Labour MPs say ‘endless drama’ of leadership speculation must stop
Labour MPs are calling for a close to the “endless drama” of leadership speculation, as Downing Street begins a fightback against predictions of an imminent challenge to Keir Starmer.Some backbenchers warned that repeated briefings about how and when the prime minister could be toppled were putting off voters, who similarly had disliked the Conservatives’ repeated shuffling of leaders when in power.“All people want is a government which works, and not the endless drama,” one MP said.“We are in a very tricky global situation, and to have this never-ending conversation about who might have a certain number of supporters feels extremely self-indulgent.”Such worries are shared even among some Labour MPs who strongly believe that Starmer should be replaced.
“You can both think the PM isn’t the right man to lead us into the next election and that now isn’t the right time to replace him,” one said,Labour is expected to fare very badly in Thursday’s elections to the Scottish and Welsh parliaments and councils across England, with losses well above 1,000 council seats seen as potentially triggering a challenge,Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, has been widely linked with a planned return to Westminster, but faces a series of logistical hurdles, while the other two obvious candidates, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting, are seen as not yet about to act,Within the vacuum of what one MP called “a Mexican standoff”, allies of various camps have been briefing journalists, something which MPs not involved in the plotting say has become an intense annoyance,“Most sensible MPs are out on the doorsteps, and aren’t worrying about all this,” another backbencher said.
“It’s all focused on personalities and not policy.We’re getting a lot of the ‘who’, but none of the ‘what, why and how’, which is what matters.The same thing with slightly better comms is not going to cut it.”Some allies of Starmer worry the open plotting could make the results even worse, pointing out that in the run-up to the local elections, the group that represents Labour councillors told ministers that they needed unity to prosper.“It’s less than a week from the elections, and we have briefings every day from some would-be candidate or another,” one said.
“Nothing makes a party look more out of touch than this level of self-indulgence when people are really worried about the cost of living.”There is, nonetheless, a definite sense among many MPs that Thursday’s elections could become a trigger, with one saying the expected losses would take things into “uncharted waters”.“People have agreed it’s not working right now, but there isn’t an agreement on what is needed to make it work,” another MP said.“Those that believe this is just midterm pains have factored in us losing 1,000 councillors.If we lose more, they may start thinking this isn’t normal – and I dare say they are right.
”Others, however, believe that, given the huge economic uncertainty of the Iran war, nothing should happen for at least several months.Some MPs have started to push for assurances that Rachel Reeves will be kept as chancellor whatever happens, to avoid spooking the financial markets.Writing in the Observer, Starmer hinted at such worries, saying that during an earlier global crisis, with Covid, the then-Conservative government “descended into political infighting”.Anna Turley, the Labour chair, was more explicit, telling the Sunday Mirror that Labour MPs should “be resilient” and stick with Starmer, adding: “Let’s not get distracted.Let’s not keep looking at ourselves.
”Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, echoed this argument.“Asking the prime minister to somehow reapply for his job when all of that is going on and he is entirely focused on the concerns of the British people would be the wrong thing to do,” she said.“Those people who think that we should have a leadership election now and repeat the mistakes that the Conservative government made in churning through prime ministers probably do need to give their head a gentle wobble.”
Wu Yize in driving seat but Shaun Murphy stays in touch in Crucible final
With celebrities aplenty in attendance and a protester bursting on to the hallowed Crucible floor, at one stage on Sunday there threatened to be more headlines off the baize than on it during the opening half of snooker’s two-day extravaganza to crown its world champion.But by Sunday evening and as the halfway point of the final between Shaun Murphy and Wu Yize approached, both competitors ensured all the talk will be about what is to follow on Monday afternoon and evening inside one of sport’s most famous buildings.There is history to be made irrespective of who triumphs at some stage on Monday. If it is Murphy who claims his second world title, that would break the record for the longest gap between world titles by some distance: Murphy’s maiden win was way back in 2005 when he was only 22.But after Zhao Xintong’s historic victory last year burst open the boundaries of possibility for Chinese snooker, there is now the very realistic chance of back-to-back and different champions from China
Shaun Murphy v Wu Yize: World Snooker Championship final day one – as it happened
That, then is us for tonight. Thanks all for your company and comments, and please do join us again tomorrow. We’ll be live from 12pm GMT, when we’re either going to see Shaun Murphy win a second world title, 21 years after claiming his first, or Wu Yize win the first of what looks certain to be several world titles. He’s kept it wonderfully simply today, going at more or less everything, and it’ll take something amazing to stop him tomorrow. I can’t wait to see how it pans out
Emilio Gay shines for Durham, Northants grab first win: county cricket, day three – as it happened
Emilio Gay’s third century of the season may have come with an unspectacular trowel down to third man, but it could be career-defining. Like Zak Crawley, Gay is playing Division Two cricket, but two of his Durham centuries have come against the challenging Lancashire, and now Middlesex, attacks, even if the Lord’s pitch was friendly. David Bedingham also flew to a hundred, while poor Kasey Aldridge was lbw for 99.Gay’s former county Northamptonshire grabbed their first win of the summer, after Ben Sanderson rampaged through Worcestershire’s second dig. His six wickets in 29 balls skittled an innings that had been progressing, if slowly, at 88 for two
Formula One: Kimi Antonelli wins F1 Miami GP ahead of Lando Norris – as it happened
Our full report from today’s race is up and running:The rain we were promised still hasn’t fallen – although the decision to move the race forward was a sound one – as the top three make their way on to the balcony for the podium celebrations. Huge cheers for Kimi as he thumps his chest, salutes the crowd and takes in the Italian national anthem. He’s won three of this season’s four races so far, and on this form it’ll be tough to catch him.1) Kimi Antonelli, 100pts2) George Russell, 803) Charles Leclerc, 634) Lando Norris, 515) Lewis Hamilton, 496) Oscar Piastri, 437) Max Verstappen, 26Norris is asked about whether today was more fun, after drivers’ complaints about conditions this season. “Some things have improved, some things are still the same,” he says
Kimi Antonelli produces gutsy drive to hold off Norris and win F1 Miami GP
The margins were fine but ultimately it was a champion’s composure that won the day for Kimi Antonelli at the Miami Grand Prix. The teenager cannot legally buy a drink in the US yet but by the end of what was a gripping run to the flag the Italian had most assuredly earned a stiffener.Still 19 years old and in only his second season in Formula One, Antonelli’s calmness to see off immense pressure from McLaren’s Lando Norris, who hounded him to the finish, was his best performance in a run that has seen him take three consecutive pole positions and three consecutive wins in these opening four rounds.“Kimi, that was really impressive, really impressive,” said his Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, who is not given to unnecessary hyperbole, and it was. Wolff had fast-tracked him into a Mercedes seat last season and the kid has returned the compliment by delivering on his promise
Jannik Sinner makes history with victory in Madrid Open against Zverev
It took just 14 minutes of the Madrid Open final for all 12,500 spectators packed inside Estadio Manolo Santana to collectively conclude that the match was already over. Down 0-3 and already desperately searching for a response to the superb play from his opponent, Alexander Zverev opened his service game with two horrific missed overhead smashes in consecutive points.While Zverev flailed helplessly throughout his pitiful 56 minutes on court, the world No 1, Jannik Sinner, pieced together yet another startling exhibition of relentless, destructive shotmaking paired with unwavering focus as he continued his total domination of men’s tennis by destroying Zverev 6-1, 6-2 to capture the Madrid Open title for the first time in his career.This is already one of the most remarkable winning runs the sport has seen and it is difficult to see where it could end. Sinner is the first man in history to win five consecutive Masters 1000 titles and the first to win the first four Masters 1000 titles of the year
Starmer adviser held 16 undisclosed meetings with top US tech bosses
UK politics: Polanski says he would ‘discourage’ the use of ‘globalise the intifada’ chant on marches – as it happened
Polanski says he would discourage ‘globalise the intifada’ chant but warns against march bans
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