UPDATE: Starmer announces RAF to send four more Typhoons to Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar. The first charter flight to evacuate British citizens took off from Oman this afternoon. He also admitted he hasn’t spoken to Donald Trump since Saturday…
Starmer said online:
“I know that the situation in the Middle East is worrying for people across the UK and in the region… I’ll be giving an update on the action we continue to take to protect lives and bring British nationals back home.”
An attempt to wrest back some narrative control…
As February comes to an end No10 is shoring up plans for a reshuffle to keep Starmer in power for as long as possible. Guido reported extensively on these intentions back at the beginning of the month…
It is still early doors because Gorton & Denton and the May elections have not yet taken place. The extent of the hit Starmer takes from those will decide the outcome of whatever reshuffle efforts – or indeed lead to a Labour regicide…
After internally discussing whether to sack Wes Streeting as a one-off three weeks ago Downing Street sources say reshuffle plans include a removal of the ambitious leadership contender, a “disloyal and disruptive” minister who has to be “tackled” – a senior Labour source adds: “We need someone at Health who isn’t thinking about personal ambition.”
There is no current plan for ministerial moves prior to May or just after Gorton & Denton. If Starmer is strong enough No10 staff plan to move left in terms of appointments but avoid giving the soft left a go at the Treasury. That means retaining Reeves or replacing her with compromise candidate to satisfy left-wing bloodlust. Markets, markets, markets…
A Downing Street source said the shape of a reshuffle “depends on how febrile it is after May.” A Labour wipeout would leave Starmer with little leverage…
Much also depends on new Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo, who survived a blob-led campaign against her appointment. Downing Street now regards her as safe. As Guido has tracked across many months it is the Cabinet Office which is failing on numerous cylinders. The clock is ticking to fix that one…
Downing Street is punting all questions relating to the ludicrous investigation into the Labour Together smear scandal over to the Cabinet Office. Speaking at the Lobby briefing of political hacks this afternoon, the Number 10 spokesman refused to reveal which individuals are leading the ‘fact-finding mission’, when that ‘mission’ is expected to conclude, why the Cabinet Office is investigating the issue in the first place (given the central figure is a Cabinet Office minister), and even whether Josh Simons has recused himself from the probe. All these questions produced a near-identical response: “The Cabinet Office has more details”…
Except the Cabinet Office is also keeping shtum, even when asked to provide a few more of those “details” which Number 10 suggested it would provide. It’s a “fact-finding mission“, and… that’s it. Total cover-up…
Here we go again. Whoever gets it better not value job security…
Guido looks forward to doing this yet again in a couple of months. Candidates who miss out on the gig this time shouldn’t be too upset…
A new job advert has popped up on the government’s website as Starmer’s leadership implodes: ‘Deputy Director for the Prime Minister’s Media Strategy’. Who will want to take that on…
The role offers a cushy £81-117,800 annual salary, alongside a pension contribution of 28.9%. The (un)lucky hire will be tasked with leading “digital-first news creation” and ensure “No10 comms has the appropriate blend of digital, traditional and non-traditional media”. There’s a long list of benefits including “interest-free loans allowing you to spread the cost of an annual travel” and access to “fitness centres” to sweeten the deal. Guido’s noticed Starmer’s TikTok has been looking a little dry as of late…
Such is the furious pitch of the war between the Streeting camp and the No10 team that staff in Downing Street were last night discussing whether to sack the Health Secretary. Circular firing squad…
Streeting has been accused by No10 of co-ordinating with Anas Sarwar over the weekend to come out against Starmer. His team denies this. The Health Secretary has also released some of his (erudite and Starmer-critical) WhatsApp messages with Peter Mandelson in order to stave off claims from rival leadership teams that he was too close to the disgraced ex-ambassador. A communications flurry – ironically sharing ministerial texts with Mandelson has now been banned by Cabinet Office civil servants after Wes’ stunt…
Guido hears discussions were not raised with the PM’s level, though serious proposals were considered to remove Streeting from post, in order to make an example of him to assert Starmer’s authority after the Sarwar intervention was shot down. A No10 source says acting joint Chief of Staff Vidhya Alakeson led the overexcited planning effort against Streeting…
A Downing Street source tells Guido the situation has calmed overnight, though some expect Political Cabinet today to produce fireworks. No10 staff are furious at Streeting who is perceived as far more actively jostling for the leadership than any other would-be contender. Ed Miliband made calls this morning to “moveon.org” from the briefing and focus on entirely changing Starmer’s policy agenda. The PM’s trolley rattles on with about one wheel left…
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.”