A pen portrait of Antonia Romeo, the colourful new Cabinet Secretary magazine.newstatesman.com/2026/02/19/a...

Excl: Keir Starmer's team has been working with Brendan Cox despite his past resignations from three charities after claims of sexual misconduct. Top scoop from @anooshc.bsky.social www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

“Performance review by osmosis”!

In this week's New Statesman politics column I speak to the blob! And the blob tells me it is furious about Chris Wormald's treatment, frustrated with Keir Starmer and Labour, and thinking deeply about the longer-term survival of the civil service www.newstatesman.com/the-politics...

On the latest episode of the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social pod, @pronouncedalva.bsky.social and I discuss the latest following Morgan McSweeney and Tim Allan's resignations:

🚨 Morgan McSweeey resigns 👇🏻 magazine.newstatesman.com/2026/02/08/m...

🔴 BREAKING: Labour Together paid controversial PR firm £30k to investigate journalists who were digging into how its undeclared funding Reporters from Sunday Times, Guardian and other outlets targetted *And* Morgan McSweeney knew about it Full story: democracyforsale.substack.com/p/exclusive-...

Great report by @pronouncedalva.bsky.social revealing the influence of Mandelson on this Labour operation:

It was good to join Politics Live earlier to discuss the Mandelson fallout and plug this week's cover story! You can watch back here 👇 www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

I've been in such a tunnel with the Peter Mandelson story but thank you to everyone who came to this and to my brilliant fellow panellists! It was a total pleasure to have some time to think about the deeper problems in our politics and some possible solutions, with a really engaged audience.

This week's New Statesman cover story is my report on how Peter Mandelson came to be appointed as ambassador - who knew what and when, what due diligence was done, how the decision was reached. Good to hear it mentioned at PMQs. Please give it a read www.newstatesman.com/politics/lab...

Fantastic new issue of the New Statesman out now! Great, penetrating essay on Britain’s way forward by Paul Ovenden. EXC interview with the Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez setting out an alternative socialist future. And Ailbhe Rea on the fallout from Starmer’s Burnham battle.

Angela Rayner reportedly eyeing up SEND reforms as her next focus, according to @pronouncedalva.bsky.social - an area that could potentially be a huge headache for the Labour govt Worries over a repeat of the welfare rebellion forced govt to look again at its initial proposals last year

This week's New Statesman politics column - on the fallout from the Burnham blocking www.newstatesman.com/the-politics...

Excl: Zack Polanski will not stand as the Green Party candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election. A Green Party source told @newstatesman1913.bsky.social that whoever is chosen as the party’s candidate will be selected by the local party.

🚨NEW Majority of Manchester voters polled say Labour "wrong" to block Burnham in exclusive polling @newstatesman1913.bsky.social 👇 54% say Labour "wrong" to block Burnham bid (8% say it's "right") 62% say Burnham should be "free to seek selection as an MP" www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...

I want to start posting here more and what a day to start. I think Bluesky doesn't bury posts with external links so it should be good for sharing articles. New Statesman colleagues said this recent piece on the Europe debate in the PLP was well-received on here, so here's to more of that!

NEW: Andy Burnham has less than 24 hours to run in Gorton & Denton Mayors must declare their candidacy by 5pm Saturday. @newstatesman1913.bsky.social www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

The next Labour revolt could be over leasehold after some MPs warned the government not to break its manifesto pledge to cap ground rents. One backbench MP told the New Statesman that if the government breaks its promise to leaseholders, “I have no doubt there would be a rebellion”.

As per the Guardian and Times, Andrew Gwynne has reached a pension settlement that would allow him to retire early. But not confirmed that he actually will resign yet, triggering the by-election that could pave a route back for Burnham. www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...

“At the next election Labour will be more pro-European, whether Keir is part of that or not.” Another cracking cover story by @pronouncedalva.bsky.social who has the inside track on Labour's new Brexit wars:

EUROPE IS BACK This week's New Statesman cover story is on the changing conversation about Europe in the Labour party - including among those close to Keir Starmer... Cover illustration by Mona Eing & Michael Meißner www.newstatesman.com/cover-story/...

A Labour rebellion is brewing over the Hillsborough Law Read @meganekenyon.bsky.social ahead of Monday's crunch vote 👇 www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

Thanks so much Eunice

"Tom Watson recently announced to colleagues that he has a new singular political mission: putting Britain back at the heart of Europe." A must-read from @ethangcroft.bsky.social on how Labour's EU Ultras in parliament are organising magazine.newstatesman.com/2026/01/17/l...

This intro to David Frost's Telegraph column sums up so much that is wrong with British politics.

New: Jeremy Corbyn wants to get Your Party "back on track" The former Labour leader has launched his own platform for the upcoming Your Party central executive committee elections @newstatesman1913.bsky.social www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

Not the analogy I would have used...

Scoop: Heidi Alexander called out recent leadership chatter in a highly-charged cabinet meeting on Tuesday. She urged colleagues to form a "praetorian guard" around the PM to protect him from rebellious MPs. www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

Jenrick is now by my count the 3rd person who thinks he's going to be Reform's Chancellor

Key line in Will Lloyd's piece on Robert Jenrick's sacking: "Jenrick had told friends in recent weeks that he thought Reform lacked a viable economic spokesperson or an eventual shadow chancellor." Is that the job Jenrick has his eye on? @willoyd.bsky.social www.newstatesman.com/politics/con...

On a recent NS pod @pronouncedalva.bsky.social said there’s a fight in the Labour Party about whether to portray Reform as just a Tory rebrand or something unprecedented and uniquely dangerous (Starmer’s preferred option). This seems like a version of that same fight.

Kemi Badenoch has sacked Robert Jenrick, accusing him of planning to defect. 🔥 @ethangcroft.bsky.social www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

What's behind Keir Starmer's digital ID U-turn? Bit from me on the govt thinking behind this big change www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

What's behind Keir Starmer's digital ID U-turn? Bit from me on the govt thinking behind this big change www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

Great to be on Politics Live just now - including having the chance to chat about my latest column on the London crime debate. Catch up here!

Wes Streeting is delivering a speech on public service reform at the IfG this morning, with an apparent dig at Starmer allies who have recently criticised the "stakeholder state"

"We’re the ones who can take Reform on where the two traditional parties are failing" Out and about in Eastbourne with Josh Babarinde - on the Lib Dem strategy for 2026, proposing to his boyfriend in the House of Commons, and almost setting fire to the MoJ www.newstatesman.com/politics/pol...

New: Sources close to Jeremy Corbyn said he didn’t give permission for his name to be used on this slate and a specific request was put in that his name was not included. Sources said Corbyn is “very upset” that this was done without his consent.

This interview of Fiona Hill by @meganjgibson.bsky.social is excellent and full of insight and zingers such as this on whether Trump is driven by his legacy www.newstatesman.com/internationa...

I am here and trying to use Bluesky more! There are certainly far more Simpsons memes than on the other place. Do please add me to the relevant lists/starter packs etc

Brilliant piece from @ethancrofty.bsky.social on divisions on the Labour right. Behind the scenes, an ideological debate between Blue Labour, the old right and the Blairites/progressives is heating up... www.newstatesman.com/politics/lab...

SCOOP: Zarah Sultana’s unauthorised launch of a Your Party membership portal should be referred to the police, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has advised. Belter from @meganekenyon.bsky.social www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

Keir Starmer just said at PMQs that he won't allow himself to be forced into a choice between Europe and the US. That's the column in this week's @NewStatesman, on the thinking behind the scenes in No 10 on how they approach Trump and Europe t.co/a9uSoqvNKm

What Keir Starmer said at the first cabinet of 2026 👇 www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

Some thoughts on Bondi Beach, the sliding doors surreality of knowing my sister could have been there, and how it feels to be lighting candles tonight to celebrate our resilience www.newstatesman.com/world/2025/1...

I went to bed excited to celebrate the first night of Chanukah tonight. I woke up to a text from my sister in Sydney reassuring us that she wasn’t at the candle event on Bondi Beach where 11 people have been killed in a shooting targeting the Jewish community. Feeling sick with relief - and horror

This year - one of both mat leave and reporting travels around the country - I've found an alternative story to the "Broken Britain" narrative. My column for the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social Christmas issue:

Important follow-up to our New Statesman interview www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

What a closing line!