egg

Yep. Re the first part, agreed, he's just done a bad job of doing bad policies. Re the second part, messing it up this badly is almost impressively shit. On the last part, that's largely how I see it, although I suspect we'll end up with reform by a mixture of populism and default - the masses won't see a credible option, and will just think sod it, we need change.

I think it's a mixture. Ego, pride, and probably some fear - will a Burnham left lurch be good or bad for the party/country? Taking Alex's points, would the Starmer replacement have any answer to the populist concerns - welfare, immigration, and tax? I can't see it.

None of that sounds like Burnham's menu. Re illegal immigration, the problem is that there isn't an easy solution. The channel ain't going anywhere, and we'll have masses of boats arising during the upcoming calm weather period - no party can or will stop that. What no party will do either is have an ICE type agency rounding up people, to send them to an unspecified place. The pledges are just that. And Welfare, yep, too much and unsustainable but it's the entire welfare budget, state pension included - that alone is 5% of GDP which is mental.

To see Reform off, Labour and the Tories both have a mountain to climb. There's a long time to go, but if there was a GE tomorrow, we'd be waking up to a Reform government the following day. Fortunately it won't be anytime soon. And yep, Davey has to go. The Libs need work.

I can't see a Tory resurgence in a month of Tuesdays, they're done at national level imo. As for labour, Streeting or Burnham have got a hell of a job on their hands making Labour re-electable. They've got time, but as things stand, the masses have had enough and are adopting a bit of an "anyone else will do" approach. I hope I'm wrong, but as things stand, there's no real threat to Reform unfortunately.

There was a lot of tactical voting going on there. If that was a normal bye election, not a vote to bin Starmer, Reform would have walked that. If I were Farage, I'd be delighted with that outcome.

Hopefully so, but it's taken far too long. The "oppressed and under an existential threat" line has been supported for far too long.

At what point will the US withdraw military aid and supplies to Israel? It's the only way to get them to wind their necks in - still smashing up Gaza and Lebanon, and stealing West Bank land. Additionally, do the Israeli's still have any support on here? I'd imagine that the penny has now dropped with most people.

Nah, they'll see that as a really positive result. Labour won handsomely but I think anyone can see that this was a one off opportunity to can Starmer vote with tactical voting to that end. Looking at the numbers, the Tories, Greens and Libs got less than 1500 votes between them. The Tories and Libs are done, the Greens will only attract a select crowd, and will likely only do well in certain areas. This showd that Reforms only threat is Restore. They'll walk the next GE barring a miracle, but in fairness to their voters, who else?

Yep, awful, nobody has suggested otherwise, but what's that got to do with the point being responded to namely that Starmer covered it up or minimised it?

Monitor

The Sun doesn't say that. Bloody two tier journalism.

Spot on. We should have had 6, at least. Just hope Rice and Stones coming off was precautionary, and that Kane is ok - he was holding his calf near the end.

Kane has been our best CB at times.

Fussy sod.

Chopsy - very Welsh is that.

Yep. Some player. Just holds us together.

She's still only 74. In her prime.

Our two second half goals have been brilliant. Great subs from Tuchel too. Rice was getting sloppy, Bellingham was done, the wingers weren't effective, Saka and Rashford needed minutes. Very good night.

Bellingham looks done.

If this was a boxing fight the ref would have stopped it after the last 10 mins. How we haven't scored I don't know.

Kane as a midfielder would be phenomenal.

Rice spotting his run but playing back after that lovely bit of play they highlighted in the ad break was ridiculous.

He's had a shocker. I think it was him who got sat down in the build up to their goal and just sat on his arse.

Ditto. I'd have taken Palmer and used him on the right when Saka is out.