Without minimising the dire results for Labour, it’s extraordinary how chipper the Tories are. They’ve lost 500 seats from a low watermark, lost historic major councils to Lib Dems and Reform, show no signs of recovery in the esp LD areas they need to win. But MPs seem to think it’s going well.

In this podcast @lexytopping of the Guardian seems to be wearing the electoral map of Birmingham. 😉 www.theguardian.com/politics/vid...

EXC - The majority of Labour members say they do not believe Keir Starmer can turn around the party’s fortunes. Of those polled, 45% say the prime minister should step down, more than believed he should stay (some don’t know) www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

One of the London councils which seems to have bucked the trend is Redbridge, where Labour held off a very energetic campaign from the Newham Independents. Perhaps because indys rather than Greens were the main challengers. But it is somewhat reassuring for Wes Streeting and his 500 majority…

'Hero voters', 'progressive bloc' - you cannot run a government on the basis of 'how do we win the next election?' (Or, ironically, win an election on that basis!)

Any day now we’ll get that Labour defector… any day now

This is exactly what I found when I tried to stand the letter story up about two weeks ago. Lots of MPs had *heard* of it but didn’t know what it said or who was behind it or who had signed it - so I suspected it was an idea rather than any kind of fully formed plan.

Nine more hours to go before Zia Yusuf's ban on Tory defectors to Reform comes into force...

Fascinating findings from legendary pollster Stan Greenberg et al about what progressives really want from Labour. Cost of living, EU, yes but more - they want real values, of what they are for, why the war in Iran was wrong and why renewables are right. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

It’s polling day and there’s never much news - so why not distract yourself with this highly addictive game? Guess the party from the photo guesstheparty.co.uk

Stuck abroad with your baby for several months even though they are legally allowed in the UK? Too bad, says Mike Tapp, you should read gov.uk daily like the rest of us obviously do. No complaining allowed unless you're a hero voter with 'concerns'. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

At a No 10 briefing today we heard about the government's commitment to "a whole-of-society response to antisemitism”. Asked if this might involve the government leaving X, where antisemitism is not only rife but monetlised, were were told it is "something we always keep under review." So: no.

A big problem with a government for a government who's narrative has been completely different to it's policies. A majority of progressive defectors think Labour has *cut* public spending - because that's what they've been told!

Reading a lot of Green Party leaflets over the weekend it struck me how many of the policies being promised are identical to Labour ones. Not just locally, but policies literally made possible by the Labour government’s legislation.

On the ground for the campaign in one of Leeds’ most affluent suburbs - where Labour are now fighting the Greens, not the Tories. The city council has an impressive environmental record, though the Greens are fighting on a promise of faster change. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

This is an astonishingly successful public policy reform, and so heartening. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Burnham’s team has lined up “impressive” candidate to replace him as Grtr Manchester mayor, allies say. He plans to outline “radical rewiring” of state – incl changes to electoral system & 10-year growth plan. @jessicaelgot.bsky.social & @joshhalliday.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Been thinking about this and you’d have to run one independent candidate against him basically, a celeb, a big character. Can’t really think of anyone who could pull it off, maybe Martin Lewis.

Extremely pleased to hear this from Mark Rowley, much needed clarity when a community which has been repeatedly gaslit by senior figures about its own safety

Keir Starmer had a lot to thank Darren Jones for today - he reminded his backbenches of their real enemies. Reminiscent of the Michael Gove speech at the no confidence vote called by Jeremy Corbyn, which brought his warring party (briefly) back together.

An absolutely belting story from @lucyfisher.ft.com where she reveals our man in Washington blithely told visiting students that the PM's position was "touch and go" and that the Mandelson scandal might "bring him down" by the May elections. www.ft.com/content/d4bf...

This is me having a rant in the office about incremental differences between Labour party factions. "NEVER CONFLATE LABOUR TOGETHER AND LABOUR TO WIN"

Under-analysed, but also truly astonishing that Keir Starmer considered appointing the architect of Tory austerity as his US ambassador.

You also don't need to get married! You can have a civil partnership. Why is that not just basically the same thing?

NEW - Police are assessing evidence about donations to Robert Jenrick’s campaign to become Conservative leader in 2024 after a referral from the elections watchdog www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

I think a lot of MPs react very negatively when they get to Westminster when they first arrive (understandably so) and they react against things like the chamber set-up or the bars but what is really underlying that feeling is “oh shit I have no power.”

“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...

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...

Yes, this is one of the most pervasive myths of the whole business, that it was to appease Trump. Total bollocks.

BREAKING - Robbins says that there was a "live debate" prior to his employment about whether Mandelson should undergo any vetting whatsoever before he was appointed as ambassador.

How at risk is Keir Starmer? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

One MP described Starmer as having a chronic case of “good guy” syndrome. But he was part of creating the imperative which led to the overruling of so many warnings. “Appoint this man at all costs – but not like that!” My analysis - on how safe the PM really is www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

It all comes back to 'you really do need to have a prime minister to run this thing'.

MPs are furious about this - especially the quotes from Epstein victims.

your cut-out-and-keep guide to all the key terms in the Mandelson saga www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

I suppose it will come down to whether you believe Starmer would not have appointed Mandelson if he knew he failed the vetting. He was prepared to overlook all the issues already flagged by the Cabinet Office. If they were the same issues, would he really have said, actually let's cancel it?

Starmer- “That I wasn’t told that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting when he was appointed is staggering. “That I wasn’t told that he had failed security vetting when I was telling Parliament that due process had been followed is unforgiveable.”

If you step back, it is truly extraordinary that so many people went to such great lengths and broke so many conventions and risked their political careers and the only outcome of all these efforts and risks was appointing a washed-up old spinner to an ambassadorial post

BREAKING - Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting clearance but the decision was overruled by the Foreign Office Investigation from Paul Lewis, @direthoughts.com and @pippacrerar.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

You can see why Rachel Reeves seemed quite cross yesterday www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Senior Labour figures have warned that Rachel Reeves must find alternative ways to increase military spending rather than slashing welfare, saying it risks diminishing public support for investment in defence. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Quite a flex to turn up at the presidential palace, get him to confirm you as prime minister, call him unfit to serve with no moral authority, tell him to resign, and then pose for a picture

Great piece on our white whale - the Leeds tram www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

3/3 This is about more than the technicalities of a UK/Swiss style deal. I believe it falls on this generation of Labour MPs, and this Labour government to rebuild our alliances and reimagine what is possible in our relationship with the EU. The full essay is here substack.com/profile/3292...

2/3 Thank you to @jessicaelgot.bsky.social for covering. As Jess says, my essay looks at the UK/EU relationship. Immigration is falling sharply & 2026 is very different to 2024. The case for a Swiss style access to the single market becomes stronger each day. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Shabana Mahmood’s migration changes are expected to save just £600m – about 6% of the £10bn the home secretary claimed, according to the government’s own data. FOI data was obtained by @jdportes.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Nothing else matters this week!!!

Brexit benefits latest www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-...