Guido exclusively reported in last week’s members-only Labour Wars column that there is real frustration in government levelled at Starmer’s personal SpAd/minister Darren Jones. The ‘Chief Secretary to the PM’ is derided as smug and ineffective – a Downing Street source reports he is “actively harming the business of government”…
Talk around Whitehall is that the chaotic Cabinet Office – now overseen by Jones – is worse than ever. About 80% of government matters that don’t fit neatly into a department is handled by the CO…
Guido hears Whitehall’s chief fixer Louise Casey is intensely frustrated at the situation. Insider sources say the top personnel are to blame: Darren Jones, Permanent Secretary Catherine Little, Second Permanent Secretary Clara Swinson, and Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald. Wormald in particular has been at the end of a barrage of criticism…
Senior government sources bemoan Wormald’s continued presence in the job as well as the departures of ex-Deputy National Security Adviser Jonathan Black, and ex-Propriety and Constitution Director Darren Tierney, who left last year. Starmer – now gallivanting in China – has so far done nothing…
A Downing Street source tells Guido that Starmer is sleepwalking on the issue because “the foreign policy element works” while the department’s domestic functions get even worse. Things are coming to a head for Wormald – his obvious replacements Home Office permanent secretary Antonia Romeo or the FCDO’s Olly Robbins are circling…
The Casey Audit – delayed by Downing Street and scheduled for after PMQs on Wednesday until Guido set hares running last Friday – is published in full alongside Yvette Cooper’s statement. Read it below:
Labour promised that the Casey rape gangs review would be completed and published by the end of May. It curiously did not appear. Jess Phillips said sorry for the delay two weeks ago…
As Guido revealed yesterday it is due to be published next week. Heated discussions over timing and leaks have pushed forward the publication from Wednesday afternoon to Monday. The report is due to recommend a statutory national inquiry into rape gangs. Keir Starmer will not be in the country…
Starmer is set to miss PMQs on Wednesday. There is a G7 Leaders summit in Alberta, Canada with events from 15 to 17 June. Ending on Tuesday…
For Starmer to skip town for the first time in weeks as Labour publishes an explosive rape gangs review which it held is a stitch-up. He should return early and face scrutiny…
The G7 events are over on Tuesday anyway. Why is Starmer sticking around just long enough to skip PMQs…
Since Guido earlier revealed that Baroness Casey’s rape gangs audit was scheduled for Wednesday there has been a flurry of activity in SW1. The publication date of the review is being hotly debated…
Guido hears the review’s publication is now penned in for Monday. Sources say there are concerns over leaks…
This would force Starmer to face questions at Wednesday’s PMQs on it. A choice for Labour there…
Guido also hears the review will be punchy. There are concerns in Downing Street over potential unrest…
The Casey review into rape gangs is expected to drop next week. After Labour broke its pledge to publish the review in May – it was initially supposed to come out in August – safeguarding minister Jess Phillips apologised and said Casey had requested a “short extension.“ It is now all but finished…
The National Audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse has four aims in its terms of reference:
Sources say the plan as it currently stands is to publish the review on Wednesday after PMQs. The publication date was moved from Tuesday. This suggests Downing Street is concerned about its contents and doesn’t want to be asked about it at Prime Minister’s Questions…
For Labour to dodge questions in this manner would be irregular. The review should be presented to Parliament before Wednesday afternoon…
Speaking to Sky News off the back of Rachel Reeves’ Air Passenger Duty hike, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“Labour is dependent on those Red Wall seats, and yet every move she makes poisons economic growth and damages the UK’s recovery… it’s the Chancellor who stumbles from policy misstep to policy misstep… I think her policy decisions are incredibly stupid.”