Awfully sad news about Sir Alex Younger. A hugely impressive but also a very kind man.
Sir Alex Younger obituary: long-serving head of MI6
https://t.co/unyUQdpt01
📣 In some professional news, I’m thrilled to say I’m joining LBC as their political correspondent!
Over the last few years I’ve fallen in love with radio as a way to connect with audiences, especially through unpacking the twists and turns of British politics
Tony Blair says he is “anxious” and “pessimistic” about Labour's future.
"There’s no point in deciding who leads the country on the basis of personality unless you understand our purpose in governing".
@jonsopel
🚨 💥 EXCL: Blistering broadside from former Labour MS Alun Davies tonight:
‘Virtually no-one has confidence’ in Starmer.
PMs name “toxic” on the doorstep.
Welsh Labour campaign in Caerphilly an “utter disaster”.
Campaign was attempt to keep ‘sinking ship afloat’.
3) Consequential payment via the Barnett formula allow the recipient to spend on their priorities, not to have the money ringfenced. Consequentials could be spent on rail AND other things if the UK govt reclassified the project as England-only. No signs of that happening.
£102 billion for 'England and Wales' HS2 project.
Projected infrastructure spend:
England - £102 billion
Wales - £0
Miles of track:
England - 140
Wales - 0
Barnett formula consequential:
Wales - £0
There's a few issues with this response, though.
1) £445 million is only 0.432% of the total projected HS2 spend of nearly £103 billion.
2) The £14 billion of enhancements is a very long term when spending is needed now. It's also an estimate, not a commitment.
🚨EXCL: Mark Drakeford, former Labour First Minister of Wales, calls on Keir Starmer to set a timetable to step down as Prime Minister and backs Andy Burnham
In his first interview since Labour’s disastrous Welsh Parliament elections, he tells me:
• The situation for the PM is “irrecoverable”
• Suggests a contest could happen over the summer with a “new Prime Minister in place for September”
• Supports Andy Burnham to become the next Labour leader and Prime Minister - and intends to campaign for him in Makerfield.
• Believes “a strong majority of Welsh Labour members” will want to support Burnham
• Says the level of hostility towards the Labour Party which he encountered in the Senedd election campaign was something he’d never experienced in over 50 years of campaigning
• On Eluned Morgan, the former Labour First Minister, losing her seat: a “desperately sad moment”
• Claims lack of further powers devolved to Wales by the Keir Starmer administration "cut the ground from under us” in Welsh Labour's Senedd campaign
Part of our exchange here
Full interview to follow in next post ⬇️🧵
Trying out the first ever bathing spot in the River Thames in London for @NickFerrariLBC on @LBC today
With thanks as always to peerless campaigner and great bloke @Feargal_Sharkey for his support! And to the Teddington Bluetits
https://t.co/6LAahm73Tp
Really feels that if Burnham wins Makerfield there could be a Labour coronation. We’ll have never seen a by-election like it before. For all intents and purposes, a direct prime ministerial election, in a single constituency.