Thread 41 Starmer : "Alban Arthan" the returning of the light

[DuncinToffee]

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Welcome to 2026 for political discussion, general chat and taxes in kind.

Texts recvd from Matt Chorley on radios 5 apparently suggest Burnham will be blocked. Michael Gove is on broadcasting house and would argue it undermines the role he can play in Manchester, "he's already on the pitch" as it were. It's going to cost £1.5m to run a new mayoral election, and at a time when the government is postponing other local government elections this year

Haha, I will be more careful with my formatting

Even if the NEC doesn't block him, the CLP might prefer a different candidate. Do we know who else is in the running yet?

Shabana Mahmood was interviewed on Trevor Philips sky this morning and was saying she couldn't say any more.

There might be an all women shortlist.

So Eddie Izzard might run ?🙄😜

IIRC the CLP preferred candidate is a woman ??Eleanor/Helen labour leader at the council who is very popular locally - it's a while ago since reading this so might be wrong

if he steers a good enough path for the next 3-4 years I think he [Starmer] would have the better chance with the public.

I really don't believe this. Burnham has everything to the public eye that Starmer doesn't have - a real empathy, his Hillsborough presence, better looks, more charisma and less robotic.

My (lay)foot is edging into Burnham will save us from Reform camp. Those people (and there are plenty) edging to Green and LibDem may come back. The LP may stop cosplaying as Reform, too.

Polling

''According to Ipsos, he’s on +25 among voters in the north-west – the only politician with a positive rating – while Nigel Farage is on -29 and Starmer is on -40''

I think NEC should allow him to go through. Let the CLP decide who stands.

For that to happen, Starmer (and anyone else) would have to step aside and not fight to stay in power.

But is Burnham actually any good? and whilst polling is better now, how long would that last before the media turn on him plus the fundamentals of the economy haven't changed.

Immigration esp x channel, is the top priority for the electorate, that needs addressing, regardless of Reform.

Can see the potential issues, just reading this thread...

Oh boy.

Zack Polanski (Greens) and George Galloway (Workers Party) might also run in the Gorton by election

Source Trevor Philips to Matt Barbet on sky

I agree. It's up to the CLP to choose the candidate.

I think Burnham is an opportunist, but also can't argue with your points, Piggy.

Is it the top issue, though?

God, I loathe Galloway.

On a purely strategic level, it's no bad thing for Labour to have some options in the leadership department. We don't want another Liz Truss month.

Can you lot stop filling a thread whilst I am getting a cup of coffee

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5481109-thread-42-starmer-du-drikker-en-kop-te-og-sa-taenker-du-lidt-over-alting

God, I am just watching the ICE video.

Did everyone notice the officer clapping at the end?

It's also quite hard to identify which people are ICE. I only just realised a lot of them wear jeans and their uniforms are just beige coats.They aren't even all standard issue. Regardless of the bad things actual US (and sometimes UK) cops have done, they are clearly identifiable , unless specifically plain clothes.

From Mahmood this morning

www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jan/25/labour-must-avoid-a-psychodrama-over-andy-burnham-warns-mahmood

"She did, however, praise Burnham, indicating that she felt he could add to the party in parliament. “He’s an exceptional politician, and of course I always think we should have all of our best players making their contribution to the Labour government,” she said.

“So my clear message to all colleagues everywhere is, just calm down. We’re in government. Labour governments don’t come along that often in the history of our great country. We have the absolute privilege of being the government of our country. We should all pull together and make a success of it.” "

I was watching Noem on CNN last night. The lies that came out of her mouth were infuriating. It is appalling.

Both Farage and Badenoch want a UK equivalent of ICE. I wonder if they have second thoughts now

The threads on this are being derailed by whataboutery.

The war was lost
The treaty signed
I was not caught
I crossed the line
I was not caught
Though many tried
I live among you, well-disguised
I had to leave my life behind
I dug some graves
You'll never find the story's told
With facts and lies
I had a name but never mind
Never mind
Never mind
The war was lost
The treaty signed
There's truth that lives
And truth that dies
I don't know which
So never mind
يا سلام على السلام يا سلام
يا سلام سلام على السلام
Your victory was so complete
Some among you
Thought to keep a record of our little lives
The clothes we wore our spoons our knives
The games of luck
Our soldiers played
The stones we cut
The songs we made
Our law of peace
Which understands
A husband leads
A wife commands
And all of these
Expressions of the sweet indifference
Some call love
The high indifference
Some call fate
But we had names more intimate
Names so deep
And names so true
They're blood to me
They're dust to you
There is no need
And this survives
There's truth that lives
And truth that dies
Never mind
Never mind
I leave the life
I left behind
There's truth that lives
And truth that dies
I don't know which
Never mind
يا سلام على السلام يا سلام
يا سلام يا سلام، يا سلام يا سلام
I could not kill
The way you kill
I could not hate
I tried, I failed
You turned me in
At least you tried
You side with them whom
You despise
This was your heart
This swarm of flies
This was once your mouth
This bowl of lies
You serve them well, I'm not surprised
You're of their kin
You're of their kind
Never mind
Never mind
I had to leave my life behind
The story's told
With facts and lies
You own the world so never mind
Never mind
Never mind
I live the life
I left behind
I live it full
I live it wide
Through layers of time
You can't divide
My woman's here
My children too
Their graves are safe from ghosts like you
In places deep
With roots entwined
I live the life
I left behind
The war was lost
The treaty signed
I was not caught
Across the line
I was not caught
Though many tried
I live among you, well-disguised

Whilst I can agree about Burnham v Starmer to an extent, eg general appeal and maybe ideology (don’t know enough) I think any appeal he may have would be ruined by the jostling for power and we really don’t need a change right now - think labour should emphasise steady and serious - though of course good outcomes are needed too.
If Burnham gets his time I think it’s better in the future for him, the party and everyone- I thought that about Rishi too actually but different reasons - not trying to pick up a broken party.
Guess it’s all moot now - except for the press.