Starmer ally calls for ‘swift transition’ of power to Burnham as Carns and Jones decline to rule out leadership bids – UK politics live

Nick Thomas-Symonds suggests battle would not be in ‘best interests of the country’, as Cabinet Office minster and former armed forces minister ponder their options This is from my colleague Jessica Elgot on a potential Darren Jones leadership bid (see 9.34am ). Key to a serious Jones run seems to what he makes of Burnham’s economic policies in the coming days - including public control of utilities. And whether Ed Miliband ends up as chancellor. I’m absolutely convinced I’ve done nothing wrong in any way at all. I also know that since I was elected as an MP, I’ve taken zero in personal expenses. I’m very careful and very cautious about these things. Would you be happy if the next prime minister of this country secretly banked a £5m cheque from a billionaire whose business interests he was promoting? I believe [the donation] to be a wholly private matter. The standards commissioner may take a different view. Continue reading...