In only the second MRP poll YouGov has done since the election Reform would only be 15 seats away from a majority in parliament. Labour’s landslide completely wiped out…
The poll of over 11,000 people is even worse for Labour than the last MRP conducted in June, in which Starmer’s party was set to return 178 MPs. Labour is now projected to lose 267 seats is got in 2024…
Under this result Labour would be unable to form a government in any coalition mix. Badenoch would also drop to only 45 MPs…
Cabinet ministers set to lose are: Bridget Phillipson, Ed Miliband, Lisa Nandy, Emma Reynolds, John Healey, Jonathan Reynolds, Nick Thomas-Symonds, Pat McFadden, Wes Streeting and Yvette Cooper. That’s a fun one on the eve of Labour Conference…
Ofgem staff are striking for an entire week. Did anyone notice?
Staff at the regulator who are signed up to the PCS union are striking from 29 September to 3 October in the London, Glasgow, and Cardiff offices. Nicely timed with Labour Conference…
PCS says it has reached an agreement on pay but progress on the other goodies it wants has “halted.” It announced extra strike action some days ago and got zero pick-up. All is not well in the energy regulator…
Steph Driver will need to be replaced. The gruelling job of running Downing Street’s day-to-day communications operation is not one to be envied…
- Sophie Nazemi: Long-serving Downing Street Press Secretary and an obvious choice of replacement. Would be a one-step-up promotion…
- David Dinsmore: Friends with Tim Allan who was inserted into Downing Street communications above Driver. The former Sun editor is set to start as “permanent secretary for communications“ shortly – could be shoved below Allan instead. Warning: May cause further wave of resignations…
- Oliver Longworth: Cut his teeth in the Labour attack team and current Chief of Staff to Morgan ally Steve Reed. Would constitute a Morganite reinforcement – probably too late…
- Tom Baldwin: Starmer’s hagiographer who fancies himself as one of the few who can communicate Starmer’s vision. Hated by over half of SW1. Two weekends ago he said says people should “stop hearing about what Morgan wants” and encouraged the PM to make his “own decisions”…
- Pippa Crerar: The official Labour stenographer could finally confirm her political tendencies in public. Alternatively: Beth Rigby…
- Damien McBride: McPoison has been getting back into comms as of late. Pull lever in case of government collapse…
- Peter Mandelson. Has been out of government and is therefore due a comeback. So long as his dog is feeling better…
Starmer has form on appointing externals too. Good luck to anyone joining the sinking ship…
Keir Starmer is set to announce government-issued digital ID cards – ‘Brit cards’ – will become mandatory for all over-18s. He is expected to unveil the legislation as soon as tomorrow. It’s being sold as a way to tackle illegal immigration…
Anyone starting a new job or renting a home will be required to present their digital ID, which is linked to a central database. The government had previously resisted the idea, but Downing Street is now so desperate to show it’s tough on immigration that it’s U-turned entirely. Macron and Blair will be pleased…
Gone from the top of Starmer’s operation in Phase 2:
- Paul Ovenden – Director of Political Strategy
- Steph Driver – Day-to-day Communications Director
- Matt Faulding – Secretary of the Parliamentary Labour Party
- Peter Mandelson – Washington Ambassador
- Tom Kibasi – general strategist
- David Pares – Starmer’s Spokesman
This is all since Starmer declared on 1 September that the new Downing Street was “confident and full of conviction about what we’re doing.” The curse of Keir…
Guido is told other staff are considering their position now. Meanwhile Morgan McSweeney continues to dominate headlines for another week in a scandal over his record at Labour Together. Something something sinking ship…
Starmer’s director of communications Steph Driver is leaving Downing Street. Yet another massive resignation from the top…
Driver worked for Starmer for five years and has decided to walk after a series of ructions has thinned the Starmerite/Morganite cadre at the top of Downing Street. Well-regarded by insiders as one of the most hard-working individuals around Starmer and relied upon by the PM at key moments…
Guido hears numerous Downing Street political staff were not content with Blairite veteran Tim Allan’s placement above Driver in the food chain as executive director of communications. Her departure is a severe blow to the Starmer operation. Guido hears other staff are now considering their positions…
Sarah Pochin at Reform Scotland’s manifesto launch event: “I really wanted to come on in a Reform tartan burka, but apparently I wasn’t allowed… One day let’s do one of these events not live-streamed. We’ll do all the naughty stuff…”
