The Realist Dispatch

A commitment to the unembellished truth of human affairs, where politics becomes the mirror of our collective condition.

[Andrew Neil @afneil]

The mood darkening among Labour backbenchers — and hardening against Starmer. There’s a ‘fin de siècle’ feel to his premiership now.

[BBC News (UK) @BBCNews]

Families with children battling cancer to have travel costs covered https://t.co/efexnet8bZ

[The Realist Dispatch @realistdispatch]

NEW: Mandelson contagion envelopes Whitehall. Epstein scandal casts further doubt about the PM's judgement.

#Mandelson #Epsteinfiles #UKpolitics #Starmer

Read on Substack ⬇️

https://t.co/3uORIIhU6y

[Pippa Crerar @PippaCrerar]

BREAKING: Labour Party says that disciplinary action against Peter Mandelson was already underway.

Spox: “It is right that Peter Mandelson is no longer a member of the Labour Party. Disciplinary action was underway prior to his resignation.

“Jeffrey Epstein’s heinous crimes destroyed the lives of so many women and girls, and our thoughts remain with his victims.”

[Astraia @AstraiaAI]

Do you support inviting Britain back into the European Union?

🇬🇧🇪🇺

[Tousi TV @TousiTVOfficial]

🚨 BREAKING: Multiple explosions across Iran

We will shortly go LIVE on Tousi TV with full coverage.

[Pippa Crerar @PippaCrerar]

One of Labour’s most senior mayors criticises “gutless” briefing from Westminster sources against his pal Andy Burnham…

[The Realist Dispatch @realistdispatch]

@John_EdwardsUK It's really curious. On the one hand people are outraged by the level of crime in the UK, particularly by asylum seekers, yet unhappy about police using advanced technology to do something about it. Facial recognition is not here to persecute conspiracy theorists

[Pippa Crerar @PippaCrerar]

NEW: Keir Starmer is meeting Chinese president Xi Jinping in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing.

Earlier, the UK prime minister said: “We have made this trip because I believe it is strongly in our common interest to find positive ways to work together, and that has been our long-standing position.”

[The Realist Dispatch @realistdispatch]

NEW: Elon Musk at Davos: A Vision of Utopian Abundance or Dystopian Divide?

#ElonMusk #Davos #AI

Read on Sunstack ⬇️

https://t.co/y7xSA5dmIc

[Politics UK @PolitlcsUK]

🚨 NEW: China has agreed to provide Brits with visa free travel for visits under 30 days

[Election Maps UK @ElectionMapsUK]

Westminster Voting Intention:

RFM: 29% (-2)
LAB: 22% (+2)
CON: 20% (-1)
LDM: 13% (=)
GRN: 10% (-1)
SNP: 3% (+1)

Via @Moreincommon_, 23-25 Jan.
Changes w/ 16-19 Jan.

[Beth Rigby @BethRigby]

NEW: PM addresses biz & cultural leaders who’ve come to Beijing. Says those on delegation ‘making history’ & says in UK’s national interest to engage w China’ Says ‘we have manage our differences & take opportunities’ & aim of these trips = delivering for people back home

[Keir Starmer @Keir_Starmer]

Touched down in China – I’m here to deliver for the British people.

[The Realist Dispatch @realistdispatch]

NEW: Is Reform UK hitting a toxic tipping point?

#Farage #ReformUK #Reform #Braverman

Read on Substack 👇🏻

https://t.co/G8AHiKZaX4

[Robert Peston @Peston]

Sources close to the PM tell me that Andy Burnham was informed in no uncertain terms that he would be repulsed if he requested permission of the NEC committee to put his name forward for the Gorton and Denton by election.

He chose to do so, they say, knowing the outcome in advance.

They therefore interpret his application as an explicit attempt to destabilise Starmer and sow dissent, rather than - which he claims - see off the threat from Reform.

Per contra Burnham and his supporters accuse Starmer and the NEC committee of an anti democratic stitch-up.

These supporters include the MP signatories of a letter I talked about on ITV Evening News yesterday. It says “there is no legitimate reason why Andy Burnham should not have the democratic right to put his candidacy to the local people of Gorton and Denton.”

They also argue that the standoff between Burnham and Starmer “risks playing into the kind of division and disunity that Nigel Farage and Reform thrive on.”

That is a statement of the bleedin’ obvious. What will be contested is whether the prime culprit is the PM or the Manchester mayor.

[The Realist Dispatch @realistdispatch]

@reformparty_uk @Nigel_Farage @SuellaBraverman A heady mix in a toxic cocktail? When will Reform reach peak Tory rejects?

[Politics UK @PolitlcsUK]

🚨 BREAKING: Suella Braverman has defected to Reform UK

[Sam Coates Sky @SamCoatesSky]

Big announcement from government today - Keir Starmer sides with Angela Rayner over freezing ground rent

But this is a MASSIVE issue for professional landlords and investors - gvt essentially playing chicken with money men. Treasury was worried.

Are the investors crying wolf? Or will there be a big problems with building safety projects and investor stability? Guess we will find out when announcement comes later today

[The Telegraph @Telegraph]

🔴 'It appears our Prime Minister does not believe in democracy'

Read more ⬇️

https://t.co/KTNb0XGCtq