Connor Hand

Senior Newsgathering Producer @LBC Feel free to get in touch with tips: [email protected]

[Natasha Clark @NatashaC]

Exc
Keir Starmer says defence is ‘top priority’ but refuses to deny cuts are on the cards to find extra £15bn to keep us safe
https://t.co/H5bFEBVykA

[LBC @LBC]

Jewish guests greeted with 'free Palestine' on TVs at London Travelodge

https://t.co/WnolPjsk9y

[Natasha Clark @NatashaC]

Lord Robertson tells @AndrewMarr9 last night the defence review is coming before 7 July, and there will likely be cuts to other departmental budgets to pay for it:

"What I want to be sure is that the members of the Parliamentary Labour Party, new MPs especially, recognise that it's going to involve trade-offs… There will be pain inevitably. There will have to be trade-offs if the country is going to be safe, if we're going to discharge our obligations to the NATO commitment of an extra 3.5% of GDP on defence, and you're talking about multi billions of pounds, then it will have to come presumably from other departmental budgets and people will have to be prepared for that and will have to put up with that if they want their constituents to be safe.."

He also claims Reform haven't agreed to meet him to talk about the defence review

@LBC

[Connor Hand @Connor_HandLBC]

NEW: Hampshire Police confirm to @LBC that none of the officers who attended the fatal stabbing of Henry Nowak are on restricted duties.

The force also confirms that one of the four officers involved has resigned from the force.

[Connor Hand @Connor_HandLBC]

Mandelson claims that Gordon Brown "has it in for Keir (and Rachel) big time". He was, of course, brought into the government tent a month ago...

[Connor Hand @Connor_HandLBC]

Fabulous news - welcome, @bethanymrd!

[Bethany Dawson @bethanymrd]

I’ve still got a few weeks left at POLITICO, starting with a bang at LBC on … June 18. By election day

[LBC @LBC]

'I am not upset by it. I am angered by it.'

Carol Vorderman responds to 'sexist' social media posts directed at her by Reform's by-election candidate.

[LBC @LBC]

‘We don’t know if patients are alive or dead’: NHS whistleblower warns East London hospital IT failures could cost lives
https://t.co/E6QTpvVtNn

[Connor Hand @Connor_HandLBC]

Harrowing exclusive from @AndyHughesCrime this morning 👇

[Andy Hughes @AndyHughesCrime]

EXCLUSIVE: A woman who claims she was drugged and thrown into the River Thames by the Black Cab Rapist John Worboys, was told by police they would not pursue her case because they “already had enough victims". @LBC

https://t.co/WoAK8saLsY

[Andy Hughes @AndyHughesCrime]

EXCLUSIVE: A woman who claims she was drugged and thrown into the River Thames by the Black Cab Rapist John Worboys, was told by police they would not pursue her case because they “already had enough victims". @LBC

https://t.co/WoAK8saLsY

[Connor Hand @Connor_HandLBC]

PM’s decision not to stand in Burnham’s way is perhaps a recognition of where the NEC was heading anyway…

One NEC officer who previously blocked Burnham unequivocally told @LBC: “Yes, he should be allowed to stand.”

[Connor Hand @Connor_HandLBC]

As @LBC revealed on Tuesday, Andy Burnham has sourced a Greater Manchester seat, with Josh Simons(!) triggering a by-election in Makerfield.

Majority over Reform UK was around 5,400 in 2024.

Will the Burnham Factor be enough to hold off the Reform surge?

[Connor Hand @Connor_HandLBC]

NEW: A source close to Andy Burnham suggests there is an "imminent" announcement of a Greater Manchester seat.

Source indicates that an announcement would likely be either today or tomorrow...

Labour holds 24/27 Greater Manchester seats.

[Connor Hand @Connor_HandLBC]

Absolutely barnstorming performance from the team, @LBC!

Thank you to everyone tuning in!

[LBC @LBC]

We’ve just recorded our biggest ever audience with a record-breaking 3.6 million people tuning in across the UK every week.

Thank you to everyone who listens in!

[Natasha Clark @NatashaC]

The names flying around that are rumoured to be on the list to stand aside from Burnham is getting smaller. Several MPs this week denying they have any intention to do so:

- Peter Dowd
- Navendu Mishra
- Marie Rimmer
- Afzal Kahn

Burnham camp suggest a move is imminent. Who will it be, and if not now, when?

[Luke Tryl @LukeTryl]

Wrote for the @spectator about Burnham and Greater Manchester. A few reflections
1) having run so many groups there the Burnham thing isn't just hype, he has broad appeal
2) Our groups and other polling evidence convinces me he'd have won in G&D and most by-election prospects.
3) Greater Manchester Mayoral race - a lot depends on splits, but suspect turnout dependent Reform most likely around a third if Labour infrastructure holds out I think they'd be favourites, but Greens could get progressive mantle https://t.co/J6f8RXydPo

[Connor Hand @Connor_HandLBC]

NEW: A source close to Andy Burnham suggests there is an "imminent" announcement of a Greater Manchester seat.

Source indicates that an announcement would likely be either today or tomorrow...

Labour holds 24/27 Greater Manchester seats.

[Aggie Chambre @AgnesChambre]

NEW: Am told a letter is circulating among backbench Labour MPs saying that now is not the time for a leadership election - apparently has been signed by over 100 MPs.
@LBC

[Connor Hand @Connor_HandLBC]

Peter Kyle, Pat McFadden and Liz Kendall ALL speak to the media leaving No10 - all backing the PM to stay on.

McFadden says nobody directly challenged the PM around the Cabinet table.

[Connor Hand @Connor_HandLBC]

and that has a real economic cost for our country and for families.

“The Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered.

“The country expects us to get on with governing. That is what I am doing and what we must do as a Cabinet.”

[Connor Hand @Connor_HandLBC]

Starmer digs in at Cabinet:

The Prime Minister told a meeting of the Cabinet:

“As I said yesterday, I take responsibility for these election results and I take responsibility for delivering the change we promised.

“The past 48 hours have been destabilising for government…