Back to the more trivial world of Westminster gossip.
Andy Burnham has announced his intention to stand as Labour candidate in the by-election for the constituency Andrew Gwynne is vacating.
It is a problem for Starmer. On the one hand, the NEC could clearly refuse permission and tell Burnham to get on with being Manchester Mayor. On the other hand, if the NEC does block him, Starmer is open to accusations of running scared from a rival.
Burnham is possessed of any extraordinarily inflated sense of his own worth. The idea he would somehow make any difference! And his statement about why he wants to stand is self serving rubbish. It is obvious he is only interested in challenging Starmer and wanting to be Prime Minister, which he appears to regard as his entitlement.
However, he may not have it all his own way. Reform will clearly throw everything they have at the contest. And in a constituency with a large Muslim population, it looks inevitable that good old George will throw his famous hat into the ring. He might not be everyone’s Cup of tea but I will never get tired of watching him school this dimwit from Sky News: