In praise of Count Binface Opinion By standing in the impending by-election in Clacton, Count Binface has more than proved his worth to both comedy and democracy, says James Ford I must confess to having a conflicted attitude to Count Binface. On the one hand, the former political adviser within me (who is, of course, a profound political snob) tends to [...]
Is ‘Stop Reform’ now the most powerful force in UK politics? Opinion They may be dominating all the opinion polls, but have Reform hit a wall? James Ford considers if the party has peaked. Something is going very badly wrong for Reform UK. They are supposed to be the next big thing. The coming men. The heirs apparent. The real opposition. Yet, while they still top every [...]
‘No authority’: Starmer under pressure to quit after Burnham wins in Makerfield Politics Sir Keir Starmer is facing fresh calls to quit from his own cabinet and a Labour peer after Andy Burnham’s triumph at the Makerfield by-election. Lord Falconer, a former justice secretary under Tony Blair, became the latest Labour figure to call for the Prime Minister to step down, saying he has “absolutely no authority”. Burnham’s [...]
Starmer insists he will challenge Burnham in a leadership contest June 19, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer has said he will not stand down as Prime Minister and intends to fight any contest for the Labour leadership, in a challenge to Andy Burnham after his win in the Makerfield by-election. Speaking on Friday morning, Starmer congratulated the former Manchester mayor after he won an emphatic victory over Reform UK [...]
Andy Burnham will crumble like a biscuit he can’t even name June 18, 2026 Andy Burnham’s record and character will not withstand the national scrutiny that will come with a bid to become Prime Minister, says Alys Denby Once, when asked which was his favourite biscuit, Andy Burnham replied “beer and chips and gravy”. If the Mayor of Manchester wins the Makerfield by-election today and graduates from local celebrity [...]
What should we make of Makerfield? June 11, 2026 Much analysis of the Makerfield by-election focuses on what it means for Keir Starmer and the Labour party’s national fortunes – but how should we assess it on its own terms? Asks Steve Akehurst It can be stated without much hyperbole that when the people of Makerfield go to the polls next week it will [...]