Guido has had it all but confirmed that there is an incoming shadow ministerial reshuffle before summer recess. Personnel changes have been underway in the Tory operation since Guido exclusively revealed old hand Mark McInnes, former head of the party in Scotland, was hired as the new CEO of CCHQ…
Grandee Francis Maude is increasingly tipped as the next party chairman – a point first made on this site some weeks back – while Guido hears LOTO is weighing up moving some ministers Badenoch is felt to be less aligned with. Names including Nigel Huddleston, Ed Argar, Joy Morrissey, and Victoria Atkins have come up for moves, neither positive nor negative, but moves nevertheless…
Were Kemi to demote clearly strong performers like Andrew Griffith or Rob Jenrick then eyebrows would be raised. Some senior Tories are of the view that Badenoch should at least wait until Labour has completed their own reshuffle to make sure that the shadows match up well with Cabinet ministers. Others question whether there is the political capital to reshuffle the shadow cabinet in the first place, especially seeing as LOTO had previously guaranteed the frontbench would remain the same until the election. The only question that matters to rank and file Tories is whether it makes any difference to the polls…
Avon and Somerset police have this afternoon dropped their investigation into the Kneecap’s set at Glastonbury. It launched an investigation in June into Kneecap and Bob Vylan’s sets…
They said they consulted the CPS: “After that advice, we have made the decision to take no further action on the grounds there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence.” One member of Corbyn’s favourite band – Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh – was charged with a terror offence in May. He appeared at Westminster magistrates court on 18 June and was released on unconditional bail. His next hearing on 20 August….
UPDATE: The Tories respond. Chris Philp said:
“This is another example of two-tier justice. One of the band said on stage ‘let’s start a riot in court’ referring to an upcoming court appearance on a different matter. This is clearly inciting violence, yet he’s been let off scot-free. Lucy Connolly meanwhile was convicted and jailed for nearly 3 years for a similar incident – after Keir Starmer strongly encouraged action in connection with last summer’s riots. This appears to be two tier justice in action in Keir Starmer’s Britain. Everyone should be treated the same before the law – but two-tier Keir does not seem to agree.”
Diane Abbott has managed to be administratively suspended from Labour twice since April 2023 – for the same comments. A rate of one suspension every 14 months…
Still under investigation is John Bercow, who was administratively suspended pending the result of an investigation after a Commons probe found he was “a serial liar” and “a serial bully” while Speaker. 1,228 days have passed since, with no news…
Seeing as Bercow only joined the party on 19 June 2021 Guido analysis shows he has been suspended from Labour 4.7 times longer than he has been a member. Abbott will not want her new suspension to last as long…
The Department of Work and Pensions has been in the firing line recently over wasteful spending. Free luxury cars for people with ‘tennis elbow’ comes to mind…
UK DOGE can now reveal that the department has spent a whopping £2,136,218 translating documents from English to other languages since 2023 – and that’s just within Whitehall. According to a written Parliamentary question, that figure has gone up each year:
At this rate this year’s total bill will come to more than £1 million. Languages include Somali, Japanese, Bulgarian, Albanian, Traditional Chinese, Italian and Arabic. For £2,136,218 you could:
- Hire 78 nurses.
- Recruit 81 British Army privates.
- Buy 4 Ferrari 812 Competiziones.
The taxpayer may have a view on which should be prioritised. UK DOGE recommends costs are cut here…
Eyebrows have been raised after Zia Yusuf liked a tweet saying:
“Reminder that Jenrick is a traitorous Zogbot with a Jewish wife and family. I’m sure its unrelated that he imported infinite brown savages to rape our women and children.”
A Reform spokesman tells Guido the like was an “accident” committed either by Zia or one of his two staff and that he “wouldn’t be racist against himself.” The tweet has been unliked…
Zia has been tweeting vociferously against Jenrick and former home secretary Suella Braverman since the secret Afghan settlement scheme story broke. Tories are not impressed with the recent like. The latest episode in Zia’s difficult week…
UPDATE: Robert Jenrick claps back:
I call bullshit.
You’ve spent the last 48 hours calling me a ‘traitor’ for not drawing attention to a leaked spreadsheet with our special forces and MI6 officers’ names on.
But we’re meant to believe this tweet attacking me as a traitor for having a Jewish wife & family was… https://t.co/2vhitrKDCL
— Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenrick) July 18, 2025
Ministers are set to announce plans to scrap water regulator Ofwat next week after its shambolic handling of Thames Water. Guido can reveal Ofwat officials have had their heads in the clouds. Literally…
Between 2023 and 2025, they took 38 flights, according to a TaxPayers’ Alliance FOI seen by Guido. Destinations include Canada, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, Portugal, and the Netherlands. The domestic water regulator – with zero overseas responsibilities – has been flying staff across the globe at your expense…
The flight bill alone hit £8,110, with £5,025 on hotels. Meanwhile, serious pollution by water companies surged 60% last year, according to the Environment Agency. Time to pull the chain…
Speaking at his speech on how to achieve “progressive capitalism” Wes Streeting fired a dig and Andy Burnham:
“Bond markets are not bond villains and fiscal rules matter.”
