Kate McCann

Times Radio Breakfast co-presenter. Northerner. [email protected] Instagram: KateEMcCann

[Kate McCann @KateEMcCann]

Anthony Gordon has been steadily brilliant this whole World Cup 💪🏻

[Anna Mikhailova @AVMikhailova]

Very pointed comments in the Chamber by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle

Says 'every member is equal' in his eyes in terms of security protection, and that he passes all concerns to security team to deal with

Before adding - "Unfortunately I'm sorry that people don't think I do that"

[Times Radio @TimesRadio]

Times Radio’s Kate McCann challenges victims minister Catherine Atkinson on the lack of support available for victims ahead of a prisoner early-release scheme.

“You are leaving this to the last possible moment, because there is nowhere for these women to turn.”

@KateEMcCann

[Josh Glancy @joshglancy]

This Ann Widdecombe tribute by @GHWTowler is very good, it made me shiver and smile

https://t.co/yTnjU2vmGm

[Kate McCann @KateEMcCann]

Dermot was a kind, inquisitive and generous man who treated everyone and every story with the same respect and curiosity - being on air with him didn’t feel scary because I knew he’d catch me if I stumbled. He was always just on the cusp of a grin. I hope his family and friends take some comfort from how fondly he is remembered

[Kate McCann @KateEMcCann]

@kateferguson4 Shrinklins! You could make fairies and princesses too I think?

[Times Radio @TimesRadio]

"The deep state is after Nigel."

Reform UK member Nadhim Zahawi alleges that there have been illegal government leaks in regard to Nigel Farage because of his threat to the status quo.

[Times Radio @TimesRadio]

Ben Taylor, Sunday Times editor, explains what Reform's reaction to the weekend's revelations reveals about how they view "proper scrutiny".

“They’ve become quite used to the popularity and the acclaim ... But if you scratch the surface, they don't like it."

[Steven Swinford @Steven_Swinford]

It is entirely possible - indeed it looks very likely - that none of the main parties stand against Nigel Farage in Clacton, paving the way for an effective coronation

Some Tories are saying that it's a no-win situation for them - if they enter and lose by a significant margin it fuels Farage's argument that they are dead

Burnham has made clear that he views the whole thing as a gimmick. His whole campaign strategy in Makerfield was about playing the ball not the man, talking about Reform in broad terms rather than by name

Rupert Lowe, the leader of Restore Britain, says his party will stand in the second by-election later this year, which could come if Farage is censured by the standards commissioner

Farage could stand almost entirely uncontested and end up with a majority that far eclipses the 46.2 per cent of the vote he won at the general election

[Nigel Farage @Nigel_Farage]

I have spoken to the CEO of Tendring District Council. Reform has offered to cover the cost of the by-election.

I will be writing to Rachel Reeves later today with the same message.

Given that we asked for this by-election in the first place, it’s only right that we pay for it.

[Kate McCann @KateEMcCann]

A frustrated Nigel Farage has just launched himself and his party right back into his comfort zone… campaigning … but it’s a big risk:

Before Nigel Farage’s resignation, a very measured @montie told @Sarah_Montague that the Reform UK leader was facing criticism from some in his party for failing to professionalise the operation. He hasn’t been meeting with his MPs, appointed a chief of staff or developed the structures needed to become PM.

Tim questioned whether Farage wants to be PM or would prefer to be a campaigner and an insurgent (while saying he thinks Farage would make a great PM)… those issues don’t go away. In fact they may loom larger as Farage has just launched himself and his party right back into his comfort zone… campaigning.

Preparing for Government and professionalising the operation is tough, relentless and often thankless. It can be the downfall of new Governments. Farage is now leading his already fairly frustrated party headlong into months of campaigning and putting all that prep work on pause.

Will that turn out to be a wise move? Or a big political risk… before we even get to the ballot itself.

[Ruth Fox @RuthFox01]

Amid all the speculation about Nigel Farage's 2pm statement, it's worth noting paragraph 40 of the Procedural Protocol to the MPs' Code of Conduct.
If he announces he's resigning and seeking a by-election, that would not automatically end the investigation into whether he breached the Code in the 12 months before becoming an MP in 2024.
The investigation would be suspended while he was no longer an MP. If he won the by-election, it would resume. If he lost, it could still be resumed. The outcome of the by-election result might of course affect the resulting rectification measure or sanction that can be proposed.

The relevant protocol is here: https://t.co/uOKVlNBSJv
⬇️

[Harry Cole @MrHarryCole]

Bellingham decent too tbh

[Sun Politics @SunPolitics]

EXCLUSIVE Pubs to stay open as late as 5am for England's next World Cup match 🍻

Political Editor @JackElsom has the story

[Times Radio @TimesRadio]

Who would win in a Times Radio sack race: @KateEMcCann or @StigAbell?

After four hours of very serious presenting, Kate and Stig let off some steam, competing in the sports day favourite.

[Kate McCann @KateEMcCann]

For anyone following our sports day chat on @TimesRadio Breakfast this morning, our team have found sacks! The sack race is on!

[Steven Swinford @Steven_Swinford]

How does the government intend to make £10.7billion worth of efficiency savings?

The Defence Investment Plan is borderline unreadable with long, jargon-filled, impenetrable sentences

At no point does it state that one of the biggest savings will come from delaying spending on upgrading military housing

I am already picking up a lot of scepticism in government that these efficiency savings will be achieved

It matters because every £1 not saved in these efficiencies is a £1 that will need to be raised through tax rises or cuts elsewhere

1) Reform and Service redesign - £1.1billion

'The new Defence Operating Model (DOM) is now in operation, providing a clear articulation of how Defence operates as a unified enterprise to translate political direction into strategy, planning, and delivery. The model, which will be further embedded this year, ensures Defence starts to become warfighting ready and capable of rapid adaptation in an increasingly volatile global environment while delivering the SDR.'

2) Workforce and resourcing - £3.3billion

'As part of efforts to improve efficiency and value for the taxpayer we will deliver on the SDR recommendation to reduce Civil Service workforce costs by at least 10% by 2030. This includes reshaping the workforce to focus on the prioritised outcomes set out through this plan. In addition, we will continue to focus on critical digital, engineering and project delivery skills, building and incentivising these so that Defence has the skills it needs to deliver the ambition of the SDR.'

3) Digital workforce, AI and automation - £200million

'Digital change is putting advanced decision-making, targeting and cyber tools directly into the hands of the warfighter while also transforming corporate services through automated HR, finance and commercial processes to reduce burden and deliver faster, cheaper support.

'Defence also understands the importance of Corporate Service automation, with the Corporate Services Modernisation (CSM) programme being a key driving force, leading redesign and automation of finance, HR and commercial processes and service provision. This will result in significant benefit across all areas of Defence and enable the release of military roles to the front-line – driving Defence productivity as well as cashable efficiencies.'

4) Infrastructure - £2billion

'Defence is reforming its infrastructure by recapitalising the estate, optimising land use and assets. The Defence Estate Optimisation programme and Defence Housing Strategy are transforming the military housing estate to deliver better support for those who serve.'

5) Acquisition - £3.7billion

'Under the NAD, Defence is reforming its approach to acquisition and the relationship with industry. Through reforms, including accelerated commercial pathways, procurement segmentation, portfolio-driven acquisition, and category management, we will drive pace and agility into procurement, improving supply chain resilience and our ability to scale industrial capacity if required. These will prioritise outcomes, enhance collaboration with industry, reduce duplication, and deliver greater value for money'

[Times Radio @TimesRadio]

“In the end, the wrong voices were listened to”

Dr Bill Kirkup says he stepped down from the NHS maternity review after a section he believed was important for patient safety was removed from the final report.

@KateEMcCann

[Shaun Lintern @ShaunLintern]

🚨 Amos did find evidence of normal birth. Her own expert reviewers agreed the wording only for Amos to unilaterally change it prompting Kirkup to resign. Was Amos involved in a cover-up? Why? Who got to her? Another nail in the coffin of the Amos review:
https://t.co/ySLyyXWoZg

[Larisa Brown @larisamlbrown]

Defence minister Luke Pollard tells @KateEMcCann @TimesRadio that next year's spending review will set out how the UK will jump from spending 2.7 per cent of GDP to 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035. The DIP only says it will show the path to 3 per cent