Rachel Reeves spent the weeks after the Winter Budget pretending it had been a success – other than the OBR car crash – and she hadn’t directly contradicted herself over the income tax threshold freeze. Nobody bought it, she continued peddling nonsense about a phantom black hole, and pub landlords across the country banned Labour MPs in response to absurd hikes to business rates. Miliband watched all this from the shadows, with cabinet ministers suspecting he’s on manoeuvres…
Nigel Farage took aim at the BBC, demanding the broadcaster apologised for its ‘appalling’ comments over historic racism allegations and threatening a total boycott in the meantime. No apology came, although the media’s coverage of the allegations did nothing to dent Reform’s lead in the polls. Who’d have guessed?
In a totally, wholly unrelated move that surely had no connection to that poll lead, Labour cancelled four May Mayoral elections set for this year and admitted it was “minded” to cancel more. Apparently the local authorities needed more time to ‘reorganise’…
Starmer hit his lowest popularity level since becoming Labour leader, with a net approval rating of -54. This will have come as a huge surprise given his rapturous reception from McLaren staff. Watch the moment again here for a reminder of how pleased they all were to see the PM the day after their great F1 victory…
Junior doctors went on strike, despite Labour’s claims they’d ‘get around the table’ and end these disputes as if by magic during the election campaign. Wes Streeting – who is supposed to be the Health Secretary when he’s not plotting his own leadership bid – said he was furious. The BBC ran an ‘on the ground’ strike report which conveniently forgot to mention every junior doctor featured within it was a BMA union official…
Calamity Lammy’s decision to scrap jury trials went down like a cup of cold sick, not least with his own ministers who had previously claimed such a policy was a “terrible idea” that “wouldn’t work“. Guido also revealed Lammy had found time to host a “Black Career Journeys” civil service talk on the day he claimed to be “outraged and appalled” at the accidental prison release of a second migrant. And during working hours obviously…
Honourable Mentions:
Starmer Supported Proposal to Prevent Thieves and Pickpockets Ever Being Jailed
EXC: Jonathan Powell Meets Foreign Minister Wang Yi In China Trip Not Revealed by UK Government
No10 Announces Major Changes to ‘Lobby’ Journalist Briefings
Headline of the Month:
Bluesky Addict Confronts Sopel Over Heartbreaking Broken Promises
Craig Beaumont, executive director of the Federation of Small Businesses:
“Business sentiment is now closer to dismay than confidence.”