After ignoring its own Deputy Leader since the day she cruised to victory, Labour has finally admitted Lucy Powell exists with a 30-second video shared on X and Facebook. Not Instagram yet, for some reason…
Guido pointed out Powell’s absence from Labour’s online portals on Friday. She is still virtually invisible on the party website, and until now had not appeared on Labour social media channels since October. Guido is happy to help out. Powell is hosting a “Lucy Listens” online event for members tonight. The top comment on Facebook is currently “Congratulations and Good luck on the new Liebour comedy podcast”…
Back in September, Labour announced its new ‘Defence Office for Small Business Growth’ to “back British industry” and, as defence minister Luke Pollard insisted, to “fulfil another manifesto commitment by publishing our plan to strengthen our security”. It won’t even have an actual office…
Pollard managed a heroic attempt at spinning the fact that the defence ‘office’ will operate without so much as a front door:
“The Defence Office for Small Business Growth will reflect modern ways of working and will not be restricted by a physical location. Using a networked approach, support will be offered across the country and effective digital tools will enable small businesses to connect with the Office regardless of location. This approach removes a significant barrier to entry for smaller businesses.”
Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge said:
“It is extraordinary that Labour have announced a Defence Office for Small Business Growth that doesn’t have an office. How are Defence companies meant to visit this organisation and engage with the MOD? Last week, the Defence Select Committee slammed the Government’s ‘glacial’ approach to defence readiness, this exposes Labour’s lack of seriousness about standing up to the threats we face.”
Labour also hasn’t bothered to cost how much this ‘office’ will actually require to run. It’s meant to launch in January as an internal body in the MoD. Quite how they manage that without a base might be an uphill battle…
Andy Burnham has joined the Labour revolt against Shabana Mahmood’s immigration plans. Hitting out at the idea refugees should wait 20 years for permanent residency, he told the Today Programme:
“I do have a concern about leaving people without the ability to settle…And it also may leave people in a sense of limbo and unable to integrate…What I would say is, it’s really important, on the back of the measures that she’s announced, that there is a considered debate.”
He then went on to promote his record on “leadership on growth” as Greater Manchester Mayor and what he thinks he could bring to Westminster, adding:
“I’m providing leadership on growth, which is what I think the country needs and is helpful to the Government right now, and we’re doing this in advance of the Budget. I hope to really bring to life the growth story for the Government… I think part of the country’s problem is the political culture of Westminster, which is playing out in front of us right now. In Greater Manchester, we’ve built a new economy and a new way of doing politics and more of that is what the country needs.”
The King of the North also thanked Labour MP Clive Lewis for his “support” after Lewis suggested he’d give up his seat for him – an offer he later backtracked on. As Guido has noted before, Labour’s National Executive Committee remains determined to block Burnham’s early return to Westminster. He’s not the only one Starmer’s trying to fend off…
Around conference season, in the dead of night, Labour quietly removed links to their deceased manifesto from the top of their website. It was replaced with the superfluous ‘Plan for Change’, and all links were shunted to the footer of the site where, presumably, they hope no one will bother to scroll down far enough to find. Spot the difference below…
In fairness, Darren Jones did warn us at the time. The signs were always there…
Veterans minister Louise Sandher-Jones has repeatedly refused to rule out former members of the IRA sitting on Labour’s proposed Northern Ireland Legacy Commission. Alongside veterans and victims…
Pressed on Times Radio multiple times this morning, the minister couldn’t give a straight answer:
“What’s important is that veterans and victims on are that. we have to move forward and we have to make progress. And what this is about is bringing communities together.”
Meanwhile Starmer has agreed to deliver the Irish Government the “fullest possible co-operation with UK investigations and investigate all unresolved Troubles related incidents in Northern Ireland”. Alarm bells ringing among veterans…
UPDATE: Shadow Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois said:
“It is hypocritical of Labour to announce a so-called ‘Veterans Strategy’ on the same day we learn they are prepared to allow former IRA members to serve on a Legacy oversight body. What a slap in the face for our brave Northern Ireland Veterans, who will be exposed to renewed lawfare because of Labour’s repeal of our Legacy Act, damaging morale across our Armed Forces, both past and present.”
‘Safeguarding’ minister Jess Phillips has missed her already-delayed deadline to publish Labour’s vaunted violence against women and girls strategy. She now says there is no timeline for when it will actually happen…
Back in May, Phillips vowed to deliver it “before the summer recess.” Guido revealed Labour had then delayed the publication date to September. That’s come and gone…
In a written answer this week, Phillips admitted:
“We’re working towards publication of the Strategy as soon as possible and I will continue to keep the House updated on its development and forthcoming publication.”
All this while rape gang survivors demand her resignation. How long can she last…
Speaking at his speech on how to achieve “progressive capitalism” Wes Streeting fired a dig and Andy Burnham:
“Bond markets are not bond villains and fiscal rules matter.”
