ITV political editor Robert Peston reported this morning from “sources close to the PM” that “Burnham was informed in no uncertain terms that he would be repulsed if he requested permission of the NEC committee to put his name forward for the Gorton and Denton by election.” His obstinance could therefore be interpreted purely as an attempt to destabilise Starmer…
Burnham’s team saw this, disputed it and said: “Andy Burnham is seeking an urgent call with No 10 about the briefing which he says is untrue and breaks a commitment given to him by the PM.” Also reported to Peston…
Here comes Robert again: “Another source close to the PM disputes what my original source close to the PM says about Burnham being warned not to bother to apply to be a candidate in the by election. Just so you know.” That went well…
Another international trip with the lobby pack of Westminster journalists – another golden moment proving their schtick is way past its sell by date. Yes, another absolute banger from Peston no less…
The ITV political editor was roundly criticised on X last night for inexplicably moaning: “We take the bus. Starmer takes this” along with a video of the Prime Minister being flown in a Chinook during the G7 meeting in Canada. Yep, he’s the, er, Prime Minister?
Amid the chorus of retorts was a classic from Tory councillor Tom Jones:
He should have made you walk
— Tom Jones (@93vintagejones) June 15, 2025
Britain’s broken media embarrassing itself abroad once again…
Amid the media’s renewed interest in Starmer’s freebie-taking, ITV’s Political Editor Robert Peston thought he’d have a go. Yesterday’s afternoon exclusive on the ITV website declared: “Starmer gifted use of a hospitality box by Arsenal football club”, revealing that the club is providing an entire “corporate box for him, his family and his protection officers.” Quite the story when it comes to the freebie-mad PM…
By this morning Peston has been forced to put out an update stating that “the club is keen for the world to know there is no formal arrangement with the PM.” The club has shot down the story – Peston pondered that this was “a funny thing”…
Here is a funny thing. I am slightly struck, via Arsenal sources, that the club is keen for the world to know there is no formal arrangement with the PM! Not that I said there was. I did not say Arsenal “gifted” the minister permanent use of a specific box for his exclusive use… https://t.co/Fz2yIeFBLq
— Robert Peston (@Peston) September 19, 2024
Peston goes on to claim that he “did not say Arsenal ‘gifted’ the minister permanent use of a specific box” and there was “no suggestion of that.” The headline itself begs to differ, as does the line that the PM has literally been “given the use of a corporate box by Arsenal football club.” Oh well, never mind…
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.”