Starmer is in big trouble. If he goes, could gov fall - impact on the messy world we are in now

The UK right wing press is and always has been a malignant force.

It would be quite ironic were Farage to become PM at a time when one of his suspected backers, the Russian state, faced an existential crisis. That certainly seems to be where we're headed.

I'd also argue Farage as PM with all his Rule Britannia bull would in fact increase the likelihood of the UK breaking up. The SNP must have their fingers crossed.

Starmer saying that he will not resign and fight on. It's going to end up like that Julian Assange situation when the police were dragging him out the Ecuadorian embassy soon enough.

His 15% approval rating will be down to 10% now.

Maybe we should invite the UK to merge with our Republic, for stability's sake. the Act of Union of Ireland and Great Britain 2026

I know all the attention is on Labour at the moment and so it shoild be but how did the conservatives do in the local elections?

Yep, first elected to Commons in 2001, so there's only about 30 current MPs who started before him…

Starmer to Streeting = white collar drone to white collar drone. Even if this change were to take place, any Labour politician with half a brain must realise this is nothing more than rearranging the deck chairs. They're not really trying to build any kind of radical new vision. They're just trying to see out their full term in government, hoping that some deus ex machina moment happens that sees Reform slump in the polls. Sorry, not good enough.

I mean, Farage comes from the white collar world, too, but at least his party offers an alternative vision. Yes, one that is darker and takes the UK a step or two closer to fascism, but an alternative vision nonetheless. The Greens and the Lib Dems offer alternatives, too. I hope they'd perform well enough to keep Reform out.

Simons stepping down in Wigan should make it a relatively straightforward route for Burnham back to No 10. He's popular in Manchester so should secure the seat. That's at least 6 weeks away. By then the writing on the wall will be clear, even to Starmer. I'd imagine that the rest of Labour will hold off on ousting Starmers till then, so as to not fracture the party and cause a GE.

If Burnham can galvanise the party behind him, Reform might've lost their chance at an early election and capitalising on the local election momentum.

Yes I imagine it would, particularly when Reform outpolled Lab 46% to 25% there in last week's local elections (admittedly partial and a low turnout, though the latter usually happens in byelections too).

Yes, I imagine that's his calculation. It's a gutsy enough move but it could backfire badly.