An entirely unnoticed leadership-pitch style fluff piece for Starmer’s Chief Secretary Darren Jones dropped in the public affairs magazine Mace late last month. It includes a questionnaire section which one government source describes as ‘eye-gougingly embarrassing’…
What was the catalyst for you deciding to enter politics? Did you get a lucky break? “The catalysts were my experiences growing up and the difference a Labour government made to my life. My lucky break was winning my marginal constituency on the second attempt due to being a Remainer.”
Which domestic issues most concern you? “Modernising the state and tackling climate change, and getting the economy back on track.” How are those going…
Which foreign affairs issues are of most importance to you? “Climate diplomacy and Nato.” Right…
What book or poem has influenced your career, and what do you think your choice reveals about your personality? “The Unfinished Revolution by Philip Gould – which exposes my New Labour approach!” Christ…
Which historical figures, political or otherwise, do you take inspiration from? “Ernest Bevin, an unsung Labour giant.” Unsung?
Is there a song or piece of music you often return to – and does this reflect your political journey in any way? “D:Ream’s ‘Things Can Only Get Better'”. That takes the biscuit…
What political lessons have you learned since being elected? “As in any job: work hard, help others and be nice to people.”
The rest of the piece includes such lines as: “He is a smart and respected Commons debater, having honed his verbal skills as president of the University of Plymouth student union.” Cue some confusion from Labour sources, who recall Jones becoming suddenly ‘too ill’ to front the Mandelson Humble Address debate in the Commons before miraculously recovering for work the next day…
Rayner’s Employment Rights Act could force Football Clubs to cut player salaries in the name of gender equality. The latest in a long list of stupidities to come out of the legislation…
The act imposes a new duty on firms with over 250 employees to publish an “equality action plan” which includes “addressing the gender pay gap” as well as zanier requirements like “supporting employees going through the menopause.” Annual pay gap reporting has been mandatory for companies with over 250 employees since 2017. Forcing firms to commit to taking ‘action’ on it may be difficult for clubs like Starmer’s favourite Arsenal – whose mean pay gap is 73.2%…
Under the act football clubs would have to explain what they will do to resolve this. Obviously it makes no sense – firms will simply be forced to produce extra paperwork every year with no productive value…
Labour is currently working out whether to give unions massive access to businesses with 21 employees or more. Hardly a prelude to growth…
Guido is launching the definitive league table of Reform politicians. Every month, we’ll publish the power rankings of all the leading lights in the party based on our readers’ responses. Who’s up, who’s down…
Click here to fill in the survey. We’re offering £10 off your Guido membership once you complete it. If you’re not a Guido member yet, that’s a whole month as a Co-Conspirator for free. So click that link now, rank the key players, and get tomorrow’s news, today…
Yesterday along with the replacements for Digital ID minister Josh Simons and health minister Ashley Dalton, Baroness Ruth Anderson was appointed Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office, while remaining a Lords whip.
Anderson – then Smeeth – described herself on her old candidates website:
“I am a former trade union officer and activist, a lifelong Labour Party campaigner (I started leafleting for the party when I was eight!) and I’m currently the Deputy Director of HOPE not hate, the anti-extremism and anti-racism campaign.”
When Labour went into government Hope Not Hate’s links inside were substantial. Anna Turley was both a director and a member of its board of trustees. Sarah Owen, Gurinder Singh Josan and Antonia Bance were all involved with Hope Not Hate…
Hope Not Hate has contributed to internal Labour efforts against Reform and is peddling questionable research today which says “most Reform members believe non-white UK citizens born abroad should be forced or encouraged to leave.” Now the Cabinet Office gets a taste of the action…
New statistics released in Italy now show that unemployment is now higher in Britain:
The OBR forecast yesterday that unemployment will rise to 5.33% before falling. Thank you Rachel Reeves…
Starmer in PMQs today: “American planes are operating out of British bases. That is the special relationship in action… hanging on to Trump’s latest words is not the special relationship in action.”