A quarter of the Labour membership could back Jeremy Corbyn’s ‘Your Party’ at the next general election. According to new polling by Survation, 28% of the Labour membership – around 93,000 voters – are considering abandoning the party in favour of the Corbyn-Sultana show. 59% want Labour to be more left-wing…
Jeremy is loving it:
“For too long, people have been denied a real political choice. Not any more: 700,000 people have already signed up to build a real alternative to inequality, poverty and war. One based on public ownership, wealth redistribution, housing justice and peace. This is just the beginning. We are an unstoppable movement and we are never going away.”
Now the party just needs a name and an agreed leadership structure, which is apparently easier said than done. Their first conference is set for the autumn…
In the latest example of Labour’s troubles navigating the concept of online privacy Peter Kyle’s own staff have confirmed that they use a VPN. Hope they aren’t looking at any X posts from Tory MPs…
Peter Kyle previously said:
“For everybody who’s out there thinking of using VPNs, let me just say to you directly: verifying your age keeps a child safe, keeps children safe in our country. So, let’s just not try and find a way around.”
DSIT confirmed to Guido in response to an FoI request that “the department uses Zscaler, which provides a suite of secure access services including VPN functionality.” That’s part of a £2.17 million contract. The rest of you can save the children and verify your age…
Yet another briefing about the budget: “Reeves is to consider cutting the tax-free pension lump sum in a move that would be expected to raise more than £2 billion a year… Industry insiders said there was widespread speculation she will cut the maximum amount people can withdraw from their pension without paying tax.” This was not denied by the Treasury…
Here’s what Labour said about that during the election:
“The ability to withdraw 25% of your pension as tax-free lump sum is a permanent feature of the tax system and Labour are not planning to change this.“
That ties Reeves’ hands. Changes to the allowance would constitute an election lie. Expect more of this coming up to the omnishambles budget…
Guido hears from internal Tory sources that an announcement of the party’s intention to leave the ECHR is expected at Party Conference on the second week of October. No one tell James Cleverly or dozens of Tory MPs who want to stay in it…
Badenoch instructed her Shadow Attorney General Lord Wolfson to instruct her on how such a move would be completed back in June. She said at the time “we will likely leave the ECHR” though her ‘five tests’ must be passed first. The process has caused consternation among those Tories who view the position as an inevitability, especially as the leadership election was partially fought on the issue…
A position to leave the ECHR would give the party more breathing room on immigration policy and creativity on domestic legislation. Fleshed out policies are useful for presenting to the electorate…
The SNP splashed £100,790 on the luxury motorhome seized by Police Scotland from the driveway of Nicola Sturgeon’s mother-in-law. In the two years since it has languished in police custody, the vehicle has lost more than half its value according to the latest SNP accounts. It is now estimated to be worth £41,284…
The SNP nonetheless hopes for the motorhome’s safe return at some point, saying it “retains ownership of the vehicle and expects its future release”… although it “does not have current information regarding the physical condition or state of repair of the motorhome”. It’ll need more than a quick MOT…
The exact purpose of the motorhome is still an unsolved mystery up in Holyrood. Humza Yousaf (remember him?) claimed not to even know it existed until becoming First Minister. Colin Beattie, the SNP treasurer at the time it was purchased, “didn’t know” about it either. The SNP reported a deficit of £155,803 in today’s accounts. Better sell the Mystery Machine quickly before it depreciates even further…
The RMT has announced rolling strike action across the tube network and DLR beginning on Friday 5 September for seven days – different grades will take industrial action at differing times. Details:
RMT blames pay and conditions including a lack of movement on “fatigue management, shift patterns and a reduction in the working week.” Pass the sick cup…
DLR staff will strike in the same period. Tube drivers are paid about £68,000.
Starmer said to Robert Peston this afternoon:
“I’m fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down on energy businesses bills go up and down on energy because of the actions of Putin or Trump across the world.”