NEW: Leadership timelines:
** There is no contest at the moment, and will not be until 81 names are submitted to the NEC
** Wes Streeting has specifically asked for a long contest, that allows Andy Burnham to stand.
** If this happens, this is likely to mean it concludes around conference at the end of September
** In the first instance, No10 likely to emphasise there is no contest underway. But if it formally begins, will No10 press for a quicker resolution - the PM ++could++ make the argument it's in the national interest to get this over with.
** Andy Burnham could forward with a constituency name today; if he triggers the contest, then nominations would have to stay open for 6/7 weeks while he gets an MP - if he wins the vote
** Some NEC members want Team Burnham to put forward a plan for the Manchester Metro Mayor job that doesn't involve installing a sitting MP. Gary Neville is a name that some talk about, but I'm told he may not have been approaches so could be utterly wishful thinking.
my official prediction:
- they can't get burnham into parliament in time
- ed miliband only soft left candidate left standing
- 50 years of marxism-leninism-milibandism
@tristandross would love to see some real professionals get their hands on this technology. just imagine a couple of comedians coming up with things michael caine might say. chills..
Greta Thunberg is a hero. She could have made a very comfortable life making Macronic & Obamic platitudes sharing a stage with the likes of von der Leyen, but she went the opposite difficult path speaking truth to power and showing up the liberal establishment for what it is