Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (left) and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, during a meeting with English regional mayors, at No 10 Downing Street in Westminster, central London, July 9, 2024
IT’S a truism that the Labour right would rather see the party lose than win from the left.
But the Starmer clique’s decision to bar Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from contesting the Gorton & Denton by-election shows paranoid factionalism on another level.
Burnham is not even on the socialist left of the party: this is an act of cowardice by a PM who fears a challenge to his leadership, and is prepared to risk a Labour seat falling to Reform UK rather than face him.
For Burnham was certainly the party’s best bet for winning the by-election, in a seat where the context of the last MP’s departure — Andrew Gwynne was embroiled in a scandal over expletive-laden text messages telling elderly constituents he hoped they would “croak” before long — can only add to the stench of out-of-touch arrogance that suffuses Labour.
Burnham is popular, a vanishingly rare quality among Labour politicians now. This fact will not be lost on MPs concluding that Starmer needs to go if the party is to have a hope of avoiding electoral annihilation.
The excuse given for his exclusion — that an early mayoral election to replace him would be inconvenient and costly — hardly matters. Not one person will believe it.
After all Starmer has form: stitch-ups are his stock in trade. Unlike former leaders of the Labour right like Tony Blair — or possible future ones like Wes Streeting — he has no political vision giving him confidence to seek to persuade people of his case. He lied his way to the leadership then excluded its left through expulsions and bans on debate.
He imposes candidates on local parties, and shows total indifference to the local standing of the candidates he blocks: another popular then Labour mayor, Jamie Driscoll, was barred from the shortlist for his own enlarged mayoralty when Labour were still in opposition.
Green party leader Zack Polanski (Green Party of England and Wales). Image: Bristol Green Party Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
“I’ve said for many months now that we’re not here to be disappointed with Labour, but to replace them. As days pass and Labour seemingly finds new ways to disappoint people, I remain focused on growing the Green Party. At the upcoming by-election in Gorton and Denton, it’s become clear that the Greens are the only progressive party capable of taking on and beating Reform. We already have activists on the ground, and we welcome any friends in Labour to support our campaign to keep Reform out of Manchester’s politics. Let’s go!”
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U.S. President Donald Trump (L), and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (R) sign the charter of the Board of Peace during the 56th World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on January 22, 2026. [Turkish Foreign Ministry – Anadolu Agency]
The Turkish foreign minister said Friday that US President Donald Trump has the capacity to pressure Israel to halt its actions in the Gaza Strip, saying the US leader can act independently and exert real influence if he chooses, Anadolu reports.
Speaking during the “On the Record” program with journalist Hadley Gamble, Hakan Fidan said he believes Trump has the capacity to stop the fighting in Gaza, noting that Israel has violated the ceasefire agreements multiple times.
“We believe that President Trump is the only person who can really put pressure on Israel,” Fidan said.
“We think that Mr. Trump is independent of every objective of different lobbies, so he can really think independently, and he can really take action independently. So, if he wants, he has the capacity to put pressure on Israel and stop Israel’s wrong behavior.”
Asked about the possibility of Turkiye sending troops to Gaza, Fidan noted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statement that Ankara is prepared to do everything within its means to contribute to the Gaza peace plan.
Fidan said Turkiye would be willing to take part in an international stabilization force in Gaza, but stressed that a deployment would depend on broader discussions and consensus within the international community.
‘Stability in Iran is important for all of us’
“I will advise my American friends: ‘Don’t make it,’” Fidan said when asked about the prospect of American intervention in Iran.
“Because they are already putting a lot of pressure on Iran. The sanctions are really hurting the Iranian economy. That’s why the people are protesting,” he added.
He pointed out that Iran is open to negotiations but warned that if Tehran feels cornered, it could prepare for a worst-case scenario.
“If there is only one sincere intention, which is solving the problem, I believe that there is an opportunity.”
Emphasizing that Iran is a major neighboring country, so what’s happening there affects a wide region, he said, “So, stability in Iran is important for all of us.”
Fidan said Ankara believes dialogue, not force, is the only viable path to resolving disputes between Iran and the international community. “Dialogue is the only way to sort out the problems.”
“The public dissent and protest and demonstrations in Iran — I think the regime and the government are receiving necessary messages. But because of their own problems with the international system, financially and otherwise, it’s not easy for the government to deliver the economic means to their own population.”
He said Iran needs to make a change in its foreign and security policies to “really obtain certain opportunities,” but stressed that he does not believe developments in or around Iran would lead to regime change.
Regional outlook
Asked about broader regional developments, Fidan said he sees reasons for cautious optimism, particularly in Syria, and expressed hope that the ceasefire in Gaza would continue.
He said developments in Syria demonstrate that regional countries, the US and the international community have, for the first time, come together quickly on a Middle East issue and have begun taking concrete steps.
“I think that tells something,” Fidan said. “If we can repeat this on other problems in our region or globe, we can really make quick achievements.”
“But our region will never be the same,” he said, adding that Turkiye’s hope and work is “about to make it better compared to the past.”
Fidan said Ankara is seeking to play a constructive role wherever possible and stressed that it is vital for regional problems to be addressed by regional countries. He said this approach aligns with “Trump’s overall policy methodology,” noting that the US does not want to act as the “global police of the global order.”
Addressing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Fidan said Turkiye believes regional unity is essential and it is unfortunate to see two close partners drifting apart.
“But we believe that they will come around because they are brothers and sisters and they are old friends. And I think in due course, they will sort out their own problems because they are experienced leaderships, both the UAE and the Saudis.”
Turkiye’s EU membership
Fidan said that Turkiye’s EU membership will not happen as long as the bloc maintains an identity-based political mindset toward Turkiye.
Noting that the EU prioritizes Turkiye’s different religion and civilization, which prevents progress, Fidan stated that the bloc has failed to become trans-civilizational by becoming a supranational institution.
Pointing out that Germany and France supported Ankara’s EU bid until 2007, he rejected claims that Turkiye’s membership would strengthen far-right movements, stressing that, regardless, the movements rose.
He stated that Europe would have been stronger and Brexit might not have happened if Turkiye had been an EU member.
On European security, Fidan said the EU has long relied on US protection and is now searching for its own security architecture, adding conflicting interests among global powers often put Turkiye in a difficult position, which could have been avoided through unity.
While economic ties between Ankara and the EU are strong, he noted that security cooperation remains insufficient.
Trump administration makes major correction towards Turkiye
Criticizing the US policy during former President Barack Obama’s term of cooperating with the PKK terror group to fight ISIS (Daesh), Fidan said the plan was supposed to be temporary but has continued for more than a decade.
He added that Trump is now making a major correction to the policy.
Emphasizing Turkiye’s NATO membership, Fidan said a NATO ally cannot support a terror organization hostile to another NATO country and welcomed the change.
Turkiye supports equal constitutional citizenship for all Syrians
Noting that international reports wrongly portray the YPG/SDF terror group as the sole representative of Syrian Kurds, he pointed out that the PKK terror organization has forced more than 12 political parties into exile.
He said Syrian Kurds want to live as equal and dignified citizens of Syria, noting that many were denied citizenship under Bashar al-Assad.
Fidan added that while Assad rejected that demand, the current Syrian leadership is trying to correct the mistake.
Stating that Turkiye supports equal constitutional citizenship for all Syrians, Fidan said everyone should be able to live with their own identity and religion within a unified state.
On regional relations, Fidan said countries now favor dialogue over confrontation.
He stressed that differences can be set aside to focus on shared interests, calling it a mature approach to statecraft.
Cooperation on issues such as Gaza and Syria, he added, shows growing regional goodwill, especially between Turkiye and Arab countries.
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Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpAKeir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
Donald Trump explains why he established his Bored of PeaceGenocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpAKeir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
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Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces Eyal Zamir (C) conducts a field tour with senior commanders of the Israeli army. [Israel Defense Forces (IDF) – Anadolu Agency]
US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Brad Cooper and Israeli army Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir have discussed boosting defense cooperation between the two sides, Anadolu reports.
The talks took place during an extended meeting held on the sidelines of Cooper’s visit to Israel, which began on Saturday, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in a statement on Sunday.
Adraee said Adm. Cooper held “a lengthy personal meeting” with Zamir, followed by a broader session attended by senior commanders.
He said the meeting served as “an additional factor strengthening the personal relationship between the two commanders, the close strategic relationship between the Israeli and US militaries, and the continued enhancement of defense cooperation between the two countries.”
During his visit to Israel, whose duration has not been specified, Cooper is also scheduled to meet Israeli Air Force Commander Tomer Bar, according to Israel’s Channel 12.
The visit comes amid growing concerns in Israel over the possibility that Iran could carry out a preemptive attack, alongside rising fears that Tehran may be close to being targeted by a potential US military strike, as the US continues to build up its forces in the region.
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpAKeir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (left) and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, during a meeting with English regional mayors, at No 10 Downing Street in Westminster, central London, July 9, 2024
