Care minister Stephen Kinnock is on the morning round reinforcing the Labour message to Andy Burnham. Stay up in Manchester, buddy…
He told BBC Breakfast:
“Well, Andy Burnham is an incredibly talented and effective leader as the mayor of Greater Manchester. Look at the work he’s doing around re-industrialisation, around tackling homelessness. I know the PM and other members of the Cabinet hugely valued the role he played in the aftermath of those awful events at the synagogue in Manchester. So it’s absolutely clear that Andy’s doing a great job in the role that he currently has. In terms of the selection process for this by-election, it will run according to Labour Party rules and procedures. The NEC will set out those rules and procedures in due course.”
Kinnock remarked to Times Radio that Burnham has “been around the block a few times himself and he can make up his own mind on these issues.” There are various levers the NEC can pull to stymie Burnham. Each one more decisive and politically unviable than the last – no sign of ‘put up or shut up’ from the Prime Minister…
Speaking at Davos, Zelensky said:
“Europe loves to discuss the future, but avoids taking action today. Action that defines what kind of future we will have. That’s the problem.”