All posts tagged: Gordon Brown

Police gear up to interview high-profile witnesses over Peter Mandelson – POLITICO

Police gear up to interview high-profile witnesses over Peter Mandelson – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

As is standard in a British police investigation, the force has not disclosed who it would question as a witness, and being questioned as such would not imply any wrongdoing. The Metropolitan Police declined to comment on an ongoing investigation. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced scrutiny over what Mandelson said during the process that led to his appointment as ambassador to D.C., and has claimed he was misled by the veteran Labour politician during that process. There is little precedent for interviewing a serving prime minister as a witness, although Tony Blair was in 2006 questioned by police as a witness in a criminal probe during the “cash-for-honors” scandal. In 2022 Boris Johnson answered a police questionnaire under caution over coronavirus lockdown-breaching parties in government. Police are likely to have multiple leads to pursue before taking such a sensitive decision. Whether to interview Morgan McSweeney, who as chief of staff advised Starmer over Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador, is under active consideration. The powerful adviser resigned from the role as scrutiny over the appointment process …

What Nigel Farage’s new team tells us about his bid to run Britain – POLITICO

What Nigel Farage’s new team tells us about his bid to run Britain – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Likewise, Jenrick said taxes are “clearly too high” and promised to “build an economy that serves alarm clock Britain” — people who get up early for work — but was thin on the detail of any specific tax cuts. Fundamental questions about the shape of policy or the economy under Reform have yet to be answered. Four groups are due to finish work in May on regulation, growth capital, pensions and savings, and tax. Farage and Tice have toyed with the idea of scrapping the “triple lock” (which guarantees large increases in the state pension) but have not reached a conclusion. Braverman said 50 percent of young people should enter manual trades, while Tice has suggested a complete overhaul of pensions for public sector workers; these policies are yet to be fleshed out. At the same time, Farage’s appointees have their hands full — especially Tice, whose theoretical super-department would cover business, trade, energy and housing policy. He is also still in charge of Reform’s cost-cutting efforts in local councils. Some basic questions about personnel …

The runners and riders to be Keir Starmer’s next chief of staff – POLITICO

The runners and riders to be Keir Starmer’s next chief of staff – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

She comes from think tank land, where she had a top job at the cost-of-living-focused Resolution Foundation, and has won praise for leading Labour’s outreach to business. The policy expert gets plenty of praise from colleagues, but others fear she may be “indecisive.” Jill Cuthbertson Cuthbertson — the other half of the acting-up deputy chief of staff duo — is seen as having a deeper understanding of the political front, having worked with former Labour leaders Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband. Cuthbertson is due some extended leave in the coming months, but one option under discussion is the job-share being made permanent.  Amy Richards A former long-time adviser to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, the PM brought Richards into No.10 to bolster his operation’s communications with backbenchers. The political director is spoken of highly among special advisers who don’t seem to lay any blame with her for the Parliamentary Labour Party’s current mood.  Long shots …. Outside chancers being mentioned are the PM’s chief secretary Darren Jones, comms boss Tim Allan, Starmer biographer Tom Baldwin, National Security …

Inside Keir Starmer’s efforts to stop a coup – POLITICO

Inside Keir Starmer’s efforts to stop a coup – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The coming storm  The most immediate task is how to deal with the now-promised release of files relating to Mandelson’s appointment, a move for transparency that could prove damaging for Starmer and his top team as well as the former envoy. Managing this moment could put him on the front foot again, if handled with extreme caution and fortitude.   One former aide who worked closely with Starmer, granted anonymity like others in this piece to speak candidly, said: “What is clear is the prime minister isn’t going to just give up. That’s not him. That’s not his nature… If he thinks he’s in the right position, he will hunker down.” The most immediate task is how to deal with the now-promised release of files relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment. | Andy Rain/EPA MPs are despairing that Starmer has been blaming Mandelson’s “lies” rather than wholeheartedly accepting his own judgement was in question. The same ex-aide quoted above said that when more information is made public, Starmer may finally have to say: “I made a mistake… …

Labour anger at Mandelson scandal ‘off the scale’ – POLITICO

Labour anger at Mandelson scandal ‘off the scale’ – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

In the meantime, Labour MPs — already disenchanted with Starmer’s leadership as he struggles in the polls — are publicly demanding an overhaul of the prime minister’s team. “Something needs to give,” Labour MP for Southport Patrick Hurley told Times Radio Friday morning. “Something needs to change.” Hurley decried the saga as a “distraction on steroids” from the government’s mission and said his own anger was “off the scale.” Though Hurley backed the prime minister remaining in post, he suggested “some of the changes to the backroom staff might be a way” for the government to shift focus. Stroud MP Simon Opher, who has previously criticized the government on welfare reform, told the BBC Starmer “needs to change his advisers in No. 10” and said the prime minister is being “really let down.” “I know in politics we really rely on people to cover our backs, our advisers, and I think they patently haven’t done this with Peter Mandelson. So we need a bit of a clear out at No. 10,” he said. Source link