James Calmus

Married to @siennamarla. Father to Ophelia. Software engineer.

[Sienna Rodgers @siennamarla]

EXCL: Andy Burnham supports “early change” to the House of Lords

“I'm not going to hold back on it,” he tells me, as “I can't justify, personally, 800-plus members of the House of Lords”

“I've long believed that there's a first stage of Lords reform, which is indirect election that could be linked to a general election”

Burnham also says he still backs Labour reversing its policy on contesting elections in Northern Ireland, and that electoral reform could enable the move 👇
https://t.co/KugTAOsZrY

[Sienna Rodgers @siennamarla]

NEW: My cover interview with tourism minister Steph Peacock

• Labour's effort against Reform: “It’s not working, no. It’s not”
• Bregret? “I’ve got no time for conversations about rejoining the EU”
• Announces launch of first national domestic tourism campaign since Covid
• Admits tourist tax has had a “mixed reaction”

https://t.co/K4GzrL3xQo

[Sienna Rodgers @siennamarla]

Good to know my stuff is being read even if it does provoke a face-palming emoji and redacted reply!

McFadden here sending Mandelson my profile of Blue Labour’s Jonathan Rutherford as seen in @theipaper: https://t.co/kmrLoPLZAZ

[Sienna Rodgers @siennamarla]

NEW: Inside Labour’s Makerfield campaign

• All Labour MPs have been asked to canvass twice during the campaign & go for polling day
• Burnham’s big campaign team and concern there are ‘too many cooks’
• The ‘impossible’ task of appealing to Makerfield, the country, Labour MPs and members all at the same time
• MPs relieved to be open about their opposition to Starmer: ‘It’s been the cause that dare not speak its name for two years – ‘Keir’s a bit shit, isn’t he?’ – and now people are able to say it’
• But others want Burnham to be more explicitly anti-Starmer: ‘Either you’re an insurgent or you’re not’
• Worries about a ‘shy Reform vote’ & the long-term impact of Restore

& more 👇

https://t.co/rSA8TBEBh8

[James Calmus @JamesCalmus]

This is a must-read article on the future of software engineering by my brilliant wife: https://t.co/yq3ZHWVLee

[Sienna Rodgers @siennamarla]

NEW: My cover interview w Emily Thornberry

• Blames McSweeney for Mandelson: “Morgan took it as a personal crusade to get him in” & “I don’t think Morgan was betrayed by Mandelson”
• Rules out leadership run – “No, no, no. I’ve done it before, and it was really difficult and a horrible experience”
• Demands “bold and brave and open leadership” on EU reset after it's been “so mousy” & wants “strategic” approach that can't be undone by Farage
• Personally backs rejoining EU
• Calls for more action on Gaza – tougher sanctions on West Bank involvement
• Govt should be “doubling”/“trebling” BBC World Service funding https://t.co/4ymCvJuBsl

[Sienna Rodgers @siennamarla]

Most interesting lines: "It needs to be broad, and it needs the best possible field of candidates. I support that approach and I hope that you will facilitate this."

And damning on leadership plus Burnham-like tone re party culture: "where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift. This was underscored by your speech on Monday. Leaders take responsibility, but too often that has meant other people falling on their swords. You also need to listen to your colleagues, including backbenchers, and the heavy-handed approach to dissenting voices diminishes our politics."

[Sienna Rodgers @siennamarla]

EXCL: If Wes Streeting announces his run for leadership tomorrow, the soft left say they will not turn to Angela Rayner but stick with their Plan A of Andy Burnham

Tribune exec MPs are expected to push Labour's ruling body to allow for Burnham's inclusion – even though that means allowing a whole by-election before the race begins

Their hope: force the issue to go to full NEC rather than the small officers group, where Burnham might have a better chance – and I'm told Ellie Reeves was in favour of allowing that to happen last time

FULL STORY w/ @_tomscotson 👇
https://t.co/16ZEAPWLyn

[Sienna Rodgers @siennamarla]

EXCL: Chief secretary to the PM Darren Jones has been interpreted by colleagues as privately gauging support for his own prospects of succeeding Starmer

Source close to Jones says he has not raised his own leadership prospects and remains supportive of PM https://t.co/RnuR9NNf3n

[Sienna Rodgers @siennamarla]

NEW: Angela Rayner has backed away from challenging Keir Starmer for the leadership herself (for now!) – but called for Andy Burnham to be allowed back into the parliamentary party:
https://t.co/XIc7xwX2X0

[PoliticsHome @politicshome]

🚨 OUT NOW 🚨 What to look out for at the local elections 📝 📊

As voters prepare to go to the polls for highly anticipated elections in England, Scotland and Wales, PolHome's @adampayne26, The House mag's @siennamarla, More in Common's @LukeTryl and Exeter Uni's @_HannahBunting discuss the key results, when to expect them, and what they'll mean

Hosted by @Alain_Tolhurst https://t.co/PZKj6Ce14a

[Tom Chidwick @TomChidwick]

Tonight! Join us at the @MileEndInst to discuss 100 years of the General Strike and labour relations today.

With a stellar cast of @davidtorrance, @siennamarla, @redhistorian and @carolynquinncq!

18:30 at @QMUL - all welcome! Free tickets available: https://t.co/cAfl3GEpC7

[Sienna Rodgers @siennamarla]

Just came across this old tweet from election night, reminded of the reaction I got at the time saying I was talking rubbish 😂

[Sienna Rodgers @siennamarla]

Good to see everyone catching up on my Andy Burnham reporting. My report from weeks ago on his allies ramping up their organising efforts, eyeing Bootle, etc: https://t.co/9tMbpxdb8S

[James Calmus @JamesCalmus]

Made a game for my 3 year old to learn how to use a computer in a fun, distraction-free way. Find the matching letter on the keyboard or move the mouse into the circle to see some confetti! 🎉https://t.co/82r59w1CjS

[Sienna Rodgers @siennamarla]

How does this tally with the embrace of EdTech?

When is government going to stop the use of screens in early years settings? Why is it so difficult to find a state school without a massive screen in a classroom for four year olds?!

[PoliticsHome @politicshome]

🏊‍♀️🏅 “I had that 20-year period where they were my nemesis... All of my major medals were behind East Germans – every single one”

Olympic medallist turned Conservative life peer Baroness Davies talks to @siennamarla about the tough coaching she endured as a child, then racing doped East German swimmers and campaigning on women's sport 👇
https://t.co/vfyevlgRO6

[Sienna Rodgers @siennamarla]

NEW: My interview with Green leader Zack Polanski

• He's been speaking to a “handful” of Labour MPs about defecting to the Greens
• There is a “sensitive and nuanced conversation” around Zionism – but he won't disavow the “Zionism is racism” motion
• Explains why he criticised Corbyn for Labour antisemitism but doesn't now: “I believed what I was reading”
• Blames bots for the online abuse targeted at him
• How his upbringing shaped his politics
• Will run for a parliamentary seat – nothing outside London, and not the mayoralty – and confirms one plan is to succeed, not beat, Diane Abbott
https://t.co/CbmmN7P2Et

[Sienna Rodgers @siennamarla]

EXCL: Labour chair Anna Turley has privately warned her party that it must tackle immigration – but only “in a way that stays true to our values”

Story by @_tomscotson 👇
https://t.co/e53K2q3rM0

[Sienna Rodgers @siennamarla]

EXCL: Zack Polanski tells me Donald Trump cannot be an ally of Britain because he is a “real threat” like Vladimir Putin and the behaviour of the US is the same as Russia’s:
https://t.co/pw5ym7RulZ