I do not particularly care about the story itself, but it’s obviously gonna make the PLP more skittish about ousting Starmer with Rayner as the most likely replacement

I also wonder if the fact that Starmer is doing badly and might need replacing will mean the PLP encourages her to try and weather the storm on this

Also she’s the directly elected Deputy Leader- presumably the PLP don’t want public warfare with the membership if she resigns from her Government position.

My gut reaction is this isn’t career-ending, but it probably means she’ll have to build herself back up from the backbenches. Which probably means Starmer stays until late into the Parliament out of sheer inertia

Not exactly expecting people pissed off with Labour/members of other parties to defend a Labour minister, but you probably should recognise that this story is bad if you oppose Labour from the left. This fundamentally benefits Starmer, which in turn benefits Reform

Also I’m probably very out of step with my fellow lefties on this, and I do know her a bit on a personal level so am biased. But if that is the advice her lawyers gave her then I don’t think she’s done anything so wrong? When I bought my house I just did what my lawyers told me.

I agree, but ultimately the press have found an attack with bite so it’s going to be pretty tough to weather

I think it buys Starmer another year and makes her taking over in May 26 unlikely but ultimately if she’s cleared and is now willing to bring up the disabled child angle when questioned it’s not a huge deal imo

The actual explanation is very sympathetic and while I understand completely her reluctance to go public if she had when this first started it would have died I think

That's if they don't use this as an opportunity to oust Rayner first.

To be honest, she was never going to be a good candidate. Her acquiescing after the Hartlepool by-election in 2021, even when it seemed clear that Starmer was open to resigning and her base was secure, indicates that she doesn't quite have the same capacity as other possible figures to run.

...?

thick of it ass bit

Labour every 5 minutes when it tries to do literally anything:

Ah.