🔴 NEW: Morgan McSweeney - Keir Starmer's chief of staff until three months ago, and reportedly back advising him - was briefed on Labour Together's controversial investigation into journalists more than two years ago Scoop on Democracy for Sale: democracyforsale.substack.com/p/breaking-m...

Just featured in PMQs...

"The problem is that ‘political activities’ in PPERA have been interpreted far too narrowly in recent years... [we] estimated this loophole was concealing about £5m of contributions at general elections. Given what we know now about Harborne’s gift, it could have been £10m or more in 2024."

Interesting that Reform announced their Makerfield candidate today via press release and not a press conference. Almost like there is something that Nigel Farage would quite like to avoid answering questions about.

Much to enjoy about this, but I think the 'you used to be there' hand gesture is my favourite and even more enjoyable than the original 'well, if you're gonna set me up' response.

Exc: Backbenchers are readying an amendment that would force sitting MPs to disclose gifts received before the 2024 election Lloyd Hatton tells me "No one should have anything to be afraid of" observer.co.uk/news/politic...

Started reading this about 18 months ago. Put it down in the chaos of new house unpacking and renovation, and only just picked it up again. A race of time to finish it before his term is up? Many passages bitterly ironic with the benefit of hindsight.

If this isn't "designed to stir up hatred" against Jews, what is? Why are the Met not arresting them?

"As part of the Guardian’s journalism covering Nigel Farage’s purchase of a £1.4m property in cash shortly after receiving a £5m personal gift, a photographer took pictures from a public path and showed his press card when asked to identify himself."

"In the gardens of the basilica, a small group of PRs and critics pick at plates of mortadella and anchovies. “Has anyone here pulled yet?” one of them asks. “No one’s pulled me, that’s for sure.”" Beautiful, snarky piece by @milesellingham.bsky.social observer.co.uk/culture/art/...

Interesting thread, suggests Magnus may have had an overly harsh reading of the issue - but we won't know for sure unless Rayner releases docs

Burnham has confirmed he will run so now it's down to the NEC... Would be bold to block him a second time .

Sources saying the writ to be moved on Monday...

Josh Simons, Makerfield MP, is standing down, triggering a by election for Andy Burnham to return

Keir Starmer's letter to Wes Streeting is pretty decent tbh Worth noting he doesn't seem to have sent one to any of the junior ministers who resigned earlier this week...

The standards committee must decide if this gift could be related to political/public role. A defence could that a £5m gift was "purely private" + "wasn't political in any sense at all" (May 5th) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... To say "reward for campaigning for Brexit for 27 years" disrupts that

This letter from Wes Streeting reads awfully like the beginnings of an Andy Burnham deal... "a battle of ideas, not of personalities or petty factionalism. It needs to be broad, and it needs the best possible field of candidates. I support that approach and I hope that you will facilitate this."

BREAKING: Wes Streeting has resigned and called on Keir Starmer to stand down as Prime Minister

crucial context: Peter Mandelson was sacked from the first New Labour government for having a £373,000 *loan* (not a gift) from a Labour colleague (Geoffrey Robinson) to buy a house

BREAKING: Reform UK leader Nigel Farage bought a £1.4 million property in cash shortly after receiving a £5m personal gift from billionaire donor Christopher Harborne, according to property records seen by Sky News.

Standards commissioner's page has finally updated, confirming that Farage is under investigation

we only know about the £5m Harborne donation thanks to journalists at the Guardian, but sure trash the MSM for clicks

Understand Al Carns has been invited to see the chief whip "to see where his head's at"

Reform spox confirms that Farage’s team is "in communications with the parliamentary commissioner for standards... We look forward to this being put to bed once and for all" observer.co.uk/news/politic...

I asked No.10 at the briefing for reporters this afternoon what was been added to the legislative program after the local elections — seeing as Starmer promised a more urgent approach after the results. No answer.

So it begins

God tier trolling

"Have you thought about lending some of your votes to Ange?"

James Cleverly doing the lord's work here

Keir Starmer has already replaced the ministers who resigned today. Flurry of appointments:

The Daily Star have bought another lettuce 👀

As first reported by The Times, I understand Wes Streeting is seeing the Starmer tomorrow morning But he is not planning to say anything after that so as not to distract from the King’s Speech So, in terms of waiting for anything from Streeting at least, we probably can hold off until tomorrow PM

On the other place @pippacrerar.bsky.social is reporting that health minister Zubir Ahmed has quit On the same team as Wes Streeting and rumoured to have been in the mix during the Anas Sawar near miss back in Feb

Chuka Umunna has just gone into Downing Street

The loss of trust is clear. The Prime Minister should now set out a clear timetable for his departure. #LabourParty #Labour

It’s over for Starmer because he never knew why he wanted to be PM. Now Labour must focus on policy not personality - my piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/politic...

Absolutely this, and I think was crystallised by the Mandelson affair - rubbished by some, including the PM himself as a bubble story - undermining their manifesto commitment on VAWG

Alex Davies Jones, MoJ minister, has also quit

Arguably likelier than Labour electing a woman any time soon.

For those keeping tabs.... we are now at stage three of the plan

"How many children were left without a safety net in the time we dilly dallied and worried about tech bosses?"

Quite an accusation here: That Starmer has failed to protect children from abuse because of his desire to keep the tech industry happy.

By my list we now have 82 Labour rebels, enough to force a leadership challenge if they were able to agree on a candidate...

First minister to quit the govt, has been on resignation watch for a long time over the handling of immigration and other key topics Seen as v close to many senior figures on the left including Ed Miliband

🚨: Understand that Miatta Fahnbulleh is resigning this morning

My statement on the Prime Minister:

Honestly, what do the 'he is a good PM' think the hold-up on 'agreeing a defence investment plan' is? John Healey and Rachel Reeves both use the same babysitter so they can't find a gap in their schedule to hammer it out?

My statement regarding the Prime Minister.