Lucy Fisher

I wondered whether that will mean, especially after losing Gorton and Denton by election earlier this year, a second loss.

Will that mean them losing momentum as a party?

And I put that question to Farage when he was in Makerfield on Wednesday.

Mr Farage, thank you.

Firstly, I wanted to ask you, Reform lost the Gorton-Edenton by-election earlier this year.

If the party loses next week, are you concerned that it might be losing momentum?

Jim, do you think that it could signal that reform is losing momentum if they lose the race next week?

And so if we imagine next Thursday that Burnham wins, what do we think might happen then?

It seems to me, from what I'm picking up, there's a bit of a split in his camp about whether he should go all guns blazing to challenge Stammer immediately and capitalize on his own momentum.

or else to delay things and allow himself, his team, whoever they may be, to try and get their plans for government in better shape before any contest, before entering Downing Street.

And I was struck that one cabinet minister said to me, look, as soon as he's in post, it will be an immediate path into the next budget.

It's a very difficult and important budget, which itself is a glide path to the spending review.

he'll be very keen not to make an early mistake.

So he might actually want more time before entering Downing Street.

So we've just got time left for political fix stock picks.

Jen, who are you buying or selling?

Do you know what, I'm going to buy the former Defence Secretary, John Healey.

I think, you know, ultimately this will be viewed as an honourable resignation, him quitting because he couldn't get the funding settlement he thinks is the bare minimum required to overhaul the military and ensure, you know, it's as strong as it can be to act as a deterrent and prevent conflict.

And in resigning in this way, I think he's also kept his leverage high in a sense that any future plan for the military, for example, if Burnham wins and becomes prime minister, you know, Healy's verdict on any future plan will be a litmus test now.

It will be a hurdle over which future prime ministers have to jump.