Guido hears Telegraph leader writer Sam Ashworth-Hayes is joining Reform as part of its beefed-up policy team. James Orr is going on a hiring spree…
Ashworth-Hayes’ blueprint for Reform is revealed in his Telegraph columns. From last October:
“There are steps Reform can take to boost growth without irritating its base – liberalising planning in London and other cities over the heads of local councils, pursuing cheap energy among others…
Reform’s challenge is to find a way to sell benefits reforms to its base as part of a package: shielding its voters as much as possible, but where necessary cutting spending and trusting the migration and culture narratives to carry the day. It’s a hard sell, but not an impossible one.”
It’ll soon be his job to sell it…
Red Wall Labour backbencher Jonathan Brash told GB News that Starmer should resign:
“I’m completely fed up about it, and I think it’s got to the point now where I genuinely think that, as far as the Prime Minister is concerned, it’s not a case of if, it’s when.”