Matthew Tempest

British journalist in Berlin since 2009. Editor @euobs. Ex-political correspondent @guardian 2001-2007, also previously @AFP + @dpa. Not here much.
RT = +/- RT

[Matthew Tempest @MattTempest]

Berlin

[Matthew Tempest @MattTempest]

@joshi @ManchesterMill Good piece. When you say Burham's not a great judge of character - do you think he's right to trust Simons? (something not mentioned in the piece).

[Matthew Tempest @MattTempest]

@AaronBastani He also wanted to take the Queen's head off postage stamps.

[Matthew Tempest @MattTempest]

@Nick_Metcalfe Preaching to the converted to anyone - like myself - from Bradford. Good commentator, too. And he made the final again the next year.

[Matthew Tempest @MattTempest]

@Heccles94 I agree. Look at Simons 5k majority and think 'okay, defendable'.

Then look at what Labour were getting in Makerfield in 1997 + 2000s, 20k-15k, and *that*s the direction of travel/momentum.

And then look at the Wigan results from LAST WEEK...

[Matthew Tempest @MattTempest]

@AllyFogg @robjeffecology Bingo.

[Matthew Tempest @MattTempest]

@breeallegretti Akehurst is "moderate"? Okaaaay....

[Matthew Tempest @MattTempest]

@LLBruce @PrivateEyeNews Wow! Well done.

[Matthew Tempest @MattTempest]

Good start, good omen

[Matthew Tempest @MattTempest]

@fletchersimon Thanks. It was behind the paywall, so I couldn't read it - (who needs to? its only message is timing + byline) but I suspect it did not obey its own "We do not need more slogans, strategies, press releases or commissions" message and contained less than zero policy ideas?

[Matthew Tempest @MattTempest]

@cymrurouge I think the main point that has emerged is he was mate of Akehurst, trying to get on the NEC. I didn't know that before yesterday, and everything must be seen through that prism now.

[Matthew Tempest @MattTempest]

@PhilosophyLines @cymrurouge His error in trusting his local laundrette wouldn't snitch to a total stranger about his "amount of laundry".

[Matthew Tempest @MattTempest]

@cymrurouge "I hit PUBLISH before I checked the facts. Please hire me as your tax advisor."

[Matthew Tempest @MattTempest]

@joshi I don't know, you're the expert. But by-elections are one-off hothouse atmospheres, Reform are strong, Greens strong, Labour on the floor. Burnham would have name recognition, but he'd also have to have an answer to "You're not running for (eg Chorley), you're running for PM".

[Matthew Tempest @MattTempest]

@cymrurouge @OfSymbols tbf, looks like he's still using a pic from 1996.

[Matthew Tempest @MattTempest]

London journalists, who vaguely know "Manchester", need to find these places on a map, look at local results four days ago, and work out where Burnham is supposed to walk a by-election in the next 2-3 months.
Preston
Hyndburn
Blackburn with Darwen
Stockport
Tameside
St Helens

[Matthew Tempest @MattTempest]

@patrickkmaguire That's what burner phones are for.

[Matthew Tempest @MattTempest]

@David__Osland It's not a surprise that Phillips has a head-and-shoulders photo of herself at the top of her headed notepaper.

[Matthew Tempest @MattTempest]

@Mr_Considerate He might not even win a by-election in Manchester.

I'm old enough to remember when he was a 'Brownite' New Labour minister, sort of poor man's David Milliband or Jamie Purnell.