Brett-Butler

Burnham should roll the dice and take a chance on an early election whilst his halo is still shining. If he leaves it until 2029, then a poo-choo train of despair that’s on its way will hit Labour station and decimate their chances, and give the Conservatives and Kemi a real chance of winning. If he does it now, then he kneecaps Reform whilst they’re on the descent, whilst also nobbling the Tories before they can take over as the main party of the right. Kemi Badenoch is now the 2nd most popular active UK politician behind Burnham, and I can see her popularity continue to grow before 2029, but an early election would finish her off. The risk is that Labour lose seats, or even their majority, and some Labour MPs may refuse to vote for one out of that fear. But if one is called, the worst case scenario in all likelihood would be a Labour/Lib Dem coalition.

Goodness, next week is a graveyard for new releases. It wouldn't surprise me if none of them make the top 10, even with low box-office figures near the back end - Chicken Run's re-release could scrape it.

Just interested to see who Burnham is going to punish by making them Northern Irish Secretary.

John Healy chancellor. Didn’t see that one coming. I wonder what department will get a financial boost…

His favourite band is the Stereophonics.

SHAKIRA DRESSED UP AS BATTENBERG. I APPROVE.

THAT WAS THE MUPPETS YOU CULTURAL PHILISTINE.

Yeah, don’t think Ed Miliband will be in his cabinet - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c935yx2z9d4o

Good news for It. Returning to a house may be imminent.

They’re running out of options for 90s Disney animations to remake to be fair. I think all that’s left is Hunchback of Notre Dame and Pocahontas. The former is likely too dark for a kids remake, and the latter they wouldn’t touch with a barge pole for cultural reasons.

In fairness that was a great goal by Bellingham.

England could have this in the bag:

She was Reform UK's Immigration & Justice spokesperson on her death.

There's a news conference on at 16:30 which should shed more light on the situation. From what we know so far it's implied that it was a home invasion gone wrong rather than politically motivated attack, but we'll know better after the press conference.

I can’t see any party other than the Tories beating Farage in this. The Tories won 72% in 2019, and Reform/Conservatives won a combined 74% in 2024. Unless there’s been massive demographic change since then, or Labour have an unprecedented Burnham Bounce, it’ll be one or the other.

He has a majority of 8,405 over the Conservatives. It’s a risky move which I can see backfiring and getting Kemi Badenoch a surprise extra seat for her party.

I think this will be Hulk's last season unfortunately. Quite a disappointing race for him given his heroics at Silverstone last year.

Verstappen out. Diddums.

That’s something I’ve never thought of before - do the Box Office figures include VAT or exclude it? Did a quick check but can’t see a conclusive answer.

I hope Partey gets booed every time he touches the ball.

Haven’t seen Obsession yet (will likely check it out once it comes to streaming), but from what I can understand from the plot, the same concept was done before on Irish TV before, in 1998, in under 10 minutes, with puppets -

I bought “Bournville” by Jonathan Coe in a whim a few years ago and enjoyed it, but haven’t read anything else by him. May need to make a trip to the library to investigate further.

Well, in a rare occurrence, I got the winners of all 3 by-elections right. After all of that, the net effect is + 1 Tories, - 1 SNP. There will now be a by-election for the Mayor of Greater Manchester, which I’ve seen suggested will be the largest ever by-election in population terms in UK voting history. If Andy calls a General Election on his coronation with a Lib Dem pact, then he’ll continue Labour’s majority, cut off Reform when they’re at a wane, and wipe out the Tories for good, with Reform withering on the vine in opposition to Burnham. If he leaves it to 2029, then it’ll be a straight Labour/Tory contest - Kemi Badenoch has settled into the role as leader of the opposition, and this surprise by-election victory gives them the momentum on the right rather than Farage.

Has the Alan Parsons Project received a boost from "Sirius" being used as walk-on music?

Cameron Thomas, the MP for Tewksbury, has been suspended from the Lib Dems after being arrested on Wednesday evening.