Andy Bruce (Reuters)

‘A southern economy in the north’: how Warrington has adapted to change Good transport links and the quietly booming nuclear sector are helping the Cheshire town to thrive

This one was close to home for me, literally. A feature trip to where I grew up:

Warrington is a model town, the @centreforcities.bsky.social says today.

If its economic performance was replicated nationwide, the avg UK urban resident would be £3,200 better off:
www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Exclusive: India to slash tariffs on cars to 40% in trade deal with EU, sources say It's the biggest opening yet of the country's vast market as the two sides close in on a free trade pact that could come as early as Tuesday.

Exclusive: India to slash tariffs on cars to 40% in trade deal with EU - www.reuters.com/world/india/...

I have today written to the Chair of Labour’s National Executive Committee seeking permission to enter the selection process for a candidate for the forthcoming Gorton and Denton by-election.

Read my letter here.👇🏻

Ed Miliband tells the Fabian Society conference: “I very much hope the local party will have the option of selecting Andy Burnham as the candidate”.

BREAKING: Andy Burnham confirms he's running for selection for the Gorton and Denton by-election

Who's secretly filming fake TikToks inside Londoners' homes? We tracked down the viral video account invading people's houses to spread false claims about immigrants.

Superb - and alarming - piece on the torrent of falsehood and disinformation pouring into people's phones, designed to stir up racial hatred.

If you don't subscribe to @londoncentric.media, its investigative journalism is outstanding. @jim.londoncentric.media www.londoncentric.media/p/tiktok-lon...

Citi's view (not mine!)
• hard ask, NEC view against standing is "simple and sensible"
• leadership challenge likely in 2026 - but not clear AB will be best placed
• AB govt probably wouldn't be a major departure in policy
• bond market comments may have caused "avoidable" investor suspicion

Citi has just published a 2,500-word research note titled: "Prime Minister Burnham – How Likely Is It?"

UK businesses report post-budget bounce British firms have reported the fastest upturn since before Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government took office but also a rise in inflation pressures, according to a survey that prompted investors to cut bets on Bank of England interest rate cuts.

UK businesses report post-budget bounce reut.rs/4r80VOG

Good news but worth bearing in mind the UK services PMI has yet to touch its pre-COVID average under this government (although is getting close now)

I would like an update on Andy's choice of dining companions from the 2010 leadership contest

UBS: We see scope for a shift from fear to optimism on gilts in 2026

Surprisingly good PMI just out.

S&P Global's @chris-williamson.bsky.social reckons it's consistent with GDP growth around 0.4% qq, on the face of it

Labour Party HQ staffers said to be concerned by sudden appearance of Claudia Winkleman, roaming the building and erecting portraits of senior MPs

AB view: Quit excellent mayor gig for seat that's not a shoo-in necessarily. Big risk! So maybe better to wait? Lab could lose Gorton & Denton, May goes badly for Starmer. Then allies in the ascendancy. BUT - waiting for the perfect moment to strike hasn't gone well for Labour pretenders in the past

The Burnham Dilemma is a nice bit of game theory. Big trade-offs on both sides of the equation.

Labour NEC view: Block Burnham, he'd cause party chaos if MP. BUT - do we really risk handing Reform a Manc seat? Gorton Labour for almost 100 years. Symbolic catastrophe. And strengthen AB anyway.

Also honorable mention for "Chicken Spot" near King's Cross.

That's... what?

It's like a cryptic crossword clue

Not a takeaway but about 15 years ago a big tat shop moved into the former Foyles store near Tottenham Court road.

They just removed the F and L in the sign so it became "OY ES"

I think it was supposed to be "O Yes".

There was a kebab shop in Hither Green called Typical Kebab. Struggled to even meet even that description.

See also:
Favourable Chicken (Hither Green too)
Ferfect Chicken (laziest possible renaming of ex Perfect Chicken in Forest Green)
Kebab.com (had no relation to URL. Whalley Range)

Naughty naughty...

The Bank of England is overdue on some paperwork at Companies House.

Confirmation statements late for the Asset Purchase Facility (which handles its QE stock of government bonds) and the Alternative Liquidity Faculty (which holds Islamic finance deposits).

I might register a firm and tick the 'central banking' box just to see what happens

Naughty naughty...

The Bank of England is overdue on some paperwork at Companies House.

Confirmation statements late for the Asset Purchase Facility (which handles its QE stock of government bonds) and the Alternative Liquidity Faculty (which holds Islamic finance deposits).

Sometimes the reason a market moves is completely dumb. This may be one of those times - but it did move!

Trouble with describing why a market moves as it does is that people sometimes think you agree with it, or are validating it somehow.

I remember reporting how the pound rose quite sharply a few days after the minibudget clown show, some people clearly thought I was Kwasi Kwarteng

Me or Burnham

Mizhuo's Jordan Rochester says UK data/BoE/dollar/geopolitics/Fed will move gilts for now - not Andy Burnham, despite today's wobble.

But he thinks the "fiscal uncertainty bandwagon" for gilts will start to ramp up ahead of May elections.

Gilt traders be like..

Have asked a number of NEC members to tell me the chances Andy Burnham has of being selected to fight a by-election.

Every single one says zero.