The problem with Labour saying "only Labour can beat Reform in Gorton & Denton" is that that party peddled the exact same line in Caerphilly. In the by-election there last year, Plaid won with 47.4%, with Labour limping home in 3rd with just 11%.

New on FT website: Downing Street has refused to say whether Sir Keir Starmer knew Palantir was a client of Peter Mandelson’s lobbying firm when they both visited the company in Washington last February — ahead of it winning a £240mn UK government contract. www.ft.com/content/5bba...

From Gordon Brown's piece in The Guardian today. Starmer's Labour promised to clean up politics, promised to ban second jobs for MPs. But has done nothing. This must change. Cap donations. Ban 2nd jobs. Fines for non- and late declarations.

What the Epstein files reveal more than anything is a gilded elite who believe the rules and laws don't apply to them. The test of our times is do these bastards end up in jail www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Quite funny that Starmer's allies are waking up to this point now … Cuts to Winter Fuel… not in the manifesto Disability benefit cuts… not in there either Cutting jury trials… also not there Digital ID… no mention Raising employers NI… nope Freezing tax threholds… nah Contracts with Palantir… no

Interesting new polling for @labourlist.bsky.social 👀

That rigorous vetting in full:

Article from 2021 in which Labour MPs and trade union leaders warned of increasing influence of Mandelson over Starmer's office: "Unless Keir Starmer curtails Mandelson’s influence there will be more division." - @johnmcdonnellmp.bsky.social www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...

My latest for @theipaper.com on how the stars could align for Angela Rayner to become Labour's first woman Prime Minister ... inews.co.uk/opinion/ange...

This ought to be terminal for both Morgan McSweeney and Josh Simons. Sinister and unacceptable.

Will be on LBC News shortly speaking about the ongoing Mandelson scandal and a Government in trouble. Tune in if you can ...

"Labour has one chance to pick a new PM – and then they must deliver the change Labour promised in 2024, while avoiding the scandals, chaos and U-turns that have characterised Starmer's disastrous 18 months" Are the stars aligning for Angela Rayner? Me for @theipaper.com inews.co.uk/opinion/ange...

"Labour has one chance to pick a new PM – and then they must deliver the change Labour promised in 2024, while avoiding the scandals, chaos and U-turns that have characterised Starmer's disastrous 18 months" Are the stars aligning for Angela Rayner? Me for @theipaper.com inews.co.uk/opinion/ange...

Brilliant piece by @zoejardiniere.bsky.social on how Labour's anti-migrant pandering to Reform is getting in the way of "building a fair, high-wage, high-productivity economy that attracts the workers we need" www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

Interesting thing ... in MS Word, 'statesmanlike' is an acceptable word, 'stateswomanlike' comes up as a typo

Insightful insider perspective from @fletchersimon.bsky.social on the close relationship between Starmer's office and Mandelson modernleft.substack.com/p/the-mandel...

Susanna Reid asks Steve Reed about a story covered by @insidecroydon.bsky.social, that his constituency Labour party wanted to put forward a motion to Labour conference calling for an inquiry into Mandelsons appointment, & that the motion was blocked by one of Steve Reeds senior aides #GMB

Not even burglars, let alone terrorists. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Exactly. Who appoints the adviser? Who does the adviser report to? If you pan your own advisers, you're condemning yourself. As the old adage goes, 'advisers advise, politicians decide'

Huge story in @theipaper.com "[Mandelson] was very involved in all the details; I think he enjoyed it. He was involved in all the personalities and the mechanics including asking the question of who do we want in which seat" Probably a breach of GDPR laws too ... inews.co.uk/news/politic...

Shockingly (to no one who has been following local government finances), councils are not rife with waste and fraud ... In Kent, Reform's DOGE "had not found any significant waste to cut"

Spoken to several people who have been in Gorton & Denton over the last few days Overwhelmingly the feedback from those around the Greens is positivity and big numbers out canvassing Both Labour & Green people report the Labour vote has collapsed Greens seem to genuinely feel it's them vs Reform

Spoken to several people who have been in Gorton & Denton over the last few days Overwhelmingly the feedback from those around the Greens is positivity and big numbers out canvassing Both Labour & Green people report the Labour vote has collapsed Greens seem to genuinely feel it's them vs Reform

Sky Sports is becoming increasingly desperate in its ratings war with @therestisfootball.bsky.social

5p off a pint or 500,000 children lifted out of poverty? Reform betting that people prefer a cheaper pint.

The net is closing in ...

Several people saying this now, and it’s like Asthana repeatedly asking: how come Sir Keir is so warm, friendly and considerate with his immediate colleagues and superiors, yet he stomps like a bastard on inferior people? And really, that’s not a mystery. We’ve all met people like that at work.

Today we’ve joined 65 orgs supporting the bill to end the two-child limit as it makes its way through parliament. The policy is responsible for driving child poverty to its current record high. Poverty has a devastating impact on young lives 👉 cpag.org.uk/news/statement-bill-end-two-child-limit

“I think the issue is that because I was a gay man in his circle, I was kept separate from what he was doing in the sexual side of his life.” Just a couple of weeks ago Mandelson was claiming total ignorance of his Epstein's sexual proclivities ...

Misconduct in public office? Time for a police investigation ...

It pays to be in a union. Strike action works ✊ www.pcs.org.uk/news-events/...

More revelations about the loathsome Mandelson, who once famously said: "We are intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich as long as they pay their taxes."

Surely there will be a Parliamentary / criminal investigation into the allegations that Lord Mandelson, while in Government, lobbied for changes in policy at the behest of a convicted sex offender who had donated money to him? www.ft.com/content/91e8...

Spot on from Zack Polanski on #BBCLauraK We should legalise and regulate (and tax) drugs. "There are some health professionals who say that is the correct approach", concedes Laura Kuenssberg

"But a lot of landlords are really struggling", says Laura Kuenssberg. If only they had a massive asset they could sell ... #BBCLauraK

You can be kicked out of the Labour Party for retweeting Socialist Appeal, but associate with the world's most notorious sex trafficker of women and children and that's fine ...

Credit where it's due to the @financialtimes.com and to @pickardje.bsky.social in particular for pursuing a story that too many others failed to. And the revelations in this article are astounding. www.ft.com/content/608a...

The crisis management quotes in response to the latest batch of Epstein releases ...

Some interesting polling in @theipaper.com this morning. And it's bad news for Keir Starmer: a majority of voters think Labour should change leader before the next election. 1/n

We all benefit from each others' education; whether that's university-educated doctors, engineers or actors Or college-educated electricians, care workers or hairdressers We live in society and all benefit from skills and ideas When we invest in education, we're investing in our own well-being.

We all benefit from each others' education; whether that's university-educated doctors, engineers or actors Or college-educated electricians, care workers or hairdressers We live in society and all benefit from skills and ideas When we invest in education, we're investing in our own well-being.

Observation of the week, from a friend: "Reform are like the Saudi Pro League, but for shit Tory MPs."

Private Eye reminds us when Nigel Farage passionately believed there should be by-elections when MPs swap parties ...

This is a very welcome policy. Shame it will take til 2028 to implement, but it will make a real difference. I fear there might be further to go in regulating / capping service charges and other fees ... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

"The Greens leader, Zack Polanski, could be about to do to Labour what Reform UK leader Nigel Farage did to the Tories." My new column for @theipaper.com on how the Gorton & Denton by-election could change British politics ... inews.co.uk/opinion/pola...

It’s funny how Kemi Badenoch thinks “mental health” has impacted Suella Braverman’s behaviour. I thought Kemi didn’t really believe in anxiety or depression? I guess that’s just for benefit claimants.

"The Greens leader, Zack Polanski, could be about to do to Labour what Reform UK leader Nigel Farage did to the Tories." My new column for @theipaper.com on how the Gorton & Denton by-election could change British politics ... inews.co.uk/opinion/pola...

This is scathing of Starmer's Labour from John McDonnell MP: "Its politics are no longer based upon honest, principled, intellectually stimulating debate but upon the brutal, violent exercise of self-serving power by those that have secured position by deception." inews.co.uk/opinion/star...

Just 12% of Britons, including just 16% of Labour voters, believe Labour made the right decision in blocking Andy Burnham from being able to stand as a candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election Right decision: 12% Wrong decision: 44% 2024 Labour voters Right decision: 16% Wrong decision: 46%

Starmer is standing in the ideal glass house to criticise others for not sticking to their word 🤣