Starmer forced to admit he knew of Mandelson's continued relationship with Epstein after the first convicton when he appointed him ambassador. Eek this is a shocker. Badenoch has nailed him on this.

In an otherwise utterly grim saga this is, I'm sorry, hilarious. Epstein, the recipient of Mandelson's leaks chides him for being indiscreet and betraying his bosses in his autobiography.

"Have you considered employing a Chief Innovation Engagement and Information Officer.? "No reason, I just like the sound of a CIEIO." Rutherford Hall on the spate of bullshit C-suite titles as.ft.com/r/486ee668-b...

The prisoner of Downing Street and his incredible shrinkig government. as.ft.com/r/27efadf7-6...

"All governments decay eventually. What distinguishes Keir Starmer’s is the speed with which the necrosis has set in. After little more than 18 months in office, it already resembles the last months of Rishi Sunak’s premiership" as.ft.com/r/44182887-8...

Suella Braverman's later career since she quit Home Office has been a story of being outpaced, outmanoeuvred and outplayed by Robert Jenrick. She's been on catch-up for nearly three years now.

If the by-election is lost now it will all be put on Keir - that plus locals could be it

Since people are talking about Hamilton songs, events of today remind of the one that goes “you don’t have the votes, you don’t have the votes” Cabinet battle

Wonder if this is the perfect outcome for Burnham. Keir looks like a scared machine pol. Builds up the Burnham brand- avoid booths by election and leader contest he’s not certain to win while boosting his status as the future King and the demand for him. Becoming leader now is too soon for him. 1/2

If given the choice between the Labour Party led by Keir Starmer and Reform UK led by Nigel Farage, Britons are slightly more likely to favour Labour – however…

"Having wracked my brains, I've come up with a slogan for Britain’s middle power opportunity: 'Take back control'." My Swamp Notes with @robertshrimsley.bsky.social on why Carney has laid out the rest of the west's only sane response to Trump. Free to read. as.ft.com/r/672930fc-c...

"Kash doesn't read briefing material"

Farage's tactics show his fears. He needs to bury the Conservatives this year or all his calculations are undone. as.ft.com/r/2d29ea81-8...

Farage has started describing Reform as part of the "genuine centre right" - so is he trying to be the new conservative party or is it just a veneer for radical, paranoid and immigrant-fixated populism. as.ft.com/r/96874807-e...

Just pointing out that Labour can take up to several months - six is not unknown - to move the writ for a by- election.

First item on the agenda - establishment of a subcommittee for the Board of Peace Peace Prize.

It's Davos this week, so please find attached a list of phrases that you may hear and what they actually mean. Full phrasebook here 😉 www.ft.com/content/ab4f...

A thread on why it's actually in Robert Jenrick’s interest to resign and force a by-election in his constituency of Newark. 🧵

It's time to raid the nepo-depot Rutherford Hall on how to drum up business www.ft.com/content/8839...

High drama: he was pushed, then he jumped - FT pod this week was recorded simultaneously with developments on the Jenrick front - have a listen - me @pickardje.bsky.social @stephenkb.bsky.social and @robertshrimsley.bsky.social tried to make sense of it here www.ft.com/content/0ae1...

The guy's been forced out. But apparently no punishment is adequate. Take the win, dummies.

One stray thought from today. Seeing Jenrick and Farage together- suddenly Farage looked old

Three dynamite FT reporting jobs have opened up: Here are the links. — European Business Correspondent: job-boards.eu.greenhouse.io/financialtim... — Tax Correspondent: job-boards.eu.greenhouse.io/financialtim... — US Business Correspondent: job-boards.eu.greenhouse.io/financialtim...

“Over-mighty tech lords may one day prove a perfect enemy for ambitious politicians. It might be wise to recognise this now, stop swaggering and pay more heed to social concerns”

Tech barons should not assume they are invulnerable. They may feel safe today, but the constancy of Maga Republicans is not something anyone should take for granted. It is not hard to see a future where US populists seek to regulate the seemingly untameable titans. as.ft.com/r/7645c8c1-7...

A lesson from history for overmighty tech titans (with just fab illustration by @ellie foreman peck) as.ft.com/r/2ac40bca-d...

Pros and cons for Kemi: Pros: Projects image of toughness, loses primary rival. Cons: A sacking based on weakness not principle (not llike Corbyn and Starmer), Handled well, but forced into it. Jenrick was best oppsoition campaigner Defection is momentum for Reform and narrative of Tory decline

A warning shot to our tech overlords ft.trib.al/XehaMct | opinion

We'll see how this plays out but the one thing that is incontrovertible is that Jenrick's negotiating hand with Farage is, ahem, not what it was.

A pity Badenoch didn't feel secure enough to have done this after some his race coments.

I never loved the plan in the first place but this really is pathetic.

All time favourite Dilbert (maybe)

Words of wisdom on the boundaries of blame in a world of AI from @stephenkb.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/3236...

This is an interesting defection. Zahawi obviously damaged by his tax issues, but he's a mainstream Tory Brexiter and (importantly someone with exec experience in govt who was widely praised cross-party for his organisational abilities)

Explicit fake images and child porn pix are now a premium feature. Perhaps that's why he called it X. as.ft.com/r/0d3e1ecb-d...

Now this, my friends, is an intro ... It’s Saturday night near Glasgow Central Station, where the best lack a conviction, while the worst are full of passion-fruit martini. Bryce Elder on the booze www.ft.com/content/5932...

What the war against London really is about. V good by @robertshrimsley.bsky.social #Giftlink And on a different note: A v Happy New Year to everyone!

"Your posts will reveal if you are a dangerous conspiracy theorist or political extremist. One wrong word and you might be given your own podcast or invited on to The Tucker Carlson Show." On the dangers of giving the Trump administration access to your social media: www.ft.com/content/b8a6...

The real danger of giving Trump access to your social media posts: www.ft.com/content/b8a6...

Broadcaster backs televised briefings shocker

I'll say it again: if any other ethnic or religious minority said "please don't use this particular term or chant, you might not have bad intentions but it is deeply racist and threatening to us", the reaction would be mortified apology. And that's without a mass terror event four days ago

A jewish atheist takes on the big Christmas issue. www.ft.com/content/5d06...

As so often, great piece from @robertshrimsley.bsky.social and truly sensational illustration by Ellie Foreman Peck - 🎶REACH (beat) for the stars (ti tum ti tum ti tum ti TUM) 🎤🎵

"In his endorsement of Brexit trade freedoms, Starmer resembles Alec Guinness’s half-mad colonel in The Bridge on the River Kwai, defending an edifice he has forgotten was built for the benefit of the other side." www.ft.com/content/2d00...

If the Tories do manage to get through their slump - and it's a big if - they will have sloughed off almost all the dregs of their party

Rutherford Hall on the art of humblebragging as.ft.com/r/f1df5aa2-8...

A little perturbed by latest Facebook recommendation

Labour is slow-marching working people to populism as.ft.com/r/2aedc22e-6... @robertshrimsley.bsky.social

Excellent article by @robertshrimsley.bsky.social