Starmer has sacked his PPS Nin Pandit. Briefed to the BBC this morning…
After joining in November 2024 post-Sue Gray she is “expected to be given another role in government” and the BBC is told she “retains his confidence.” There will be some sighs of relief among political appointees in government…
As co-conspirators will have read on these pixels Pandit has been on the receiving end of criticism for being “hopeless,” abrasive, and ineffective in government. Which the BBC has been told by Downing Street now…
The finger was also pointed at Pandit for blocking the launch of Rayner’s ODPM. Starmer’s slow-moving personnel circus marches on…
Tom Baldwin, author of Starmer’s hagiography, spoke to Times Radio:
Tom Baldwin: “I think he’d like to do something. He’s very dutiful and driven by service. That’s why he came into politics. I think that’s characterised his time as prime minister. He hasn’t always sought popularity or been good at being popular. But I think he has some of the necessary qualities that we actually do want in a prime minister. That resilience, that relentlessness, that ability to carry the weight and the job really does weigh very heavily on people and he carries that weight very, very well.”
Jo Coburn: “NATO Secretary-General?”
Tom Baldwin: “I think that’s something that he would be interested in. I think it probably requires Andy Burnham’s government to support him in that and these are some of the questions which Andy Burnham has to resolve quite quickly.”