Andrew Neil

Labour thinks that in Andy Burnham it's discovered the holy grail - that he's the man to take on those nasty, insurgent populists and win. It should prepare to be disappointed before the year is out.

Labour thinks that in Andy Burnham it's discovered the holy grail - that he's the man to take on those nasty, insurgent populists and win. It should prepare to be disappointed before the year is out.

How we used to chuckle with such a superior smirk at Italy's chaotic politics, as governments changed with such rapidity it was barely worthwhile learning the latest Italian prime minister's name

Attention has naturally fixated on Labour's soap opera, since it involves the eviction of a prime minister and his replacement by a man for whom a by-election had to be engineered.

There was something quite surreal about Andy Burnham's speech in Manchester yesterday, in which he outlined his economic policies.

There was something quite surreal about Andy Burnham's speech in Manchester yesterday, in which he outlined his economic policies.

President Vladimir Putin 's war to subjugate Ukraine is going from bad to worse for the Russian dictator. Originally billed as a three-day 'special military operation', it is now in its fifth year.

Marine Le Pen is the clear favourite to win next year's presidential election, despite a conviction for fraud, a suspended prison sentence, a €100,000 (£85,000) fine

I'm used to being avoided by politicians these days. But Andy Burnham has managed to avoid any rigorous journalistic scrutiny from anybody on his fast track to No 10.

Andy Burnham was wafted into No 10 for the first time as Prime Minister yesterday on the same welter of vacuous cliches that propelled him to the Labour leadership.