Helping with morning Playbook this week after reminiscing about packing my bags and moving to Warwick as a bright-eyed 18-year-old undergrad exactly six years ago today. Recall freshers’ week (& Labour conference) being *slightly* torpedoed by Brenda Hale’s Supreme Court ruling.

Far too pleased to have scored 20/20 in the Navigate Politics quiz identifying which Lib Dem MP was which from their parliamentary photo. www.navigatepolitics.uk/conference/l...

The assisted dying bill has passed second reading in the Lords. After Luciana Berger's amendment, a specialist select committee will now scrutinise the bill in depth, hear from witnesses and present evidence *before* the entire upper house begins committee stage in November.

Danny Kruger’s defection feels about six months ago rather than three days ago.

Any future English class about using (possibly even overusing) superlatives can simply show *that* clip of Starmer and Trump. The superlative counter was non-stop.

That was a remarkably quick trip from Windsor Castle to Chequers even by U.S. presidential standards.

As a beach ball of a bald JD Vance bounced around the crowd attending the anti-Trump rally on a muddy Parliament Square, Jeremy Corbyn said “well done” to the four people arrested after images of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein were projected onto the side of Windsor Castle.

Trump getting the proper U.K. state visit experience given the misty, grey, drizzly weather in Blighty.

Keen to follow Donald Trump's state visit? Don't want bombarding with posts but *do* want to know what really matters? Then do have a read of @politico.eu's live blog today and tomorrow, following all the important developments as they happen. www.politico.eu/article/dona...

The House of Lords spent nearly seven hours debating Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s assisted dying bill for the first time. Do start your weekend reading my analysis in @politico.eu’s Playbook PM. Like the Commons, opinions were, of course, very divided. www.politico.eu/newsletter/l...

My final @politico.eu #PMQs scorecard before conference season gave Kemi Badenoch her most convincing win yet. The Tory leader learned from last week by probing the PM on one topic — Keir Starmer gave procedural answers that didn't offer clarification. www.politico.eu/article/uk-p...

In another example of being around 10 years behind the cultural trends, I've just started BBC Two's 'The Fall.' Utterly captivating and haunting - especially as I was in Belfast back in May.

Well, my emergency test alert at least worked this time - albeit a minute late.

Want some weekend political reading that *isn’t* about the reshuffle? My @politico.eu analysis looks at how universities have been affected by a tougher Whitehall approach towards international students - putting some of those educational establishments in the red. 👇

Yvette Cooper presumably purchasing a rod fishing licence in time for JD Vance's next visit ...

A Labour MP said Rayner shouldn't have had to resign: “I’ve had casework where two equally competent tax advisers have given constituents completely different advice.” An internal election was “like a hole in the head” but they would back Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

Rayner's departure triggers the first deputy Labour leadership election that *isn't* taking place alongside a Labour leadership election since 1981.

My @politico.eu long read on this crisp Friday morning explores how the government discouraged international brainiacs from studying in Britain to lower immigration figures - leaving universities dependent on huge overseas fees very strapped for cash. www.politico.eu/article/brit...

Keen to learn more about working on a student paper, journalism training and life as a hack in SW1? Then do have a listen to my appearance on the ‘Hogging the Mic’ podcast from ‘The Boar’. A total pleasure speaking to the team and reminiscing about my time writing for the paper at Warwick. 👇

Had an absolute blast appearing on 'Hogging the Mic', the podcast from my former parish 'The Boar'. Very much enjoyed the trip down memory lane discussing student journalism, completing an NCTJ and life in the strange world of Westminster. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/n...

Confused about today's turbulent political events? Want an evening recap? Why not have a read of my @politico.eu #PMQs scorecard below, delving into the furore engulfing Angela Rayner — and explaining how Kemi Badenoch failed to seize that political opportunity. 👇

It's the first Wednesday of the autumn term, parliament's back and so here's my @politico.eu #PMQs scorecard. The verdict? Kemi Badenoch didn't capitalize on Angela Rayner failing to pay enough stamp duty by sticking to prepared economic questions. www.politico.eu/article/pmqs...

Feeling somewhat bereft after finishing Netflix's 'Hostage.' A thriller that knows how to thrill and zips along nicely over its five episodes. Yes, there are technical inaccuracies and the plot wasn't entirely plausible but I felt the drama worked as some, ironically, escapism.

Everyone in Westminster loves the Saint George's Cross and Union Jack. But some politicians go one step further to prove their devotion to national symbols. My @politico.eu listicle runs through the five biggest political flag waving fanatics. www.politico.eu/article/5-br...

London looking especially fresh, crisp and bright on this autumn day as I celebrate exactly three years living in this remarkable city. Marking the special occasion … by going to a Reform UK press conference about council pension funds. More details in this arvo’s Playbook PM.

ICYMI: Yesterday, the government confirmed the parliamentary session will run until spring 2026. That means Kim Leadbeater's assisted dying bill is very likely to become law as peers have more time for scrutiny. My read below previewed what will happen in the Lords next month. 👇

"Wounded by an election rout delivering the party’s worst ever result last year, a band of battle-hardened millennials and Gen Z whizzkids are trying to keep the flame of U.K. conservatism burning bright." @noahkeate.bsky.social

Want some evening reading for your commute? Why not look over my run through of tech savvy Tories using social media to stay in the political arena. Figures include people from @nextgentories.bsky.social, the Onward think tank and Conservative YIMBY alongside some Tory MPs first elected last year.👇

Reform UK might be leading the opinion polls — but Britain's beleaguered Conservatives haven't given up the fight. My @politico.eu piece runs through the next generation of Tories using social media to keep the flame of conservatism burning bright. www.politico.eu/article/tori...

Ahead of Trump's second state visit, I stumbled across a June 2019 NPR interview with David Lammy during his first state visit. The then backbench Labour MP protested due to "the danger that potentially he and his like poses to the democratic free world." www.npr.org/2019/06/04/7...

Quite the snaps of Ed Davey and Somerset MP Tessa Munt strawberry picking and eating. Strawberry fields forever ... bidding for a Paul McCartney endorsement? news.sky.com/story/politi...

It wouldn’t be a trip to York without a visit to Betty’s … featuring some intensive tea pouring concentration, the minster’s renovation and, of course, the city walls.

Few joys better than making a train connection despite the first train’s delayed departure thanks to the second train’s delayed arrival.

Visited Harrogate, Knaresborough & York and only purchased four books: Ben Elton’s ‘This Other Eden’, @helenlewis.bsky.social’s ‘The Genius Myth,’ @johnofarrell.bsky.social‘s ‘May Contain Nuts’ & a 2011 Private Eye A-Z. Just finished @claremackwrites.bsky.social’s peerless ‘Other People’s Houses.’

🚨NEW: How one X account grabbed SW1’s attention. My latest @politico.eu read explores Politics UK’s rise from sharing news stories in an arresting style to bagging interviews with Cabinet ministers. Traditional media outlets have plenty to say … www.politico.eu/article/uk-b...

Public service announcement for NFL fans who want Old Blighty to host the first Super Bowl outside the US: you've got an ally in Peter Mandelson. My @politico.eu writeup on Britain's man in Washington calling for the fixture to head across the Atlantic. www.politico.eu/article/brit...

Campaigners leapt for joy when MPs backed legalizing assisted dying in June. Their celebrations may have been premature. My latest @politico.eu read assesses challenges facing the bill in the House of Lords - and asks if peers could halt it altogether. www.politico.eu/article/uk-u...

Kick off your week by reading my @politico.eu analysis of independent MP Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain movement — which aims to shift Westminster's Overton window rightwards without becoming a political party. But will it be crowded out by Reform UK? www.politico.eu/article/meet...

JD Vance lands in Britain for a family holiday in the Cotswolds (dubbed the “Hamptons of England”). But the US vice president hasn’t always been so complimentary about Old Blighty. My @politico.eu listicle on five times Vance didn’t hold back … www.politico.eu/article/jd-v...

Marked 24 journeys around the sun by visiting Wicken Fen, a superb National Trust spot outside Cambridge. A vast landscape provided perfect escapism from bustling city life. The immensely picturesque views showed just how flat East Anglia can be. Scones were obviously consumed.

Marked 24 journeys around the sun by visiting Wicken Fen, a superb National Trust spot outside Cambridge. A vast landscape provided perfect escapism from bustling city life. The immensely picturesque views showed just how flat East Anglia can be. Scones were obviously consumed.

When you're Prime Minister, everyone thinks they can run the country better than you — including people who've actually done the job before. My @politico.eu summer long read about why Britain's many, many ex-PMs can't stop pontificating on politics. www.politico.eu/article/uk-l...

When you're Prime Minister, everyone thinks they can run the country better than you — including people who've actually done the job before. My @politico.eu summer long read about why Britain's many, many ex-PMs can't stop pontificating on politics. www.politico.eu/article/uk-l...

Fascinating Radio 4 documentary by @willhaycardiff.bsky.social about Reform's rise in Wales ahead of next year's Senedd elections. An incisive look at what they've promised, why people are turning against Welsh Labour and what Farage's win could mean for the country. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Always satisfying to find an undiscovered Ben Elton tome in a second hand bookshop. Many hours of literary pleasure await.

Stumbled across this absolutely wonderful Radio 4 programme about - and hosted by - continuity announcers. Excellent insight into the hard work keeping the station on air … while always sounding calm, engaged and relaxed for listeners (which they do). www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Has found boat trips on the Thames are the perfect way to admire the capital’s bridges and sunsets.

Donald Trump arrives in Scotland for a long golfing weekend. But what do locals think about that? I spoke to seven Scottish politicians for @politico.eu about his impact on policing, supporting the economy — and putting Scotland on the global stage. www.politico.eu/article/us-d...

Donald Trump arrives in Scotland for a long golfing weekend. But what do locals think about that? I spoke to seven Scottish politicians for @politico.eu about his impact on policing, supporting the economy — and putting Scotland on the global stage. www.politico.eu/article/us-d...

MPs head off for recess this afternoon to pack their suitcases and don their shades for some time at the seaside (and in their constituencies, obvs). Those hoping for a quiet August will be disappointed, as my latest @politico.eu read proves. www.politico.eu/article/unit...