Number 10 has refused to guarantee the new government would abandon the disastrous Chagos sellout. Speaking at the Lobby briefing of political hacks, an incredibly coy spokesman said:
“We don’t have an update for you on that today, but we will update in due course I’m sure…”
This was also the line used when asked if Burnham would go ahead with Lammy’s previous plans to restrict jury trials. No10 kept reminding hacks it’s “only the PM’s first 24 hours“. This is supposed to be Andy, the man with the plan. He said he was “ready” three times last week…
Tom Baldwin, author of Starmer’s hagiography, spoke to Times Radio:
Tom Baldwin: “I think he’d like to do something. He’s very dutiful and driven by service. That’s why he came into politics. I think that’s characterised his time as prime minister. He hasn’t always sought popularity or been good at being popular. But I think he has some of the necessary qualities that we actually do want in a prime minister. That resilience, that relentlessness, that ability to carry the weight and the job really does weigh very heavily on people and he carries that weight very, very well.”
Jo Coburn: “NATO Secretary-General?”
Tom Baldwin: “I think that’s something that he would be interested in. I think it probably requires Andy Burnham’s government to support him in that and these are some of the questions which Andy Burnham has to resolve quite quickly.”