BÎFF Ø’BRÄCKLĒY🇺🇦🇪🇺🇬🇧

Nigel Farage will rightly receive huge praise in the coming days for leading Reform to a devastating victory over Labour, the Conservatives and the Greens. But enormous credit also has to go to Zia Yusuf. His vision, organisation and belief helped turn Reform from a protest movement into a serious political force. Without him, this simply does not happen. Seeing so many people unite behind Reform and stand up to Keir Starmer makes me genuinely optimistic about the future of the UK.

NEW: Leadership timelines: ** There is no contest at the moment, and will not be until 81 names are submitted to the NEC ** Wes Streeting has specifically asked for a long contest, that allows Andy Burnham to stand. ** If this happens, this is likely to mean it concludes around conference at the end of September ** In the first instance, No10 likely to emphasise there is no contest underway. But if it formally begins, will No10 press for a quicker resolution - the PM ++could++ make the argument it's in the national interest to get this over with. ** Andy Burnham could forward with a constituency name today; if he triggers the contest, then nominations would have to stay open for 6/7 weeks while he gets an MP - if he wins the vote ** Some NEC members want Team Burnham to put forward a plan for the Manchester Metro Mayor job that doesn't involve installing a sitting MP. Gary Neville is a name that some talk about, but I'm told he may not have been approaches so could be utterly wishful thinking.