The polling of 1,000 GMCA residents was carried out rapidly over the past 48 hours in Manchester by FindOutNow for BetterWorld Ltd

33% even say the party blocking Burnham would make them "less likely" to vote Labour

The poll is also the latest to suggest a Burnham candidacy would help Labour beat Reform in Gorton and Denton

Comes amid political backlash across Labour today about the leadership's decision to bar Burnham

53% agree with claim that "petty personal or factional politics" are behind the decision

50% say they would interpret the decision as a sign of weakness from Lab (5% say it shows strength)

Just 7% agree with the NEC's reason that a mayoral by-election would be an expensive inconvenience for locals

Exclusive poll: Let Burnham stand, voters say Over half of voters in Manchester think Labour is wrong to block him

🚨NEW Majority of Manchester voters polled say Labour "wrong" to block Burnham in exclusive polling
@newstatesman1913.bsky.social
👇

54% say Labour "wrong" to block Burnham bid (8% say it's "right")

62% say Burnham should be "free to seek selection as an MP"

www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...

Labour’s EU ultras are organising Tom Watson has a new mission: putting Britain back at the heart of Europe

I want to start posting here more and what a day to start. I think Bluesky doesn't bury posts with external links so it should be good for sharing articles. New Statesman colleagues said this recent piece on the Europe debate in the PLP was well-received on here, so here's to more of that!

On a purely factual point, Trevor Phillips’s column in the Times misrepresents our reporting in casting doubts on claims that there were more boys called Patel than Smith at Dulwich in 1980 (we did not report 1976 as the year it occurred). 1980 roll shows 13 Patels and 12 Smiths.

On Thursday morning I heard the awful news and set out to Crumpsall, an hour’s drive from where I was.

I have written a longer article about what I saw there, for the New Statesman: www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...

Time to slash odds of Lab to Reform defections if Labour MPs are nodding along to this essay.

There is another political force that could neutralise the right and it’s… the governing party which you are in? And it could do that by… governing well and winning reelection?

Bridget Phillipson calls out “sexist briefing” The Education Secretary vows not to be deterred by hostility from No 10

Why has Bridget Phillipson chosen this moment to make such damaging remarks about the PM’s team? www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...

It's been a long ten years

Andy Burnham speaks out in the New Statesman’s Labour Conference special issue

Not so long ago the Conservative Party would have seized upon the notion of deporting Ukrainians and Hong Kongers and extracted a heavy political price for it. Instead the position yesterday from CCHQ was that Farage is "once again copying Conservative ideas."

Wes Streeting is spreading his wings What’s behind the Health Secretary’s recent interventions on racism and Palestine?

Note that in the past 24 hrs Wes Streeting has put himself front and centre of the Palestine embassy opening and now defended Sadiq Khan against Trump's "Sharia" attacks. Do read this piece by @georgeeaton.bsky.social on how Streeting is "spreading his wings" www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

Liz Truss is still at war with the Deep State Truss says she was the victim of “deliberate sabotage”. What if she’s right?

- Slams Kemi Badenoch and Mel Stride
- Dismisses the definitive book on her premiership as “all lies”
- Claims she’s not thinking about joining Reform despite talking with Farage
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

Three years on from the Mini-Budget, @willdunn.bsky.social persuaded Liz Truss to talk to the New Statesman and it's worth reading. In which she:

- Suggests Bank governor Andrew Bailey may have financially benefitted from her downfall
- Restates her praise of Tommy Robinson

Why Farage’s immigration plan is dividing Labour The government will not condemn the plan on moral grounds

On the new divide in Labour - whether to fight reform on grounds of principle or practicality www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

“Fear and frustration” in Labour, warns Lucy Powell campaign Powell’s deputy leadership bid is betting on the underdog factor

Lucy Powell campaign warns of "fear and frustration" in the Labour party - my update on the deputy leadership contest 👇

www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

Professional news: I have joined The New Statesman, Britain's best magazine, as Political Correspondent. Cracking first week.