Steve Hook

I'm tired of politics driven by fear. Ppl are sick of managerialism, process and risk aversion. Always avoiding the worst means you may never achieve the best. I want hope back. Leaders who take risks, shoot for the best, because sometimes, we might just get there.

Great to be out in Makerfield today speaking with voters. This is a huge by-election and we must all come together as one Labour team to win it, and send Reform packing. *our candidate will be selected v soon!

Great to join some brilliant teams out across Makerfield today! Lots of steps, lots of conversations, and good fun too! Looking forward to campaigning here as a Labour team in the weeks ahead! 🌹

It's true to say things remain tough for many people despite a raft of positive changes. However, creating instability when people need us to focus on the job would be irresponsible. The Conservatives couldn't govern because of their infighting. We can't make the same mistake.

The very difficult decision being made by the prime minister at his Chequers retreat this weekend is whether he can re-assert his authority and re-energise his government, despite knowing that if Burnham wins in Makerfield he will be evicted - or whether he would bring more stability to government by announcing a timetable for a leadership election and his own departure. That is what his ministers tell me, though they concede that on either course government will lose momentum, at least till it’s known whether Burnham is the new PM or not. For what it’s worth, some of the cabinet believe it would be less chaotic if he sets the date for his exit, and he could use his time-limited period to shape a positive legacy for himself. For this contingent, like trade union leaders, the die is already cast that he will have to resign in coming months, whether Burnham is elected an MP or not. And the PM should acknowledge that reality, they say. Other ministers want him to stay, pointing out that there would be mayhem if Burnham were to lose and it would be preferable in those circumstances for the party to draw breath rather than charge headlong into a leadership election. Many of those insisting he shouldn’t quit are also those who will be out of a job if Burnham or another candidate replaces him. One minister insists the choice is not so binary and there are other options that could keep the government show on the road. This minister said however that whatever Starmer decides he will have to spell this out explicitly and in detail to all of us. The big personal judgment for Starmer is whether he becomes more or less of a lame duck by taking control of the time and manner of his departure, rather than leaving it in the lap of the election gods. His colleagues don’t know what he will decide.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has set out his views on Labour's path forward and the policy challenges facing the country. Speaking to Channel 4 News' Andrew Misra, Burnham said he wanted Labour to become “a party that they can believe in again, a party solidly on the side of working class people.”

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has set out his views on Labour's path forward and the policy challenges facing the country. Speaking to Channel 4 News' Andrew Misra, Burnham said he wanted Labour to become “a party that they can believe in again, a party solidly on the side of working class people.”

Good to be out on the doors in Winstanley today and lovely to see some good friends come over to help. Life has been too tough for people in this borough for too long, but we are determined to turn this around.