Burnham accuses No 10 sources of lying about byelection decision
The Labour party’s civil war over the Gorton and Denton byelection has intensified after Andy Burnham accused Downing Street sources of lying about his decision to apply to stand in the Manchester seat.The Manchester mayor was reacting to suggestions by unnamed Keir Starmer allies that he had been told “in no uncertain terms” that any request to the NEC committee to put his name forward for the byelection would be refused.Responding to a post on X by ITV’s political editor, Robert Peston, which suggested sources close to the PM therefore saw Burnham’s move to stand as an explicit attempt to destabilise Starmer, Burnham wrote: “This is simply untrue.” Peston then sent a follow-up message saying a second source had backed up Burnham’s version of events, adding that Burnham was “seeking an urgent call with No 10 about the briefing”.A No 10 spokesperson said it was not true that anyone close to Starmer had told Burnham the NEC would refuse his application.
They said: “No one in No 10 told Andy Burnham not to apply to the NEC for permission to stand or gave any indication to him which sought to prejudge the NEC officers’ deliberation or decision.”Burnham later told ITV News that he had spent “the whole weekend having conversations with people in No 10, people in senior positions in the party, to discuss the pros and cons” but he had not been told his application would be blocked.“The NEC is meant to be an independent body, so how could somebody say it’s definitely going to be blocked if they are an independent body,” he said.“So it doesn’t stack up what they are saying and it’s simply untrue.”Labour’s deputy leader, Lucy Powell, the only person to support Burnham’s case in the NEC vote, which blocked his candidacy on Sunday, made a plea for peace.
“The briefings have got to stop,” she told ITV Granada,“We’re one Labour team here,We’ve got one objective in mind, that is to change the country and … we all have to work as one team to do that,”In a letter to all constituents in Gorton and Denton that will arrive on Wednesday, Powell urges voters not to stay at home, billing the byelection as a straight fight between Labour and Reform,“No one else is in this race, so sitting it out or planning a protest vote will not stop Reform – it will help them,” she writes.
About 50 Labour MPs signed a letter objecting to the decision to block Burnham from standing in the 26 February byelection, telling the prime minister the move was a “real gift” to Reform.YouGov polling released on Tuesday suggests 30% of Britons think Burnham would do a better job as PM than Starmer, and 12% think he would be worse.Meanwhile, the battle for Gorton and Denton – a seat Labour won with a little over 50% of the vote in 2024 – has begun in earnest.Reform UK unveiled Matthew Goodwin, a hard-right activist who has previously claimed that UK-born people from minority ethnic backgrounds are not necessarily British, as the party’s candidate in the demographically diverse seat in south-east Manchester.Powell said the choice of Goodwin showed Reform were offering “division, animosity and hatred”.
Reform UK was earlier mocked by rival MPs, after one of the party’s MPs, Lee Anderson, posted a picture on social media of himself and activists campaigning for the seat in the wrong constituency,Noting that Anderson was standing outside a hotel in her neighbouring Ashton-under-Lyne constituency, the former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner told the Daily Mirror: “Farage’s Reform can’t even find the Gorton and Denton constituency on a map,Perhaps it’s because they’re too busy filling their party full of former Tories who failed the country,”Speculation about who will contest the seat for Labour continues, with interviews continuing on Tuesday and a selection expected on Saturday,On Monday night, the Labour leader of Manchester city council, Bev Craig, ruled herself out of the running, while – according to Roch Valley Radio – the leader of Bury council, Eamonn O’Brien, had applied to be selected.
As well as a muscular campaign from Reform, Labour will also face competition from a re-energised Green party, with officials arguing they have a real chance of victory after Burnham was barred from the race.Local party members are yet to decide on a candidate, but Hannah Spencer, leader of the Green group on Trafford council, is likely to be in the running.
Vingegaard crashes on training ride in Spain after being tailed by amateur cyclist
Visma-Lease a Bike have reminded amateur cyclists of the dangers of interacting with professional riders on the road following the revelation that Jonas Vingegaard crashed on Monday after being tailed by a fan during a descent near Málaga, Spain.“Jonas Vingegaard crashed during training on Monday. Fortunately, he is OK and did not sustain any serious injuries,” read a team statement. “In general, as a team we would like to urge fans on bikes to always put safety first. For both your own and others’ wellbeing, please allow riders to train and give them as much space and peace as possible
Alcaraz flicks on genius switch to put himself two matches from career grand slam | Tumaini Carayol
One of the biggest matches of Alex de Minaur’s career was already falling from his grasp when his opponent, Carlos Alcaraz, compounded his misery with a selfish stroke of genius. Midway through the third set, the result all but a formality, De Minaur pounded an aggressive forehand down the line and flitted forward to the net.Against nearly any other player in the world, the Australian would have won the point. Against Alcaraz, the world No 1, De Minaur watched on helplessly as the Spaniard chased down the ball and slid to his right, whipping a forehand down-the-line pass that did not come back. De Minaur could not hide his rueful smile
Elina Svitolina humbles Coco Gauff to set up Sabalenka semi in Australian Open
Coco Gauff is known across her sport for her mental toughness and problem-solving abilities, her tendency to grind out wins from unenviable positions. However, down 1-6, 0-3, 0-30 on Tuesday night and sinking quickly, the 21‑year‑old has rarely looked as helpless on a tennis court as when she expressed her despair to her support team. “She’s outdoing me in everything,” she said.This time, there was no way back for the third seed as Elina Svitolina ended a courageous, focused performance by securing the most significant result of the Australian Open so far, dismantling Gauff 6-1, 6-2 to reach her first semi-final in Melbourne.Svitolina, the 12th seed, will next face Aryna Sabalenka, the world No 1, and two‑time Australian Open champion
Early De Minaur onslaught not enough as Alcaraz surges into Australian Open semis
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz is within two victories of a career grand slam after piling more major pain on home hope Alex de Minaur in a largely straightforward Australian Open quarter-final victory, secured 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 in 136 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.The heavily anticipated clash delivered a sensational first set in which De Minaur looked a peer of the world No 1. However, Alcaraz took control beyond the one-hour mark, leaving the last Australian in the singles draw helpless, exasperated and pacing behind the baseline between points.De Minaur is now the third man in the Open era, after Andrey Rublev and Tommy Robredo, to lose his first seven grand slam quarter-finals. He walked off the court downtrodden, and his mood hadn’t lifted by the time he spoke to press half an hour later
Coco Gauff unhappy after racket smashing video at Australian Open goes viral
Coco Gauff has expressed her disappointment after video of her smashing her racket at the Australian Open was picked up on camera.The American was well below her usual high standards during her 6-1, 6-2 defeat by Elina Svitolina on Tuesday. Gauff had trouble with her forehand and serve throughout the match - she double-faulted five times in the first set alone – and hit 26 unforced errors to just three winners, losing in just 59 minutes. She also appeared to believe there was something wrong with her equipment as she struggled with her control, and had three of her rackets restrung in the opening set.After the match, the 21-year-old thought she had found some privacy to vent her frustration in a ramp away leading from Rod Laver Arena
Australian Open 2026 quarter-finals: Alcaraz hammers De Minaur, Svitolina destroys Gauff – as it happened
Here’s Jack’s report…Righto, Jack Snape’s report will be in here and on-site shortly, but otherwise, we’ll see you tomorrow at 12.30am GMT for Rybakina v Swiatek.Fear not, though, we’ve got you in the meantime – there’s football tonight, and for now, Joe Root and Harry Brook are on fire in Sri Lanka.Otherwise, though, peace out.There’ve been precious few tight matches in this year’s Australian Open and day 10 offered more of the same
How to make a clootie dumpling – recipe | Felicity Cloake's Masterclass
Tin Roof Cafe, Maldon, Essex: ‘Come for topsoil, stay for the shortbread’ – review
Ignore the snobbery and get into blended whisky
Helen Goh’s recipe for Breton butter cake with marmalade | The sweet spot
Gordon Ramsay says tax changes will make restaurants ‘lambs to the slaughter’
No more sad sandwiches and soggy salads: here’s how to make a proper packed lunch