Political cabinet read out. Penny for Antonia Romeo's thoughts.

Also they have social media in Canada and Carney's doing fine.

They have it in Spain and Sanchez has been PM since 2018.

And in France where Macron's been President since 2017.

Westminster: in crisis

Meanwhile Mel Stride:

"Since Labour came to power in 2024, almost half of all the permanent secretaries who were in place at the time of the last election have left the civil service" - The Times

Having finished his work on Nigel Farage, Lord Ashcroft says his next book will be on Zack Polanski: "Early research has proved fascinating..."

Chris Hinchliff suggests Mandelson appointment “was made because of political pressure from No. 10 to advance a man who a particular faction of the Labour Party has looked to for moral and spiritual leadership for years”

Confirmed: Olly Robbins appearing before FAC at 9am tomorrow

Nigel Farage out on the campaign trail in Kemi Badenoch’s Essex seat today. Reform source claims: “He was mobbed. People were even rushing out of local barber shops to shake his hand”

Nigel Farage out on the campaign trail in Kemi Badenoch’s Essex seat today. Reform source claims: “He was mobbed. People were even rushing out of local barber shops to shake his hand”

After 20 months, Starmer is now on his third Cabinet Secretary, his third FCDO Perm Sec, his third/fourth No. 10 chief(s) of staff and his fifth No. 10 Director of Comms

Somewhat ludicrous BBC headline: "staggering" I was not told Mandelson failed vetting, says PM

[climbing out of my car which is now embedded in my neighbours' front room, turning to them hands on hips] honestly I'm as mad about this as you are

Olly Robbins sacked over Mandelson scandal The Mandelson scandal claims yet another victim. Late on Thursday night, Olly Robbins was sacked rom his post as the Foreign Office’s Permanent Secretary. It came six hours after the Guardian first re...

New: Fury in the Foreign Office tonight at how Olly Robbins has been treated. Even his sworn opponents calling it "bullshit":

spectator.com/article/olly...

BREAKING: Olly Robbins sacked by Starmer over Mandelson vetting scandal

Lindsay Hoyle cuts off Keir Starmer talking about Kemi Badenoch and reminds him: "Prime Minister, it's Prime Minister's Questions"

New MRP out. Striking how relaxed/confident many Tories still seem given these projected results in three weeks’ time:

Still can't get over that Samantha Niblett interview.

Illiberalism Is Not Inevitable If Viktor Orbán can lose, then his Russian and American admirers can lose too.

How did Magyar win? A long running grassroots campaign in rural and small town Hungary; a refusal to be distracted by government propaganda; a focus on economic issues and corruption; a central promise to bring back democracy and the rule of law

Chris Philp responds to Reform's "Boriswave" press conference: “We look forward to Reform explaining when their new converts will be hauled into the dock to explain the Suella Surge and the Jenrick Jump"

Orban concedes defeat in Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has conceded election victory in Hungary after 16 years in power, with the opposition on course for a landslide win. Péter Magyar is set to be the country’s new prime minis...

The hope within British government circles is ‘that Hungary will now return to the European fold’, according to one senior figure.

That is likely to mean plenty of confrontation at home and much greater co-operation abroad:

spectator.com/article/orba...

Love local election candidates. Just had it pointed out that former Tory MEP, MP and minister John Bowis is seeking a political comeback aged 80 for Kingston Council. He last sat there in 1986...

A popular figure among local Tories in Greenwich, O'Leary was President of the Lewisham Deptford Association during Truss's time in No. 10.

He was spotted at the memorable 2022 conference moving among the crowds in the bar, meeting longtime party friends with no fuss.

Liz Truss's husband to stand for Tories With almost 5,000 wards up for grabs, it’s all hands to the pump at these local elections. And in their desire to field a full slate for 7 May, the good Conservatives of Greenwich have turned to a fam...

New: Liz Truss's husband Hugh is standing for the Tories next month. It is believed to be the first time that an ex-PM's spouse has stood for political office after leaving Downing Street since Margaret Lloyd George.
spectator.com/article/liz-...

I knew it was bad but really didn’t appreciate it was quite this bad

as.ft.com/r/db911dd6-f...

Been sent this tally of how many candidates are being fielded by each of the main parties.

It has been a difficult task to find and field almost 5,000 candidates:

At least four ex Tory MPs are standing for Reform in these local elections: Henry Smith, Marco Longhi, Jonathan Gullis and Damien Moore. Any others?

Tory MP responds to colleagues who might be open to a deal:

“Absolutely fucking not. Farage wants our voters, our candidates, and our party, and in return we’d get nothing but chaos and a mini-Trump totalitarian personality cult. No way.”

In Millbank Tower, where Reform is based, there is a growing list of ‘policies stolen by the Tories’; Farage has taken to calling Badenoch ‘copycat Kemi’.

Column in this week’s Spectator on how much of the British right is converging:

spectator.com/article/the-...

Quite the coup for Reform: Britain’s youngest self-made billionaire is moving back here to bankroll the party

Happy Easter

Superb