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…
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.”