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Ben Habib: Burnham might love to rid himself...

Burnham might love to rid himself of 100 troublesome Labour backbenchers. The problem is that if he rolls the dice now, he risks getting rid of himself as well. He has a huge majority and years left in Downing Street. Why would he gamble all of that on an election that could leave him without a majority and without a job?
Ben Habib: Burnham might love to rid himself...
https://x.com/benhabib6/status/2103475497782931912

Ben Habib: It was deeply upsetting...

It was deeply upsetting to watch the CH4 revelations about @reformparty_uk Senior figures in Reform appearing to conspire to step round electoral law to allow foreign funding of “off book” polls is frankly disgusting. And it appears @Nigel_Farage was fully in the picture. This cannot be characterised as entrapment, which is the line being taken by Farage. Entrapment is a defence against law enforcement agents inducing a breaking of the law. The ideas, it would appear, all came from Reform. I fought a campaign in 2024 for the democratisation of the party and to introduce checks and balances to prevent precisely this sort of thing happening. I failed in that campaign. It is tragic seeing Reform collapse in a swamp of sleaze.

Ben Habib: Everyone is panicking about @RestoreBritain_…

Everyone is panicking about @RestoreBritain_ splitting @reformparty_uk vote and allowing Burnham to win. The panic is misplaced. The worst political outcome would be Restore stepping aside to allow Reform a victory. With its current direction of travel, Reform offers the country no redemption. By stepping aside, Restore would concrete in Reform’s hopelessness. Restore must fight this election and do the best it can. If it were to gain 7% of the vote, as predicted, that would send an earth quake through Reform. Reform might then correct its ways. A Burnham victory makes not a blind bit of difference to the country. Labour has a 156 seat majority. Whether Burnham or some other idiot from Labour becomes PM makes no difference. And for those worried about an early general election - turkeys do not vote for Christmas. It is not happening. Restore and Rebecca Shepherd must fight this by election tooth and nail. I know @_AdvanceUK supporters are already in Makerfield campaigning on their behalf. I will help where I can.