Lucy Powell’s aide gets in touch to complain about Guido’s article this morning saying that she alluded to VAT cuts last night at the Kebab awards. She might be in Reeves’ doghouse..

Afternoon,

I’m writing to complain about your piece about Lucy at the Kebab Awards and to ask you to correct the piece about alluding to VAT cuts. She did no such thing in her speech and your piece is incorrect. Lucy was speaking about what Labour was promising, on business rates etc, and in that context was talking down the prospect of any cut, not talking it up, saying it was a matter for Rachael and she runs a tight ship.

Lucy was not alluding to anything, it’s not what she said, or the impression she was giving. She gave a list of things she said Labour would do, and then something we were not (VAT). You have taken her words out of context, and the tone they were said in. She was saying she heard the business owners generally after some difficult years. Despite your reporting she hadn’t had a drink either.

I’d be grateful if you’d amend this piece to make it clear that she was not hinting about any VAT cut.

Thanks very much

Advisor to Lucy Powell MP | Shadow Leader of the House of Commons 

Nearly four hours after the event started, Lucy said this in her speech in response to Ibrahim Dogus’ earlier call for VAT cuts:

“I hear what you say about VAT. I can’t stand here and promise that because any of you who know the Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves will know I’m absolutely not allowed to tell you that. But I hear what you’re saying anyway”.

The dictionary definition of “allude” is “to call attention to indirectly; hint at.” Well she definitely called attention to VAT. Co-conspirators can watch the video and decide whether or not Powell had a drink…

Last night’s annual kebab awards was a relatively understated affair. Keynote speaker Sadiq Khan made a dig at Lee Anderson, saying antisemitism or Islamophobia should “not be given a free pass for electoral gain.” Nadhim Zahawi opted for a less contentious route, conceding that “kebabs are like politicians, best enjoyed with a pinch of salt and a good spin,” while tipping his hat to the toilers of the kebab trade, without whom, the “doner could’ve been a goner“. Needless to say, the audience preferred Zahawi’s speech…

Last to the stage was Shadow Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell, who – more than one attendee noted – had taken advantage of the free booze. Aside from bashing GB News for not “grilling” their guests enough, she also made a dig at the Tories: “I’m surprised the Tories aren’t up for an award tonight, they’re just so good at skewering! Skewering themselves, obviously“. Side splitting stuff…

More intriguingly, she hinted that a Labour government might introduce cuts to VAT. She repeated that “we hear you” on calls for cuts to VAT, though claimed she couldn’t make commitments: “if you know the Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves, I’m absolutely not allowed to tell you that, but we hear you”. Could it really be the case that Labour would put the Tories to shame on VAT…

Lucy Powell is out on the airwaves this morning, defending Labour’s U-Turn on the two-child benefits cap in the wake of backlash from the backbenches. Speaking on ITV News, she defended their move to no longer oppose the policy, invoking Liam Byrne’s infamous “no money” letter:

“There are lots of things that he would like to reverse, but the economic reality means that we just can’t. To coin a phrase, there just frankly is no money left”

Looks like Lucy’s been learning from Greg Hands…

It’s Pride Month, which means it’s time to cover everything in rainbows to prove you’re a good person. Guido, a long term supporter of sexual liberation, has happily obliged on his Twitter avatar. For Mark Drakeford, Pride Month means being inclusive of everyone… apart from Tories. This photo was posted to the Welsh Government’s official Instagram account this week – Guido’s zoomed in on the badge…

Labour frontbencher Lucy Powell set the cat amongst the pigeons when she pulled the same stunt last year. Sir Keir has already admitted he can’t say the same…