I still find it crazy that Burnham rolled the pitch for his big leadership election at Labour Party Conference, had total car crash interviews and had to sneak away from the event...and now a few months later he is back again as the great big hope.
Miliband held a banana at a Labour Party Conference and totally ended his leadership bid forever, had to become a Thunderbird.
Lucy Powell a City fan used the analogy 'Shall we leave Harland on the bench?'
Someone who hasn't scored for eight games.........................................
The difference being Harland for his entire career has dominated at every level at every club in every league. Burnham was a piss poor minister when he was last in government. He got another shot at the big time and clown car'ed it before the conference even started. There is a huge difference between being a city mayor and the top job.
Burnham appears more like the Zak Crawley of politics.
Not quite.
Zak Crawley is currently playing at the very top level. Not well, but he is there.
For the Burnham analogy to work, we have to fast-forward a couple of years, to when Zak is back on the county circuit. Quite possibly with decent scores, because the game is easier at that level.
Anyone saying "Zak for England" would rightly be ignored for being a bit of a chump,
Checks team....Crawley has been dropped (finally).
Was he on 0 or 1 at the time?
England have decided to try and batter deeper, Ahmed to open, Jacks in.
I still find it crazy that Burnham rolled the pitch for his big leadership election at Labour Party Conference, had total car crash interviews and had to sneak away from the event...and now a few months later he is back again as the great big hope.
Miliband held a banana at a Labour Party Conference and totally ended his leadership bid forever, had to become a Thunderbird.
Lucy Powell a City fan used the analogy 'Shall we leave Harland on the bench?'
Someone who hasn't scored for eight games.........................................
It’s Haaland, he’s a brilliant soccer striker.
Burnham is more a modest, mediocre, journeyman pottering around the lower levels of the Premier League.
An average player with an overinflated opinion of himself.
Robbie Savage.
I love the story that some of the old Leicester player tell of when O'Neil was in charge and one of the central defenders passed it out of defence to Robbie Savage a few times...at half time they go in and O'Neil absolutely losses it, goes absolutely mental for the whole half time team talk at the defender basically saying you never pass to him, he absolutely shit on the ball, we don't give him the ball under any circumstances, you give to Lennon and Izzet, keep doing that and you will out of the team.
This is my favourite Robbie Savage story by a mile.
I am not convinced Burham will stand but if he does then I expect civil war between Starmer and Burnham / Rayner supporters
I was with our 23 year old grandaughter this morning, just graduated from Leeds, and no real surpise that she is a Polanski fan as are most of her peers
Another straw in the wind of the battle labour are facing from both the right and left
I still find it crazy that Burnham rolled the pitch for his big leadership election at Labour Party Conference, had total car crash interviews and had to sneak away from the event...and now a few months later he is back again as the great big hope.
Miliband held a banana at a Labour Party Conference and totally ended his leadership bid forever, had to become a Thunderbird.
Lucy Powell a City fan used the analogy 'Shall we leave Harland on the bench?'
Someone who hasn't scored for eight games.........................................
It’s Haaland, he’s a brilliant soccer striker.
Burnham is more a modest, mediocre, journeyman pottering around the lower levels of the Premier League.
An average player with an overinflated opinion of himself.
Robbie Savage.
I love the story that some of the old Leicester player tell of when O'Neil was in charge and one of the central defenders passed it out of defence to Robbie Savage a few times...at half time they go in and O'Neil absolutely losses it, goes absolutely mental for the whole half time team talk at the defender basically saying you never pass to him, he absolutely shit on the ball, we don't give him the ball under any circumstances, you give to Lennon and Izzet, keep doing that and you will out of the team.
This is my favourite Robbie Savage story by a mile.
As a boyhood mega Crewe Alex fan, nobody could ever understand how the hell Savage made the Premier League. At that time, he wasn't even the 4-5th best midfielder for Crewe in the bottom tier of professional football, as they had Neil Lennon, Gareth Whalley, Danney Murphy, all a million miles better than him. Also a guy called Wayne Collins who was more the Savage type player and better than him.
I still find it crazy that Burnham rolled the pitch for his big leadership election at Labour Party Conference, had total car crash interviews and had to sneak away from the event...and now a few months later he is back again as the great big hope.
Miliband held a banana at a Labour Party Conference and totally ended his leadership bid forever, had to become a Thunderbird.
Lucy Powell a City fan used the analogy 'Shall we leave Harland on the bench?'
Someone who hasn't scored for eight games.........................................
The difference being Harland for his entire career has dominated at every level at every club in every league. Burnham was a piss poor minister when he was last in government. He got another shot at the big time and clown car'ed it before the conference even started. There is a huge difference between being a city mayor and the top job.
Burnham appears more like the Zak Crawley of politics.
Not quite.
Zak Crawley is currently playing at the very top level. Not well, but he is there.
For the Burnham analogy to work, we have to fast-forward a couple of years, to when Zak is back on the county circuit. Quite possibly with decent scores, because the game is easier at that level.
Anyone saying "Zak for England" would rightly be ignored for being a bit of a chump,
Checks team....Crawley has been dropped (finally).
Was he on 0 or 1 at the time?
England have decided to try and batter deeper, Ahmed to open, Jacks in.
Well, Jacks took two wickets.
So either it's a truly filthy turner or he got a bit lucky.
I still find it crazy that Burnham rolled the pitch for his big leadership election at Labour Party Conference, had total car crash interviews and had to sneak away from the event...and now a few months later he is back again as the great big hope.
Miliband held a banana at a Labour Party Conference and totally ended his leadership bid forever, had to become a Thunderbird.
And yet for years people still talked about banana man as a potential prospect. Burnham at least is still involved in politics and, apparently, doing a decent job in his region.
I am not convinced Burham will stand but if he does then I expect civil war between Starmer and Burnham / Rayner supporters
I was with our 23 year old grandaughter this morning, just graduated from Leeds, and no real surpise that she is a Polanski fan as are most of her peers
Another straw in the wind of the battle labour are facing from both the right and left
I am not convinced Burham will stand but if he does then I expect civil war between Starmer and Burnham / Rayner supporters
I was with our 23 year old grandaughter this morning, just graduated from Leeds, and no real surpise that she is a Polanski fan as are most of her peers
Another straw in the wind of the battle labour are facing from both the right and left
He'd do well to stay clear. He's pushing for the top job, seemingly successfull in pushing past his old core vote even though many still dislike him, and he has to present as a break from the past but still mainstream.
She's swimming in the deep pools of the online altright conspiracist whingers perpetually obsessed with their own grievances, probably hunting for the attention and money of American rightists.
He'd do well to stay clear. He's pushing for the top job, seemingly successfull in pushing past his old core vote even though many still dislike him, and he has to present as a break from the past but still mainstream.
She's swimming in the deep pools of the online altright conspiracist whingers perpetually obsessed with their own grievances, probably hunting for the attention and money of American rightists.
He'd do well to stay clear. He's pushing for the top job, seemingly successfull in pushing past his old core vote even though many still dislike him, and he has to present as a break from the past but still mainstream.
She's swimming in the deep pools of the online altright conspiracist whingers perpetually obsessed with their own grievances, probably hunting for the attention and money of American rightists.
A leopard can’t change its spots. It’s like the people who said Trump would govern as a reasonable centrist when he was first elected.
Burnham may still decide to go for it before tomorrow's 5pm deadline but it seems like the NEC will try and impose an all BAME shortlist to stop him anyway
Tom Harwood says that would clearly be illegal.
As I understand it, the rules say that the NEC can impose an all women (or other) shortlist, if representation in the parliamentary Labour Party is lacking.
He'd do well to stay clear. He's pushing for the top job, seemingly successfull in pushing past his old core vote even though many still dislike him, and he has to present as a break from the past but still mainstream.
She's swimming in the deep pools of the online altright conspiracist whingers perpetually obsessed with their own grievances, probably hunting for the attention and money of American rightists.
He seems to be reluctant to bring her on board. Any other time a previous PM would be one hell of a catch. Get them in the tent immediately. But LIz Truss? Hard to see how she brings any extra votes with her - but instead plenty who blame her for putting up their mortgage payments.
But if he does Starmer's best move is to let events take their course and not block him.
For the political watcher a Burnham/Galloway/Reform/Polanski by election would be box office.
The only way to win is not to play?
Keeps his promise to Manchester.
Does a deal with another Manc MP in 2028.
He wants to be PM, not simply to go from running a large city region to being an MP again (which isn't a promotion in any way). 2028 just isn't a substitute for 2026 in that context.
But if he does Starmer's best move is to let events take their course and not block him.
For the political watcher a Burnham/Galloway/Reform/Polanski by election would be box office.
The only way to win is not to play?
Keeps his promise to Manchester.
Does a deal with another Manc MP in 2028.
If I really liked my mayor I think I'd forgive them for breaking such a promise, if it was on the basis they were trying to become PM, as presumably I'd think that was a good thing.
Of course, he cannot openly state that is his purpose.
Apparently the i newspaper is reporting Trump is considering cancelling the mid terms because he has done so well that they are not needed !!!!!
He's made that 'joke' before, which people are meant to pretend is not a thing to be worried about, even though there's many many things he could do to disrupt them and probably will.
I am on a train. It was crowded so I went for the first-class upgrade. I'm in my first class seat. It is full of people in groups TALKING TO EACH OTHER. BASTARDS. Apparently Amy would like a cat. One couple are sitting in separate seats. LISA HAVE YOU GOT THE TICKETS. One guy asked if the other ever had a beard. I cannot use this information.
I'm sorry, this is unacceptable. I want studious young men on laptops. Middle aged men with nose hair and good suits who work in the City. Prissy older women who look like Theresa May and tut if somebody says something. England, you have disappointed me.
Came back from Japan to Heathrow before Christmas. V long flight, bit grumpy and tired. Booked 1st class upgrades on seatfrog for train out of Paddington to Exeter as thought it would be worth it on this occasion.
Board train: - 1st class is rammed; - there's a proper dining car, with space for standard class passengers. I could have sat in that and had lunch for the price of my upgrade; - after a walk up and down the length of the train it becomes apparent that standard class is not only less busy but the carriages are also cooler, and the only 2 people talking self-importantly on their phones on the whole train are in first class.
He'd do well to stay clear. He's pushing for the top job, seemingly successfull in pushing past his old core vote even though many still dislike him, and he has to present as a break from the past but still mainstream.
She's swimming in the deep pools of the online altright conspiracist whingers perpetually obsessed with their own grievances, probably hunting for the attention and money of American rightists.
He seems to be reluctant to bring her on board. Any other time a previous PM would be one hell of a catch. Get them in the tent immediately. But LIz Truss? Hard to see how she brings any extra votes with her - but instead plenty who blame her for putting up their mortgage payments.
Had she not pivoted to full on crazy then even as an unpopular ex-PM she'd still have been a catch, but it's hard to see what she brings to the table - how many additional Truss fans not already voting for Farage would she bring in vs those who'd be put off?
I get it, she cannot handle the humiliation of how she was taken down so quickly, and in the immediate aftermath I thought she handled it with some dignity, but she's lost it.
Apparently the i newspaper is reporting Trump is considering cancelling the mid terms because he has done so well that they are not needed !!!!!
The results would be clearly rigged because they would not reflect Trump's utter awesomeness by given him 67 senators and 300 Reps so he could amend the Constitution and make himself King.
If Burnham is blocked from standing and Labour lose, the narrative will quickly take hold that Andy would definitely have won it - and Starmer will be blamed.
Apparently the i newspaper is reporting Trump is considering cancelling the mid terms because he has done so well that they are not needed !!!!!
The prospect of free and fair elections in November are very small and rest mostly on men in white coats or the USA armed forces arriving to sort out the mess in time. That Trump will allow them is a very small chance. Bet accordingly but DYOR.
Apparently the i newspaper is reporting Trump is considering cancelling the mid terms because he has done so well that they are not needed !!!!!
The prospect of free and fair elections in November are very small and rest mostly on men in white coats or the USA armed forces arriving to sort out the mess in time. That Trump will allow them is a very small chance. Bet accordingly but DYOR.
Apparently the i newspaper is reporting Trump is considering cancelling the mid terms because he has done so well that they are not needed !!!!!
The results would be clearly rigged because they would not reflect Trump's utter awesomeness by given him 67 senators and 300 Reps so he could amend the Constitution and make himself King.
The most basic tool at Trump’s disposal is “redistricting“: redrawing constituency boundaries to boost the chances of Republican victories by creating new districts that are likely to have an in-built, pro-Trump majority. This gerrymandering is already under way in several states, with Democrat lawmakers even briefly fleeing Texas last August in a futile attempt to deny Republicans the chance to create more safe seats for their candidates.
But Trump is also taking more active steps to try to control who gets to vote this November. White House lawyers are demanding that 44 of America’s 50 states hand over unredacted voter rolls, including not just the names and addresses of registered voters but also their driving licence details and several digits from their social security numbers (equivalent to national insurance numbers in the UK).
The White House is suing 24 states that have refused to hand over the data. But more than 20 Republican-governed states have co-operated, laying the groundwork for potential vote-suppressing skullduggery that could see thousands of Democratic Party supporters challenged over whether they can prove they have the right to vote.
The Brennan Centre for Justice, a non-partisan law and policy organisation, has called the move “part of a plan to interfere with elections”, while warning that the demands are “unprecedented” and should be considered a blatant effort by Trump “to sow distrust in the election system”.
Republican “election monitors” plan to sift through the data they’ve already received, vowing to crack down on “irregularities” that Trump falsely claims have sullied successive US elections – except, of course, for those he won.
Last November, the Department of Justice, now in Trump’s thrall, fielded its own election monitors during off-year elections in California and New Jersey. Those efforts are expected to accelerate nationwide later this year.
It's blatantly obvious to anyone even half interested in politics that Burnham wants to be PM and Starmer fears Burnham getting back in the Commons (reasonable fear or not).
So I don't see much additional downside to less interested public getting wind of that relationship by having Burnham stand and (probably) win. The second Gwynne quit the headlines were about Burnham possibly standing, so if he does not (even by choice) it will be portrayed as Starmer's fault if they then go on to lose, so that will become the standard narrative.
Might as well let him stand even if it might mean personal trouble later.
If Burnham is blocked from standing and Labour lose, the narrative will quickly take hold that Andy would definitely have won it - and Starmer will be blamed.
They shouldn't block; and Burnham would be daft to stand. For the rest of us Labour's capacity to provide domestic entertainment at a time of world turmoil is like having a PG Wodehouse book to hand.
Blocking him would seem to ordinary punters like both littleness and Trumpishness at the same time. At this moment we need big people and great statesmen. Burnham standing would seem both betrayal of the mayor job, and opportunism.
Apparently the i newspaper is reporting Trump is considering cancelling the mid terms because he has done so well that they are not needed !!!!!
The prospect of free and fair elections in November are very small and rest mostly on men in white coats or the USA armed forces arriving to sort out the mess in time. That Trump will allow them is a very small chance. Bet accordingly but DYOR.
The white coats option doesn't really help.
Vance can't afford to relinquish power either.
He's got more risk than Trump - he's not as rich (cryto has been very kind to Trump) and lacks the same level of immunity.
Apparently the i newspaper is reporting Trump is considering cancelling the mid terms because he has done so well that they are not needed !!!!!
The prospect of free and fair elections in November are very small and rest mostly on men in white coats or the USA armed forces arriving to sort out the mess in time. That Trump will allow them is a very small chance. Bet accordingly but DYOR.
There is some discussion of a general strike if Trump were to make such a move.
Becoming an MP with the clear intention of trying to oust the leader is a very poor look regardless of what people think of Starmer .
And there’s no guarantee Burnham will win the by-election or if he does garner enough names to challenge Starmer .
Obviously that is not the way he pitches it. He wants to be on the team, to make a contribution, to strengthen the front bench (which gawd help us, needs it), to be positive about Starmer's leadership (tricky) until he is very sure a majority think otherwise.
Apparently the i newspaper is reporting Trump is considering cancelling the mid terms because he has done so well that they are not needed !!!!!
The prospect of free and fair elections in November are very small and rest mostly on men in white coats or the USA armed forces arriving to sort out the mess in time. That Trump will allow them is a very small chance. Bet accordingly but DYOR.
The white coats option doesn't really help.
Vance can't afford to relinquish power either.
He's got more risk than Trump - he's not as rich (corruption has been very kind to Trump) and lacks the same level of immunity.
Becoming an MP with the clear intention of trying to oust the leader is a very poor look regardless of what people think of Starmer .
And there’s no guarantee Burnham will win the by-election
If he does not it would destroy any future chances you'd think.
But governments, in general, find it harder to win by-elections over time, and whilst there are some safer seats out there, if Gorton is not winnable even those seats are not guarantees if the government drag is so high, as Tiverton could tell him.
So being cautious and not going now may cut off future chances.
Apparently the i newspaper is reporting Trump is considering cancelling the mid terms because he has done so well that they are not needed !!!!!
The prospect of free and fair elections in November are very small and rest mostly on men in white coats or the USA armed forces arriving to sort out the mess in time. That Trump will allow them is a very small chance. Bet accordingly but DYOR.
The white coats option doesn't really help.
Vance can't afford to relinquish power either.
He's got more risk than Trump - he's not as rich (corruption has been very kind to Trump) and lacks the same level of immunity.
A very strange example from Jenrick here. He really comes across as slimy & insincere
🆕 Robert Jenrick with a brutal takedown on the Daily Expresso podcast. JJ Anisiøbi said that Badenoch was voted more popular than Farage in a recent poll, Jenrick: "Yeah, but you kind of are when you're irrelevant".
A very strange example from Jenrick here. He really comes across as slimy & insincere
🆕 Robert Jenrick with a brutal takedown on the Daily Expresso podcast. JJ Anisiøbi said that Badenoch was voted more popular than Farage in a recent poll, Jenrick: "Yeah, but you kind of are when you're irrelevant".
If Burnham is blocked from standing and Labour lose, the narrative will quickly take hold that Andy would definitely have won it - and Starmer will be blamed.
Which means that Mahmood and Streeting have two reasons to block Burnham.
If Burnham is blocked from standing and Labour lose, the narrative will quickly take hold that Andy would definitely have won it - and Starmer will be blamed.
Which means that Mahmood and Streeting have two reasons to block Burnham.
It would mean that next time a seat comes up, Burnham would get the nomination. For sure.
If Burnham is blocked from standing and Labour lose, the narrative will quickly take hold that Andy would definitely have won it - and Starmer will be blamed.
Which means that Mahmood and Streeting have two reasons to block Burnham.
It would mean that next time a seat comes up, Burnham would get it. For sure.
But by that time Starmer could already have been replaced.
I am on a train. It was crowded so I went for the first-class upgrade. I'm in my first class seat. It is full of people in groups TALKING TO EACH OTHER. BASTARDS. Apparently Amy would like a cat. One couple are sitting in separate seats. LISA HAVE YOU GOT THE TICKETS. One guy asked if the other ever had a beard. I cannot use this information.
I'm sorry, this is unacceptable. I want studious young men on laptops. Middle aged men with nose hair and good suits who work in the City. Prissy older women who look like Theresa May and tut if somebody says something. England, you have disappointed me.
Came back from Japan to Heathrow before Christmas. V long flight, bit grumpy and tired. Booked 1st class upgrades on seatfrog for train out of Paddington to Exeter as thought it would be worth it on this occasion.
Board train: - 1st class is rammed; - there's a proper dining car, with space for standard class passengers. I could have sat in that and had lunch for the price of my upgrade; - after a walk up and down the length of the train it becomes apparent that standard class is not only less busy but the carriages are also cooler, and the only 2 people talking self-importantly on their phones on the whole train are in first class.
A very strange example from Jenrick here. He really comes across as slimy & insincere
🆕 Robert Jenrick with a brutal takedown on the Daily Expresso podcast. JJ Anisiøbi said that Badenoch was voted more popular than Farage in a recent poll, Jenrick: "Yeah, but you kind of are when you're irrelevant".
Local Labour members must be able to freely choose their candidate for Gorton and Denton.
Sorry but if the most unpopular Labour government in history intervenes to block our only senior Labour politician with a net positive public approval rating - in doing so risking handing victory to a far right party - that’s putting petty factionalism before the country.
The last person at Labour HQ had better turn the lights off on their way out.
A very strange example from Jenrick here. He really comes across as slimy & insincere
🆕 Robert Jenrick with a brutal takedown on the Daily Expresso podcast. JJ Anisiøbi said that Badenoch was voted more popular than Farage in a recent poll, Jenrick: "Yeah, but you kind of are when you're irrelevant".
If Burnham is blocked from standing and Labour lose, the narrative will quickly take hold that Andy would definitely have won it - and Starmer will be blamed.
But if Burnham stands in G&D (a) there's no guarantee he'd win and (b) that creates an opportunity for Reform to win the GM mayoralty, which is surely a bigger deal. Reform surely have a better chance in GM as a whole than in G&D?
Germany is facing calls to withdraw its billions of euros’ worth of gold from US vaults, spurred on by the shift in transatlantic relations and the unpredictability of Donald Trump.
Germany holds the world’s second biggest national gold reserves after the US, of which approximately €164bn (£122bn) worth – 1,236 tonnes – is stored in New York.
Emanuel Mönch, a leading economist and former head of research at Germany’s federal bank, the Bundesbank, called for the gold to be brought home, saying it was too “risky” for it to be kept in the US under the current administration.
“Given the current geopolitical situation, it seems risky to store so much gold in the US,” he told the financial newspaper Handelsblatt. “In the interest of greater strategic independence from the US, the Bundesbank would therefore be well advised to consider repatriating the gold.”
If Burnham is blocked from standing and Labour lose, the narrative will quickly take hold that Andy would definitely have won it - and Starmer will be blamed.
But if Burnham stands in G&D (a) there's no guarantee he'd win and (b) that creates an opportunity for Reform to win the GM mayoralty, which is surely a bigger deal. Reform surely have a better chance in GM as a whole than in G&D?
It was such a one sided affair I find it hard to credit it could be anything but a Labour win even without Burnham.
Local Labour members must be able to freely choose their candidate for Gorton and Denton.
Sorry but if the most unpopular Labour government in history intervenes to block our only senior Labour politician with a net positive public approval rating - in doing so risking handing victory to a far right party - that’s putting petty factionalism before the country.
The last person at Labour HQ had better turn the lights off on their way out.
Germany is facing calls to withdraw its billions of euros’ worth of gold from US vaults, spurred on by the shift in transatlantic relations and the unpredictability of Donald Trump.
Germany holds the world’s second biggest national gold reserves after the US, of which approximately €164bn (£122bn) worth – 1,236 tonnes – is stored in New York.
Emanuel Mönch, a leading economist and former head of research at Germany’s federal bank, the Bundesbank, called for the gold to be brought home, saying it was too “risky” for it to be kept in the US under the current administration.
“Given the current geopolitical situation, it seems risky to store so much gold in the US,” he told the financial newspaper Handelsblatt. “In the interest of greater strategic independence from the US, the Bundesbank would therefore be well advised to consider repatriating the gold.”
LOL, Andy Burnham's wikipedia page lists his nickname 'King in the North' as critical information alongside his name, birthplace, spouse, party affiliation etc.
Germany is facing calls to withdraw its billions of euros’ worth of gold from US vaults, spurred on by the shift in transatlantic relations and the unpredictability of Donald Trump.
Germany holds the world’s second biggest national gold reserves after the US, of which approximately €164bn (£122bn) worth – 1,236 tonnes – is stored in New York.
Emanuel Mönch, a leading economist and former head of research at Germany’s federal bank, the Bundesbank, called for the gold to be brought home, saying it was too “risky” for it to be kept in the US under the current administration.
“Given the current geopolitical situation, it seems risky to store so much gold in the US,” he told the financial newspaper Handelsblatt. “In the interest of greater strategic independence from the US, the Bundesbank would therefore be well advised to consider repatriating the gold.”
If Burnham is blocked from standing and Labour lose, the narrative will quickly take hold that Andy would definitely have won it - and Starmer will be blamed.
But if Burnham stands in G&D (a) there's no guarantee he'd win and (b) that creates an opportunity for Reform to win the GM mayoralty, which is surely a bigger deal. Reform surely have a better chance in GM as a whole than in G&D?
It was such a one sided affair I find it hard to credit it could be anything but a Labour win even without Burnham.
I feel like you're more likely to get a government protest vote in a by-election than a mayoralty covering a million people.
Reform and an ex-Reform independent got 16% in total last time. If Labour loses half its vote (plausible) and Reform can go up 15% (possible), then Labour might not top the vote… although SV might save them.
Germany is facing calls to withdraw its billions of euros’ worth of gold from US vaults, spurred on by the shift in transatlantic relations and the unpredictability of Donald Trump.
Germany holds the world’s second biggest national gold reserves after the US, of which approximately €164bn (£122bn) worth – 1,236 tonnes – is stored in New York.
Emanuel Mönch, a leading economist and former head of research at Germany’s federal bank, the Bundesbank, called for the gold to be brought home, saying it was too “risky” for it to be kept in the US under the current administration.
“Given the current geopolitical situation, it seems risky to store so much gold in the US,” he told the financial newspaper Handelsblatt. “In the interest of greater strategic independence from the US, the Bundesbank would therefore be well advised to consider repatriating the gold.”
@LizzyBuchan Sadiq Khan becomes the latest Labour bigwig to say Andy Burnham shouldn't be blocked from standing in the Gorton by-election.
He tells @thefabians conference: "I think if Andy Burnham wants to be a member of Parliament, Andy Burnham should be allowed to be a member of Parliament.
"I'm a firm believer in the best team having all the talent playing for them, and if Andy wants to return to Parliament, I will try and make some time between now and the by-election to knock on some doors for him, or whoever the candidate is."
Germany is facing calls to withdraw its billions of euros’ worth of gold from US vaults, spurred on by the shift in transatlantic relations and the unpredictability of Donald Trump.
Germany holds the world’s second biggest national gold reserves after the US, of which approximately €164bn (£122bn) worth – 1,236 tonnes – is stored in New York.
Emanuel Mönch, a leading economist and former head of research at Germany’s federal bank, the Bundesbank, called for the gold to be brought home, saying it was too “risky” for it to be kept in the US under the current administration.
“Given the current geopolitical situation, it seems risky to store so much gold in the US,” he told the financial newspaper Handelsblatt. “In the interest of greater strategic independence from the US, the Bundesbank would therefore be well advised to consider repatriating the gold.”
Germany is facing calls to withdraw its billions of euros’ worth of gold from US vaults, spurred on by the shift in transatlantic relations and the unpredictability of Donald Trump.
Germany holds the world’s second biggest national gold reserves after the US, of which approximately €164bn (£122bn) worth – 1,236 tonnes – is stored in New York.
Emanuel Mönch, a leading economist and former head of research at Germany’s federal bank, the Bundesbank, called for the gold to be brought home, saying it was too “risky” for it to be kept in the US under the current administration.
“Given the current geopolitical situation, it seems risky to store so much gold in the US,” he told the financial newspaper Handelsblatt. “In the interest of greater strategic independence from the US, the Bundesbank would therefore be well advised to consider repatriating the gold.”
I am on a train. It was crowded so I went for the first-class upgrade. I'm in my first class seat. It is full of people in groups TALKING TO EACH OTHER. BASTARDS. Apparently Amy would like a cat. One couple are sitting in separate seats. LISA HAVE YOU GOT THE TICKETS. One guy asked if the other ever had a beard. I cannot use this information.
I'm sorry, this is unacceptable. I want studious young men on laptops. Middle aged men with nose hair and good suits who work in the City. Prissy older women who look like Theresa May and tut if somebody says something. England, you have disappointed me.
Came back from Japan to Heathrow before Christmas. V long flight, bit grumpy and tired. Booked 1st class upgrades on seatfrog for train out of Paddington to Exeter as thought it would be worth it on this occasion.
Board train: - 1st class is rammed; - there's a proper dining car, with space for standard class passengers. I could have sat in that and had lunch for the price of my upgrade; - after a walk up and down the length of the train it becomes apparent that standard class is not only less busy but the carriages are also cooler, and the only 2 people talking self-importantly on their phones on the whole train are in first class.
Germany is facing calls to withdraw its billions of euros’ worth of gold from US vaults, spurred on by the shift in transatlantic relations and the unpredictability of Donald Trump.
Germany holds the world’s second biggest national gold reserves after the US, of which approximately €164bn (£122bn) worth – 1,236 tonnes – is stored in New York.
Emanuel Mönch, a leading economist and former head of research at Germany’s federal bank, the Bundesbank, called for the gold to be brought home, saying it was too “risky” for it to be kept in the US under the current administration.
“Given the current geopolitical situation, it seems risky to store so much gold in the US,” he told the financial newspaper Handelsblatt. “In the interest of greater strategic independence from the US, the Bundesbank would therefore be well advised to consider repatriating the gold.”
Trump: “If Governor Carney thinks he is going to make Canada a ‘Drop Off Port’ for China to send goods and products into the United States, he is sorely mistaken … If Canada makes a deal with China, it will immediately be hit with a 100% Tariff against all Canadian goods and products”
In defence of historical truth, and write the right paragraphs summing this up for the record books, did Trump have a bit of a truthful point in his attack on NATO over Afghanistan War?
I am aware Afghanistan is split today, hardliners to the South and east with Supreme Leader, more moderate conservatives to the North and west, who are beginning to get their way a bit over the hardliners. I was too young to remember the Afghan war, but looking into it, some NATO countries did insist on national caveats that restricted their troops' engagement levels, which meant they were not deployed on the frontlines in Afghanistan. We lost 457, the US nearly two and half Thousand, France Germany Italy under 100 each.
Where UK was deployed was certainly front line in those toughest provinces. UK didn’t go with caveats. The defence of Trump is he bundled those without caveats to role so role was same as US in with, in with those with front line engagement caveats, when in Trump {and goodness knows how many other American} minds he’s thinking NATO article 5 invoked by US after it was attacked, but some NATO countries came to help with caveats. On the other hand, if knowingly not tired and ignorantly bundled non caveat’s in with those caveated it’s the very nastiest shocking attack on UK, and at same time as well thirty coalition allies who came to help US did take casualties, so stupid and nasty thing to say and do to all allies who came to help.
However, to understand it and if clever politics at play here, I do know on research into Hitler NAZI regime, that fascists and populists are noted for cunning politics for focusing much on a bit of actual factual truth in their policy’s and rhetoric, as seen from national or populist point of view plays very well with that crowd, and spinning it and bigging it up from there to win over people, which helps define Trump, Farage etc in how they go about things as different from how decent moderate fair minded politicians go about things.
"The latest model of ChatGPT has begun to cite Elon Musk’s Grokipedia as a source on a wide range of queries, including on Iranian conglomerates and Holocaust deniers, raising concerns about misinformation on the platform.
In tests done by the Guardian, GPT-5.2 cited Grokipedia nine times in response to more than a dozen different questions. These included queries on political structures in Iran, such as salaries of the Basij paramilitary force and the ownership of the Mostazafan Foundation, and questions on the biography of Sir Richard Evans, a British historian and expert witness against Holocaust denier David Irving in his libel trial."
Comments
https://youtu.be/S6SmzOqlKMk?si=RP9O3ORrB8tEDfhG
I was with our 23 year old grandaughter this morning, just graduated from Leeds, and no real surpise that she is a Polanski fan as are most of her peers
Another straw in the wind of the battle labour are facing from both the right and left
So either it's a truly filthy turner or he got a bit lucky.
Does a deal with another Manc MP in 2028.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jan/24/farage-truss-lunch-funded-by-climate-denying-us-thinktank
She's swimming in the deep pools of the online altright conspiracist whingers perpetually obsessed with their own grievances, probably hunting for the attention and money of American rightists.
England 210 all out nailed on now.
Of course, he cannot openly state that is his purpose.
Board train:
- 1st class is rammed;
- there's a proper dining car, with space for standard class passengers. I could have sat in that and had lunch for the price of my upgrade;
- after a walk up and down the length of the train it becomes apparent that standard class is not only less busy but the carriages are also cooler, and the only 2 people talking self-importantly on their phones on the whole train are in first class.
FFAS !
I get it, she cannot handle the humiliation of how she was taken down so quickly, and in the immediate aftermath I thought she handled it with some dignity, but she's lost it.
Usually as a semi-jokey aside.
Miller 'aint laughing though.
Either way works, if we're honest.
The timeline being put about (make Andy an MP so he can challenge the PM) is bonkers in its sense of entitlement.
The Labour Party hierarchy should be begging Andy Burnham to stand. Keeping Reform out of Gorton and Denton is imperative.
Those who have trashed our polling and hollowed out Labour’s base are now actively threatening Labour’s chances of winning this seat.
@KevinASchofield
This is No10’s dilemma in a nutshell.
If Burnham is blocked from standing and Labour lose, the narrative will quickly take hold that Andy would definitely have won it - and Starmer will be blamed.
Vance can't afford to relinquish power either.
But Trump is also taking more active steps to try to control who gets to vote this November. White House lawyers are demanding that 44 of America’s 50 states hand over unredacted voter rolls, including not just the names and addresses of registered voters but also their driving licence details and several digits from their social security numbers (equivalent to national insurance numbers in the UK).
The White House is suing 24 states that have refused to hand over the data. But more than 20 Republican-governed states have co-operated, laying the groundwork for potential vote-suppressing skullduggery that could see thousands of Democratic Party supporters challenged over whether they can prove they have the right to vote.
The Brennan Centre for Justice, a non-partisan law and policy organisation, has called the move “part of a plan to interfere with elections”, while warning that the demands are “unprecedented” and should be considered a blatant effort by Trump “to sow distrust in the election system”.
Republican “election monitors” plan to sift through the data they’ve already received, vowing to crack down on “irregularities” that Trump falsely claims have sullied successive US elections – except, of course, for those he won.
Last November, the Department of Justice, now in Trump’s thrall, fielded its own election monitors during off-year elections in California and New Jersey. Those efforts are expected to accelerate nationwide later this year.
Trump may also seek to suppress voter turnout by stoking a sense of insecurity on the streets of Democratic stronghold cities in the run-up to November.
https://inews.co.uk/news/world/trump-dark-plan-us-midterm-elections-already-begun-4180529
Another ploy would be to have ICE teams visibly deployed outside voting booths in Democrat areas.
So I don't see much additional downside to less interested public getting wind of that relationship by having Burnham stand and (probably) win. The second Gwynne quit the headlines were about Burnham possibly standing, so if he does not (even by choice) it will be portrayed as Starmer's fault if they then go on to lose, so that will become the standard narrative.
Might as well let him stand even if it might mean personal trouble later.
Blocking him would seem to ordinary punters like both littleness and Trumpishness at the same time. At this moment we need big people and great statesmen. Burnham standing would seem both betrayal of the mayor job, and opportunism.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/31470958
And there’s no guarantee Burnham will win the by-election or if he does garner enough names to challenge Starmer .
(If you haven't played it, it's great fun)
Anyway, I retract my disappointment!
But governments, in general, find it harder to win by-elections over time, and whilst there are some safer seats out there, if Gorton is not winnable even those seats are not guarantees if the government drag is so high, as Tiverton could tell him.
So being cautious and not going now may cut off future chances.
https://x.com/johnrentoul/status/2014987039968469425?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
No Burnham! Lives! ?
https://www.psypost.org/donald-trump-weaponizes-humor-through-dark-play-to-test-boundaries/
🆕 Robert Jenrick with a brutal takedown on the Daily Expresso podcast. JJ Anisiøbi said that Badenoch was voted more popular than Farage in a recent poll, Jenrick: "Yeah, but you kind of are when you're irrelevant".
[@ExpressPolitics] [@jjanisiobi]
https://x.com/liamukpolitics/status/2014756115242733974?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
I can't take him seriously.
Sorry but if the most unpopular Labour government in history intervenes to block our only senior Labour politician with a net positive public approval rating - in doing so risking handing victory to a far right party - that’s putting petty factionalism before the country.
The last person at Labour HQ had better turn the lights off on their way out.
https://x.com/nadiawhittomemp/status/2015032754145317344?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
Which, tbf, isn't really wrong.
Side question: When was the rule blocking mayors from standing passed? Was it a deliberate “stop Burnham” measure or has it always been there?
Germany holds the world’s second biggest national gold reserves after the US, of which approximately €164bn (£122bn) worth – 1,236 tonnes – is stored in New York.
Emanuel Mönch, a leading economist and former head of research at Germany’s federal bank, the Bundesbank, called for the gold to be brought home, saying it was too “risky” for it to be kept in the US under the current administration.
“Given the current geopolitical situation, it seems risky to store so much gold in the US,” he told the financial newspaper Handelsblatt. “In the interest of greater strategic independence from the US, the Bundesbank would therefore be well advised to consider repatriating the gold.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/24/repatriate-the-gold-german-economists-advise-withdrawal-from-us-vaults
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Greater_Manchester_mayoral_election
I feel like you're more likely to get a government protest vote in a by-election than a mayoralty covering a million people.
Probably not.
Sadiq Khan becomes the latest Labour bigwig to say Andy Burnham shouldn't be blocked from standing in the Gorton by-election.
He tells @thefabians conference: "I think if Andy Burnham wants to be a member of Parliament, Andy Burnham should be allowed to be a member of Parliament.
"I'm a firm believer in the best team having all the talent playing for them, and if Andy wants to return to Parliament, I will try and make some time between now and the by-election to knock on some doors for him, or whoever the candidate is."
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qFGxO3kSdVE
Reform winning Greater Manchester is quite possible
(They both cheat at golf though)
Burnham/Rayner/Powell would be a much harder political target than Starmer and Reeves.
@atrupar.com
Trump: “If Governor Carney thinks he is going to make Canada a ‘Drop Off Port’ for China to send goods and products into the United States, he is sorely mistaken … If Canada makes a deal with China, it will immediately be hit with a 100% Tariff against all Canadian goods and products”
I am aware Afghanistan is split today, hardliners to the South and east with Supreme Leader, more moderate conservatives to the North and west, who are beginning to get their way a bit over the hardliners.
I was too young to remember the Afghan war, but looking into it, some NATO countries did insist on national caveats that restricted their troops' engagement levels, which meant they were not deployed on the frontlines in Afghanistan. We lost 457, the US nearly two and half Thousand, France Germany Italy under 100 each.
Where UK was deployed was certainly front line in those toughest provinces. UK didn’t go with caveats. The defence of Trump is he bundled those without caveats to role so role was same as US in with, in with those with front line engagement caveats, when in Trump {and goodness knows how many other American} minds he’s thinking NATO article 5 invoked by US after it was attacked, but some NATO countries came to help with caveats. On the other hand, if knowingly not tired and ignorantly bundled non caveat’s in with those caveated it’s the very nastiest shocking attack on UK, and at same time as well thirty coalition allies who came to help US did take casualties, so stupid and nasty thing to say and do to all allies who came to help.
However, to understand it and if clever politics at play here, I do know on research into Hitler NAZI regime, that fascists and populists are noted for cunning politics for focusing much on a bit of actual factual truth in their policy’s and rhetoric, as seen from national or populist point of view plays very well with that crowd, and spinning it and bigging it up from there to win over people, which helps define Trump, Farage etc in how they go about things as different from how decent moderate fair minded politicians go about things.
"The latest model of ChatGPT has begun to cite Elon Musk’s Grokipedia as a source on a wide range of queries, including on Iranian conglomerates and Holocaust deniers, raising concerns about misinformation on the platform.
In tests done by the Guardian, GPT-5.2 cited Grokipedia nine times in response to more than a dozen different questions. These included queries on political structures in Iran, such as salaries of the Basij paramilitary force and the ownership of the Mostazafan Foundation, and questions on the biography of Sir Richard Evans, a British historian and expert witness against Holocaust denier David Irving in his libel trial."