Burnham has won. More turmoil?

An interesting comparison, I always thought May was treated shabbily as well.

It’s not “facts”. Turnout was 20% higher. That alone would explain the result. You’ll be telling me there are fairies at the bottom of your garden next.

If the rumours that Andy will install Ed M as Chancellor are true, we’re all screwed!

Things do need to change, I just don’t think changing one talker for another talker.

Nothing seems to be landing with any party and people creating a frenzy, mis information being used for their own narrative.

Unsettling, and worrying. We don’t have the money to keep paying out, we want to look after the most vulnerable but they right now are at risk. We need to ensure we supporting our young people with opportunities or we will loose them. We need to deal fast with the people arriving at our shores - support where needed and if not ticket back home swiftly.

I know I've been quite circumspect above but what I do think is that it's very unlikely that Starmer will fall on his sword! He has no good reason to, at present. At least that we know of.

For what it's worth, I agree that no politician - of any colour or stripe - is going to be able to fix the issues we have currently. Unfortunately we're in a period of contraction globally. As a race we've overextended ourselves and over consumed our resources and as a species we've been living the relative high life for a few decades. Now it's coming to an end and people are going to be unhappy and struggle as things revert to normal. Short of a major technological advancement happening imminently (like mastering nuclear fusion at scale which means very cheap clean energy for all) then we are all going to have to get used to our quality of life getting worse. There is no politician in the world who can fix that.

They won in the other by-election and Kemi is leading in her ratings above the men. Labour are actually losing their leader so they can focus on that for a while.

I'm relieved too. Although it will inevitably result in a leadership contest at some point, this is "the lesser of two evils", I think.

I love Andy Burnham but I agree a leadership contest is not what we need . We need boring , stable and effective leadership. I wish the government could be more loyal to each other and cohesive for the good of the country than what we have seen lately. You know actually work together and I wish there was more cross party working together on big issues too. I do blame the media for a lot of Keirs unpopularity.

Another upcoming lurch to the Left then? Not good news.

On the other hand, congratulations to the Conservatives for taking Aberdeen South from the SNP - onwards and upwards!

Isn't this what we went through with May/Johnson? A PM who lacked charisma and the common touch being elbowed aside for someone with populist appeal, a hugely popular mayor. Personally ambitious and hailed as some kind of messiah who will 'deliver' for the party and the country. Well, six years on, Johnson's party is in ruins and it may end similarly for Labour.

It’s a fix!

Remind us how many votes the Tories got in Makerfield? Or how well they did in the May elections?

Reform has replaced the Tories because there is always a rump of around a third of voters (who bother to turn out) who will vote for the right, often against their own interests. Badenoch has turned an ailing Tory party into a defunct one.

Why not? Its the vety definition of it. Judging someone by the colour of their skin and their sex.

Nothing. It was always a terrible policy and it hasn’t worked for Starmer.

Perhaps. I'm not sure what you're saying changes the facts though that people who voted for Reform a few weeks ago have just leant Burnham their vote so he can remove KS. This by-election was a vote to remove Keir Starmer. Of course turnout would be high.

Why did Farage say it was existential then? Turnout was 20% higher than for the local elections.

That is exactly the line Tice is spinning. Reform didn't win in the four other national and local by-elections last night. What are the excuses for those results?

The shine is coming off for Reform.

Tice on the radio, saying it was a safe Labour seat. Well, they’ll to win a lot of them if they want more than a handful of MPs.

He wants Starmer for fall on his sword @FinchiePink. It’s just appalling however you look at it! Burnham has won a by election and now is the king of Westminster elect. He talks about change, but so did Starmer. They all just talk, talk, talk. He mentions hope! He cannot deliver that! He’s just dishonest about what he can do. The national issues are way above what he’s encountered before. These idiots are just swimming in word soup.

Is ideology. Nothing else.

It probably was a factor. If your main aim is to get rid of Starmer it’s a surer way to do it.

I agree, what has anyone’s skin colour got to do with it? Just imagine if this was said the other way round.

Er yeah people died of COVID in NZ!

What the f were voters thinking?

Hmmm well either way KS isn’t going to want to let go. He’s going to fight it to the bitter end I think. It’s going to be hilarious to watch