Ian Rushforth

@dan_brown999 @James7Holland @michaelgove Brexit raised non-tariff barriers in both directions. That isn't a contentious point for anyone except the hard of thinking.

@irushforth @James7Holland @michaelgove So you are blaming the EU's lack of growth on Brexit too...???!! Hilarious.... Is your name Starmer, by any chance...?

Superb from @michaelgove. The silence in the room is telling. When eloquently delivered facts hit an audience, with many perhaps quietly grasping for the first time that the pro-EU lobby in Britain have been peddling nonsense for a decade.

@Humblewank @James7Holland @michaelgove Which is an argument for being in the club to have a role in making the rules.

@irushforth @James7Holland @michaelgove True, but that's a reason for the EU not to have trade barriers. So the conversation should be around stopping the EU from being backwards.

@ju25378 @James7Holland @michaelgove Or if you prefer: I decided to stop paying the membership fees for the golf club; why did they stop giving me the benefits of membership?

@ju25378 @James7Holland @michaelgove I decided to step out of the plane; why did earth decide to apply the law of gravity?

@philpaintsmost @nav7634 @James7Holland @michaelgove They did engage in good faith; they gave us a special deal which we won't get back when we eventually rejoin.

@irushforth @nav7634 @James7Holland @michaelgove Well then you have to blame the stance of the EU and their negotiators too. If they'd fully engaged in good faith maybe the entire exit could have been avoided and a new settlement for the whole bloc could have been the result.

@nav7634 @James7Holland @michaelgove I'm not sure what you're getting at? Unlike the original poster, you seem to be trying to prove that Brexit damaged the UK. I agree with that, but I also think it harmed the EU (to a lesser degree). My point is, Remainers never claimed that ONLY the UK would be harmed by Brexit.

@irushforth @James7Holland @michaelgove Very cheap to just say things but the data suggests you are wrong.

@andrewjohhawley @James7Holland @michaelgove So they should change their rules to facilitate a country which is no longer a member? Puerile suggestion.

@irushforth @James7Holland @michaelgove That’s on the EU then and the self-destructive trade policies they imposed post Brexit agreement. In childishly trying to make like hard on the Uk for daring to leave they’ve reduced their own economies. Shot themselves in the foot.

@JohnRentoul So the brief pause between syllables should be after the 'g', not before? 🤯

From the archive, 10 years ago

@residentadviser He has a country to run. eg. The Strategic Defence Review is due to be published on 2nd June. If there is an active leadership campaign by then, that'll get kicked into the long grass. So for national security reasons if nothing else, the PM has to keep the show on the road.

The Starmtroopers and loyalists are all calling for Burnham to return. When even Abdi Duale is openly saying Burnham must stand, the game is up. Insane that Starmer hasn’t announced he’s standing down.

@HelenRooker @GeorgeFoulkes @PolitlcsUK @macnahgalla Well, he has got lovely eyelashes apparently, if that helps?

@GeorgeFoulkes @PolitlcsUK @macnahgalla Or make it a women's only short list?

🚨 BREAKING: Labour MP Josh Simons will resign to trigger a by-election in Makerfield to give Andy Burnham a route back to Parliament

@ArchRose90 He's in good company. Farage has spoken many time about the need for Proportional Representation.

Ed Davey saying the quiet part out loud. He wants PR to happen just to stop Reform. He sees Reform as a threat to democracy after *checks notes* millions of people voted for Reform to win the local elections. A liberal’s motto is if you can’t beat them, change the system.

@Stsantek Isn't Starmer the underdog at the moment?

This is what all the twitching about polling is missing. People love the underdog, the outsider, who wants to return to Parliament to kick Starmer out.

@JohnRentoul twitter.com/irushforth/sta…

It is not (just) a question of Starmer’s authority; the NEC has to risk throwing the GM mayoralty to Farage

@JohnRentoul On a point of law, would there need to be a Mayoral by-election if Burnham stands in Makerfield but doesn't win? Isn't it just the case that, legally, he can't hold both positions?

I thought this seemed absurdly Blairite-optimistic in mid-afternoon, but now the Burnham domino has been set up to fall

My domino theory of the path to No 10 for Wes Streeting independent.co.uk/voices/wes-str…

@TrishDaly6 @ndottee Well, is Burnham the answer to detecting Reform, or isn't he? This is surely the best way to find out?

@ndottee 100% trying to stitch up Andy burnham

My tinfoil hat take: Josh Simons - former head of Labour Together & clearly part of Mandelson, McSweeney & Streeting circle, has stepped been told to step down to make sure Burnham runs there as Wigan had a Reform wipeout and would be hardest seat in GM for AB to win

@lucycmaria @Footyandpolnerd @JAHeale *delay* too long

@lucycmaria @Footyandpolnerd @JAHeale By convention, though if they dealt too much (or in the case of an independent MP resigning) I think the Speaker or the Leader of the House might move the writ?

Key question: when will the government move the writ? Can delay until Whitsun recess

@Footyandpolnerd @lucycmaria @JAHeale But it's the SNP who get to decide when the writ is moved for seats they vacated. They might feel it advantageous to match the date of the Makerfield one (in which they obviously won't be standing) to split Labour's resources.

@lucycmaria @JAHeale Yes, each writ is seperate No rush for Scottish ones either

@gphillips1945 @alexwickham I just thought he can't be both, so legally he doesn't have to stand down as Mayor unless he wins. But I could be wrong.

@irushforth @alexwickham Wouldn't he have to stand down as Mayor first, or can he keep that option open?

Breaking: Josh Simons is expected to stand stand aside for Andy Burnham imminently