Andy Burnham must’ve found the political equivalent of a four-leaf clover when he’s poised next week to become PM in a bloodless coup, while Nigel Farage argues with a bin and Reform is buried by probes into dodgy finances.
This turnaround in fortunes – Labour suddenly full of hope and its hard-right rival throwing a temper tantrum – is dizzying yet only a fool would confidently predict where we go next. But what is unarguable is that Burnham has engineered a golden opportunity to breathe fresh life into a Labour government that looked dead under Keir Starmer.
And Farage has haemorrhaged credibility whether he beats Count Binface or not in a backfiring Clacton gimmick, where the City spiv is a bigger joke than a comic with a dustbin on his head. Reform-confected howls of outrage that Labour, Tories, Lib Dems and Greens won’t play Farage’s game is the sound of chickens coming home to roost as £5million in pennies – before adding other donations under investigation – drop for Reform.
Farage standing against himself in a backfiring stunt won’t avert another if he’s suspended from the Commons over that £5m from a donor. But it does raise fresh questions about four Reform MP defectors from the Tories who never fought by-elections. Farage standing down 300 Brexit Party candidates in 2019 to give Tories a clear run against Labour reinforces that he’s a slippery opportunist rather than a principled democrat.
No wonder polls find even 40% of Reform supporters think Farage is tainted by sleaze, and nationally Count Binface is more popular.
Burnham is preparing to enter Downing Street with a plan to boost living standards, aware a successful initial 100 days is key to achieving anywhere near the 10 years all debutant PMs crave. Get it right and he will be hailed a Labour hero. Stumble and the King of the North would never be forgiven because Labour will receive no third chance this side of a general election.
Which is why Labour MPs praying their leader-in-waiting is one of Napoleon’s lucky generals are viewing Farage’s fall as a positive sign from the political gods.
Gala’s in dire need
Brass bands, trade union banners, beer and bolshiness are why the magnificent Durham Miners’ Gala must live on.
But at the weekend’s 140th Big Meeting, gala chair and ex-pitman Stephen Guy didn’t shy away from the financial pressures jeopardising the largest annual working class celebration in Europe and possibly the world. This year’s 250,000-strong glorious gala cost £329,000 and required support from other trade unions plus a £50,000 lifeline from North East Mayor Kim McGuinness.
Raising the downtrodden was the message amid the raucous revelry, and the huge crowds enjoyed fiery speeches including a hammering takedown of moneybags Nigel by Shiney Row pit village lass Joanne Thomas, who now leads shopworkers’ union Usdaw.
Letting the gala wither or even die would be a crime. But working people challenging obscene wealth and power never get £5million from crypto tycoons, so either the wider labour movement digs deep or an avaricious capitalist class wins again.
Heroic, courageous Peter Tatchell has been violently attacked over 300 times
So the mob attacking him for what the human rights campaigner admits were “insensitive comments” after Ann Widdecombe’s death – made before knowing she was killed – should back off.
I understand why a gay man might hit out at a politician who, Tatchell said, “opposed every gay law reform for 40 years”. Tatchell soon accepted he shouldn’t have appeared to celebrate her death.
I’ve used harsh language about Ms Widdecombe too. I got to know her on Jeremy Vine’s show – she was a kind and respectful person.
When she died, she deserved accountability and respect.
Rayner 2.0 is better than ever
I saw a fighting-fit Angela Rayner in Durham, raring for a Cabinet comeback under Andy Burnham.
She fizzed with ideas, determination and enthusiasm to improve the lives of working-class Britons during an interview and Q&A that I conducted for the teaching union NASUWT.
Rayner paid a very high price for an honest mistake over stamp duty but the upside could be that Angela 2.0 is even better and much stronger than her first incarnation.
Appointing a Cabinet of all the talents, giving top jobs to the likes of Rayner and Lou Haigh, spitefully sacked by Starmer, could be Burnham’s refreshing Heineken moment for UK Labour.
Going up
She may not be a household name but Burnham taking advice from Peckham economist MP Miatta Fahnbulleh is encouraging. She really thinks outside the box and he must decisively break with failed business as usual to significantly boost living standards for workers and families.
Going down
Wealthy landowner Rupert Lowe reducing to “one murder” the 1996 Dunblane massacre in Scotland of 16 school children and a teacher to discredit tough gun laws illustrated why the man is a nasty con merchant and his vile, anti-migrant Restore Britain vehicle a threat to us all.
