Labour’s in free-fall over the Alli donations scandal, Number 10 is a circus (already forced to bin Sue Gray as Chief of Staff), and their new policies are sinking like a lead balloon. One would think CCHQ’s job attacking the government was easy. Yet somehow, they still manage to miss the mark…
Over the weekend, CCHQ decided to take a shot at the Winter Fuel Allowance cut, a policy that seems universally unpopular. They rolled out a video showcasing pensioners set to lose their allowance. Except instead of tugging at the nation’s heartstrings, the footage shows these ‘poor’ pensioners living in spacious homes – more comfortable than what many people, especially the young, can afford. They hardly appear to be hard-done-by little old folks shivering in the cold. One even appears to be wearing a solid gold Rolex…
This winter, pensioners will have to choose between heating and eating.
And that’s on Keir Starmer. pic.twitter.com/JMrqLyXtD8
— Conservatives (@Conservatives) October 4, 2024
Clearly Guido isn’t the only one who thought this was a little tone-deaf. In three days, the post got 20 million views, and only one thousand likes. Possibly the worst ratio in X history…
Some rising stars don’t burn as bright as others. New MP Hamish Falconer, who was immediately promoted to Foreign Office Minister and happens to be the son of New Labour heavyweight Lord Falconer, had his morning round debut this morning. It was one to forget…
On GB News Falconer failed to tackle an onslaught from Isabel Webster who skewered the government for the complete chaos inside Downing Street, giving away the Chagos Islands, and its non-existent mandate to hand inflation-busting pay rises to train drivers while withdrawing free cash from pensioners. Young Hamish had nothing to say part from that it’s all been a “success”…
Falconer has had glowing profiles from the Lobby recently including an eyebrow-raising Tatler deep dive. The Guardian fawned:
“Conscious of his privilege, he says that his advantageous start in life means that he has to ‘go further to demonstrate that I do understand the vast majority of families in Lincoln who are really struggling.'”
He certainly went somewhere this morning. Isabel finished:
“I would suggest that one of the first jobs that Morgan McSweeney does is choose a better candidate for the morning round because that was excruciating and I’ve interviewed a lot of politicians.”
There’s always next time…
As Starmer walked into No 10 back in July you could hear the collective chest-puffing of left-wing pundits everywhere. Years, if not decades, of stable, adult government awaited them…
93 days later and Downing Street seem to have conducted a speed run of scandal. Ending with the undignified departure of Sue Gray…
Those pundits must be feeling hot under the collar today. Here are their highlights:
It turns out Krishnan doesn’t have to worry about that after all. Soubry struck the same note…
Andrew Marr said: “For the first time in many of our lives, actually Britain looks like a little haven of peace and stability”. The Guardian’s John Crace said: “The grownups are back in Westminster. The Tory psychodramas inside No 10 have been replaced by a serious Labour government focused on delivery. It’s going to take time for all of us to make the adjustment.” Meanwhile unpaid Starmer propagandist Ian Dunt isn’t taking the news so well…
Beth Rigby might have to start reporting on something other than Starmer’s views on football and Angela Rayner’s clothing accessories:
James O’Brien naturally went on about how the “grown ups are back in charge.” It’s a sad day for Labour superfan Marina Purkiss too. No doubt Starmer’s sacking of Gray will soon be hailed as a masterstroke worthy of such a serious and adult politician…
After a morning of rife speculation the news has now been confirmed. Sue Gray is gone as Starmer’s Chief of Staff…
Gray will move to another role in government. Guido brings you the latest “end to Tory chaos” as he gets it…
UPDATE: Gray becomes the Prime Minister’s envoy for the regions and nations. Quite the demotion…
Keir’s statement:
“I want to thank Sue for all the support she has given me, both in opposition and government, and her work to prepare us for government and get us started on our programme of change. Sue has played a vital role in strengthening our relations with the regions and nations. I am delighted that she will continue to support that work.”
Gray’s:
“I am pleased to have accepted a new role as the Prime Minister’s envoy for the regions and nations. After leading the Labour party’s preparation for government and kickstarting work on our programme for change, I am looking forward to drawing on my experience to support the Prime Minister and the Cabinet to help deliver the government’s objectives across the nations and regions of the UK. In addition to building a close partnership with devolved governments, I am delighted this new role will mean continuing to work alongside and support the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, the Cabinet and the Mayors on English devolution. It has been an honour to take on the role of Chief of Staff, and to play my part in the delivery of a Labour government. Throughout my career my first interest has always been public service. However in recent weeks it has become clear to me that intense commentary around my position risked becoming a distraction to the government’s vital work of change. It is for that reason I have chosen to stand aside, and I look forward to continuing to support the Prime Minister in my new role.”
UPDATE II: Morgan McSweeney appointed Chief of Staff. The McIavelli…
- “Morgan McSweeney moves to Chief of Staff having served in No 10 as chief adviser to the Prime Minister. Prior to that, McSweeney was campaign director for Labour’s general election campaign and directed the party’s first win in 19 years. He brings more than two decades of political experience to the role.”
- “Vidhya Alakeson and Jill Cuthbertson have been promoted to Deputy Chiefs of Staff. Vidhya Alakeson is currently the Political Director at Number 10. She was previously Director of External Relations at the Labour Party and for the Leader of the Opposition. Prior to joining the Labour Party, she was the Chief Executive of Power to Change. She has also worked in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, in HM Treasury, for the US government and in a number of leading think tanks. Jill Cuthbertson has been Director of Government Relations in Downing Street since July 2024 having spent 3 years working with Keir Starmer as Director of the Leader of the Opposition’s Office overseeing his profile, events, visits and leading the 2024 Leader’s Tour. Jill previously worked for Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband.”
- “Nin Pandit has been appointed PPS to the Prime Minister. She was Director of the Downing Street Policy Unit from November 2022 and prior to that led the No10 Delivery Unit’s health and social care team. Nin started her career in the NHS in 2008 and led the development of the UK’s first electronic health and care records and before joining Government served as Chief of Staff and lead policy advisor to the NHS England CEO.”
- “James Lyons will join to head up a new strategic communications team. Lyons, the former NHS Director of Communications, joins from TikTok. Prior to that he was deputy political editor of The Sunday Times and the Daily Mirror. James brings extensive knowledge of the media landscape and strategic communications.”
All change…
Former leader of the SNP in Westminster Ian Blackford told Times Radio why he believes Nicola Sturgeon’s claim that she spent no time in the kitchen and therefore didn’t see any of her husband’s purchases:
“She doesn’t have a passion for cooking.”
