Man arrested on suspicion of Chinese spying was in UK parliament as recently as January David Taylor held a key role in a cross-party group of MPs on relations with Qatar.

Man arrested on suspicion of Chinese spying was in UK parliament as recently as January

new Gino d'Acampo adage just dropped

Trump’s ‘absurdly incoherent’ Iran pleas leave allies befuddled European countries have ruled out helping secure the Strait of Hormuz until the conflict is over — but also haven’t received any specific requests for assistance from the U.S.

NEW: Talks on reopening the Strait of Hormuz remain deadlocked amid confusion over Donald Trump’s call for support to U.S. allies, per 4 European govt officials.

So far, Washington has not made any requests for equipment. @estwebber.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/donl...

Putin offers to stop sharing intel with Iran if US cuts off Ukraine The U.S. rejected the Russian proposal, which has nonetheless sparked concerns in Europe amid growing transatlantic tensions.

Moscow proposed a quid pro quo to the U.S. under which the Kremlin would stop sharing intelligence information with Iran, such as the precise coordinates of U.S. military assets in the Middle East, if Washington ceased supplying Ukraine with intel about Russia.

a) A frankly wild level of attempted intervention in what should be a domestic process.

b) Trump's aides were mostly unhappy with how Pierce had been treated and Mandelson's past remarks about Trump.... and not, you know, not all the other stuff.

Trump’s team repeatedly tried to intervene over Mandelson appointment Two people tell POLITICO that the initial response to the controversial ambassadorial appointment was deeply skeptical, despite eventual assent.

We've got new reporting on how Trump's team repeatedly tried to intervene over Starmer's removal of Karen Pierce as ambassador in favour of Mandelson.

It was raised with Jonathan Powell and Morgan McSweeney in Florida *and then* in a phonecall weeks later:
www.politico.eu/article/dona...

My X account has been hacked in what might be my final nudge to leave that site - please ignore any DMs from me over there!

Overseas aid cuts threaten UK aid watchdog Labour MPs are voicing concerns about the plans, which would limit scrutiny of development spending.

EXCL:

Ministers are poised to cut the watchdog that measures the UK’s overseas aid spending.

Labour MPs pointing out that the party made an explicit commitment to “work closely” with the watchdog in the 2024 manifesto.
www.politico.eu/article/over...

Britain scrambles to shield Gulf allies as Iran war pounds on Keir Starmer’s hesitation as war loomed in the Middle East has left Gulf allies exposed.

EXCL:

Gulf allies let down after Starmer acted too slowly and deployed wrong assets to the region, according to military and diplomatic figures.

“No.10 was determined to downplay perception of us getting involved and now is playing catch up”
www.politico.eu/article/brit...

Layoffs loom at the British Council as budget squeeze hits overseas programs The U.K.’s vehicle for cultural and education programming abroad faces massive cuts.

EXCL:

The British Council is preparing to shed hundreds of jobs and scale back operations across Europe.

Part of a squeeze on British soft power institutions funded by government, with BBC World Service also facing cuts.

by Hannah Roberts @masonboyowen.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/keir...

Nigel Farage tries to fix his Russia problem Reform UK is making efforts to shake off its foreign policy headahces, from Putin to Trump.

EXCL:

Nigel Farage has quietly been trying to fix his Russia problem.

Reform aides have been holding meetings with embassies, including Ukraine.

But diplomats are not wholly reassured. “We don’t have clarity of what their position on Ukraine is, to be honest.”

www.politico.eu/article/nige...

UK urged to beef up Greenland support amid Trump threats Former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is among those calling for Britain to make better use of the existing Joint Expeditionary Force.

EXC: Former defence sec Ben Wallace + Labour MPs call on Starmer to make a more visible show of support for Greenland against Trump threats.

They want Britain to exploit links in the High North through the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

w/@samblewett.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/uk-u...

Britain’s troubled Holocaust memorial Stalled for more than a decade, a memorial in the shadow of the U.K. Parliament has stirred strong emotions — and very British planning objections.

I wrote about London's new Holocaust memorial, due to get the green light this year.

Supporters believe the project has already been delayed for too long.

But critics fear it will oversimplify Britain’s relationship with its past and with present-day antisemitism.

www.politico.eu/article/brit...

Starmer promised to spend big on defense but Britain’s arms industry is still waiting Six months after a major inquiry into how the U.K. would meet geopolitical threats, many in the industry complain they haven’t received the certainty they need about where the British government pl…

"We have built factories that could start making equipment tomorrow. But we can’t until an order is placed”

Worked with @estwebber.bsky.social on a sad tale about Britain's defence industry, waiting to hear if the government will ever pour money into the sector

www.politico.eu/article/keir...

Final decision on fate of crumbling UK parliament delayed to 2030s It’s a fire-hazard that’s prone to tumbling masonry — but fear of a public backlash is again delaying repairs to the world famous building.

EXCL:

Final decision on restoring the Palace of Westminster will be delayed until 2030s

MPs were expected to vote by the end of 2025 on a way forward for fixing the crumbling parliament, but that now won't happen

Story w/@danbloom1.bsky.social
www.politico.eu/article/fina...

Final decision on fate of crumbling UK parliament delayed to 2030s It’s a fire-hazard that’s prone to tumbling masonry — but fear of a public backlash is again delaying repairs to the world famous building.

🚨🚨🚨 EXCLUSIVE by @estwebber.bsky.social and me

Final decision on restoration of parliament is set to be postponed **beyond the next general election**

MPs were due to vote this year on 4 options

Plan is now: pick 2 options, and start "preparatory work"

Final option may only emerge in early 2030s

UK government under pressure to stop Sudan bloodshed Britain is officially responsible for the Sudan portfolio at the U.N. Security Council.

EXCL:

MPs urging Yvette Cooper to use the G7 to ramp up pressure for a breakthrough in Sudan, warning that "global attention has drifted away"

Labour MP David Taylor: the UK “has a moral duty to redouble its diplomatic efforts and push for a lasting resolution"

www.politico.eu/article/uk-g...

Deep inside a mountain, Britain prepares for Russian onslaught British military planners travelled to Bodø, nestled between the sea and snow-capped peaks of the Arctic Circle, to war-game out the response to Russian threats.

Defence ministers went to the Arctic this week to war game what would happen if Russia seeds disorder on their doorstep.

“Russia is living in the Arctic. We need to step up on the European side to learn to live in the ice-covered polar sea.”

My piece from Bodø: www.politico.eu/article/brit...

Sudanese ‘militiamen’ invited to Labour Party conference event Event was arranged by organization run by Labour councillor known in Westminster for running the British Kebab Awards.

EXCL:

Two alleged members of the Sudanese paramilitary group RSF were invited to speak at a Labour conference fringe event.

RSF is accused of crimes against humanity including the rape and murder of civilians

www.politico.eu/article/suda...

One optimistic government adviser pointed to Trump’s reception by the King and Queen of the Netherlands, which helped pave the way for a successful NATO summit, as a template for royal impact.

Ukraine’s best hope for influencing Trump? King Charles. The U.S. president will be lauded with the finest pomp and pageantry Britain has to offer.

👑🇺🇦 Ukraine’s best hope for influencing Trump? King Charles.

The King is “very close” to detail of Ukraine negotiations and to Zelenskyy himself.

While he won't speak publicly about matters of government, he is “adept at finding other ways of showing his views.”

www.politico.eu/article/dona...

Calls to possible candidates to replace Mandelson already under way.

Former national security adviser Mark Sedwill is being seen as a frontrunner.

Karen Pierce remains a favourite of Trump but difficult for No.10 to backtrack and admit mistake.

How the Epstein scandal claimed Britain’s ‘Prince of Darkness’ Peter Mandelson’s sacking shocked London and Washington just days before a high-stakes state visit.

NEW: Full story of extraordinary Mandelson affair and what next

— Trump upset by handling and that Starmer didn't tell him personally
— Edgy about state visit being overshadowed
— Pushing for a replacement to happen before state visit

w/@samblewett.bsky.social
www.politico.eu/article/how-...

Starmer and Merz find their happy place: War Germany’s leader will use a London visit Thursday to finalize a wide-ranging pact that goes big on security cooperation.

NEW: Keir Starmer keen to big up tackling illegal migration when he meets Friedrich Merz, but the steps announced today are limited.

Both men facing domestic pressure on migration but less clear how they can help each other compared with France.

w/Nette Noestlinger www.politico.eu/article/keir...

On coalition of the willing, IISS' François Heisbourg tells my colleague @cleacaulcutt.bsky.social:

“Apart from counting once more the number of buttons on uniforms, I don’t see the point of [the meeting]”

Macron pitches Starmer on new special relationship as leaders strike defense deals The countries have dubbed their defense refresh an “entente industrielle.”

Starmer and Macron going big on defence today, but are they papering over the cracks?

— differing approaches to Trump
— France reluctant for UK access to EU fund
— coalition of the willing at an impasse
www.politico.eu/article/emma...

Macron will give an address from the Royal Gallery later.

Tapestries were used to cover paintings of Waterloo and Trafalgar battles during a visit by Charles de Gaulle to parliament in 1960, but Macron will not be spared.

When Charles addressed the French Senate during that visit, he said: “France has been an essential part of the fabric of my own life for as long as I can remember.”

The speech, delivered largely in French, earned him a standing ovation.

Macron and the King have a friendship which underpins this visit.

Follows Macron's tribute to the Queen, the King's cancelled state visit to France due to riots, and the Macrons' 2023 banquet at the Palace of Versailles, where they served Pol Roger's Sir Winston Churchill cuvée.

Move over Starmer: It’s the King Charles and Macron show The British monarch prepares to roll out the red carpet for France’s president — and offer some welcome relief from strife back home.

State Visit time!

While it's all about amity, the King's words will be watched for hints about where the allies have further to go.

“Look at what the king has done on Canada and on Ukraine without saying a word” said one ex-diplomat.

w/@cleacaulcutt.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/keir...