'Andy Burnham would forge an alliance with the Green Party and rip up the first-past-the-post electoral system if he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister, supporters of the Manchester mayor have said.
Labour's devastating defeat in Thursday's Gorton and Denton by-election has left his leadership rivals circling ominously, with Mr Burnham the favourite among both Labour voters and the wider electorate – even though he is not an MP...The research, by polling expert and former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft, rates Mr Burnham as the 'best Prime Minister' among the Labour leadership contenders, on 27 per cent, ahead of Ed Miliband on 8 per cent, and Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting both on 6 per cent.
It also indicates that a coalition between Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Zack Polanski's Greens would beat a Tory/Reform UK coalition by 43 per cent to 33 per cent.
It is understood that Mr Burnham is trying to persuade Marie Rimmer, the veteran Labour MP for St Helens South and Whiston, to stand aside to let him return to the Commons...Separately, there are claims that former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has privately told Mr Burnham that she would not put herself forward for the leadership role if he was a candidate.
However, she is said to be ready to do so to stop Health Secretary Wes Streeting getting the job if a contest began before Mr Burnham could return to the Commons.
Most Labour MPs believe that Sir Keir will not face a leadership challenge until after the May local elections.
Last night, Mr Burnham said the claims about him were 'made up'.
'Andy Burnham would forge an alliance with the Green Party and rip up the first-past-the-post electoral system if he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister, supporters of the Manchester mayor have said.
Labour's devastating defeat in Thursday's Gorton and Denton by-election has left his leadership rivals circling ominously, with Mr Burnham the favourite among both Labour voters and the wider electorate – even though he is not an MP...The research, by polling expert and former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft, rates Mr Burnham as the 'best Prime Minister' among the Labour leadership contenders, on 27 per cent, ahead of Ed Miliband on 8 per cent, and Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting both on 6 per cent.
It also indicates that a coalition between Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Zack Polanski's Greens would beat a Tory/Reform UK coalition by 43 per cent to 33 per cent.
It is understood that Mr Burnham is trying to persuade Marie Rimmer, the veteran Labour MP for St Helens South and Whiston, to stand aside to let him return to the Commons...Separately, there are claims that former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has privately told Mr Burnham that she would not put herself forward for the leadership role if he was a candidate.
However, she is said to be ready to do so to stop Health Secretary Wes Streeting getting the job if a contest began before Mr Burnham could return to the Commons.
Most Labour MPs believe that Sir Keir will not face a leadership challenge until after the May local elections.
Last night, Mr Burnham said the claims about him were 'made up'.
just feels like at every layer of the security/military/diplomatic washington circular world they passed on a note from their desk saying - no way, don't do it, christ, madness, play it safe, what if...
...and then it reached the King of Dementia.
The CIA apparently thinks he'll be replaced with an IRGC hardliner.
We've seen story after story being leaked where essentially the military and intelligence community are saying "it can get worse" but Trump needs an easy "win" to shut up the press for a while.
It is a win, no matter what.
Hopefully this leads to freedom. If a new dictator arises who is worse, then we should seek another win and eliminate him too.
Trump and Netenyahu couldn’t give a fig about the Iranian civilians . They’d happily make a deal with a weakened Iran as the bodies pile up in the streets .
"[UAE] defence forces have intercepted 137 ballistic missiles and 209 drones launched toward the country. Fourteen of the drones that fell within the country's territories and waters caused "some collateral damage", it says.
That "lucky" debris, huh? Every Iranian missile must come with a built in rabbit's foot.
Although it is looking like Russia won't be getting any more Shaheed drone deliveries for the foreseeable. Shame.
Interesting poll and taken post the Green win in the Gorton and Denton by election.
Nowcast gives Reform 202 MPs, Conservatives 130, Greens 83, Labour 73 and LDs 68 and SNP 45 on those numbers.
So most likely a hung parliament and Reform minority government led by Farage but with Kemi Leader of the Opposition and the Greens overtaking Labour as the main party of the left and replacing the LDs as the main third party as well https://electionmaps.uk/nowcast/custom
Those 202 Reform seats would end up a fraction of that with them on only 22%, once the other parties' supporters vote tactically against them.
BBC "Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, says hundreds of people have been killed or injured in the US and Israel's “unprovoked and premeditated aggression against Iran"."
That Tehran Unprovocation-Meter might need some recalibrating. Turns out upscaling uranium to weapons-grade is quite provocative...
I can't entirely condemn Trump for his actions in Iran, but I certainly don't support them. I rather wonder quite what I'll make of his (lets hope) grand victory, and what also would I make of his humiliating defeat. I can only conclude that Trump exists in a sort of Schrodinger bubble.
I can. He's a fucking idiot listening to the voices in his head. Just as he has been doing since his regime came to power.
We can point out a few possible mini-futures, from the movement of segments of the USA population into concentration camps - as Japanese in WW2, to massed drone attacks on US bases and forces, and possibly the USA itself, Mar a Lago for example being on the Florida seafront with Trump's munchkins watching teh feed on home cinema.
Plus heaven knows what blowback against former or current US allies.
I won't mention the B2 bombers that habitually live parked in rows on a US base, in or out of their shelters, like fat old lunchers groping the girls at a go-go club.
Trump is an arrogant, delusional wanker who has no touch with reality. So here is back on a random walk.
One I have not seen mentioned here is that some of Trump's Christian Nationalists have a theology of conflict around Israel as part of their "narrative of the end times", or are very theology centric on Israel. Marco Rubio is hot on the latter.
I can't call it much beyond pointing out possibilities, as I have little knowledge of Iran's capabilities in 2026.
I worked at the UN for five years, covering it from headquarters, and I’ll tell you this: neither Russia nor Iran has ever looked so confused, so off-balance, and so lost in their statements. Russians were always brazen liars who shouted during meetings, attacking and insulting everyone at the UN Security Council table. They always behaved like overconfident bullies. But today, they acted almost as if they didn’t care. They were still lying, but they didn’t even seem to be trying anymore. I see it as a loss of morale.
Interesting poll and taken post the Green win in the Gorton and Denton by election.
Nowcast gives Reform 202 MPs, Conservatives 130, Greens 83, Labour 73 and LDs 68 and SNP 45 on those numbers.
So most likely a hung parliament and Reform minority government led by Farage but with Kemi Leader of the Opposition and the Greens overtaking Labour as the main party of the left and replacing the LDs as the main third party as well https://electionmaps.uk/nowcast/custom
Those 202 Reform seats would end up a fraction of that with them on only 22%, once the other parties' supporters vote tactically against them.
Isn't a massive amount of tactical voting already built into the baseline given the theme of 2024 was get the Tories out?
Can't imagine there are that many left of centre people who would vote tactically against Reform who didn't already vote tactically last time. So you'd be looking for Tories who stuck with them in 2024 who were prepared to vote tactically for Labour/LibDems and against Reform. Would think most of the Remain minded anti-Reform Tories had already jumoed ship by 2024 but maybe I'm wrong.
I can't entirely condemn Trump for his actions in Iran, but I certainly don't support them. I rather wonder quite what I'll make of his (lets hope) grand victory, and what also would I make of his humiliating defeat. I can only conclude that Trump exists in a sort of Schrodinger bubble.
I can. He's a fucking idiot listening to the voices in his head. Just as he has been doing since his regime came to power.
We can point out a few possible mini-futures, from the movement of segments of the USA population into concentration camps - as Japanese in WW2, to massed drone attacks on US bases and forces, and possibly the USA itself, Mar a Lago for example being on the Florida seafront with Trump's munchkins watching teh feed on home cinema.
Plus heaven knows what blowback against former or current US allies.
I won't mention the B2 bombers that habitually live parked in rows on a US base, in or out of their shelters, like fat old lunchers groping the girls at a go-go club.
Trump is an arrogant, delusional wanker who has no touch with reality. So here is back on a random walk.
One I have not seen mentioned here is that some of Trump's Christian Nationalists have a theology of conflict around Israel as part of their "narrative of the end times", or are very theology centric on Israel. Marco Rubio is hot on the latter.
I can't call it much beyond pointing out possibilities, as I have little knowledge of Iran's capabilities in 2026.
Oh good grief, what a negative Nancy.
Can you not just rejoice in the good news?
How about some positive possibilities?
What about the possibility the deceased dictator's successor is not as bad?
What about the possibility that Iran becomes a more free society?
Interesting poll and taken post the Green win in the Gorton and Denton by election.
Nowcast gives Reform 202 MPs, Conservatives 130, Greens 83, Labour 73 and LDs 68 and SNP 45 on those numbers.
So most likely a hung parliament and Reform minority government led by Farage but with Kemi Leader of the Opposition and the Greens overtaking Labour as the main party of the left and replacing the LDs as the main third party as well https://electionmaps.uk/nowcast/custom
Those 202 Reform seats would end up a fraction of that with them on only 22%, once the other parties' supporters vote tactically against them.
Isn't a massive amount of tactical voting already built into the baseline given the theme of 2024 was get the Tories out?
Can't imagine there are that many left of centre people who would vote tactically against Reform who didn't already vote tactically last time. So you'd be looking for Tories who stuck with them in 2024 who were prepared to vote tactically for Labour/LibDems and against Reform. Would think most of the Remain minded anti-Reform Tories had already jumoed ship by 2024 but maybe I'm wrong.
Actually what I'm overlooking is seats like the Labour ones in Staffordshire (Stoke S, Tamworth, Cannock Chase, Lichfield, Utoxeter etc where the combined Tory/Reform vote was over 50% and maybe left of centre people there abandon Labour and vote Tory to stop Reform)
UAE Armed Forces says we faced 137 rockets and 209 Iranian drones since attack started.
Out 137, 132 of them destroyed, while 5 fell in sea. 209 drones were detected, 195 intercepted, 14 fell within the country's territories and waters, causing some collateral damage.
To be honest it’s not that bad, a few small fires quickly put out and, with the exception of one drone that hit the airport, only minor damage to anything. Life will continue to go on.
One now hopes that, with the death of the Ayatollah seemingly confirmed, things move quickly in Iran and a new order asserts itself. The brave people are the Iranians in the street celebrating tonight, may their country turn into a safe and prosperous plane in the future.
Spencer Hakimian @SpencerHakimian Assuming Ayatollah Khamenei is Dead, now comes the complicated part.
Does the U.S. allow his son/deputy to take power (as they did in Venezuela last month)?
Does the U.S. leave a power vacuum (as they did in Iraq)?
Does the U.S. occupy the country for a decade to stabilize it (as they did in Germany/Japan)?
Why would the USA be in a position to impose any of those?
Trump has already made clear that ground forces are not a serious option. Given that Iran is 2.5x as big as Ukraine with 2.5x the population, that is the first rational thing he has said.
If they had their way, and were listening to foreign policy and diplomacy people, rather than the ignorant, brain-dead munchkins Trump has deliberately surrounded himself with, it would be create a ost-Mullah Government by incorporating the regular armed forces into the new regime.
That duality is roughly like the Wehrmacht vs the SS, the latter being ideological like the IGRC.
They comprehensively f*cked up Iraq by insisting on demolishing the entire existing regime.
Trump is such a moron that he could ignore the lesson of Iraq,
But I do not see that he is in a position to have decisive leverage.
Comments
WW3 just started.
Can't get a double 6 if you don't roll the dice.
Or batting.
Now you are criticising any deal?
And presumably against no deal too.
Just what can be done that is right in your eyes?
"[UAE] defence forces have intercepted 137 ballistic missiles and 209 drones launched toward the country. Fourteen of the drones that fell within the country's territories and waters caused "some collateral damage", it says.
That "lucky" debris, huh? Every Iranian missile must come with a built in rabbit's foot.
Although it is looking like Russia won't be getting any more Shaheed drone deliveries for the foreseeable. Shame.
That Tehran Unprovocation-Meter might need some recalibrating. Turns out upscaling uranium to weapons-grade is quite provocative...
We can point out a few possible mini-futures, from the movement of segments of the USA population into concentration camps - as Japanese in WW2, to massed drone attacks on US bases and forces, and possibly the USA itself, Mar a Lago for example being on the Florida seafront with Trump's munchkins watching teh feed on home cinema.
Plus heaven knows what blowback against former or current US allies.
I won't mention the B2 bombers that habitually live parked in rows on a US base, in or out of their shelters, like fat old lunchers groping the girls at a go-go club.
Trump is an arrogant, delusional wanker who has no touch with reality. So here is back on a random walk.
One I have not seen mentioned here is that some of Trump's Christian Nationalists have a theology of conflict around Israel as part of their "narrative of the end times", or are very theology centric on Israel. Marco Rubio is hot on the latter.
I can't call it much beyond pointing out possibilities, as I have little knowledge of Iran's capabilities in 2026.
https://x.com/KaterynaLis/status/2027897240589660430
I worked at the UN for five years, covering it from headquarters, and I’ll tell you this: neither Russia nor Iran has ever looked so confused, so off-balance, and so lost in their statements. Russians were always brazen liars who shouted during meetings, attacking and insulting everyone at the UN Security Council table. They always behaved like overconfident bullies. But today, they acted almost as if they didn’t care. They were still lying, but they didn’t even seem to be trying anymore. I see it as a loss of morale.
Can't imagine there are that many left of centre people who would vote tactically against Reform who didn't already vote tactically last time. So you'd be looking for Tories who stuck with them in 2024 who were prepared to vote tactically for Labour/LibDems and against Reform.
Would think most of the Remain minded anti-Reform Tories had already jumoed ship by 2024 but maybe I'm wrong.
Can you not just rejoice in the good news?
How about some positive possibilities?
What about the possibility the deceased dictator's successor is not as bad?
What about the possibility that Iran becomes a more free society?
Either way, today is good news. Rejoice.
https://x.com/PressTV/status/2027918822913491294?s=20
Well this is fun, it’s like being Ukraine again only without the snow. Emergency alerts waking us up just before 1am.
https://x.com/sajwani/status/2027865404388085793
UAE Armed Forces says we faced 137 rockets and 209 Iranian drones since attack started.
Out 137, 132 of them destroyed, while 5 fell in sea. 209 drones were detected, 195 intercepted, 14 fell within the country's territories and waters, causing some collateral damage.
To be honest it’s not that bad, a few small fires quickly put out and, with the exception of one drone that hit the airport, only minor damage to anything. Life will continue to go on.
One now hopes that, with the death of the Ayatollah seemingly confirmed, things move quickly in Iran and a new order asserts itself. The brave people are the Iranians in the street celebrating tonight, may their country turn into a safe and prosperous plane in the future.
Trump has already made clear that ground forces are not a serious option. Given that Iran is 2.5x as big as Ukraine with 2.5x the population, that is the first rational thing he has said.
If they had their way, and were listening to foreign policy and diplomacy people, rather than the ignorant, brain-dead munchkins Trump has deliberately surrounded himself with, it would be create a ost-Mullah Government by incorporating the regular armed forces into the new regime.
That duality is roughly like the Wehrmacht vs the SS, the latter being ideological like the IGRC.
They comprehensively f*cked up Iraq by insisting on demolishing the entire existing regime.
Trump is such a moron that he could ignore the lesson of Iraq,
But I do not see that he is in a position to have decisive leverage.