Tim Shipman

OUT is out in paperback on Nov 6. Order it here: amazon.co.uk/Out-Bestsellin…

@BillyBy17 a client of who? all these disgruntled civil servants? do grow up

@ShippersUnbound Client “journalist” ⬆️

Starmer has lost the civil service, 'now only Labour MPs can save the country' 🚨REVEALED: the gushing texts to Mandelson 🚨Robbins' payoff to top £1m of taxpayers' money 🚨OFFICIALS: Why Starmer is worse than Boris 🚨'He’s a shitweasel whose sole political talent is blaming others for his own failings' 🚨Ex-colleague on Cat Little: 'I wouldn’t use her to prop open a door, unless I definitely wanted the door to shut' spectator.com/article/its-wo…

@Melanie97288053 Simply reporting what people in govt and Labour are saying about their prime minister. Not everyone operates through an ideological prism. I love stories, that’s it

@ShippersUnbound Vengeance for the hacking prosecutions, the press in this country are scandalous! Hopefully British public will see through it!

I can honestly say I’ve had more feedback about the use of “shitweasel” in this piece than at any time since someone used “cockwomble” in a quote when I was at the Sunday Timee. Now read the piece which is gripping Westminster: spectator.com/article/its-wo…

@mbroschools @blisswords He’s the least popular prime minister since records began. And there is a perfectly good argument that he’s the worst prime minister since Eden

@ShippersUnbound @blisswords Good job the voters don’t then. He still beats all the others in a poll about who the preferred PM is.

@bea_johanssen I love how you are quoting against me a text message revealed this morning by, er, ME

@ShippersUnbound ‘He had no intention of picking Mandelson until Morgan [McSweeney] made that happen. In his darkest moments the PM must be sitting going: “How am I in this mess over somebody I didn’t even want?”’ Really? express.co.uk/news/politics/…

7 things every kid needs to hear: 1. I love you 2. I’m proud of you 3. I’m sorry 4. I forgive you 5. I’m listening 6. Communism has failed every time it was tried 7. You’ve got what it takes

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This article by @Shippersunbound is worth a year long Spectator subscription on its own. A brilliant reportage/analysis of Starmer's situation as of today. Even I hadn't clocked it was this bad. A superb bit of journalism from the maestro. spectator.com/article/its-wo…

The best journalist in Britain gets the title which best matches his talents. Magnificent

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Last week No.10 published a blank vetting form they claimed proved Olly Robinson had misled the Prime Minister. Robbins said he’d never seen any form of that type. No.10 are refusing to publish the original. It’s a farce.

The revealing phrase in the text.. ‘after many years of our discussions’.

@Planet_Belfast it's a screenshot. it's clearly Gordian knot. thought it better to prevent evidence. pedantry doesn't undo the point

@ShippersUnbound Sharing a screenshot saying 'Gordon knot' somewhat undermines this irrelevant tittle tattle intended. Nice try though.

As you watch Cat Little it’s worth adding some other things I was told about her. “She’s an accountant”. Defence expert contacted me this morning to say that she is as much to blame as Richard Knighton for the shambles of defence spending

Cat Little's evidence a mixed bag for Starmer/Robbins GOOD FOR ROBBINS * Agrees that it was for the Foreign Office, not UKSV or even the prime minister, to decide whether Mandelson passed his DV * Says due process was followed: which should stengthen his case for unfair dismissal * Generally refuses to discuss anything to do with the UKSV vetting - in exactly the same way as Robbins * Makes it clear there does not exist, or she has not seen any minute of the meeting in which Starmer decided to appoint Mandelson, notwithstanding the reputational risks identified in the due diligence. She has asked and would expect such a document. (Of course one doesn't exist it was just decided by McSweeney/Starmer) GOOD FOR STARMER * Contests the idea that the Cabinet Office tried to stop formal vetting and that the FCDO had to force their hand. Says there is only an audit trail of discussions about what should happen between security officials (though if you're in the Foreign Office that could seem disruptive) * Robbins said he was bound by the law not to share information on Mandelson's vetting with ministers, even the PM. Little says she took legal advice that she could tell Starmer that UKSV had recommended against Mandelson - and then did (even though she says it was actually the FCDO's decision not UKSVs) * She is contesting Robbins' claim he did not see the final UKSV document. Says FCDO security asked for it and got it on Sept 15th. (But it has never been denied that the FCDO security director saw it - that's how he established the mitigations) NEUTRAL BUT SIGNIFICANT * Little, weirdly, says that the view of Simon Case, the cabinet secretary and her predecessor as permanent secretary that Mandelson should have undergone vetting before appointment does not equal 'the view of the Cabinet Office' - pull the other one * Constant references to the 'highly secure portal' that UKSV documents are sent on. They clearly don't trust any other systems in Whitehall to be secure from the prying eyes of Beijing and Moscow

Here is this section: Q:Is it your view that generally you think ministers or the Prime Minister should be involved in that final decision on whether or not to grant security clearance? [10:31:13][37.2] CAT LITTLE: [10:31:14] I think it's a judgement for the individual decision making authority in this instance, that is the Foreign Office. [10:31:20][5.7][43.0]

@BriW74 So many feel this way this morning

Shitweasel is excellent. I must seek out opportunities to use it.

Anyone else struck by the awe in which the 'highly secure portal' is held. Presumably the Chinese are reading every other exchange in government

'iternative process' ... 'audit trails' ... 'four distinct processes' ... 'highly secure portal' ... thank god I've never worked in govt. SPEAK ENGLISH