Billy

[Billy @BillyWhistance]

Oh wow. 👏

[Andy Burnham @AndyBurnhamGM]

Politics isn’t working for places like ours.

I will change that.

#AndyBurnham #ForUs

[Billy @BillyWhistance]

@tomhfh You know it’s possible that many of the recipients had children while financially stable, then fell on hard times, and now require child benefits?

Anyway, the main argument should be:
Why should children go hungry because their parents are struggling financially?

[Billy @BillyWhistance]

@BenInRushcliffe Couldn’t agree more Ben.

[Ben 🇬🇧 @BenInRushcliffe]

He'd be comfortable with Reform getting in, because it'll give him more opportunity to protest and shout from the sidelines. Just like Your Party leadership.

[Billy @BillyWhistance]

Democrats and the Labour Party can learn from this:

• Less focus on Trump/Reform (aka what you are NOT)

• Be laser focused on the cost of living

• Offer and communicate a few bold standout policy ideas

• Run a positive campaign, give people HOPE for the future!

[Billy @BillyWhistance]

Zohran Mamdani wins the New York Mayoral race. Brilliant.

I’ve been in awe of his campaign: modern, focused, positive, well communicated, a real movement.

I watched 1 video and immediately knew his 3 main BOLD policies.

[Billy @BillyWhistance]

👀

[Election Maps UK @ElectionMapsUK]

Westminster Voting Intention:

RFM: 27% (=)
LAB: 20% (+3)
CON: 16% (-1)
GRN: 16% (=)
LDM: 15% (=)
SNP: 3% (=)

Via @YouGov, 2-3 Nov.
Changes w/ 26-27 Oct.

[Billy @BillyWhistance]

Rachel Reeves/Treasury attempting to get on the front foot this morning.

This is either going to be a very tough budget or/and they're learning from the lack of effective comms surrounding the budget last year.

Will be interesting to see how this plays out!

[Beth Rigby @BethRigby]

BUDGET: Big day on Tuesday. The Chancellor will set out the first part of her upcoming Budget speech in Downing Street, as she tries to prepare the ground and make the argument for another big tax raising Budget, which could see Labour break clear manifesto commitments not to raise income tax on working people

It’s highly unusual for a CX to do this ahead of a Budget, but after all the pitch rolling around SW1 in recent weeks, there’s a view in No 11 that CX has to make the argument to directly to the public about choices she has to make.

Will argue that productivity downgrades, geo-political context, borrowing cos leaves CX with difficult choices. She will make it clear there will be no return to austerity. She will also make it clear she’s not going borrow more/break fiscal rules. Her remaining lever is then tax rises, although decisions not yet made - CX still has two more OBR forecasts to come.

I don’t need to tell you how difficult and contested this is going to be. Only a year ago, the CX unveiled the biggest tax raising Budget since 1993 and said it was a ‘once in a parliament event’

MPs will be fearing a massive backlash should manifesto promises on not raising income tax (and VAT and NI) for working people be broken. Govt figures know how hard it’s going to be but argue that CX has to level with public about the hard choices ahead and what is driving her decision making.

[Billy @BillyWhistance]

I think you’re meant to look at where the lines are Tom, not the logos

[Tom Harwood @tomhfh]

Eights schools run by Orion Education have been presenting Reform UK if it were as ideologically in line with the BNP or NSDAP.

This is bonkers on every level.

Pretending the SNP is to the right of Labour is laughable. And that Plaid is centre left is loopy.

[Billy @BillyWhistance]

I do think this is a bit of a blunder from Nigel Farage here, considering most of his colleagues and team are ex-Tories…

[Nigel Farage MP @Nigel_Farage]

Never trust a Tory.

[Billy @BillyWhistance]

Well done.

[Robert Peston @Peston]

This is a jaw dropping statement from the King

A STATEMENT FROM BUCKINGHAM PALACE

His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew.

Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence. Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation. These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.

Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.

[Wes Streeting @wesstreeting]

NEW: The morning-after pill will be available free of charge on the NHS from pharmacies today!

This is biggest change to sexual health services since the 1960s and a major advance for women’s reproductive health.

https://t.co/ZmjuBU94u4

[Billy @BillyWhistance]

Robert Jenrick looks genuinely uncomfortable here.

[Politics UK @PolitlcsUK]

🚨 WATCH: David Lammy lists rapists accidentally released under the Tories as he hits back at Robert Jenrick

"Was there an independent investigation? No!"

"He comes here and has the brass neck - the brass neck - to give the impression this started 14 months ago"

[Billy @BillyWhistance]

This interview seems to be going down well, with people from all sides warming up to Starmer personally.

But what demographics are likely to listen to a BBC Radio 3 interview?

More personal interviews like this + a strategy to share snippets far and wide are much needed.

[Deborah Mattinson @debmattinson]

This interview with ⁦@Keir_Starmer⁩ is brilliant - a real insight into the experiences that have shaped his life and what drives him now. https://t.co/L9hVBVcpCn

[Billy @BillyWhistance]

Punchy, I like it. Reform will keep slipping up and showing their true colours, and most people across the UK won’t stand for it. They’re tarnishing their brand.

[The Labour Party @UKLabour]

Division and grievance. Or dignity and respect.

That is the fight we are in.

[Billy @BillyWhistance]

The above isn’t a groundbreaking thought, but it’s something that other leaders are still yet to embrace, talking like an actual interesting human being.

[Billy @BillyWhistance]

I don’t believe a word that he says but this is a prime example of what Nigel Farage does that other leaders don’t: He stands out by being interesting, showing emotion, trying to be authentic.

Centrist leaders need to do the same if they’re going to make any impact.

[Farrukh @implausibleblog]

Nigel Farage on being Prime Minister,

"Do you know what? The rank, the title, the position doesn't interest me at all, in the least. I couldn't care less about it"

"What interests me is what you can do with it"

[Reform Party UK Exposed 🇬🇧 @reformexposed]

Reform UK Councils
Council Tax increases

Durham: 4.9%
Worcestershire: 5-10%
Warwickshire: ~5%
Leicestershire: 3%
Kent: 5%
Lincolnshire: 2%+
Staffordshire: ~5%
West Northamptonshire: 5%
Derbyshire: 4.9%
North Northamptonshire: amount TBD
Nottinghamshire: amount TBD
Lancashire: amount TBD

[Billy @BillyWhistance]

Crikey.

[Noa Hoffman @hoffman_noa]

🚨🚨🚨 EXCLUSIVE 🚨🚨🚨

A police manhunt is underway to find the Epping hotel migrant sex attacker after he was accidentally released from jail.

Hadush Kebatu was meant to be sent to an immigration detention centre but was mistakenly freed
https://t.co/2reOVN6RMU

[Billy @BillyWhistance]

Ed Miliband is definitely one of the most effective communicators in Gov - not only from a messaging and performance POV, but his team seem to have a solid understanding of the kind of content that works online

[Ed Miliband @Ed_Miliband]

Great British Energy is already cutting bills for the NHS.

And now we're expanding the scheme to include over 250 sites across England.

That's the difference your publicly owned energy company is making.