What Angela Rayner is really up to – as she plots Cabinet return There had been a time when Starmer's tenure looked set to end, but with rough economic headwinds ahead and a volatile Trump, that now seems less certain

EXC: I've been talking to Cabinet ministers about whether Sir Keir Starmer survives May's local election fallout

+ Whether Angela Rayner really wants to lead Labour?
+ What the unions are saying on Starmer
+ Inside No 10's reshuffle thinking

inews.co.uk/news/politic...

McSweeney ‘asked if Mandelson US embassy role could be pa... PM’s chief of staff sought advice on behalf of disgraced former Labour peer, senior government sources claim

Exclusive: Morgan McSweeney sought official advice about whether Mandelson could be the UK's ambassador to the US on a part-time basis

Officials “had to explain that being His Majesty’s Ambassador in Washington was a full time job… in Washington"

observer.co.uk/news/politic...

Mandelson was given secret spreadsheet to vet left-wing MPs in Labour power struggle The revelation shows the extent of Mandelson’s direct involvement in the bitter battle to gain control of the party ahead of the 2024 general election

EXC: Disgraced peer Peter Mandelson was directly involved in helping Morgan McSweeney select Labour’s parliamentary candidates ahead of the 2024 general election, a party whistleblower told The i Paper.

inews.co.uk/news/politic...

Interesting

How to be a Trump whisperer: Inside Starmer's plan for new President Diplomats are racing to strengthen ties with Trump but remain aware of the competition from Reform

EXC: How to be a Donald Trump whisperer: Inside Keir Starmer's plan for the new administration

inews.co.uk/news/politic...

Once the party of business, the Tories are having to go cap in hand for donations The Tories raised just under £1.9m during the election – less than a tenth of what they managed back in 2019

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is going to have to spend 2025 being extremely nice to people. Specifically, rich people who might bung her some cash.

inews.co.uk/opinion/once...

Forget the hype. Farage won't be Prime Minister One bookmaker now puts odds on Farage succeeding Sir Keir Starmer

Forget the hype, Nigel Farage won’t be Prime Minister

inews.co.uk/opinion/forg...

Exc: Donald Trump calls Keir Starmer as February US trip for the PM mooted

x.com/kitty_donald...

Giving regional mayors more power could backfire spectacularly These changes could actually deprive locals of a voice

Ahead of the government’s plans to introduce further devolution on Monday, my take on severing the local link and doing voters out of a voice

inews.co.uk/opinion/labo...

Next on Labour's list of new enemies: councillors The biggest planning shake-up in decades could mire the party leadership in a battle with party activists and local communities

Fresh from upsetting farmers, businesses and pensioners, the government looks set to add another category to its list: Labour councillors

Thursday’s planning reforms risk undermining local democracy (but could also save councils money).

inews.co.uk/opinion/next...

It's time for Rachel Reeves to justify her spending plans The Chancellor has instructed Cabinet colleagues to find 5 per cent cuts to their budgets. Expect stiff opposition

EXC: How a Post Office queue for a driving license refresh informed Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s drive for efficiency

inews.co.uk/opinion/its-...