Keir Starmer under pressure from cabinet and Macron to recognise Palestine sooner. Streeting, Nandy, Benn and Mahmood urging in recent weeks. Govt hasn't decided yet whether to join France in recognising Palestine in Sept. w/ @ellenmilligan.bsky.social Gift link: bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Scoop: Keir Starmer has asked to be involved in policy-making earlier and to be given more detail following the welfare debacle, as allies say a cultural issue was developing in Number 10 where the PM was bounced into decisions. Gift link 🔗 www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...

Labour is acting like everything's gone back to normal... but after last week, things are far from normal. Ministers, aides and MPs are now saying they expect a leadership challenge to Starmer next May if nothing changes. I wrote last night's newsletter on what happens next. shorturl.at/SPgvi

Benchmarks, from @philipjcowley.bsky.social, the professor of parliamentary rebellions at QMUL

SCOOP: Keir Starmer's former chief of staff Sue Gray is moving into business - joining advisory firm Consello as its UK chair. She will be in charge of the firm's expansion in the UK, starting immediately. She joins Gary Neville and Serena Williams (!) on the company's staff.

Scoop: The government is "very seriously considering" nationalising Chinese-owned British Steel, two sources tell Bloomberg, as it scrambles to save the last UK steelmaker from closure. w/ @alexwickham.bsky.social www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Exclusive with @pronouncedalva.bsky.social @ellenmilligan.bsky.social UK Poised to Back Heathrow Airport Expansion in Push for Growth Gatwick, Luton projects also set for approval As well as Lower Thames Crossing and Universal Studios theme park www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Our weekend story with top team @joemayes.bsky.social @pronouncedalva.bsky.social @ellenmilligan.bsky.social @lucygjwhite.bsky.social

Five missions Six first steps Two priorities Six milestones And a partridge in a pear tree

NEW Chris Wormald, currently permanent secretary at the health department, has been appointed the UK's top civil servant. He beat Tamara Finkelstein, Olly Robbins and Antonia Romeo to the job. Probably most experienced, and also least well-known by the public. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Woop the Bloomberg lobby team is here! Welcome Alex Wickham @alexwickham.bsky.social and Ellen Milligan @ellenmilligan.bsky.social

Hearing from several new Labour MPs who were previously minded to support the bill that they're now leaning against because they worry there aren't sufficient protections against coercion. Lots of them are still undecided. But Jess Asato coming out to say she's voting against 👇

NEW Bloomberg weekend read (which, yes, I failed to post over the weekend) On assisted dying: an issue confounding MPs, splitting the cabinet, and creating potentially awkward political consequences for Keir Starmer personally - www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Reform MP James McMurdock was jailed for repeatedly kicking his girlfriend. He had told the media he was jailed for "pushing" his former partner in 2006. Court records obtained by The Times say the sentence was given because of "the serious nature of the offence”. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

🚨 LAUNCHING TODAY 🚨 Nearly two years ago, @tortoisemedia.bsky.social unveiled the Westminster Accounts, a free tool designed to give people greater understanding of the money that flows through parliament. Now, with Peer Review, we take on another arcane part of our system - the House of Lords

All this chat about Peter Mandelson vs William Hague but I do just wonder if a smart, highly accomplished woman (Elish Angiolini) will just cut through the political dick swinging and sail through the election to be Oxford's next Chancellor.

Muddy wellies, flat caps, barbour jackets and trilby hats - the farmers have arrived in Westminster!

Good morning Bluesky. Here's a helpful starter pack for divorced men named Geoff but one has been murdered. Please help us find the killer. go.bsky.app/KDY26rh

For the many new joiners here is my starter pack of some UK commentators that I like. Now updated to include a few more people such as @pronouncedalva.bsky.social @duncanweldon.bsky.social @wmarybeard.bsky.social go.bsky.app/M4Bt6Wq

Lots of chat about Rachel Reeves' Mansion House comments but not lots about something she said that would once have been unthinkable from her: bankers' bonuses will be paid out faster under Labour. www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...

Hello Bluesky - I hear it's nicer here!

Callooh callay @pronouncedalva.bsky.social is here!