CCHQ has instructed personnel not to attack Burnham too heavily or campaign hard in Makerfield. Leaving that to Reform…
Co-conspirators may have noticed that the Tories – equipped with potent attack capabilities – have gone a little light-touch on the Manchester mayor. Guido hears personal advisers to shadow ministers have been instructed to hold back full fire on him and the by-election for now. Separately Guido has reported that CRD, the research and attack unit in the central party, is holding fire on Burnham for the moment…
The party is keen to deny Reform a big victory. Restore’s Rupert Lowe – who is polling significantly in Makerfield – has been filmed referring to his “agreement” with the Conservatives in the past and Tory sources point out that Restore is not standing in the Tory target Aberdeen South. Helping Burnham in is a double-edged sword…
UPDATE: The Tories insist in their defence that they are going at Burnham through the papers and are sending Shadow Cabinet ministers to Makerfield.
Former leader of the SNP in Westminster Ian Blackford told Times Radio why he believes Nicola Sturgeon’s claim that she spent no time in the kitchen and therefore didn’t see any of her husband’s purchases:
“She doesn’t have a passion for cooking.”