Nadhim Zahawi, usually rather adept at his media performances, came under short shrift from Nick Robinson this morning as he was forced into talking about the government’s soon-to-be-announced social care reform, before knowing the details. Robinson rightly pointed out the interview was a waste of time if all the minister could do was tell listeners to wait and see what was going to be announced, threatening to cut the interview short. Zahawi dodged the threat, managing to get through another few minutes of questions…

The BBC’s Director of News and Current Affairs, Fran Unsworth, is leaving the corporation at the beginning of next year. Fran Unsworth says: “After more than 40 years with the BBC, I have decided that the time is right for me to hand on the job of leading the world’s best news organisation.” Guido’s sense is that she did try to hold the line on BBC impartiality against internal forces pushing their agendas. Which means one of the most critical jobs in setting the tone of the BBC is up for grabs.

Appointed in 2018, one of her main tasks was to oversee a major restructuring intended to focus on pooling resources into “multi-skilled story teams”, instead of the usual BBC farce of sending multiple news crews to the same event to cover it for different programmes. It was always bonkers that individual programmes have their own economics, science, and tech presenters when they are only occasionally used. Don’t get Guido started on the BBC jamborees that are Glastonbury and a US presidential election. It will be interesting to see, after 3 years, how big the BBC presence is at the party conferences next month. The BBC contingent has in the past been so bloated that it matched in size the rest of the entire media…

As Boris prepares to outline his plans to whack up National Insurance later today (in what’s now being spun as a ‘health and social care levy‘), vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi made the media round this morning to try and justify the move in the face of the inevitable backlash from the media, the public, and his own party. Not the easiest start to his Tuesday, Guido’s sure.

Speaking to Sky News’ Kay Burley, Zahawi hesitated over the effectiveness of the manifesto-breaking plans, saying:

“I think you have to at least have a really good go at making sure you fix the problem… it would be presumptuous and I think completely arrogant to say ‘of course, Kay, it will fix the problem‘… the right thing to do is to deliver the reform of social care, and the investment of social care. You’ve got to make sure that is operationalised… I think, actually, when you see the details of what the Prime Minister will set you, you’ll see that this is a Prime Minister who’s serious about fixing the problem…”

Asked later on the Today Programme whether he or even most of the Cabinet had actually seen the plan, Zahawi simply said “let the Prime Minister stand up at the despatch box and announce it“. Guido understands that in the Cabinet only the chancellor, health secretary and PM have seen the plan. Nadhim can look forward to hearing the details along with the rest of us at midday today…

Hancock’s attempted return back to the Tory fold isn’t going as smoothly as he may have liked. Back in recess he made his first appearance on the Commons’ backbenches, though didn’t make a speech as he instead attempted to schmooze colleagues in the tea room. At least one of his colleagues told Guido they found it pretty uncomfortable…

Last week, he made headlines after announcing his participation in a sponsored run for a local hospice, only to see plenty of online trolls pay money just to throw abuse at him in the donation comments section.

Matt clearly didn’t see the funny side to this; while he can’t stop the trolling entirely, he’s forced all donations to now come from ‘anonymous’. Meaning jokers can no longer pose as his mum or Gina Coladangelo.

His luck isn’t set to improve this week either. On Thursday he’s to be a Tory association’s guest of honour for the first time since The Sun turned him into a persona non grata. Tory members in Chipping Barnet will be the first to enjoy his company at venue. Guido hears the room can cater for up to 350 bodies. The number of ticket sales so far? Around 70…

Putin’s Kremlin-bots are launching an assault on UK media outlets’ comment sections in attempts to shift public opinion, according to a new report by the University of Cardiff. 32 prominent news websites across 16 countries – including the Mail Online, The Express and The Times – have been flooded with pro-Russian state propaganda in desperate attempts to manipulate public opinion. Not the most effective place to start…

While the university’s report was unable to say definitively who was behind the posts, it claimed the actions were “indicative of a Russian state operation”, and although they didn’t put a figure on the total number of comments, it found evidence of the alleged influence operation in 242 articles published between February and mid-April. Incredibly, many of the pro-Putin comments were then picked up by a Russian state-linked website to claim Western support of their dear leader…

A packed chamber this afternoon for the Commons’ first session post-recess, once again to debate Afghanistan. A feisty Sir Keir came out fighting:

“Even if they could identify who they had left behind, the Government does not have a plan to get anybody out.”

“We have a Prime Minister incapable of international leadership just when we needed it most.”

Boris’s chosen push-back focused on Starmer’s previous no-shows at Afghanistan debates:

“As far as I can remember, he didn’t even bother to turn up to the first of the three statements I’ve given on Afghanistan in this house, Mr. Speaker, this year … such were his instincts and such was his understanding of this issue!’

Dominic Raab sat silently by his side…