Well, welcome back. It's Ed Faisie and we're going to be unpacking the politics of the day from Andy Burnham's rebuttal to Tony Blair to whether Putin has been replaced by body doubles and whether the boozy lunch is making a comeback. Two people I know who never enjoy a boozy lunch.

First of all, Michael Binion, welcome to the show.

Thank you, Ed. I wonder what you know about my lunchtime habits.

Now, Michael, when you walked into the studio, I was reminded of one of my favourite, not the 9 o'clock news sketches.

Oh, yeah.

I feel you should be arrested for wearing a loud shirt in a built-up area. I've never seen anything like it. There you are. What's going on? I put it on specially of you to sort of blind you and bring some Italian sunshine. It is another one of your Italian shirts, isn't it? You really must have been blinded by the sun on your Italian side shirt. Actually, it does suit you. It's a rather elegant and sophisticated look. I mean, I should explain it's a sort of floral print shirt. Yes, roses and all sorts of things, yes. I'm very impressed. And welcome to the show, Sarah Daitam.

Hello.

I feel like I'm letting the side down.

I am wearing my gym gear.

I'm really not bringing any happiness to this situation.

Yes.

Sarah, I mean, I'm sounding terribly unshivorous, Sarah, but you sort of kicked it off. You are not in the studio, you're calling from home, but you are wearing a well-worn, a worn in both senses, grey sweatshirt. I mean, thank God it's radio. But you do have a bright red wall behind you you so that kind of adds to the glamour

and you're sober in black as well we have to tell you so I am in a boring blue t-shirt that

is true right well now we've set the scene let's get underway it's been a week of back and

force about the ideological future of the Labour Party it began of course with the long list

of criticisms from the former prime minister Tony Blair. Now Andy Burnham's come back.

He's got a 1500 word rebuttal, which has been published in the Times.

Kirstarmer has had his say as well on his substack. I think I heard on Times Radio Breakfast. It was

2,700 words. We love counting the word. It all adds to the drama. So we've had Burnham, Blair, and Stama, not yet West Streeting as far as I'm aware, although he has given a few speeches. Now, the old thing about all of this, Michael Binion, was that, as I said earlier, when I woke up this morning to read Andy Burnham's essay, I woke up in a frame of mind, say, ah, ha, this will be amusing, you know, labour tearing itself. But, and actually I thought Andy Burnham's essay. I woke up in a frame of mind, say, ah ha, ha, this will be amusing, you know,

Labour tearing itself. And actually, I thought Andy Burnham's piece was very thoughtful. And I also

thought there is quite an interesting debate developing between, as it were, these leadership contenders,

albeit a debate, perhaps it would have been helpful if they had had two years before the election, rather than in the middle of a Labour government. Well, I thought it, a debate perhaps it would have been helpful if they had had two years before the election

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