Greens’ Polanski prepared to work with Burnham but not Starmer ‘to stop Reform’
The Green party leader, Zack Polanski, has said he would refuse to work with Keir Starmer but could work with Andy Burnham, Starmer’s potential rival for the Labour leadership, to keep Reform out of power.Polanski said he would not enter a political partnership with Labour under the current prime minister, but would consider it if the mayor of Greater Manchester took the helm.He told the Financial Times: “I could see the potential to work with Andy Burnham to stop Reform and to challenge the rise of the far right.I would rule it out with Keir Starmer, but I wouldn’t rule it out with Burnham.”A coalition would require the Greens getting an adequate number of seats at the next general election to make the party useful to Labour, and would also need Burnham to once again gain a seat as an MP.
Polanski argued Labour’s plan for the economy was not working.He called for a wealth tax, as well as an increase in capital gains tax to bring it in line with income tax.“I am challenging a broken, failed economic model, and the people defending it have no answer other than just to continue with what is broken,” he said.However, Gary Lineker defended the prime minister in an interview with Polanski, saying he had met Starmer “two or three times” and he “seemed a very nice guy”.“I think he’s having a tough time.
Obviously he’s not a hugely charismatic leader, but I don’t necessarily think that’s important,” the football pundit and TV presenter said.Speaking on the podcast Bold Politics with Zack Polanski, Lineker also said there was “too much political influence from the very top” of the BBC, and the organisation had “tied itself up in knots” over impartiality.The former Match of the Day presenter, who quit the BBC earlier this year, said he had a “great affinity” with the institution but: “I think they’ve got a little bit broad into this whole impartiality thing and I think that that makes it very, very difficult for them.”Lineker said in recent years, impartiality had been expanded beyond news and current affairs and into the rest of the BBC.“Even though we’d been on social media for years, we were expected to suddenly change.
And I thought that was difficult,” he said.“Overall, there are thousands and thousands and thousands of people that work for the BBC that are really, really good people that do excellent jobs.But I think it’s tied itself up in knots a little bit with the impartiality thing because I think what we really need is truth and reporting, in that sense.It’s impossible to be impartial on everything.”He added: “My personal issues, it was difficult, it was over a long period of time.
”Lineker said the way a government decided who was on the board of the BBC and who was chair should be done with more of a “neutral” perspective, because those brought in by politicians “will obviously be partial”.“If they’re going to talk about impartiality, start at the top,” he said.“It’s incredibly difficult for the BBC, but I think at the moment there’s too much political influence from the very top.”Polanski asked the presenter why he had been so outspoken about immigration.Lineker said: “I know it’s an issue, immigration, I know it’s difficult, you can’t take everybody.
But I think we should do our fair share and look after people,“I have empathy towards their situation,I think there’s a small percentage that are the opposite, so I felt it was quite important to use my platform to perhaps speak on behalf of those that don’t have a voice,”Though he had suffered a backlash online from the right, having been a footballer, “you learn to deal with abuse”,He said: “I took it as a compliment.
”In 2026, Lineker said, he wanted to see “proper peace” in Gaza.“We’ve got a ceasefire but it’s not really a ceasefire at the moment,” he said.“I’ve spoken about this quite a bit and I look at my phone every day and I cry most days when I see it.I mean, innocent kids being just killed [with] snipers and bombs.It’s just immeasurably wrong.
”He added: “And of course Israel has the right to defend itself.But then why doesn’t Palestine have the right to defend itself? It doesn’t.”Lineker, who has received criticism for talking about the plight of Palestinians in Gaza, said: “People will disagree with this and they try and make an argument but I always say to them, if you genuinely think this is fabricated, let journalists in.”
Festive finger food: how to use Christmas leftovers to make New Year’s Eve canapes | Kitchen aide
What canapes can I make for New Year’s Eve with my Christmas leftovers that will still feel special?Ella, via email Finger food needn’t be fancy, so New Year is a good opportunity to clear the decks. The only real rule is to keep things to just one bite – no one wants to be manoeuvring a fork, after all. “People just want a big hug of comfort food with a decadent twist,” says Max Bergius, founder of Secret Smokehouse in east London. “If you’ve got a bit of smoked salmon left, get that on blinis and top with lumpfish caviar, which is only £2-£3 per 50g pot.” Mini fishcakes would also be just the ticket: “Whether you’ve got leftover smoked haddock or hot smoked salmon, fold it through mashed potato, mix with dill, lemon and fried leeks, then roll in panko and deep-fry
Rukmini Iyer’s quick and easy party platters: halloumi with pineapple salsa and za’atar carrots with labneh | Quick and easy
This hot halloumi platter is such a crowdpleaser that it’s worth making with two blocks of halloumi, even for a smaller group. I like to include this as part of a spread of mixed hot and cold dishes – a jolly, festive update on cheese and pineapple on a stick (which is admittedly hard to improve on). Then, a high-impact, low-effort dish: za’atar roast carrots with labneh and pistachio. On a whim, I hung a carton’s worth of plain yoghurt in muslin for labneh the other week, and now I can’t stop – it takes just 30 minutes for a soft-set, which is what you want here (for a firmer set, leave it to hang for an hour).To get ahead, keep the cut pineapple in a large bowl in the fridge, the chopped mint and chilli in a small bowl, and the red onion and lime juice in another small bowl
Jose Pizarro’s recipe for caramelised brussels sprout and panceta montaditos
Brussels sprouts are perhaps not the first thing you think of when you think about Spanish food, but they do have a little history in my homeland. They arrived in Spain in the 16th century, through trade with Flanders, and were often paired with pork, which we love. Here, however, I caramelise them with onion, thyme and sweet vinegar, then serve on crisp baguette with soft cheese and pine nuts. A small bite with big flavour, and just right with a glass of oloroso – perfect for festive times.Prep 15 min Cook 35 minMakes About 20 canapes1 tbsp olive oil 125g sliced panceta (Spanish bacon), or pancetta, finely chopped1 medium onion, peeled and finely sliced1 garlic clove, peeled and finely sliced300g brussels sprouts, finely sliced3 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves stripped2 tbsp sweet apple vinegar 2 tbsp soft light brown sugar Salt and black pepper 20 slices fresh baguette 150-200g soft curd cheese, whipped, or whipped cream cheese50g pine nuts, toastedHeat the oil in a large frying pan, then fry the chopped panceta for about five minutes, until golden and crisp
Tasting 291 Australian supermarket products has taught me there’s no correlation between price and deliciousness
After a year of taste tests, Nicholas Jordan has learned never to judge a food by its packet – including the cooking instructionsImagine going to a work Christmas party and being greeted not by your current workmates and bosses but by everyone you’ve ever worked with. Imagine the mix of dread, nostalgia and excitement that would bring on. That’s how I feel every time I walk into Coles Broadway.After trying 291 supermarket products for 14 taste tests this year (one more than last year’s haul) I feel as if I know all the characters in there and, despite only having relatively short interactions with many, I have strong opinions about all of them.I want to tell everyone my opinions but supermarkets aren’t particularly welcoming places for giddy soap-box speakers
Drinks ideas to get your NYE party fuelled
Oh, you thought it was all over? After all the carolling, gifting and tree-ing (not to mention the eating and drinking) of the actual Christmassy bit, it feels almost cruel to have to do it all again, and on – in my opinion – one of the most stressful nights of the year: New Year’s Eve.The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more.If you’re not paying over the odds and going out, with long queues and stressed-out staff, you’re the stressed-out one yourself
Georgina Hayden’s quick and easy recipe for pimento cheese and pickle loaded crisps | Quick and easy
Pimento cheese, a much-loved American spread, has been a permanent fixture in my kitchen this month. Whether it’s a quick sandwich filling in times of chaos or an effortless party dip, I am addicted. My favourite way to serve it, though, is as part of a loaded crisp platter. Use salted or pickle crisps, and load them up with spoonfuls of pimento cheese, sliced pickles, herbs and heat. Move over nachos, there’s a new crisp platter in town
UK ministers face increased pressure to restrict gambling ads
Hundreds of Blackpool families to be evicted in ‘mass dispersion’ of vulnerable people
Ethnic minorities in England less likely to have access to diabetes tech – study
Children in England to be offered vaccines in their own homes
Roland Littlewood obituary
Focus on communities in new towns and old | Letters