The UK DOGE FoI unit fired some requests to the Cabinet Office asking what furniture had been purchased for 10-12 Downing Street since 4 July 2024 and at what cost. It’s substantial…
Taxpayers are footing a £28,643.18 bill for Labour to deck its new crib with furniture. Sunak’s lot must have had terrible taste…
Downing Street says “these items were purchased for members of staff to use in the office.” Do they turn on the £3,000 hand dryer when Starmer starts talking?
For that cash you could:
- Buy 24 hospital beds for the NHS.
- Fill 398 potholes.
- Buy 28 standard issue British Army SA80 rifles.
The taxpayer may have a view on which should be prioritised. UK DOGE recommends costs are cut here…
It was confirmed today that Starmer is now abroad on holiday for “a few days.” Shtum on where…
There are no plans for pictures – Keir and co are said to have flown commercially and privately paid for travel. Labour PMs have form when it comes to delegation of powers during a holiday. Tony Blair, for example, handed powers to John Prescott in 1998 and Gordon Brown to Harriet Harman in 2009. Not so much faith in the DPM this time round…
No responsibilities have been delegated to Deputy PM Angela Rayner and normal “arrangements are in place” involving no temporary cession of responsibility to Ange. Not that she has an office or staff which could take over…
In previous cases the DPM would just work in No 10 while the boss was on a foreign beach. Keir locked the door on his way out…
What might have been regular churn looks a little like a spring clean in the Downing Street policy unit. Guido hears that Tom Webb – the No 10 policy SpAd responsible for health, science/tech and public sector issues – is also departing. Webb had been working for Labour for eight years and is well regarded. He’s departing along with infrastructure SpAd Nick Williams…
Webb, previously Director of Policy for Labour and heavily involved in writing the manifesto, also went in after the general election and is now departing as of last night. Some fingers are pointing at policy delivery and innovation director Liz Lloyd…
Some changes in the Downing Street policy unit as Starmer’s infrastructure SpAd Nick Williams departs. Williams was previously a civil servant in the Treasury before serving as Labour’s Head of Economic Policy from April 2023 and subsequently moving into No 10. He is gone now after ten months – his departure was made known last night…
The infrastructure SpAd role provides advice on housing and other projects. Guido hears Williams worked extensively on the Heathrow project and proposals in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Reeves has stacked much of Labour’s fortunes on housing in the Spring Statement all while Labour constantly insists it is charging ahead with grand projects. It strikes Guido as a good idea to have a replacement infrastructure adviser appointed pronto…
Churn goes on in government – ex-Mirror pol ed Jason Beattie is joining Liz Kendall’s adviser squad. Check Guido’s SpAd list for the latest – SpAds themselves can get in touch with their own updates…
Co-conspirators walking past Downing Street today may have spotted something missing. There is no NATO flag on NATO day…
Under previous PMs the distinctive NATO flag, which has given hope to millions, was put up alongside the Union Flag every 4 April. What message does such a snub send to international partners in these tumultuous times?
The Ukraine flag is up of course. Guido called the Downing Street press office to ascertain what was going on. No explanation was forthcoming. No 10 just insists it is committed to the 76-year-old alliance. They’ve even sent their best man – Lammy – to the NATO conference in Brussels…
There is currently a row over Downing Street’s spin last night that its negotiating work had lowered tariffs from Trump: “We don’t want any tariffs at all, but a lower levy than others vindicates our approach.” This was lapped up last night by Lobby hacks who hailed the Starmer-Trump White House meeting as an unmitigated triumph. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp jumped on that one this morning…
When Starmer’s spokesman was asked to defend that claim at midday the line had changed: “It’s up to the US to set out the reasons behind their tariff decision…. It’s a fact the UK received the lowest rate… direct questions to the US on their calculations.” The US has an elucidation of its own…
The explanation from the White House is: “The numbers have been calculated by the Council of Economic Advisers … based on the concept that the trade deficit that we have with any given country is the sum of all trade practices, the sum of all cheating.” I.e. nothing to do with negotiations…
This is why there is no rate lower than 10%, which is the base rate. Some charm offensive…
Kemi Badenoch at the 1922-ConHome bash last night:
“I did praise [Burnham] for his stamina, it was amazing. All I had to do was sit back and lie there. I didn’t have to do anything at all…”
