Oscar Williams

UK policy editor @POLITICO.

[Sam Blewett @BlewettSam]

Excl: Messages between Peter Mandelson and Nick Thomas-Symonds were missing from today’s disclosures — because the Cabinet minister reported his phone stolen on October 15

[Joe Bambridge @JoeBambridge1]

BREAKING: Peter Mandelson said his "chief AI buddy" in the U.S. was Sam Altman

[Noah Keate @NoahKeate]

Thrilled to helm Sunday Crunch from next month after a stellar run by @Masonboyowen.

Sunday has set the following week’s political weather for decades.

Having first watched the weekend shows as a politics-obsessed teenager, I can’t wait to analyse who is shaping the SW1 agenda.

[John Johnston @johnjohnstonmi]

NEW: Under Westminster's radar, Rupert Lowe has built up a huge online following with assistance from influential right-wing commentators.

Supportive videos from U.S. streamer Asmongold have garnered 5m views on YouTube in the last few months alone.

https://t.co/h3eLdfG01j

[Andrew McDonald @9andrewmcdonald]

Professional news (sorry)

After a year and a bit of being on the author rotation I've been promoted to senior author of London Playbook, meaning I'll be writing the newsletter three days a week every week from June

As always, all tips/complaints/pun suggestions welcome

[Mason Boycott-Owen @Masonboyowen]

🎈 PROFESSIONAL NEWS: Delighted to say I’ve been promoted to UK Defense Reporter for @POLITICOEurope

I’ll be writing on all things U.K. defense, including policy, industry, procurement and conflict — as well as a bit on security, cyber and intelligence.

[Dan Bloom @danbloom1]

Two other sources said some NEC officers are moving away from wanting to block Burnham

Three further sources acknowledged some shifting but emphasised it may not tip the balance in Burnham's favour

By @johnjohnstonmi and me

https://t.co/aRFanFU0gF

[Dan Bloom @danbloom1]

EXCL: Labour officials are now less likely to block Andy Burnham from returning to parliament, a member of the party’s ruling body has suggested

Abdi Duale said NEC officers are "reassessing" their old loyalties, e.g. to Keir Starmer, because "this is now terminal for the party"

[Dan Bloom @danbloom1]

Two big lines from @9andrewmcdonald in this morning’s Playbook

💥 Catherine West plans to wrap up her leadership challenge by *tomorrow morning* if it doesn’t get 81 MPs

💥 Andy Burnham’s allies say a specific MP is on board with standing down to let him run. There is a plan

[Esther Webber @estwebber]

**Fear and loathing at the Foreign Office**

I spoke to people about what's going on at King Charles Street with Mandelson scandal swirling on, Olly Robbins gone and restructure looming.

Job cuts are due to pinch in May, with a particular squeeze on those in overseas postings.

[Dan Bloom @danbloom1]

NEW: Inside the frenetic govt preparations for the king’s US visit
👑 Congress speech could hit 30 mins
👑 No10's Varun Chandra going, as is Yvette Cooper
👑 Ukraine appears the most obvious issue
👑 Chair of the Royal Visits Committee had to change v late. It was … Olly Robbins

[Dan Bloom @danbloom1]

NEW: British ministers'/officials’ most indiscreet comments about Donald Trump will not be made public in the Mandelson Files to avoid prejudicing foreign relations

Much was made of power over disclosure being handed to the ISC. But the ISC is taking broadly the same approach

[Dan Bloom @danbloom1]

NEW: King's Speech preview 👑

— An energy bill that could become a target for oil & gas amendments 🔥
— A bill on financial services
— Immigration & police reforms
— Digital ID
— EU reset bill
— SEND
— Carry-overs on votes at 16, Hillsborough, jury trials, railways, cybersec, NI

[Dan Bloom @danbloom1]

🚨 NEW by @carolinee_hug and me

UK is poised to announce a deal with the Trump administration on pharmaceutical pricing *today*

Industry sources expecting something at 2 p.m.

Details for POLITICO Pro subscribers here

https://t.co/BKT3fs0kp1

[Russell Hargrave @Hargraver]

Scoop from @CharlieCooper8 -- Top of govt is split on key COP summit pledge.

Keir Starmer flies into leaders' summit in Brazil next week, but UK commitment to rainforest fund is still unresolved.

Story ⬇️

[Dan Bloom @danbloom1]

EXC: The U.K. has drawn up proposals to increase the amount the NHS pays pharma firms for drugs, in a bid to steer U.S. President Donald Trump away from threatened tariffs and head off intense pressure from the sector in Britain

[Graham Lanktree @g_lanktree]

India will retaliate with tariffs against EU and U.K. plans to impose carbon border taxes, New Delhi's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal tells POLITICO

https://t.co/OD7z7CVJbV

[Stefan Boscia @Stefan_Boscia]

EXCL Ex-No 10 foreign policy guru John Bew has been brought back to write the UK’s national security strategy.

Bew (sacked by Starmer in ‘24) will outline how UK can keep its security partnership with Europe and US w/o choosing sides.

More in Playbook

https://t.co/fJfaDYDaWC

[Graham Lanktree @g_lanktree]

SCOOP: New Delhi has accepted the U.K. will only make limited concessions on visas in trade talks.

The new rules will lead to around 100 new visas for Indian workers each year, a U.K. official told POLITICO.

https://t.co/qM27GuERBb