Clive Lewis backs Andy Burnham? Remarks delivered at the 2025 Robin Cook Memorial Lecture
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Clive Lewis backs Andy Burnham? Remarks delivered at the 2025 Robin Cook Memorial Lecture
“Reform UK have spotted what you could call a ‘gap in the market’, and it's not a good one”, writes Labour MP Dr @simonforstroud.bsky.social 🗣️ Reform UK’s vaccine crankery is a dangerous threat to our national security www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...
“I absolutely will insist that you are not discarded as collateral damage in a rush to worship the god of unfettered autonomy for an articulate few”, writes @timfarron.bsky.social 🗣️ My opposition to assisted dying is rooted in liberalism and Christianity www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...
🚨 Zarah Sultana confirms she has been frozen out of ‘Your Party’ — Hits out at “sexist boys’ club” — Accuses Corbyn statement of having “misrepresented the situation” — Calls for a meeting with Corbyn — Party is “more important than any one person”
I expect the momentum of Your Party’s flagrant incompetence will drive Sultana towards Polanski’s Greens. The rifts between her and the original Independent Alliance MPs, it would seem, are irreconcilable. Ideologically and strategically the ‘party’ is riven
All is not well in ‘Your Party’. Note the absence of Zarah Sultana’s name at the bottom of this statement
From YouGov: Seven in ten Britons (71%) now hold an unfavourable opinion of Keir Starmer
Dementia is the leading cause of death in the UK, yet too many families wait years for a diagnosis. I am proud to support @alzresearchuk.bsky.social’s #DementiaUnseen campaign calling for early, accurate diagnosis. Read my personal experience in @politics.co.uk: www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...
“Early and accurate diagnosis is the foundation for everything that follows – and we must act urgently to make it a reality for everyone, in every community”, writes @douglasmcallister.bsky.social 🗣️ A dementia diagnosis should be a right, not a waiting game www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...
Reckless followed Carswell of course. But less meaningful as he wasn’t the first
No defection will surpass Carswell’s in its political meaning until the defector calls a by-election, and wins it. No competition until then
The Conservatives are also launching a new digital campaign on the “Mandelson-Epstein files” Featuring a new website: releasethemandelsonfiles.com
More bad news for No 10: The commons speaker has granted a Conservative request for a three-hour emergency debate on the Lord Mandelson debacle under Standing Order 24 — it will be the first such debate since January 2023 Badenoch statement 👇
🚨 Foreign affairs committee calls for hearing on Mandelson appointment and dismissal The committee is calling on the FCDO and Cabinet Office to give evidence on the vetting and security processes behind Mandelson’s appointment Chair Emily Thornberry comments:
Bill Cash is a similar profile to David Jones. Both 'Brexit Spartans' and longtime ERGers. Together, they led the "star chamber" of lawyers that scrutinised the Rwanda Bill on behalf of the ERG and the "five families". Also this from ex-Tory MP Marco Longhi:
Simon Clarke unlikely due to role at Onward. Can't rule out Mark Francois. Would be another frontbench defection + someone highly engaged in Tory factional politics. Like Kruger, he was an early and enthusiastic backer of Jenrick's 2024 candidacy
I see Sarah Dines and James Duddridge as possible candidates for ex-MP defections. They fit the prevalent trend as Boris Johnson acolytes
All else being equal, Suella Braverman would be a very likely candidate. But right now relations look a little complicated leftfootforward.org/2025/07/suel...
Miriam Cates, co-chair of the New Conservatives group alongside Kruger, is a very likely future defector This article - www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09... - is effectively an endorsement of Kruger's defection
Lee Anderson, Reform UK MP for Ashfield, famously would have voted against the bill had Labour MPs not "giggled" at him www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Of the eleven Conservative (mostly former) MPs who voted against the Sunak government's Rwanda Bill at third reading in January 2024, three have now defected to Reform Potentially some clues here as to who could be next to go?
That is the true 'crossover' point - a mainly psychological phenomenon There is a more material significance as well: Kruger's defection will expedite this realisation for other Tories Kruger's flight to Faragism is both a reflection of the Conservative Party's decline, and a harbinger of it
Tory MPs will have different measures as to when this 'point' arrives - it's a subjective assessment. There will be others for whom it is an ideological impossibility. But Kruger has made that judgement. As Tory 'intellectual' with thought leadership in the rump party, that's significant
I have written before about an inflection point in British politics: when Conservative MPs interpret Reform UK's continued rise and consumption of the incumbent opposition as, effectively, inevitable. At that point, the incentive structure realigns: pointing ambitious, able Tories into Farage's arms
A sign of the dam breaking? After a drip-drip of opportunistic-seeming ex-MP defections, this feels different. Kruger is seen as a party intellectual, relatively young and holds as safe a Tory seat as they come these days. And he declares: "The Conservative Party is over". Remarkable by any measure
Hard to overstate the damage this does to Badenoch. Just after her best week as party leader. That will be forgotten now Kruger was a prominent Tory: co-chair of the New Conservatives group, Johnson ally (a theme with Reform defectors), and campaign manager of Jenrick's 2024 leadership bid
A significant defection. Danny Kruger, appointed by Badenoch to serve on the Tory frontbench, is Reform UK's latest MP
As I travel back to Parliament this morning, I'm preparing for the #EmploymentRightsBill to return from the Lords. They've watered it down and we can't let them. Here's what's happened and why it's so important Labour delivers for working people 👇
“In a move that will dismay working people, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have got the old coalition band back together”, writes Labour's @mwheelermp.bsky.social 🗣️ We must not let a Tory-Lib Dem alliance weaken the workers’ rights bill www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...
“Starmer is not a career politician — a fact he is apparently proud of. But that does not absolve him of the responsibilities and intricacies of politics.” www.politics.co.uk/week-in-revi...
Some thoughts on the Lord Mandelson scandal, the crisis facing Keir Starmer’s premiership, the deputy leadership contest — and the Andy Burnham factor Long-read for @politics.co.uk on where we are now, and what’s next: www.politics.co.uk/week-in-revi...
“…a pattern emerges from No 10’s management: the adoption of an untenable line, the strained defence of it, the unequivocal denunciations of alternative approaches, the stubbornness — then the slow acquiescence to political pressure in the days leading up to a brittle about-face.”
“Starmer, once again, did not spot the obvious danger. Not for the first time, the politics of the moment looked to have passed him by.” www.politics.co.uk/week-in-revi...
Mandelson scandal exposes fragility of Starmer’s standing www.politics.co.uk/week-in-revi...
“The British public deserves answers”, writes Conservative MP Gavin Williamson 🗣️ Appointing Mandelson was a grave error – Starmer must be held accountable www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...
Reform's energy plans are fracking stupid.
Liz Lloyd, who left No 10 in the reshuffle last week, is made a peer and a minister She will serve jointly in the science, innovation and technology + business and trade depts, as well as a whip in the Lords No 10 press notice:
Paula Barker is the latest to withdraw from the Labour deputy leadership race. Thornberry suspended her candidacy earlier this morning Looking like a Phillipson-Powell final two
“Fracking isn’t the answer. It doesn’t stack up at any level in the UK. Want energy security? Go for clean energy”, writes Labour MP @billesterson.bsky.social 🗣️ Reform UK’s fracking stance shows it is not serious www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...
UQ coming up on Mandelson
Thornberry running on a “we've made mistakes and must listen” ticket
“It is a message designed to resonate with both the financial markets and the electorate, and it sets the tone for a potentially transformative period in politics”, writes Jim Murphy 🗣️ More growth, fewer boats: Starmer’s reshuffle signals determination to deliver www.politics.co.uk/comment/2025...
Ribeiro-Addy has the backing of 2020 deputy leadership candidate Richard Burgon, also SCG, who will not stand
Bell Ribeiro-Addy of the Socialist Campaign Group has in the last hour announced she is standing
🚨 Louise Haigh not standing
The events of today have only reinforced me in my view that a Labour deputy leadership election will be a difficult experience indeed for the government, as per my weekend article: “Labour is about to spend the autumn holding a mirror up to its divisions.” www.politics.co.uk/week-in-revi...
Emerging divergence between Polanski’s Greens and the fledgling Your Party is that the former has shown a consistent determination to speak to Reform’s target voters. It looks to be crucial to the new leadership’s electoral and media strategy
“It is the Labour ‘soft left’ that has most to gain from a deputy leadership contest. And there is no shortage of potential standard-bearers.” www.politics.co.uk/week-in-revi...
“At this stage, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the membership is about to stick a thorn directly into Starmer’s side.” www.politics.co.uk/week-in-revi...
Health secretary Wes Streeting responds to Dr Aseem Malhotra’s comments on the main stage at Reform UK conference:
Starmer has every reason to fear a deputy leadership election The PM began the week projecting control. But now he must spectate as a deputy leadership contest puts his premiership on trial Long-read for @politics.co.uk on what's next after an extraordinary week👇 www.politics.co.uk/week-in-revi...
Nothing to stop her trying for both contests
The soft left has most to gain from a deputy leadership contest. I can see one of Anneliese Dodds, Rosena Allin-Khan, Emily Thornberry, even Louise Haigh doing well Which, if you're Keir Starmer, is not great reading. All have had run-ins with the leadership
The crucial section from Sir Laurie Magnus' letter to the PM: "Accordingly, it is with deep regret that I must advise you that in these circumstances, I consider the Code to have been breached"
🚨Angela Rayner resigns govt roles and as deputy leader of the Labour Party "...I have therefore decided to resign as Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, as well as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party." Letter to the PM:
“Digital ID can also be a vital tool in halting the 'broken Britain' narrative felt throughout the country”, writes @plmr.co.uk CEO @kevincraig.co.uk 🗣️ Digital ID can be Labour’s path to smashing the gangs and fixing public services www.politics.co.uk/comment/2025...
PM also appoints new chief economic advisor, Baroness Shafik
🚨 Breaking: Cabinet reshuffle begins… Darren Jones becomes chief secretary (minister of state) to the prime minister and No10 — a new role James Murray takes his place as chief secretary to the Treasury Both are cabinet-attending roles, No 10 has said
Labour MP @alexsobel.co.uk, @appgfairelections.bsky.social chair: “The government has a duty to identify and mitigate serious risks to Britain. “These now include the possibility of an extreme party securing a majority government with the support of less than three in ten voters.”
🚨 NEW: Cross-party MPs publish ‘ready to go’ blueprint for electoral reform commission — FPTP “threatens to undermine the resilience and stability of our democratic system”, @appgfairelections.bsky.social MPs say — The group is calling on ministers to greenlight its plan Exclusive story 👇
Pugnacious and principled from @bengoldsborough.bsky.social on Farage’s immigration plan: “That is not policy. That is barbarism.” “It is an assault not just on migrants, but on you.” “That is not patriotism — it is a betrayal of everything Britain stands for.” www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...
When immigration is turned into a weapon it is our democracy that suffers. Reform UK’s plans would strip away rights and decency at the very moment people are asking for fairness and workable solutions. My full piece is here: www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2... @politics.co.uk @josh.politics.co.uk
“Reform UK has chosen the easy road of fear. We must have the courage to take the harder path: solutions rooted in decency, fairness, and the freedoms that make Britain worth defending”, writes Labour MP @bengoldsborough.bsky.social 🗣️ Nigel Farage would break what makes Britain strong
New piece from Labour MP @bengoldsborough.bsky.social for @politics.co.uk: “When Nigel Farage stood up this week and outlined his so-called 'plan' for immigration, he didn’t sound like a democrat. He sounded like Vladimir Putin” www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...
In a January 2011 debate, Sajid Javid argues that ticket-touting is an “an excellent example of enterprise culture” hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2011...
EDMs as a populist campaigning tool? On Rupert Lowe's use of the early day motion (EDM) to forge ideological alliances in parliament — for an upcoming (and extremely nerdy) @politics.co.uk project:
bsky.app/profile/josh...
Excellent material for Sir Roger’s trivia section
Yep - an unofficial, mostly self-styled term. Bill Cash took ownership of it in the last parliament. Gale refers to himself as it this parliament
NEW: Sir Roger also opposed to capital punishment... in Iran www.hernebayandsandwichconservatives.org.uk/news/sir-rog...
Absolutely - they aren't for my own enjoyment! Quite a large project, the aim is to make them unreasonably detailed. So hoping to have them all online around New Year
The Sir Roger Gale manifesto™: - Anti Johnson - Pro Mordaunt - Pro Hunt - Pro May - Pro Charlie Elphicke - Pro Remain (anti-internal market bill) - Anti assisted dying - Pro Palestine - Anti same-sex marriage ("Orwellian") - Pro "Western" kitchen knives - Pro capital punishment - Anti fox-hunting
Spending my Saturday evening writing MP profiles. Struck by grandfather of the House Sir Roger Gale's stance on death - Anti assisted dying - Pro capital punishment - Anti fox hunting
Ali “misunderstood her role”, say the Lib Dems, responding to her resignation “Her job was to tackle homelessness, not to increase it.” A spokesperson calls the former minister’s actions “staggeringly irresponsible”
PM's reply, completing the customary exchange of letters:
"I wanted to make it clear that at all times I have followed all relevant legal requirements. I believe I took my responsibilities and duties seriously, and the facts demonstrate this." "However, it is clear that continuing in my role will be a distraction from the ambitious work of the government"
🚨 Breaking: Rushanara Ali resigns as homelessness minister
Tech sec Peter Kyle on Sky News: “If people like Jimmy Saville were alive today, he would be perpetrating his crimes online, and Nigel Farage is saying he is on their side “Farage is on the side of turning the clock back to the time when strangers can get in touch via messaging apps with children”
Labour Party spokesperson responds to Nigel Farage confirming he would scrap the Online Safety Act:
From No 10: A special reception for the Lionesses will take place at 10 Downing Street today, in celebration of England’s historic victory in the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 final Starmer says:
I’ve written for @politics.co.uk on why Reform UK’s latest prison policy isn’t just unserious — it’s a sick joke. Real reform means safer streets, not cheap headlines. 👉 www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...
“You want real justice? You want safer streets? You want a system that actually works? Then don’t fall for Reform’s con”, writes Labour MP @bengoldsborough.bsky.social 🗣️ Reform’s prison plan is a sick joke – and criminals are the ones laughing www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...
Should Badenoch not have conducted a backroom reshuffle, waited for the forthcoming cabinet changes - and then used that as an opportunity to choose match-ups and blood new talent?
Neither straightforwardly logistical nor political. There is no signal: of ‘renewal’ or ‘change’. It reveals an absence of ideas at the upper echelons of the Conservative hierarchy — and direction. It looks both panicked and passive. Timid. None of the real ruthlessness required in LOTO on show
A weird reshuffle with little to no internal logic Neither rewarding allies nor exiling antagonists. No sign of new blood. Ministers with exposed records slotted into new briefs. Some deadweight has been shifted, still more retained. Limits Badenoch’s room for manoeuvre in the medium term 1/…
Cleverly was responding to Hughes' suggestion that backbench MPs should have a veto on the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government's policies. He posted the blog as the coalition marked its 100th day in office
Doing a project for the site, hence my general quiet, which involves digging into the backgrounds of MPs, and found the below blog post by James Cleverly from 2010. In it, he calls then-Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes a “dick”
“The CAN Bill may have been blocked this time, but the fight for climate and nature is far from over... We owe it to future generations – and we will keep going”, writes Lib Dem MP @rozsavage.bsky.social 🗣️ Why Britain needs legal guarantees on climate and nature www.politics.co.uk/mp-comment/2...
🚨 NEW: Farage urged to rule out Liz Truss joining Reform UK after ally’s defection “Reform is looking more like a Truss tribute act every day that goes by”, @libdems.org.uk deputy leader @libdemdaisy.bsky.social said Full story ⤵️ www.politics.co.uk/news/2025/07...
Labour spokesperson responds to Berry’s defection:
From the Sun: www.thesun.co.uk/news/3577331...
NEW: Former Conservative Party chair Jake Berry is the latest ex-Tory MP to defect to Reform UK Served in May, Johnson and Truss govts and chaired Northern Research Group of ‘red wall’ Tories
“Starmer rose to power punching the left; now the left is fighting back.” www.politics.co.uk/news-feature...
On historic Anglo-French connections: The speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, references former Bolton Wanderers footballer Youri Djorkaeff Macron goes for Montesquieu and Jean-Jacques Rousseau drawing from the works of John Locke
Labour responds to James McMurdock’s latest statement, in which he says he’s “decided to continue my parliamentary career as an independent MP” Party chair @elliereeves.bsky.social says:
