Hartlepool has changed my view of Starmer. It was a totally unnecessary by-election for which he thoroughly deserves heavy flak. A leader should not be easily forgiven for such a self inflicted wound. (View Post)

May or June 2023 would be earlier than those precedents. October 2023 would be more reasonable - and also the earliest realistic date to rely on boundary changes (View Post)

Two by election defeats - the first of which was self-inflicted in that there was no need for the by election - would destroy his authority and he would have reached the point of no return. (View Post)

Hilary Benn would be a good leader - but appears not to be interested. (View Post)

It was a Tory seat in 1992 when the Tory lead here was 2.3% - compared to the GB lead of 7.6%. Might there still be a residual Jo Cox sympathy vote here which proves helpful to Labour? (View Post)