Four obvious experienced choices – Tim Shipman (the former incumbent), Jason Groves, Harry Cole and Glen Owen – would be shoo-ins for the job: scoop-getting big beasts. All are, however, in significant roles elsewhere…
- Sam Coates: Deputy Political Editor of Sky News and podcast supremo. Formerly Deputy Political Editor at The Times, so knows his way around the Baby Shard. He makes news is a big name in SW1, liked by the higher-ups and considered a front rank candidate…
- Jessica Elgot: Deputy Political Editor at the Guardian. Been at the Guardian for 11 years in a good gig. But is she looking for a promotion?
- Alex Wickham: Currently running things at Bloomberg and known for his agenda-setting long reads, as well as very strong contact book. Feels like a natural…
- Jim Pickard: Highly experienced and a well-networked Financial Times man who could hone his energetic story-getting in the post. Would make an impact…
- Lucy Fisher: Another Financial Times bigwig who has become well-known for her reporting on defence matters as well as the lobby beat. Could that suit more dangerous times?
- Harriet Line: An intelligent Deputy Political Editor at the Daily Mail. Been at the Mail for a few years. Another hack ready for the next step?
- Gabriel Pogrund: Already the Sunday Times‘ Whitehall Editor. News UK insiders say he is the paper’s “golden boy“. A scoop hound “who produces more in a month than some colleagues do in a year“. Although Guido hears there are internal plans for him to do even more on investigations…
While Labour implodes, the Greens are busy accusing the BBC of all places of contributing to a “hostile environment” for asylum seekers. A useful reminder that things can always get worse on the left…
Following the BBC’s investigation showing asylum lawyers are advising their clients to pretend to be gay to support their claims, the Greens said:
“We are disappointed the BBC failed to put this report in context, showing the challenges those genuinely claiming asylum face.
“When they give so much prominence to the report, stretching it out over multiple days of reporting, it ceases to be in the public interest and instead serves to heighten the hostile environment facing those claiming asylum.
“Of course, applications for people seeking asylum must operate under a proper legal framework, but this report gives an entirely false impression of a system that is, in reality, stacked against people.”
For those interested in works of horror fiction, read the Greens’ immigration proposals here…
Iran’s foreign minister Seyed Abbas Aragchi on X:
“In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Rep. of Iran.”
Trump’s reaction:
“IRAN HAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THE STRAIT OF IRAN IS FULLY OPEN AND READY FOR FULL PASSAGE. THANK YOU!”
It would be the perfect embodiment of Starmerism for the PM to fly to Paris for a few pointless Zoom calls on the day the Strait is re-opened anyway. Let’s see…
Number 10 has refused to say it has confidence in the FCDO as an institution in light of the Mandelson saga. It insists not a single minister, including Starmer, Lammy, or Cooper, knew he had failed vetting. Even though David Maddox spoke to then-Comms chief Tim Allan about the story back in September…
Asked directly at the Lobby briefing of press hacks just now if the PM still had confidence in the Foreign Office, the spokesman said:
“[We] couldn’t be stronger in fact that it is both staggering and unbelievable that he was not told… it is clearly a staggering failure… and that is why he has asked for an urgent investigation.”
Asked why Mandelson was pictured wearing a green-striped DV pass despite failing, the spokesman said it was “one for the Foreign Office“. Downing Street is trying to throw the entire department under the bus to save Starmer’s skin…
Lucy Powell on LBC, asked by Tom Swarbrick for her reaction to Labour MP Samantha Niblett’s call for a ‘summer of sex’ debate in Parliament: “I personally don’t own any sex toys, but each to their own… I’m not really sure that’s the right place for it, no.”
