Every month, we’ll publish the power rankings of all the leading lights in the party based on our readers’ responses. Click here to fill in the survey, and the results will be published at the end of the month. Dan Thomas and Malcolm Offord have been added to the roster. Here’s how last month played out…
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The French government has caused an uproar by pushing forward with a ban on nicotine pouches. The British government has handed itself powers to do the same…
Sections 96(1)(a) and section 96(3) of the Tobacco and Vapes Act give the Health Secretary the power to prohibit the production, importation, and supply of any nicotine product by statutory instrument. The act came into force on Royal Assent day on 29 April. Provisions restricting the advertising or sponsorship of pouches and other nicotine products come into play in late June. It is only a ban on possession that is not covered by recently-enacted legislation…
‘Public health’ campaigners are already homing in on nicotine pouches, complaining before the legislation was enacted: “Because this is a nicotine only product and it’s not inhaled or combusted, they basically managed to loophole all of the regulation that currently exists.” The WHO is leading a protracted effort against the product with reports pushing for strong regulation: “The use of nicotine pouches is spreading rapidly, while regulation struggles to keep pace. Governments must act now with strong, evidence-based safeguards.” The ‘regulate to ban’ pipeline – which took its course over two years with regard to vapes – is now in effect with nicotine pouches…
Early studies have found the pouches “improve cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and dyskinesia and memory impairment in Parkinson’s disease.” Nicotine boosts the brain – soon to be banned in Britain…
The potemkin ‘Mission Board’ established by Labour to reduce crime hasn’t met for six months. There must be no crime to deal with…
The “Safer Streets” mission board was established ‘to oversee and drive progress’ on the ‘Safer Streets Mission.’ It, along with the other boards, was formed as a Cabinet committee and then downgraded in November 2025. The energy department hasn’t even bothered coming up with a terms of reference for its one following the downgrade…
The Home Office says the “Board has not met since it ceased to operate as a Cabinet Committee in November 2025, with alternative arrangements being in place to provide the required oversight.” Maybe Darren Jones’ new ‘delivery units’ in every department will be tasked with having a look at street crime…
Scottish First Minister John Swinney’s response when asked if Nicola Sturgeon had “fully cooperated” with the police… despite repeatedly saying “no comment” during the investigation:
“I’ve got no comment to offer about police investigations.”
Is there an echo in here?
Ben Riley-Smith has been appointed Political Editor of the Sunday Times, starting in September. Formerly the Telegraph’s Political Editor and later its Chief Political Commentator…
Riley-Smith said today:
“I’m delighted to have been made The Sunday Times’s political editor. I have long been an admirer of the paper’s fantastic, agenda-setting journalism. The Sunday Times political reporting has a reputation for being fair, incisive and revelatory. In these uncertain times in Westminster and beyond those values are needed now more than ever. I cannot wait to get stuck in.”
There were rumours in the Baby Shard that Sam Coates was the frontrunner. Looks like Sky were keen to keep him…
Paula Barker, Liverpool Wavertree MP backing Andy Burnham, told Times Radio there wouldn’t be trouble from the markets under Burnham:
“The markets will have to fall in line.”