Is this what a Reform foreign policy would look like? Jonathan Brown, CEO of Centre for a Better Britain, on where the UK is going wrong on the world stage

🇺🇦🇬🇧 President Zelensky leaves the Speaker’s House to head to Downing Street

Senior Tories break ranks to bemoan what they describe as a lack of proper Tory strategy for fighting Reform "There is no consolidated plan for Reform" — shadow cabinet minister "If there is a plan to take on Reform, nobody knows it" — insider Colleagues Tali and @tomscotson.bsky.social report

"Unless Labour delivers for coastal towns and tackles disaffection, the tide will turn in the Sea Wall – and Reform will reap the rewards" Great to speak to @tomscotson.bsky.social about coastal towns, a key Labour-Reform battleground. www.politicshome.com/news/article...

Should Parliament scrap centuries old traditions because new MPs know best?

🚨OUT NOW🚨 Will Parliament finally get modernised? 📅 Labour MP Rachel Blake, Lib Dem MP Sarah Olney, and reporter Sophie Church join host Alain Tolhurst to discuss whether Westminster will finally drag itself into the 21st century 🎧 Listen here: pod.fo/e/2afc50

NEW: Labour MPs are urging Keir Starmer to increase defence spending more swiftly and show leadership on the world stage Starmer has arrived in Paris to join European leaders at an emergency crisis summit tonight A team effort from @tomscotson.bsky.social @matildamartin.bsky.social and I

A tricky day for Kemi Badenoch gets a bit trickier... @tomscotson.bsky.social has obtained a 2022 email to a constituent expressing support for recommended football reforms On Monday, however, the Tory leader said a regulator — which was among the recommended reforms — was a "waste of money"

Many Labour MPs argue an ID cards policy would be a double boost for Starmer: Help tackle issues like small boats, fight Reform Lord Blunkett, who tried to introduce digital ID under Blair, said ministers seem to be "working towards" it @tomscotson.bsky.social & @siennarodgers.bsky.social report

📲NEW: Labour MPs are pushing the government to introduce digital IDs in a bid to get on the front foot in the fight against Reform UK Supporters of the policy include Jake Richards, Dan Carden, Siobhain McDonagh and Lord Blunkett

The bureaucratisation of the British state 🇬🇧 Prior to WWII there were fewer than 50 people working in the cabinet office As of 2024 there were more than 12,000 (!)

Former Tory Cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt today confirmed she plans to stand at the next general election Speaking to PolHome later, she said: "I have previously said I would like to return to the Commons, and I will try and do some good in the meantime" @tomscotson.bsky.social reports

Lots of coverage today of ‘Red Wall’ Labour MPs urging Keir Starmer to get tough on migration My brilliant colleagues @siennarodgers.bsky.social and @tomscotson.bsky.social have been on this for a while – follow them if you don’t already! First story back in November 👇

Labour has decided to step up its attacks on Farage and Reform The NHS will play a big part, as seen at PMQs But material will also focus on the Reform leader's past support for Liz Truss' mini-budget, as well as remarks about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, reports @tomscotson.bsky.social

A fascinating read from @siennarodgers.bsky.social and @tomscotson.bsky.social on the Blue Labour trend inside Labour re-emerging as the party scratches its head over the threat from Reform www.politicshome.com/news/article...

Amid (disputed) reports of CCHQ crisis talks, here's @tomscotson.bsky.social's December piece about the big issues facing the Tory party machine, post-defeat: - staff shortages - money - rift with local associations and convincing people to help the rebuild given "opposition is a terrible job"

New: The Met Police have called on MPs to come forward with any information about the alleged spiking incident at Strangers' Bar Here's the short letter below 👇

💥EXC: Conservative Shadow Cabinet ministers are expected to take the lead on new policy commissions It marks the party's first step at creating real policy Close ally Alex Burghart and Victoria Hewson will oversee the project

UK population is projected to rise from 67.6m to 72.5m over the next 10 years (ONS), driven by net migration of 4.9m But this assumes annual net migration of 340k — far below the 750k seen in 2024 The UK will remain the 8th most densely populated country in Europe

💥Lord Glasman, the only UK Labour representative at Trump’s inauguration, claims Trump’s team is 'very, very sceptical about the Labour government' An exclusive interview between the Blue Labour founder and @siennarodgers.bsky.social 👇

💥Lord Glasman, the only UK Labour representative at Trump’s inauguration, claims Trump’s team is 'very, very sceptical about the Labour government' An exclusive interview between the Blue Labour founder and @siennarodgers.bsky.social 👇

EXCL: Lord Glasman, only Labour figure to be invited to inauguration, tells me the team around Trump is “very, very sceptical about the Labour government” “They are looking for the govt to be their partner, but they don't see any indication that they are”: www.politicshome.com/news/article...

🚨 OUT NOW 🚨 Will Starmer clean up politics? 🚰 Labour MP Melanie Onn, Blakeney CEO Gabe Winn, Politico's John Johnston, and PR expert Jon Gerlis join Alain Tolhurst to take a look inside the sometimes hidden world of lobbying in Westminster 🎧 Listen here: pod.fo/e/2a300e

🇬🇧Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the Southport sentencing: “After one of the most harrowing moments in our country’s history we owe it to these innocent young girls and all those affected to deliver the change that they deserve”

Late to this brilliant @thetimes.comprofile on Labour MP Dan Carden and Blue Labour Blue Labour reportedly has good links and regular conversations with Vice President JD Vance. Maurice Glasman recently went on a podcast with Steve Bannon too

What are the chances a third runway at Heathrow doesn't get built during Labour's *second* term in Government?

🇬🇧 Mark Sedwill, former security advisor, says Keir Starmer should use those with a "good relationship" with President Trump to improve ties with the US The move increases pressure on the PM to utilise Nigel Farage more effectively 👇 www.politicshome.com/news/article...

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Labour MP Brian Leishman warns oil refinery closure risks Thatcher-scale devastation His intervention comes as Scottish Labour continue to trail the SNP in the polls 👇

🇬🇧 Mark Sedwill, former security advisor, says Keir Starmer should use those with a "good relationship" with President Trump to improve ties with the US The move increases pressure on the PM to utilise Nigel Farage more effectively 👇 www.politicshome.com/news/article...

Donald Trump has been inaugurated as the 47th President of the US He is only the second commander-in-chief to win non-consecutive terms

Back from the best week away in the Austrian Alps 🎿

Here’s my experience of *yet another* terrible rental situation, this time with Grainger plc We, four friends, are living in a building site With no prior notice, scaffolding went up a week into our tenancy in August – we’ve since suffered major disruption. This was it at its worst 🧵👇

I owe a huge debt of gratitude to @tomscotson.bsky.social, whose Christmas gift to me was an introduction to Josh Widdicombe and Ivo Graham reading Steve Bruce's murder mystery novels i.e. perhaps the funniest thing I've ever heard

⚽️Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said it was "high time" peers got on and voted for the Football Governance Bill She said it was "not acceptable" for Lords to try and block the legislation👇 www.politicshome.com/news/article...

David Lammy has welcomed the removal of "monster" Assad but said the UK must be "cautious" about what regime change means for the Syrian people "We will judge HTS [Hayat Tahrir al-Sham] by their actions," the foreign secretary told MPs on Monday afternoon @tomscotson.bsky.social reports

EXC: Government accuses Tory peers of trying to block the football regulator Gov source: “This is extraordinary behaviour, cynically trying to delay and frustrate a... manifesto commitment that had cross party support" 🧵Full piece below👇

The Government has accused Conservative Lords of an “extraordinary” attempt to thwart the football bill and plans for an independent regulator Tracey Crouch, former sports minister, said the plan by Tory peers amounted to a ”wrecking amendment” @tomscotson.bsky.social exclusively reports

EXC: Government accuses Tory peers of trying to block the football regulator Gov source: “This is extraordinary behaviour, cynically trying to delay and frustrate a... manifesto commitment that had cross party support" 🧵Full piece below👇

Exclusive from Saturday 30 Labour MPs have set up a 'Red Wall Caucus' to fight the rise of Reform UK Group members want the Government to be more vocal about immigration as a way of neutralising Nigel Farage Full piece w/ @siennarodgers.bsky.social 👇 www.politicshome.com/news/article...

A number of Labour MPs in the North and Midlands have formed a new group called the 'Red Wall Caucus' to fight the rise of Reform UK in their constituencies The group wants the party to be more vocal about immigration, @siennarodgers.bsky.social & @tomscotson.bsky.social exclusively report

Absolutely stacked episode of the PolHome pod: Emily Thornberry, Grant Shapps, Tobias Ellwood & foreign policy expert Sophia Gaston discuss how the UK responds to an increasingly dangerous world + Savanta's Chris Hopkins teases polling we've got coming this weekend podfollow.com/politicshome...

Exc (from Monday): Labour MPs want to make Parliament 'healthy' again with far-reaching measures —Look at sale of alcohol during working hours —Artwork to reflect a modern and diverse Britain —Enhance natural light in the Palace of Westminster

Ex-security advisor Lord Ricketts says Whitehall lacks institutional knowledge of China Read the full interview for @politicshome.bsky.social below 👇

Who is in Kemi Badenoch's backroom team? PolHome has obtained details of the Tory leader's inner circle, which includes former minister Lee Rowley as her chief of staff and ex-adviser Henry Newman as deputy @tomscotson.bsky.social reports www.politicshome.com/news/article...

EXC: Kemi Badenoch has finalised her LOTO team Ex-minister Lee Rowley will serve as chief of staff and former Boris Johnson advisor as deputy Former government spads Dylan Sharpe and Daniel El-Gamry are also in the fold more names and details below 👇 www.politicshome.com/news/article...

Who's in Kemi Badenoch's inner circle? PolHome's @tomscotson.bsky.social breaks down senior appointments to the new LOTO operation Confirmed: Henry Newman is in as Badenoch's deputy chief of staff + more names and details www.politicshome.com/news/article...

New Press Gallery pictures just dropped 🖼️

Defence Secretary John Healey says UK military capabilities are “just not good enough” Write-up in PoliticsHome below👇

🇯🇵🇮🇹🇬🇧New: Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed the UK's "unwavering commitment" to G-CAP A Downing Street spokesperson said the programme will "see the next generation of fighter jets take to the sky" by 2035 The pact is supported by the UK, Italy and Japan

🏟️New: Labour lords are pressuring the Government to prevent club owners from moving stadiums away from their original locations without fans' consent The news comes as the Football Governance Bill passes through the Upper Chamber 👇 www.politicshome.com/news/article...