Sam Francis

London Playbook author. Personal account. Views are strictly unprofessional

[Sam Blewett @BlewettSam]

Excl: Messages between Peter Mandelson and Nick Thomas-Symonds were missing from today’s disclosures — because the Cabinet minister reported his phone stolen on October 15

[Dan Bloom @danbloom1]

WE’RE HIRING!

Playbook is looking for a hard-working reporter to join the morning newsletter. Must love politics, policy, gossip and reading the news. If you looked at the last 48 hours and thought “yes please!” then we have questions … but you may be the perfect candidate

[Noah Keate @NoahKeate]

Keen to learn more about the people gearing up to take on Keir Starmer for PM? That goes without saying.

From Andy Burnham to Wes Streeting, there are many likely contenders desperate for the top job.

My @POLITICOEurope analysis below with @BlewettSam and @DavidSamFrancis. 👇

[Dan Bloom @danbloom1]

🎉 London Playbook is the most-read newsletter among MPs by a wide margin, according to a YouGov poll for 5654

A testament to the ferocious hard work of @BlewettSam @9andrewmcdonald @bethanymrd @DavidSamFrancis @e_casalicchio @NoahKeate

[Dan Bloom @danbloom1]

Exc: King’s Speech “locked in” for May 13

Parliament set to be prorogued in the week of April 27

Prorogation will effectively serve as a deadline to publish the Mandelson Files… otherwise they won’t come until after the elections

⏰

[Dan Bloom @danbloom1]

NEW: "What is the point in this party?"

"We will have to start again"

Labour insiders look down the barrel of defeat in Wales — and wonder what it will mean for their existence after 104 years

I teamed up w @saschaosullivan for our long read and Westminster Insider podcast ⬇️

[anne mcelvoy @annemcelvoy]

That @estwebber and I thrilled to be included for UK Team POLITICO on the @TheHouseMag and @politicshome latest Women in Westminster list!

[Andrew McDonald @9andrewmcdonald]

My piece on the Gorton and Denton fallout 👇

https://t.co/3pzJKh9S3w

[Sascha O'Sullivan @saschaosullivan]

NEW ep🎙️Your complete guide to the Gorton & Denton by-election

🌳 Inside the Green campaign
🟩 How & why Labour ignored the Greens
👽 Why progressive voters turned away from Lab
👀 The future of three way Greens-Lab-Reform fights

all that in more in link below @POLITICOEurope

[Dan Bloom @danbloom1]

... and how credibly they can keep presenting themselves as the party to hold off the right.

Playbook via @DavidSamFrancis and @bethanymrd 👇

https://t.co/OrVcBd3Rhg

[Bethany Dawson @bethanymrd]

Farage has a Trump problem. Their bromance is putting off potential voters, with it being the top reason women wouldn’t vote Reform. In a focus group by More in Common, one woman said she’s worried Farage is just Trump’s “whipping boy.” Read my piece here: https://t.co/2OpQxpjOYf

[Sam Francis @DavidSamFrancis]

@journodave Always first with the breaking news

[Sam Francis @DavidSamFrancis]

🚨Transfer News🚨
Done deal: I’m reactivating this Twitter account to announce I am heading to @POLITICOEurope to help write their essential morning London Playbook newsletter. Pending a medical will be writing alongside the excellent @9andrewmcdonald @BlewettSam and @bethanymrd
DMs always open for stories, gossip and legal remedies for staying awake.

[Sam Francis @DavidSamFrancis]

I will always love the BBC. In my 15 years across @BBCParliament @BBCLondonNews @BBCRadio4 and @BBCPolitics BBC I’ve worked with some of the best in the business. It truly is an incredible place. But it’s time for a new challenge.

[Nicholas Watt @nicholaswatt]

Here: ⁦@BBCNews⁩ report by ⁦@DavidSamFrancis⁩ of my @bbcnewsnight interview with Nick Clegg who accuses right-wing US politicians, including JD Vance, of "rank hypocrisy" for attacking UK speech laws while silencing dissent at home https://t.co/f9a1xgwfat

[Joe Pike @joepike]

EXCL: Fraud culture was “pervasive” at Unite the Union, auditors say.

https://t.co/EjBtkNyaNi

[Harry Farley @HarryFarley_]

Growing number of MPs changing their mind on assisted dying.
- Labour MPs Markus Campbell-Savours & Josh Fenton-Glynn join growing list switching to opposing the bill
- Supporters are still confident it will pass
- Understand gov't minister Chris Bryant among those now supporting, having previously abstained.

w/ @DavidSamFrancis; produced by @imogenwallace6
https://t.co/4B7nFvFoi0

[Sam Francis @DavidSamFrancis]

@estwebber Sad we never got to watch this Privileges Committee/Jeremy Kyle Show cross over

[Billy Kenber @billykenber]

Reeves’s CV exaggerated time at Bank of England https://t.co/hObhTe2DYB

[Chris Mason @ChrisMasonBBC]

NEW The Chancellor changes her CV again, after BBC investigation:
https://t.co/qURHRcdE0O