Would they back Anas Sarwar as FM – someone they’ve heavily targeted with attack ads and who stands for a party they want to oust in Westminster in 2029? Or would they abstain in such a vote – effectively allowing the nomination of John Swinney as FM.
What makes the plan precarious (except the obvious issue of maths) is that Reform UK could have a kingmaker role – and the established parties aren’t quite sure how Reform would act in a vote like that.
If there ended up being more pro-Union than pro-indy MSPs, opposition parties could side behind one leader, eg. Anas Sarwar, and vote him in as FM. It would of course result in a very patchwork group behind the new Scottish leader, but it is one way that unionist politicians see to oust the SNP.
🏴 One theory being put around by opposition parties in Scotland is that Anas Sarwar (or indeed any opp party leader) could be voted in as First Minister if Scotland elects a pro-Union majority to Holyrood, thanks to the appointment process of First Minister by MSP nomination.
Govt spox added: ‘We will continue to take a consistent, long term and strategic approach to our relationship with China - cooperating where we can, whilst never compromising on security and resilience.’
There were concerns that Ed Miliband’s commitment to climate targets & net zero vision could affect the decision on Mingyang. The recent arrests of three men with links to Labour on suspicion of spying for China has led to a heightened alertness across the party.
Concerns about Mingyang grew after Chinese company Jingye threatened to turn off the British Steel blast furnaces at Scunthorpe, prompting questions about foreign control of industry in the UK. Parliament passed an emergency bill to give the government control of the plant.
Mingyang Smart Energy had been looking to sign a contract with Green Volt North Sea, which is constructing the first commercial-scale floating offshore wind farm in Europe.
But there were concerns over Mingyang’s ties to the CCP – and even the Trump admin had warned the UKG about security risks.
Govt spox: ‘After careful consideration, Government's view is that we cannot support the use of them in UK offshore wind projects. We will always act to protect our national security.’
NEW: The govt has blocked the use of Mingyang wind turbines in the UK over national security concerns.
I wrote about the controversy surrounding the Mingyang bid in July last year 👇
spectator.com/article/when...
🏴 Your Party has said it will stand candidates in Scotland in May’s Scottish parliament elections. The move initially outraged Scottish Green supporters worried about YP splitting the left wing vote – though pollsters tell me no one mentions Your Party when quizzed on voting intention.
NEW: Jeremy Corbyn is set to be parliamentary leader of Your Party after the group’s executive committee elections.
His ‘The Many’ slate won 14 seats, twice as many as Zarah Sultana's ‘Grassroots Left’ slate, which won 7 seats.
The result follows months of infighting between the pair.
NEW: Speaker Lindsay Hoyle confirms in the Commons that he told the police Peter Mandelson was a flight risk on receiving a tip off, ahead of Scottish questions.
‘I felt it was relevant,’ he said. ‘I passed it on in good faith, as is my duty and responsibility.’
Pivotal in the middle of a Scottish election campaign. Scottish Labour MPs privately suggesting that a Starmer resignation now could provide a turning point for the party’s fortunes ahead of May – and ‘beat the current tragic expectations’.
🏴 NEW: Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is expected to call for Keir Starmer to quit as PM in an emergency 2.30pm press conference.
There is ‘no appetite’ to do anything before May, a Labour figure says, while another MP adds that ‘timing means limping on’.
And while the consensus among MPs is that it’s ‘when, not if’ Starmer steps down as PM, it’s not clear that the time is now. The looming Gorton & Denton by-election & the locals/Scottish/Welsh polls in May mean that no one else wants to be held responsible for poor midterms.
Though some Starmer loyalists aren’t convinced that removing the CoS will do much to calm the storm. (‘It would be a twig thrown into a raging river in the hope of making a dam,’ one MP tells me.) Others say that removing McSweeney would be akin to ‘removing his brain’.
Starmer’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney was key in Mandelson’s initial appointment and ‘pleaded’ that the PM not sack him in September. McSweeney’s critics in the party, incl. some in govt, are now calling for him to go (deputy heads will roll etc)
Starmer admitted during PMQs that he had been aware of Mandelson’s persisting friendship with Epstein after the latter’s conviction. His own MPs forced him to let the Intelligence and Security Committee oversee the release of the Mandelson vetting docs (which has now been blocked by the Met).
🌹 One of Starmer’s worst days as PM and some suggest his premiership could end over it – but is there appetite for a change of leadership right now?
🏴 Malcolm Offord is Reform’s Scottish leader. Nigel Farage told me last month: ‘I can’t wait for somebody who’s better looking, younger, more intelligent & more articulate than me.’
He clearly sees that in Offord – but with only 5 months between them, his new appointee isn’t all that much younger…
Don't forget to register for tomorrow's webinar 🚨 Trinh Tu, Gideon Skinner, Ben Zaranko and @lucyidunn.bsky.social will be discussing the upcoming Autumn Budget.
Register here👉 bit.ly/49zQzBN
BEYOND THE BUBBLE: The Ipsos Autumn Budget Briefing Webinar 18 November, 12:30 – 13:30
@lucyidunn.bsky.social will join Trinh Tu, Gideon Skinner and Ben Zaranko for our Autumn Budget Briefing webinar. The panel will discuss the potential societal, economic, and political implications of the Chancellor’s upcoming announcement.
Join us on the 18 November 👉https://bit.ly/49zQzBN
🎙️ Spoke with @luketryl.bsky.social on the podcast today about the Green party’s leadership contest, the dynamics between the rivals and why frontrunner Zack Polanski is taking inspiration from Reform ♻️
Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/4obv...
🎙️ Great to have @markdiffley1.bsky.social on The Spectator’s Coffee House Shots discussing John Swinney’s indyref strategy, who constitutes the group of pro-indy non-SNP voters and if there’s a ceiling to Reform support in Scotland 🏴
👉 open.spotify.com/episode/4wmP...
Some personal news: I am delighted to have been promoted to Political Correspondent at The Spectator.
Drop me an email/message for tips, stories or if you’d like to grab coffee 🗞️
Ash Regan finds Nigel Farage’s ability to ‘shake things up’ refreshing at a time when Scottish politics has become ‘quite dull’: ‘It’s virtue-signalling politics where everyone’s trying to out-compete each other to show how perfect they can be.’
Read here 👇
www.spectator.co.uk/article/ash-...
