Breaking news from the corridors of Westminster: the power’s out in the journalists’ offices in Parliament, and with it, the hacks’ ability to sit around in their usual haunts, drink coffee, check X and of course, find big scoops. The plugs have failed, the computers are dead. MailOnline cannot be browsed. Off to Old Queen Street Cafe they go…
As Guido predicted yesterday the pundits have poured as much praise as they can get away with on the disastrous implosion of Starmer’s Downing Street 93 days into government. Got to keep those new sources sweet…
Remember when Gray was the person be be cosied up to? Profiles flattered where they could: “One Labour figure said Gray had been a good listener“, “She’s pretty ruthless at timekeeping.” Now it’s Starmer and McSweeney’s turn to have the spinning done for them…
Lobby journalists pretend to be shocked by Starmer’s “ruthlessness” in getting rid of Gray. Guido doesn’t recall them spinning Cummings’ departure as Boris “bolstering his No 10 operation”…
Last night, the usual suspects in the Lobby assembled at the Speaker’s House for the bi-annual Press Gallery drinks—an affair once known for its fizz and flair, hosted by Speaker Lindsay Hoyle. Though this time was a far more humble gathering compared to last…
The Winter Press Reception saw champagne on ice and a selection of cocktails from French 75s to spritzers flowing freely. Instead, hacks had to make do with the modest trio of Prosecco, beer, or cranberry juice. Hoyle himself made light of the downgrade in his address to the Lobby, blaming “whoever did that FOI” that revealed the Speaker ‘s office splashed £3,533 on food and booze for the last one. Unsurprisingly, tightening of the purse strings left the room notably emptier than before. As one hack put it: ‘life under Labour’…
Tom Baldwin, author of Starmer’s hagiography, spoke to Times Radio:
Tom Baldwin: “I think he’d like to do something. He’s very dutiful and driven by service. That’s why he came into politics. I think that’s characterised his time as prime minister. He hasn’t always sought popularity or been good at being popular. But I think he has some of the necessary qualities that we actually do want in a prime minister. That resilience, that relentlessness, that ability to carry the weight and the job really does weigh very heavily on people and he carries that weight very, very well.”
Jo Coburn: “NATO Secretary-General?”
Tom Baldwin: “I think that’s something that he would be interested in. I think it probably requires Andy Burnham’s government to support him in that and these are some of the questions which Andy Burnham has to resolve quite quickly.”
