Lucy Fisher

But, you know, she has a high profile within the party.

She has her own mandate at present as deputy leader.

And, you know, she's a real veteran of the Labour Party who's been on the front bench for many years now.

So interesting that there is intrigue growing around Lucy Powell.

Well, I think there is a sense that many members of the public have enormously raised eyebrows to the idea that he received such a stonkingly large personal gift from this party donor.

I think it doesn't appear quite right to some individuals.

to some members of the public and certainly many in Westminster in parties that oppose reform, who believe that he should have declared it under the rules.

Obviously, now the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner has decided yesterday to launch an investigation.

So, yes, I think this could yet prove as what a bother for him too.

It's so hard to say and I hate to be hostage to fortune, but it's feeling increasingly possible this could all be a bit of an anti-climax with neither Andy Burnham declaring he's found a seat by the end of the day and West Street failing to launch as well.

He certainly could win.

That's another scenario that his loyalists are briefing.

And particularly if it was him versus West Streeting, you know, the Downing Street allies believe that they'd have the numbers to back to back Streeting, to beat Streeting.

Well, it certainly does.

But in essence, his words at Cabinet this morning lay down a gauntlet.

to West Streeting or any other potential challenger in the cabinet to trigger the contest.

I think there are those around Streeting now who are getting frustrated and putting pressure on him to launch a race because they think it's now or never for him.

And if he waits...

And this is a process that's drawn out.

It strongly favours Andy Burnham on the soft left of the party, where more of the parliamentary Labour Party is and certainly more of the activist base that have a vote.