'Give Andy Burnham a genuine contest as, if he's the best candidate, he will have nothing to fear'

'Give Andy Burnham a genuine contest as, if he's the best candidate, he will have nothing to fear' Keir Starmer on Tuesday met Andy Burnham, the frontrunner to replace him in No 10, for the first time since the Makerfield by-election, after pledging a "smooth transition" of power Labour cannot afford a coronation put together behind closed Westminster corridors. Andy Burnham may be the clear frontrunner. He may command wide support among MPs and may yet prove to be the right person to lead the party and the country. But that case should be tested in the open, not settled by private deals and hurried nods from the powerful. Keir Starmer won the leadership in 2020 through a proper contest. Members heard the arguments, weighed the candidates and gave him a mandate. The same principle must apply now. A leader anointed by horse-trading risks entering Downing Street with a question mark over his authority before the work has even begun. That would weaken him inside the party and with the public. With nominations opening on July 9, Labour has little time to get this right. A genuine contest would sharpen its purpose, test its ideas and strengthen whoever wins. If Mr Burnham is the best candidate, he will have nothing to fear from democracy. Nigel Farage should try some transparency Nigel Farage likes to pose as the fearless champion of ordinary people, yet put £5 million in front of him and suddenly the people are told to stop asking questions. Grilled by the BBC over his undeclared gift from crypto tycoon Christopher Harborne, the Reform UK leader turned tetchy and dismissive, insisting “no one cares”. But voters do care when politicians receive vast sums, fail to declare them and then offer shifting explanations. Was it for security? Was it a reward for Brexit campaigning? Was it simply a gift he could blow as he chooses? Farage cannot keep the story straight, and he cannot sneer this away. The man who built a career demanding transparency from others should try some himself. Britain needs more like you, Frank At 97, Frank Collins has more than earned the right to put his feet up, but he would rather pull pints and dodge retirement. The Dog & Partridge landlord says he will stop when he stops enjoying it. His secret? “First pint’s on me, then the next ten are on them.” Britain needs pubs, characters and Frank’s round in him.