After the Élysée directly addressed mad X theories that Starmer, Scholz, Macron, and Zelensky were pictured with cocaine on a train Downing Street has weighed in as well. Pass the (sick) bag?
When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs.
This fake news is being spread by France’s enemies, both abroad and at home. We must remain vigilant against manipulation. pic.twitter.com/xyXhGm9Dsr
— Élysée (@Elysee) May 11, 2025
Starmer’s spokesman told Lobby journalists this afternoon: “We don’t know who’s behind that particular misinformation but we’ve obviously seen attempts like this in the past, particularly emanating from the Russian state as it particularly becomes more desperate in relation to the war in Ukraine.” Hint: There’s a fellow living at No 1 Red Square Terraces with form on this sort of thing…
Louise Haigh – convicted fraudster and former transport secretary – popped up on Newsnight last night to complain about the “misogynistic” and “sexist” culture in Downing Street, lamenting that “male advisers” are targeting her “female colleagues” with negative briefings. She moaned to presenter Victoria Derbyshire:
“I’m really fed up of opening the papers and reading briefing against my female former colleagues and I was really angry at the weekend to see the response to the electoral defeat that we had suffered at the hands of Reform to be that we should sack two female northern cabinet ministers… I only ever seem to read briefing against my female former colleagues.”
When Derbyshire pointed out that Ed Miliband – a man – receives his fair share of briefings, Haigh retorted that he doesn’t get it “anywhere near as badly as my female colleagues do.” Guido suspects the briefings against Haigh had a little more to do with her fraud conviction rather than her gender…
The UK DOGE FoI unit fired some requests to the Cabinet Office asking what furniture had been purchased for 10-12 Downing Street since 4 July 2024 and at what cost. It’s substantial…
Taxpayers are footing a £28,643.18 bill for Labour to deck its new crib with furniture. Sunak’s lot must have had terrible taste…
Downing Street says “these items were purchased for members of staff to use in the office.” Do they turn on the £3,000 hand dryer when Starmer starts talking?
For that cash you could:
- Buy 24 hospital beds for the NHS.
- Fill 398 potholes.
- Buy 28 standard issue British Army SA80 rifles.
The taxpayer may have a view on which should be prioritised. UK DOGE recommends costs are cut here…
It was confirmed today that Starmer is now abroad on holiday for “a few days.” Shtum on where…
There are no plans for pictures – Keir and co are said to have flown commercially and privately paid for travel. Labour PMs have form when it comes to delegation of powers during a holiday. Tony Blair, for example, handed powers to John Prescott in 1998 and Gordon Brown to Harriet Harman in 2009. Not so much faith in the DPM this time round…
No responsibilities have been delegated to Deputy PM Angela Rayner and normal “arrangements are in place” involving no temporary cession of responsibility to Ange. Not that she has an office or staff which could take over…
In previous cases the DPM would just work in No 10 while the boss was on a foreign beach. Keir locked the door on his way out…
What might have been regular churn looks a little like a spring clean in the Downing Street policy unit. Guido hears that Tom Webb – the No 10 policy SpAd responsible for health, science/tech and public sector issues – is also departing. Webb had been working for Labour for eight years and is well regarded. He’s departing along with infrastructure SpAd Nick Williams…
Webb, previously Director of Policy for Labour and heavily involved in writing the manifesto, also went in after the general election and is now departing as of last night. Some fingers are pointing at policy delivery and innovation director Liz Lloyd…
Some changes in the Downing Street policy unit as Starmer’s infrastructure SpAd Nick Williams departs. Williams was previously a civil servant in the Treasury before serving as Labour’s Head of Economic Policy from April 2023 and subsequently moving into No 10. He is gone now after ten months – his departure was made known last night…
The infrastructure SpAd role provides advice on housing and other projects. Guido hears Williams worked extensively on the Heathrow project and proposals in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Reeves has stacked much of Labour’s fortunes on housing in the Spring Statement all while Labour constantly insists it is charging ahead with grand projects. It strikes Guido as a good idea to have a replacement infrastructure adviser appointed pronto…
Churn goes on in government – ex-Mirror pol ed Jason Beattie is joining Liz Kendall’s adviser squad. Check Guido’s SpAd list for the latest – SpAds themselves can get in touch with their own updates…
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.”
