Jon Craig

Day of drama could deliver double whammy to Starmer's survival hopes trib.al/JrNiGy0

Starmer's judgement day: Can he survive as PM? Chief political correspondent @joncraig reports trib.al/JrNiGy0

Really enjoyed hosting the "ReyHive" podcast for @the_rey_cricket and chatting to @joncraig and Iian Rodger about their love of @surreycricket and "The Peter May Boys"therey.counterpress.media Come and join me this Saturday after play in @SussexCCC game, at the Beehive Pub 🏏

BREAKING: The government will impose age or functionality restrictions on social media for children under 16, regardless of the outcome of its ongoing consultation, a move called "desperate" by Sky's @joncraig. Columnists Kevin Maguire and Sara Vine react on #TheWrap

Second Episode of the “ReyHive” podcast will be available today where @surreycricket members and “Peter May Boys” @joncraig and Iain Rodger chat about their love of Surrey and being part of the Surrey family therey.counterpress.media 🏏

So @backandacross and across was joined by @joncraig and Iian Rodger from “The Peter May Boys” for the second Episode of “The ReyHive” podcast..you can listen here therey.counterpress.media/features/live-… Come and join us on Friday in the Beehive pub after play to talk @surreycricket 🏏

⁦@lindsayhoyle_⁩MP celebrating St George’s Day at reception in Speaker’s House with Sir Winston Churchill (actor Steve McTigue) & event organiser ⁦@AndrewRosindell⁩

Could Tories say ‘You’re hired’ to Karren Brady? #liveblog-body" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">news.sky.com/story/politics…

A pleasure to tell the Mandelson vetting story to American TV viewers with presenter @halliejackson on Sky’s sister station NBC.

Our @joncraig hears that Badenoch is going to ask for an emergency debate tomorrow on Mandelson and vetting process

Kemi Badenoch will apply for emergency Commons debate tomorrow (SO 24) on Mandelson vetting row after 2nd statement (Dan Jarvis on anti-semitic attacks). MPs expect it to be granted.

@Fortyplus4 @SkyNews Liz Kendall.

@SkyNews @joncraig Wonder which politician is going to do the Sunday media round? 🤔

At least two senior civil servants knew weeks ago that Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting for his U.S. ambassador role, Sky News understands. They took "urgent steps to ensure they could update the PM", including legal advice, a spokesperson says. @JonCraig reports ⬇️

@Day17_Anne @SkyNews @SarahForRuncorn You’re right. Lowest at general election.

No @joncraig @SkyNews, 15 isn't the lowest majority in The Commons, @SarahForRuncorn has a majority of just 6. Wonder why you would introduce a Labour MP like that? Or maybe I missed something and that's the way you will introduce Sarah Pochin in future. 🧐

@Andrew__Manley Majority of 15. Lowest in Commons at general election.

@joncraig Hi Jon, sadly no Saturday off for you this weekend with so much going on. Interesting the MP you interviewed has such a low majority it’s no wonder he’s supporting the PM. Starmer will survive this, he’s a lawyer

@JuliaHB1 @AllisonPearson @BareReality @Artemisfornow Perrier water?

I can't think of a better bunch of birds to enjoy a long Friday lunch with than Tonia Buxton @AllisonPearson @BareReality + @Artemisfornow #SoundestTableInBritain

What do I think really happened with Mandelson and vetting? In October, November and December 2024, No10 indicated it wanted to appoint Peter Mandelson as Ambassador to Washington. It was presented with an array of people telling them not to: Cabinet ministers, spooks, officials in a vetting report. All raised major red flags. Starmer and McSweeny made clear they weren’t interested in any objection, and this must go ahead at all costs. So Mandelson’s appointment was announced mid December 2024. The vetting we are focussed on today came later, in January 2025. Vetting of ambassadors is the responsibility of the FCDO and Olly Robbins. One bit of the system said no - the UKSV agency said don’t appoint Mandelson. We don’t know on what grounds, but probably the grounds No10 had seen and rejected as a reason to block. Olly Robbins cleared Mandelson. Very quietly, Mandelson didn’t get the very highest level of clearance when he got the job, but he got the overall OK because of Robbins. Robbins did No10 a favour. This is because Olly Robbbins knew that going to No10 post announcement, and saying the Mandelson appointment can’t happen, was politically impossible. And civil servants want to deliver for their political masters. So Olly fixed it for Keir: and is now paying a price. Olly Robbins has - incidentally - done No10 a second massive political favour. The really really toxic claim doing the rounds last night was that surely someone - anyone - in No10 DID know the UKSV agency turned down the vetting Olly Robbins is making clear he didn’t tell people the UKSV verdict because that would be inappropriate as part of the process he followed. It’s not even clear he saw it. No10 don’t seem to realise he’s done them a favour, and are releasing documents to challenge alternative versions of events. Let’s see how it plays out. The bottom line is No10 wanted Mandelson come what may. They rammed it through. One quango; post appointment announcement, was never realistically going to be allowed to stop Mandelson taking the job because the top of Government had publicly committed to it. They hadn’t wanted to heed the warnings earlier; and were in too deep That’s where I think we are

BREAKING: Prime Minister Keir Starmer misled parliament and 'must take responsibility' over Mandelson appointment, says Kemi Badenoch Chief political correspondent @joncraig reports from Westminster trib.al/070p9SH 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube

The PM's relationship with the Commons Speaker has deteriorated again this week, with another row after PMQs. After Sir Lindsay Hoyle intervened to tell Sir Keir Starmer to stick to the topic, the pair had another annoyed exchange at the Speaker's chair, I'm told. They did not have a private conversation after, as has previously happened. The Speaker's spox has said he has made it clear to No 10 and the PM "on several occasions recently". But Starmer has not listened, it would seem. A spokeswoman for the Speaker said: "Questions to ministers should relate to matters for which they are officially responsible. Equally, answers should be confined to the points contained in the question. "Every so often, the Speaker has to remind prime ministers – and ministers – of the rules of engagement in the Chamber. "The Speaker has made this point to officials at No 10 on several occasions recently as well." I've asked No 10 for comment - no response yet... #liveblog-body" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">news.sky.com/story/politics…

After Lindsay Hoyle & Keir Starmer appeared to have words at end of PMQs, Speaker’s spokeswoman told Sky News: “Answers should be confined to the points contained in the question. The Speaker has made this point to officials at No. 10 on several occasions recently as well.”

Photo du Jour LATE EXTRA: Defence Secretary John Healey looks on as the coffin arrives at St Margaret's Church in Westminster for the funeral of former Labour minister Phil Woolas in London. By Stefan Rousseau/PA