Labour have been hanging out with some interesting people recently. At the Labour Asians Society fundraising dinner on Thursday, the convicted fraudster and former businessman Mazhar Hayat Raja turned up to show his support, posing with the host and Labour MP Seema Malhotra on X. Other Labour MPs who attended included Wes Streeting, Ruth Cadbury and Virendra Sharma. To be fair, Labour are trying to cosy up to businessmen…

Amazing houseful fundraising dinner by @SeemaMalhotra1 & #hounslowlabour attended by @wesstreeting @Shansview @RuthCadbury @VirendraSharma @LeonieC @Cllrsamiach @SalmanShaheen @UKLabour @LBofHounslow @labourpress @LabourList @labtowin pic.twitter.com/yusDh6su15

— Labour Asians Society (@Labouras2024) February 2, 2024

Former businessman Raja was convicted in 2008 for a £2.5 million tax scam, pocketing tax and National Insurance and serving a six year sentence in jail. He was set to be released early if he repaid £1.7 million, though chose to do the full time in the clink instead. Perhaps to use the funds to donate to the party?

Labour has published a report today on business relations called “A New Partnership” in the run up to its mega-corporate schmooze event on Thursday. Along with the usual waffle on “ending the political spin cycle” the report concludes:

“Business hates uncertainty. The Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds MP and the Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves MP, have prioritised “clarity”, “certainty”, “transparency”, and “stability” in Labour’s relationship with business. This is very welcome“.

Businesses do hate uncertainty. Guido wonders what they’ll make of the Labour Party’s clarity on its flagship spending policy to reach its “2030 Clean Power Promise“, that last June Starmer said he was “doubling down” on Labour’s £28 billion spending spree. The so-called clarity in just this month is comical:

• 9^th February 2023 – Labour says: “We will invest £28 billion per year to tackle the climate emergency through our green prosperity plan“.
• 19^th June 2023 – Starmer says he is “doubling down” on Labour’s £28 billion spending spree.
• 7^th January 2024 – Starmer says the country “needs” investment and Labour will “put in” £28 billion to reach their clean power by 2030 target.
• 19^th January – The Sun reports that Keir Starmer is “ditching” his £28 billion-a-year spending spree, according to “Labour insiders“.
• 19^th January – Hours later, a Labour source dismissed the claims as “complete nonsense“.
• 20^th January – Sadiq Khan says Labour will only “hopefully” reach £28 billion but that “depends how quickly we can grow the economy“.
• 20^th January, David Lammy says Labour “remain committed” to the £28 billion-a-year spending spree but can’t say how it would be funded.
• 21^st January- Stephen Kinnock says Labour are “committed to ramping up to £28 billion in the second half of the first term of a Labour government“.
• 28^th January – Starmer refuses to commit to £28 billion in interview with the Daily Mail.
• 28^th January – Ed Miliband lays out spending commitments that make up the £28 billion figure and pledges to them.
• 28^th January – The Times reported that Labour’s £28 billion figure will be cut back and may not even make it into Labour’s manifesto.
• 28^th January – Jonathan Reynolds says Labour will spend £28 billion every year, then says it’s only an ambition.
• 28^th January – Chris Bryant says Labour’s £28 billion of spending “needs” to survive to pay for Labour’s energy plans.
• 28^th January – Lord Kinnock says “It might now be 26, it might be 20“.
• Yesterday – the CBI refers to Labour’s £28 billion spending spree as “core” to Labour’s “economic strategy“.
• Last night – Peston reports Labour will ditch their £28 billion spending spree.
• Last night – Rachel Reeves refused to commit to Labour’s £28 billion spending spree, or outline how it would be funded.

Labour continues to talk about specific green spending commitments that form part of the £28 billion – they can’t have it both ways. Nevertheless Guido reckons they will officially abandon the £28 billion figure in the next few months, whilst still sticking with the individual spending pledges.

The Rochdale Constituency Labour Party have chosen the leader of Lancashire County Council Labour group to fight the Rochdale by-election sparked by the death of sitting MP Sir Tony Lloyd. Councillor Azhar Ali had been named on a shortlist of three to succeed Sir Tony who died on January 17 aged 73, alongside Rochdale-born Paul Waugh, chief political commentator for the i newspaper, and Wigan councillor Nazia Rehman. Waugh was hotly tipped by LOTO aides for the seat and was perceived as the preferred candidate of Starmer…

The risk for Waugh was that if he didn’t win, his renewed membership of the Labour Party would leave him open to the charge of “client journalist” if he returns to his day job at the i. His presenting job on Radio 4’s “The Week in Westminster” is surely now untenable. No doubt there will be speculation in the coming days that he could instead of returning to journalism instead go on to take an election year party position spinning for Starmer with the hope of perhaps a future government communications role. He did say yesterday that “For me, it’s time to stop being a spectator and start being a player…”

Now the other parties have to select their candidates as Labour is expected to call the writ for the safe seat soon soon. The banter outcome would be for Sebastian Payne to finally get selected as a candidate…

Labour’s shadow departments are finishing up sending the policies they want on the manifesto to HQ before the 8^th of February deadline. Guido hears Starmer’s unofficial policy chieftain Jon Ashworth is working with Labour HQ’s policy heads to draft up a new pledge card – itself the brainchild of campaign manager Morgan McSweeney – to hand out on the doorstep. It will look similar to Blair’s famous 1997 card with five policies to sell the party. Guido has drafted one in case Jon needs any ideas…

Guido wonders what the shadow cabinet will make of the policies when they see them – he hears they won’t be signing off on the card and will have to defend the pledges come what may. In the meantime they can play the game: “Guess What My Party’s Policies Are”…

Last night’s Labour fundraiser in Stockport, starring Deputy Leader Angela Rayner as the keynote speaker, was kiboshed by some Pro-Palestinian protesters who posed as members of the audience. The protestors shouted she was “no feminist” for allowing female Gazan civilians to die and not call for a ceasefire in Gaza, followed by angry cries of “shame on you Angela!” Rayner seemed to take it rather well, her response being to profusely repeat “thank you“. Labour is ripping itself apart over Palestine, but the government’s mess is distracting the lobby…

Labour sources are adamant that Paul Waugh will be on the shortlist for the plum safe seat of Rochdale. Following the death of Tony Lloyd the seat has become available, the i newspaper journalist, who was born and bred in Rochdale, is according to Michael Crick in the running and is said to have the backing of Starmer. Waugh is a lifelong Rochdale Football Club supporter who grew up in the shadow of the ground, the veteran Lobby hack has never hidden his Labour sympathies. Rather unsportingly he is not commenting to journalists or tweeting about the selection.

According to the latest forecast from Polling Report, Labour will romp home in the seat:

Nominations close tonight and the nominations shortlist will be revealed tomorrow and the Constituency Labour Party will apparently vote on Saturday. Labour are expected to move the writ soon after. Good luck Paul…