POLITICS CORNER

[Stanley]

See THIS for a predictable reaction to Trump's comments on troops in Afghanistan other than US.
The Duke of Sussex has called for the sacrifices of Nato troops to be "spoken about truthfully and with respect", after the US president claimed allies stayed "a little back" from the front lines in Afghanistan. "I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there," Prince Harry, who was twice deployed to the country, said on Friday as he paid tribute to Nato troops killed in the conflict, including 457 UK service personnel. The prince was reacting to controversial comments made by Donald Trump in an interview on Thursday. Trump's words have drawn condemnation from international allies, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer calling them "insulting and frankly appalling" . The UK and other nations joined the US in Afghanistan after Nato's collective security clause was invoked following the 9/11 attacks. Prince Harry said: "In 2001, Nato invoked Article 5 for the first - and only - time in history. It meant that every allied nation was obliged to stand with the United States in Afghanistan, in pursuit of our shared security. Allies answered that call." He added: "Thousands of lives were changed forever. Mothers and fathers buried sons and daughters. Children were left without a parent. Families are left carrying the cost. "Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect, as we all remain united and loyal to the defence of diplomacy and peace."
This is only a sample of the vilification of Trump that can be found in the news.....

[Stanley]

THIS heads the UK political news....
Andy Burnham has announced that he is seeking permission to stand in the upcoming Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election. If he won and became an MP, Burnham could mount a leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer but the BBC has been told that allies of the prime minister may try and block him from standing in the constituency. Burnham is currently mayor of Greater Manchester and in a statement insisted that he wants to back the Labour government "not undermine it", adding that the decision had been "difficult". The seat in Greater Manchester is vacant after Andrew Gwynne stood down on Friday as an MP on health grounds. As a directly-elected mayor, Burnham has to get approval from Labour's ruling national executive committee before he can enter the race to be the party's candidate. That decision is expected on Sunday. Several Labour MPs have reacted angrily to the suggestion that Burnham could be blocked from standing in the by-election. Burnham had until Saturday afternoon to submit his application and on the dot of the 5pm deadline, he shared his letter, external to the NEC on social media, ending days of speculation over what he was planning.
I don't see how the NEC could refuse permission to stand because though it is within their remit, a refusal would trigger protest. Ignore the placatory statements..... this is the start of a Leadership bid. Why else would Burnham leave the Mayoral role?

[Stanley]

I have just heard that the NEC has blocked Andy Burnham's nomination for the Gorton and Denton by election.
This is not the end of this and is a big mistake....

[Stanley]

See THIS report on the Burnham affair.....
Andy Burnham has said he is "disappointed" after being blocked from standing as a candidate for the upcoming parliamentary by-election in Gorton and Denton by Labour's ruling body. As a directly elected mayor, Burnham had to get approval from Labour's national executive committee (NEC), after he applied to be a candidate on Saturday. But Labour said the party had decided to deny him permission to stand to "avoid an unnecessary mayoral election, which would use substantial amounts of taxpayers' money and resources". Burnham, a former minister, is widely seen as a potential leadership challenger to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer should he return to Westminster. Writing on X, Burnham expressed concern about the ruling's "impact on the important elections ahead of us", and said he would return with "full focus" to his role as mayor. "I decided to put myself forward to prevent the divisive politics of Reform from damaging that. We are stronger together and let's stay that way," Burnham said. However, he criticised how the ruling was made known on Sunday, saying: "The fact that the media was informed of the NEC decision before I was tells you everything you need to know about the way the Labour Party is being run these days". The seat in Greater Manchester is vacant after former Labour minister Andrew Gwynne stood down on Friday as an MP on health grounds. The move to block Burnham has infuriated Labour MPs and is likely to anger some ministers who said local party members should have had the option of choosing the Greater Manchester mayor as the candidate. It is a big political gamble by allies of the prime minister and risks inflaming tensions within the party, which is consistently trailing Reform UK in national opinion polls. One senior Labour source who had been supportive of Burnham's candidacy said: "They're gambling the PM's whole premiership on winning a very hard by-election without their best candidate. It is madness." The decision was made by 10 members of the NEC, including Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, party chair Ellie Reeves and the prime minister himself on Sunday morning. NEC sources told the BBC the vote was 8-1 in favour of blocking Burnham's candidacy. The prime minister was among those who voted to block him from standing.
This cunning wheeze to protect Starmer is a huge mistake and it will provoke a massive row in the Party which might not always be public but which will be immensely damaging. It was fear of this happening that persuaded me that Labour were doomed despite their majority. The leadership is inadequate and incompetent.

[Wendyf]

Is there an argument for thinking that Andy Burnham knew he would be blocked from standing at this point? It won't have done him any harm, but Starmer is certainly damaged by the situation.

[PanBiker]

Well, they have just given another constituency to Reform! Candidates should be chosen and endorsed by constituency labour party members. It has always been so, glad I am not part of this any more.

One thing that strikes me is the fact that the NEC has dozens of delegates from, unions, the PLP, constituencies and other related societies. It is supposed to be a broad church. It's a committee like any other in the party and should have to abide by quorate rules that apply to all other tiers of the party. If they can't get the numbers to attend they should not be able to make decisions. Eight individuals with a casting vote by the PM is not good enough. You couldn't do this at branch level, you would be taken to task big style. Maybe I am becoming a dinosaur but I know how committee structure should work.

Andy will reap the benefit of this decision, Wendy is right there.

[Stanley]

You're right Ian and I think Wendy is also on the money when she said that Andy probably knew he would be knocked back. Barring a Lord Mayor is the default position when it comes to candidacies.

[Stanley]

Suella Braverman has tergiversated to ReformUK.

[Tripps]

Is there an argument for thinking that Andy Burnham knew he would be blocked from standing at this point? It won't have done him any harm, but Starmer is certainly damaged by the situation.

Beat me to it W. We're ahead of the game - I've not seen the view mentioned in the mainstream.

Of course he knew. He's read the rule book too, and is an experienced operator.

As Aunty Josie would have said "The wigs are on the green".

[Stanley]

See THIS update on the Burnham affair....
49 minutes ago
Around 50 Labour MPs have signed a letter objecting to the decision to block Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from standing in a forthcoming parliamentary by-election, BBC News understands. They have written to Sir Keir Starmer to warn the decision is a "real gift" to Reform UK, as polling suggests Burnham may be Labour's "very best chance at winning" the vacant Gorton and Denton seat. The signatories added there was "no legitimate reason" to block Burnham and asked for Labour's ruling National Executive Committee to "re-evaluate" the decision. Defending the move, Sir Keir said allowing Burnham to contest the seat would have diverted Labour's resources away from other important elections. "Resources, whether that's money or people, need to be focused on the elections that we must have, not elections that we don't have to have," he said earlier. "And that was the basis of the NEC decision." Burnham has been seen as a potential leadership rival to Sir Keir but would have to return to Parliament in order to mount a challenge.
Starmer's reasons for the ban are disingenuous and he will soon discover that you can't spin your way out of a challenge as strong as this.