Robbins sought to stress that Mandelson did not technically 'fail' vetting
UKSV felt the Mandelson case was "borderline" and was “leaning towards recommending that clearance be denied”, but that the Foreign Office deemed the risks manageable
Robbins said the FCDO had faced "constant pressure" from No 10 to process Mandelson's appointment as soon as possible
Speaking to the Foreign Affairs Committee, Robbins said there was "no interest in whether, only interest in when" Mandelson would be appointed as US ambassador
• Ex-FCDO chief Olly Robbins says No10 took a “dismissive approach” to Mandelson’s vetting
• Describes an “atmosphere of pressure” around the process
• Challenges reports that Mandelson “failed” vetting
• He was asked to find a role for former No10 comms chief Matthew Doyle
This is awful news. One of the original legal bloggers and one of the very best. nearlylegal.co.uk/2026/04/gile...
I’m deeply saddened at the tragic loss of Giles Peaker. Giles was not only an exceptionally talented housing lawyer but a real force for good in the world who played an integral role in the development of the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act. My heartfelt condolences to all who loved him.
“If ‘tough’ choices are needed, then we must not duck from the most difficult," Downie said
Read his full opinion piece for @thehousemag.bsky.social here:
Downie said that the Labour government should be brave enough to ask older people who "benefited financially from peace" to make a greater contribution to future national security
Read the full story here 👇
Over the weekend, Labour MP @graemedowniemp.bsky.social called for the pension triple lock to be reformed to fund higher defence spending
“If there is to be a true whole of society approach to defence, and younger people could be expected to die, what are older people willing to sacrifice?”
Two top civil servants, including the cabinet secretary, Antonia Romeo, failed to immediately notify Keir Starmer when they were made aware of Mandelson’s vetting failure in March, @theguardian.com reveals
So far, Romeo has been in post for 57 days…
🚨 OUT NOW 🚨 Is this Andy Burnham's moment?
👑 MP Karl Turner and @profjanegreen.bsky.social join @alaintolhurst.bsky.social, @siennarodgers.bsky.social and @tomscotson.bsky.social to discuss whether the so-called ‘king of the north’ will make it back down to Westminster
🎧 Listen: pod.fo/e/400299
a while ago played a game of trying to work out emmanuel macron/ en marche style names for 2024 intake MPs. sadly the "nibble britain" suggestion looking a little different in light of this
For me, it's not about the sniggering, it's about defence and the cost of living
oopsies
“I don’t think my pensioners would want to talk dirty, I think they’d want to talk defence”
😭😭😭
Things you never thought you’d hear an MP say
“For me, it's not about the summer of sex, it is about an all-year-round focus on the cost of living" –
@tomhayesmp.bsky.social
Kemi Badenoch brought up my interview at #PMQs, accusing Labour MPs of "promoting sex toys in Parliament" at a "moment of profound national seriousness"
And of course, many across Westminster are just shocked about how explicit Niblett was in the interview. She did not hold back!
But if she aimed to spark conversation about the topic, she has certainly done that
Read the full @politicshome.bsky.social interview here 👇
3/3
Some MPs have privately applauded Niblett's honesty and welcomed opening up the conversation about more inclusive sex ed & the damaging impact of hardcore porn
However, I understand others are concerned the interview could appear to trivialise an important & sensitive topic
2/3
My interview with MP Samantha Niblett about her "summer of sex" campaign has blown up somewhat
Perhaps she's right about this: "We just need to acknowledge that humans have a natural interest in sex..."
The interview has had *mixed* responses from the PLP in private so far
1/3
🚨 NEW: Labour MP Samantha Niblett has called for 2026 to be the "summer of sex"
She plans to host an event in Parliament with sex toys to promote open discussions on sexual pleasure and more realistic porn
"It's a turn on, it helps you masturbate, helps you cum"
These are not sentences I ever thought I would write as a political reporter
Labour MP Samantha Niblett wants Britain to have more open and inclusive conversations about sex – and that includes talking about it herself!
This is the most *open* interview I've ever done with an MP...
Labour MP @samanthaniblett.bsky.social has launched a campaign to make 2026 the “summer of sex”, calling for a more open and inclusive approach to lifelong sex ed
She is working with sextech entrepreneur Cindy Gallop
1/5
MP Samantha Niblett says she wants to make 2026 the “summer of sex”
"She's hoping to arrange two events...including one where she intends to bring sex toys into Parliament...though she is currently in conversation with parliamentary security over whether the devices will be allowed onto the estate"
These are not sentences I ever thought I would write as a political reporter
Labour MP Samantha Niblett wants Britain to have more open and inclusive conversations about sex – and that includes talking about it herself!
A Labour MP is pushing for more open sex education
@samanthaniblett.bsky.social wants her 'summer of sex' campaign to "remind people that it's a joyful thing"
She told @zoecrowther.bsky.social she hopes parliamentary authorities let her take sex toys to Westminster to encourage open conversation
“We just need to acknowledge that humans have a natural interest in sex… it is a joyful thing," Niblett says
Read the full interview here (including a few sentences I never thought I would write) 👇
5/5
Niblett has secured a Commons debate in the autumn on lifelong sex education
In the meantime, she wants to speak to a "whole bank of organisations": "So we can talk about sex all summer... to help shape that speech for the chamber, but then also we shape our next steps.”
4/5
Niblett wants to host an event in Parliament and bring in sex toys to encourage open conversation about sexual pleasure (but needs to figure out whether the devices will be allowed onto the estate)
3/5
Niblett wants the campaign to be about “taking control of our patriotism, about taking control of our Britishness, and not feeling ashamed”
She says porn can “skew your view about what real sex is like” and that she has watched porn herself, “like lots of people”
2/5
