeds in smoking out a more prominent leadership rival, it would not be the first time she has played a role in bringing down a prime minister Full profile ⤵️ www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...

Starmer ally calls for prime minister to resign www.politics.co.uk/news/2026/05...

“The government can deliver a system that protects animals, supports reputable rescues and meets the expectations of the public”, writes Labour MP @dannybealesmp.bsky.social 🗣️ The case for regulation of animal rehoming organisations www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...

“We need to be ambitious about disabled people working… We need to be ambitious in ensuring we have a country that works for everyone”, writes @stevedarlingmp.bsky.social 🗣️ The government has a proven lever for growth in its hands – it’s called Access to Work www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...

[email protected] with the rebuttal: “Blue Labour isn’t a Tory-lite infiltration. It is a reminder that work is a vocation, not just a contract, that relationships matter more than abstract rights and that patriotism is a valid expression of solidarity”

“By dismissing the socially conservative streak of the movement as an aberration, we risk alienating the very heartlands we should aspire to represent”, writes @connornaismithmp.bsky.social 🗣️ Why Blue Labour is a key component of True Labour www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...

Not insignificant. Johnson was elected in 2000 as among the first Green MLAs. He stood as the Green London mayoral candidate in 2000 & 2004 He was also the Green male principal speaker from 2001-2003, before backing the current leadership model in the Green 2007 internal referendum

“The lesson of 2001 is clear. Disease does not respect borders. Complacency carries a cost measured in billions”, writes Labour MP @bengoldsborough.bsky.social 🗣️ Biosecurity must be placed at the heart of our national security strategy www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...

“Treating our democracy as a bargaining chip in an age of populist anti-democratic movements would be an act of reckless complacency”, write Labour MPs @timrocamp.bsky.social and @drbeccycoopermp.bsky.social ✍️ Labour must not bind Britain’s fate to the failing electoral system

“If the Gorton and Denton by-election reflects the state of Labour under Starmer, it is equally a testament to the transformation of the Green Party under Zack Polanski’s leadership.” www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...

The Green surge is coming for Keir Starmer www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...

“This diagnosis is false and the proposed cure is a recipe for division rather than unity”, writes @andrewcopson.bsky.social of @humanists.uk ✍️ Governing by nostalgia: Reform’s crusade for ‘Christian values’ offers false comfort www.politics.co.uk/opinion/2026...

“To ensure that climate denialism does not take root in our politics, the benefits of addressing climate change and biodiversity loss must be tangible”, writes Labour MP Olivia Blake Can climate adaptation strengthen UK national security? www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...

Predictably, the Reform exiles are fighting over who should join/merge with whose party

Starter for 10: The first manifesto of a forerunner to which modern political party proposed a mass emigration scheme, withdrawal from the EEC and a “compulsory national part-time militia”?

Keir Starmer to Ed Davey: “People in this country, millions of people have been let down for years and years, and one of the reasons was austerity which his party supported. "He should take accountability and take responsibility for what he has inflicted on this country.”

Reaction to Sarwar suggests Labour isn’t ready to depose Starmer Some thoughts for @politics.co.uk as Sarwar’s intervention fails to ignite a leadership putsch at Westminster 👇 www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...