“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...

🚨 Anas Sarwar: "I have to do what is right for my country, Scotland. "It is not easy and not without pain, but my first priority and first loyalty is to my country... "The distraction has to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change."

‘We go forward from here’, Starmer declares after two top aides resign in 24 hours www.politics.co.uk/news/2026/02...

“The bottom line is that Starmer’s position is terminally vulnerable, but protected by a combination of process and political circumstance… “The length of Starmer’s stay of execution lies with the Labour herd. The prime minister is only in a position to endure.” www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...

Starmer leadership crisis will test the Labour herd Starmer has entered the stay of execution phase of his premiership. But removing a Labour PM is more complicated than simply waiting for the “herd” to move Latest for @politics.co.uk 👇 www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...

A Hilary Benn resignation speech from the backbenches would absolutely be enough to finish Starmer off. No question

Suella Braverman -> Reform UK

“Starmer – in a crowning moment of centralised control-freakery – has chosen to keep Labour’s prince across the water in the relative wilderness. “Critics will argue that this culture of control is now crowding out assets in the battle against Nigel Farage.” www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...

Labour statement on Burnham: “Although the Party would be confident of retaining the mayoralty, the NEC could not put Labour’s control of Greater Manchester at any risk.”

Right decision from Burnham’s perspective - Get blocked, and his standing as ‘Prince across the water’ is strengthened. Not sure the Labour leadership is strong enough to weather the backlash in this scenario - Get selected, stands a good chance of winning, prove ability to beat Reform…

“Reform is assembling a collection of grievances, grudges and contradictions, united less by conviction than by convenience”, writes Mario Creatura 🗣️ Reform isn’t building a party of government. It’s building a retirement home www.politics.co.uk/comment/2026...

And there it is... Robert Jenrick defects

“Grieving for someone you love changes you. It reshapes your outlook, your priorities, and the way you see the world”, writes Labour MP Peter Dowd 🗣️ Together, MPs can build a parliament that understands grief www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...

13 November 1947: Clement Attlee accepts Hugh Dalton's resignation as chancellor after he leaked details of his budget to a lobby journalist The leaks, reported by the Star newspaper, were published 15 minutes before Dalton began reading his budget speech www.nytimes.com/1947/11/14/a...