Esther Webber

I'm back on this website after a brief interruption. Sadly I wasn't able to recover my House of Lords content archive, but we'll have to make new memories 💖

🚀 Rachel Reeves’ allies are warning she must not be “torpedoed” by Keir Starmer’s sinking ship 😬And from spooking the bond markets to damaging relations with business and going OTT on net zero, they’re taking aim at possible successor Ed Miliband

I feel like I'm getting the Arsenal content and Aston Villa content when I desperately want the Spygate content!!! please help

Morgan McSweeney is the most prominent figure associated with UK at the Prague security summit, as MOD and FCDO opted not to send ministers. Some insiders see this as a mistake given govt's stated aim to integrate more closely with Europe on defence. politico.eu/article/morgan…

EXCL: Morgan McSweeney is doubling down on his pivot to security as he shows up in Prague to warn about disinformation. Allies say he is conscious of the potential for AI to ramp up in British elections, with trust already low and the Reform Party on the march.

🚨 Keir Starmer's "targeted" Russian sanctions exemption applies to *99%* of the Russian oil products we import from other nations. 🚨 The PM has performed a BIG U-turn here ... is pretending he hasn't ... and is accusing others of "misrepresenting" the change.

Yesterday, PM said UK loosening of new sanctions on Russia-origin oil products was a "targeted" exemption for jet fuel & diesel But according to @CREACleanAir jet fuel & diesel make up *99%* of UK imports from refineries in 3rd countries processing Russian crude Some targeting

Great scoop by @estwebber about the impact of delays to the DIP on the new drone centre. This was meant to be the positive story from the DIP launch next month but indecision has meant its now come out like this

For who's who in the operation to get Andy Burnham into Parliament, POLITICO has you covered From the closest ally, to the Commons supporters turned by-election campaigners and the Cabinet pals ... oh and how Josh Simons is playing (a little bit) of a role Link in next post 👇

EXCL: Andy Burnham’s team is working on a plan for his first 100 days in government in the event that he wins a crunch by-election and replaces Keir Starmer, three people tell me The plan is in its early stages but is likely to include reforms to the creaking social care system

But he's put some noses out of joint with his self-promotion. Also some skepticism towards Carns within the armed forces, who think he's trying to have it both ways on aspects of MOD policy. w/@BlewettSam politico.eu/article/ex-com…

Al Carns “sees the military as a vehicle of social mobility” according to supporters, who argue he is placed to attract support from the soft left, red wall and Scottish contingent. He's also bonded with Angela Rayner over their family backgrounds.

🪖 MEANWHILE: Burnham + Streeting moving into the spotlight has not deterred Al Carns. 🪖 Allies say he's "keeping options open" for a leadership bid. 🪖 First clues on his pitch beyond security: "he's further left than you might think" and wants to talk about living standards.

Another PPS quietly resigned:

two Labour officials told POLITICO’s Dan Bloom, Sam Blewett and Bethany Dawson in their excellent long-read that the earliest possible date for the by-election is June 18. That timing would create a supremely awkward moment for Downing Street: the PM would be expected to attend the G7 summit in France earlier that same week, risking an uncomfortable split-screen moment between geopolitical turmoil and political spats at home.

he's running

🚨NO10 BUNKER MODE POD!🚨 “Complete panic”, mad comms, ministers roving around uninvited. What’s it like inside in No10 in weeks like this? ExNo10 insiders @RossKempsell @RobertMidgley07 @BeatriceTimpson reveal all+ @LucyBeresford on a PM’s psyche open.spotify.com/episode/23v7bT…

John Curtice told me that Labour will have a "much tougher" might than they did in Gorton and Denton

Mandelson Files update: I'm told a huge batch of messages between U.K. ministers and aides and former U.S. Ambassador Peter Mandelson is no longer likely to be published next week Correct until it changes again :-)

Latest UK-EU summit has been postponed twice and now expected in July. Officials on both sides are unhappy about the delay and lack of deliverables being lined up, despite Starmer's rhetoric about being "at the heart of Europe" politico.eu/article/uk-mus…

EXCL: Brussels gives short shrift to Starmer's drive to put EU reset at heart of his premiership. EU politicians and officials say it risks falling flat if he doesn't relax his negotiating “red lines” with Gabriel Gavin @maxgriera @joncstone