Apps, activists and an ‘air war’: Essex campaign is test of Reform UK’s professionalisation - @benquinn75.bsky.social writes www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

NEW: Cabinet ministers have told mutinous Labour MPs any attempt to oust Keir Starmer after elections would unleash chaos for party not easily overcome. But several said that even with PM’s determination to stay in No 10, backbench mood was febrile and events could yet spiral out of control.

NEW: Labour MPs are calling for end to “endless drama” of leadership speculation, with some warning that repeated briefings about toppling Keir Starmer are putting off voters, @peterwalker99.bsky.social reports.

Lucy Powell warns there's “no magic bullet” to solve Labour’s problems as MPs grapple with how to navigate election fallout. She declines to say if Keir Starmer is right person to lead party. “I’m not going to get into that." By @jessicaelgot.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Tension and dissent: inside the Green party’s antisemitism struggle - thoughtful read by @benquinn75.bsky.social & @peterwalker99.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

EXCL: Reform UK’s leading figures have repeatedly promoted new pothole-fixing machine by construction company JCB, while party received £200,000 from British digger maker @rowenamason.bsky.social reveals www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

🚨 What will next week’s local and devolved elections bring? For our latest #PoliticsWeekly podcast I speak to elections expert @robfordmancs.bsky.social about what it all means 👇 www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

EXCL: Andy Burnham has credible plan to return to Westminster “within weeks” with mayor expected to use byelection fight to set out new agenda for govt, allies say. Burnham, blocked by NEC from running in Gorton & Denton, has identified seats where MPs are prepared to step aside.

🚨 What will next week’s local and devolved elections bring? For our latest #PoliticsWeekly podcast I speak to elections expert @robfordmancs.bsky.social about what it all means 👇 www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

BREAKING: UK increases threat level from substantial to severe following Golders Green terror attack, meaning an attack is highly likely in next six months.

Important from Met Police commissioner Mark Rowley 👇

EXCL: Nigel Farage was given an undisclosed £5m by crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne shortly before announcing he would stand in general election @annaisaac.bsky.social reveals www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Wednesday’s @theguardian.com front page: Charles hails alliance of US and Britain in age of division www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

NEW: Oppo motion on referring Keir Starmer to privileges committee is defeated by 335 votes to 223, majority 112. 15 Labour MPs rebelled & - more worryingly for party chiefs - 53 didn't vote. (Some of these will have been absent for govt business or slipped by whips, rather than abstentions).

Woops. Even if this was a private event - and he was speaking the truth - it doesn’t feel very… diplomatic

'Seismic change’: how election wins for nationalists in Celtic nations could reshape UK - this is a fascinating read on the constitutional challenges that lie ahead - by @severincarrell.bsky.social & Bethan McKernan www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

It looks like attempts to shore up Keir Starmer ahead of privileges vote - with ring round, big beasts rolled out & PM at PLP - have worked. Most Labour MPs convinced that May elections & Iran conflict, mean not time to succumb to Tory political stunt. Whips imposed three line whip just in case.

Tuesday’s @theguardian.com front page: PM pleads for unity among Labour MPs over critical Mandelson vote theguardian.com/politics/2026/…

EXCL: Rachel Reeves is considering imposing one-year rent freeze on private sector homes amid growing alarm in government about impact of Iran war on voters’ budgets. Big story from @kiranstacey www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

NEW: Keir Starmer urges PLP to "stick together and fight together" as ministers launch massive operation to shore up his position ahead of vote tomorrow. The PM appears to confirm that Labour MPs will be whipped to vote against Tory motion to refer him to privileges committee over Mandelson row.

🚨Another nightmare week for Keir Starmer? On latest #PoliticsWeekly @kiranstacey.bsky.social & I discuss how... 🌹Labour MPs & ministers feel Mandelson affair has flicked the switch on PM's future 👑Andy Burnham emerging as favourite successor: but has timing considerations(and no seat!)

NEW: No 10 publishes letter that Chris Wormald, then cabinet secretary, sent to Keir Starmer in Sept about Mandelson appointment process. “The evidence I have reviewed leads me to conclude that appropriate processes were followed in both the appointment and withdrawal of the former HMA Washington.

EXCL: Police are assessing evidence about donations to Robert Jenrick’s campaign to become Tory leader in 2024 after a referral from the elections watchdog. Cracking reporting from @rowenamason.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

EXCL: Keir Starmer will face vote on whether to launch investigation into claims he misled the Commons over his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador. Sources tell us that Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, expected to allow debate on Tuesday on referring PM to privileges committee.

“The focus groups I have seen are like actual gold dust. People say things like ‘he cares about people like us’. Do you know how rare it is to see that about a politician?“ Our read, on the consensus forming around Andy Burnham. With @kiranstacey.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

EXC: Several cabinet ministers spoke out at cabinet yesterday about the decision to sack Olly Robbins, the Guardian has been told. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

EXCL: Morgan McSweeney, Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff, has been summoned before the foreign affairs select committee. McSweeney to appear next Tuesday to respond to allegations that No 10 put huge pressure on officials to approve Mandelson’s appointment. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

ANALYSIS: As the PM’s fate lay in doubt, Labour MPs plotted the party’s future direction - @jessicaelgot.bsky.social @alethaadu.bsky.social (One thing all the chatter about Labour leadership misses is what any potential successor would actually *do* on policy) www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Wednesday’s @theguardian.com front page: Robbins accuses No 10 of applying huge pressure over Mandelson job www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

🔥Oliver Robbins reveals that No 10 tried to get Matthew Doyle, Keir Starmer's former aide, a posting as an ambo in March 25. He was under "strict instruction" not to discuss with then foreign sec. Lord Doyle, awarded peerage by Starmer, was suspended after he publicly supported a sex offender.

Extraordinary testimony from Olly Robbins to foreign affairs committee: - he was subject to “constant pressure” from No 10 when at foreign office to get Peter Mandelson in post asap. - fcdo was urged to allow Mandelson’s appointment as ambo *without* usual vetting process - but dept pushed back

‘It’s soul-destroying’: struggle to house vulnerable children can leave breaking law as only option - such important reporting from @lexytopping.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Tuesday’s @theguardian.com front page: Starmer on collision course with Robbins over Mandelson vetting www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

EXCL: Intelligence & Security Committee has now been handed the vetting information the cabinet office received several weeks ago. Understand this includes short summary doc including details of Mandelson’s personal life, financial & business dealings - which PM is now believed to have seen.

🚨 Judgement day for Keir Starmer? The PM has updated the Commons on what he knew, and when, on Peter Mandelson’s vetting. Was it enough to convince his party and the public he should not resign? @kiranstacey & I chew it over on latest #PoliticsWeekly podcast… www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

🚨 Judgement day for Keir Starmer? The PM has updated the Commons on what he knew, and when, on Peter Mandelson’s vetting. Was it enough to convince his party and the public he should not resign? @kiranstacey & I chew it over on latest #PoliticsWeekly podcast www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

Labour whips’ “lines to to take” sent to MPs for Keir Starmer’s statement. Already getting messages from Labour MPs stunned that Epstein abuse victim is being used to attack Peter Mandelson.

NEW: Simon Case, the former cabinet secretary, advised Keir Starmer to do Mandelson’s security vetting *before* his appointment as UK ambo to US. Docs were buried in those released for humble address - but there doesn’t appear to have been a response.

My dog is the one on the left 😬. Time to call the groomer!

NEW: Downing Street is attempting to demolish the argument from Olly Robbins’ allies that he was prevented by law from telling ministers that Mandelson had failed vetting, ahead of key Commons statement on Monday.

NEW: Richard Tice failed to pay almost £100,000 in corporation tax, benefiting his investment company which made large donations to Reform UK. First time Reform's deputy leader's tax affairs can be directly linked to finances of Nigel Farage's party.

EXCL: Keir Starmer would have blocked Peter Mandelson from serving as UK ambassador had he known he failed security vetting, David Lammy tells me. Deputy PM also says: - it was “inexplicable” that Oliver Robbins opted to leave Downing Street in dark over outcome.

"David Lammy, the deputy prime minister, was on a military flight back from the Middle East when he was summoned to the cockpit by the captain who told him that No 10 needed to speak to him urgently over the radio." Our piece on how Mandelson vetting row unfolded www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

ANALYSIS: ‘Almost like a Bond villain’: why Labour MPs expect Starmer to cling on as PM - by @peterwalker99.bsky.social & co www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Quite a lot of confusion over this, so this is an important explainer: What happens during security vetting and why did Peter Mandelson fail his? 👇 www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Saturday’s @theguardian.com front page: Starmer warned he faces ‘judgement day’ next week theguardian.com/politics/2026/…

NEW: Keir Starmer says it's "staggering" and "unforgiveable" that he wasn't told Peter Mandelson failed security vetting - and that he's "absolutely furious" about it. He'll address MPs on Monday.

NEW: Yvette Cooper only became aware that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting when approached by Guardian on Thursday, I’m told. Foreign sec then spent evening in FCDO and Downing Street with the PM where she spoke to Sir Olly Robbins. They concluded he could no longer continue in post.

Friday’s @theguardian.com front page: Starmer in peril as top official ousted over Mandelson row

BREAKING: Top foreign office civil servant Sir Olly Robbins is leaving his post. Understand that Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper have lost confidence in him after he failed to tell PM & No 10 that Peter Mandelson failed security vetting.