Mike Hughes

Wales News Editor, @Global, @LBCNewsWales | My views only.

[Sandra Mitchell @glabsandra]

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

[Mike Hughes @MikeHughes_]

".... so that WE may survive."

[Andrew Kuhn @FocusedCompound]

Goldman Sachs forcing every pension fund to buy AI companies with $10 billion net losses at $1 trillion valuations

[Mike Hughes @MikeHughes_]

Can’t believe I almost missed this gem from the Daily Star.

[Mike Hughes @MikeHughes_]

RIP Alan Haselhurst

[Mike Hughes @MikeHughes_]

LOL

[megan kenyon @meganekenyon]

When trying to lobby him to vote for him as Oxford University Chancellor, Peter Mandelson kept getting Ed Miliband's out of office:

[Bethany Dawson @bethanymrd]

📣 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

[The News Agents @TheNewsAgents]

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

[Mike Hughes @MikeHughes_]

More below:

https://t.co/GivXIrAkUD

[Mike Hughes @MikeHughes_]

🚨 💥 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’.

[Fred Dimbleby @freddimbleby]

EXC: PM speaks to ITV News after net migration figures published

He says this "is really good delivery" after I ask if it is too little too late

[Mike Hughes @MikeHughes_]

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.

[Mike Hughes @MikeHughes_]

£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

[Mike Hughes @MikeHughes_]

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.

[Mike Hughes @MikeHughes_]

Former First Minister Mark Drakeford says Keir Starmer’s position as Prime Minister is “irrecoverable”.

[Andy Davies @adavies4]

🚨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 ⬇️🧵

[Mike Hughes @MikeHughes_]

Readout from first call between First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth and Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens.

[Andy Burke @AndyBurke_]

Wonderful tribute from the brilliant @brianmoore666 to his friend and former teammate, the great Scott Hastings. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🦁

[Henry Riley @HenryRiley1]

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

[Mike Hughes @MikeHughes_]

Burnham is going all in

[Lewis Goodall @lewis_goodall]

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.