OneGuyFromBarlick

See THIS for reactions to the Burnham challenge....
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is facing a backlash from dozens of Labour MPs over suggestions he could mount a challenge to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's leadership. Burnham has criticised the Labour government in a series of interviews, and says he has been contacted by Labour MPs urging him to stand. But the majority of Labour MPs who replied after being contacted by the BBC said they were against such a move. Speaking to BBC North West, Sir Keir said he would not "get drawn into commenting on the personal ambitions of the mayor". He also sought to compare Burnham's spending proposals with those of former Conservative prime minister Liz Truss, after the mayor complained about the government being "in hock" to investors in UK government debt. BBC Radio 5 Live asked 320 out of the 399 Labour MPs currently sitting in Parliament for comment. Many of the dozens who replied were unhappy at the performance of the Labour government, but few suggested Burnham's return would improve their fortunes. One said Burnham "seems to promote himself every time there's a perceived crack in the wall… a bit like Japanese knotweed" and a minister said a "few disgruntled MPs" made up "the Burnham fan club" and the rest just wanted him to "focus on his actual job in Manchester".

I started watching this interview with Rupert Lowe last night. Much to my surprise - I found that I stayed with it until the end, and it's well over an hour long. I'll just put up the link not the full insert, as I don't expect it will find much support by poilitically active members on here. They are too entrenched in their views and waiting for the second coming of Aneurin Bevan and Co. I did not know much about him - just that he was wealthy, once had a connection with Southampton soccer club and went back a long way. He had a major fall out with Nigel Farage (the detail is worth a look) when they were both in Reform UK, and his account of that explains why Nigel will never be Prime Minister, despite being a certainty in the latest poll today.

He now is a sitting MP for Gt Yarmouth, and has his own organisation called (confusingly) 'Restore Britain' - at which I shall be taking a closer look.

Rupert Lowe interview

See THIS report of Netanyahu speaking at the UN....
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has attacked the recognition of a Palestinian state by multiple Western countries during a combative speech at the UN General Assembly. Netanyahu labelled the recognition moves a "mark of shame" that sent the message "murdering Jews pays off". Dozens of officials and diplomats staged a walk-out as he took to the podium, leaving large parts of the conference hall empty. Outside, protesters against Israel's war in Gaza gathered in Times Square. Israel has come under huge international pressure over its military action in Gaza, culminating in the UK, France, Canada, Australia and other countries recognising the State of Palestine this week. In his opening remarks, Netanyahu displayed a map labelled "The Curse" that he said showed Iranian proxy groups across the Middle East. He then highlighted Israeli military operations across the past year against Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, Hamas in Gaza, and Iran. He thanked US President Donald Trump for American involvement in bombing Iran's Fordo nuclear site in June, and drew parallels between Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack on Israel and the 9/11 attack on the US. He said the two countries were fighting the same enemies, pointing to chants of "death to America" by groups linked to Iran.