HC

Wes Streeting calls for the UK to rejoin the EU in his speech to the Progress conference. “We need a new special relationship with the EU, because Britain’s future lies with Europe - and one day back in the European Union”.

To clarify re Burnham (re 5 Live interview earlier): He remains Mayor of Gtr Man until/if he is elected MP for Makerfield. At that point he would legally forfeit his mayoral position and a GM Mayoral by-election process begins. If he loses in Makerfield he could continue as mayor

Andy Burnham has put his career and reputation on the line to demonstrate an ability to beat Reform in a tight marginal. This is exactly the kind of courage Labour needs if it is to win the next election.

This seems risky! The rationale seems to be that the Greens will struggle here. But Reform will throw everything at it.

EXCL: Keir Starmer’s grip on power appears to be slipping away with cabinet ministers among those urging him to set out a timetable for his departure. I’m told that two senior cabinet ministers - Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, and Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary - told the PM he should seek an orderly transition of power. At least two others - believed to be John Healey and David Lammy - discussed with Starmer how they should take a “responsible, dignified, orderly” approach to what might follow. Several others - including close allies Richard Hermer and Steve Reed - were defiant, urging him to fight on. One cabinet minister told the Guardian: “In the end Keir has listened to cabinet ministers - there are differences about where this will go and what is in best interests of party and country. He’ll have to make a decision about what he’s going to do before cabinet tomorrow”. Several sources said how angry some cabinet ministers were with Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting, who they believed to have precipitated the leadership crisis by sanctioning allies to call for Starmer’s departure. “They’ve got their hands all over this,” one said.

Keir Starmer suggests he’s in office for 10 years Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to lead Labour at the next general election as he faces the possibility of a leadership challenge after the party’s disastrous local election results. Asked if he would lead at the next election and serve a full term, he told the Sunday Mirror: “Yes I will, and I’ve always said it’s a decade of national renewal, where the legacy we inherited was an appalling legacy on all fronts, not just the economy, which was broken.” The Prime Minister said his fightback, which starts with a speech on Monday and the King’s Speech on Wednesday, would include a “full throated” pitch to be closer to Europe. He told the newspaper that his plan would be “really clear that this is about the hope and opportunity of a better future, part of which is a stronger economy and an economy that really works for everyone, wherever they live, whatever they do. There are a number of strands to that, but one is, we have to be closer to Europe, and I just want to be full throated about this”. He added: “I feel that Brexit has held back our young people. They should be free to work, study, travel in European countries, just as I was able to when I was growing up. “That has been smashed away from young people because of Brexit. I’m not going to let Brexit stand in the way of their opportunities, and therefore we’ll push forward on that.”

Senior MP texts to tell me that “everyone sensible” is trying to get Catherine West to withdraw. “It’s completely irresponsible”. MP also says they think Streeting allies will lend votes to West to try trigger race

On Carnaby Street last night, a kid on a bike cycled up, saw it was me, looked friendly at first then offered up his favourite “lyric”: “Heil Hitler.” I wasn’t sure whether to share this. I hadn’t experienced that personally before. The most striking thing: I wasn’t shocked. No threat. No anger. Not a victim. Just: what has he been taught Hatred is learned. We are not defined by it. We answer it by what we teach.