Peter Dowd refuses to deny reports that he would step aside for Greater Manchester mayor, seen as a front-runner to replace PM Daily Telegraph 27/04/26 A veteran Labour MP has opened the door to giving up his safe seat to help Andy Burnham return to Parliament. Peter Dowd, who has represented Bootle, on Merseyside, since 2015, refused to deny reports that he was prepared to stand down for the Mayor of Greater Manchester. Mr Burnham’s previous attempt to return to Westminster by standing in Gorton and Denton by-election was blocked by Sir Keir Starmer and his allies on Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee. Sir Keir is widely expected to face a challenge in the aftermath of next week’s local elections as a backlash continues to grow over his handling of the Mandelson vetting scandal. Mr Burnham is seen as a front-runner to replace Sir Keir but is ineligible for any Labour leadership contest because he is not an MP. Reports surfaced at the weekend that Mr Dowd was one of ...
Labour’s hold on my homeland began with a Keir and will end with a Keir Daily Telegraph 24/04/26 Nigel Farage moves closer to Keir Starmer and reaches out to touch him. Keir feels the hand of history on his shoulder. No, not that Keir, but let me explain. It is a glorious spring morning in Aberdare, and the leader of Reform UK is standing on an overgrown patch of dewy grass next to a handsome bronze bust of Keir Hardie. In 1900, the former Scottish miner became MP for the seat of Merthyr Tydfil, which encompassed Aberdare, and was the heart of Welsh coal production. In the same year, Hardie helped to form the union-based Labour Representation Committee, soon to be called the Labour Party. After the 1906 general election, Hardie was elected as the first parliamentary leader of the Labour Party. He remains a giant in its mythology. With a keen sense of political symbolism, Farage has come here today, to the birthplace of Labour, in the belief that he is about to read its last rites...