A backbench MP with no experience in government who arrived on the Commons green benches only five years ago – is Jess Phillips the answer to Labour’s woes?
At another time perhaps not, but in an age of personality politics, against a populist and loudmouth Tory Prime Minister, Labour needs someone who can go toe to toe and puncture the Johnson bombast with some personality of their own.
Phillips wears her heart on her sleeve and shoots her opinions from the hip.
She has the huge emotional range of a real-life opera diva and the passion and the attitude to make Labour heard.
The next Labour leader, male or female, cannot become the political equivalent of tinnitus, a dull buzzing noise in the ear that no one pays attention to.
Phillips is not that predictable and she’s relevant. Voters would tune in just to see what she says next.
The job of the next Labour leader is to keep the lights on and keep voters tuned in while the party repairs itself, if that can be done.
Someone like Phillips might be the wild card candidate that could keep Labour’s name up in lights.
Banks for nothing
Imagine waking up on the the first working day after New Year to find your wages, benefit or pension payments aren’t in your bank account.
It could be that you are desperate for the cash after spending a little too much over the festive period.
Or it could simply be that you need the money to pay for the usual food and bills – and direct debits that come off on the same day every month.
But the money just isn’t there.
It’s a terrifying thought.
But that is exactly what happened to thousands of people yesterday – thanks to a computer glitch at the Clydesdale, Virgin and Yorkshire banks.
The Record was swamped with requests to find out what was going on.
Today we highlight the stories of some of those affected.
We hope the bank bosses will read these tales of woe – and make sure this mess is never repeated.
