All posts tagged: Rishi Sunak

Morgan McSweeney swaps UK government for Ukraine-watching – POLITICO

Morgan McSweeney swaps UK government for Ukraine-watching – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

McSweeney, who was credited with meticulously devising Labour’s election success in 2024, is convinced that AI has not yet been used to the full extent of its capability to manipulate elections, and that any polls in Ukraine following a ceasefire will be a lightning rod for malign influence, according to people familiar with his thinking.  His allies say he is conscious of the potential for the use of AI to ramp up in British elections, where public trust in institutions is already low and Nigel Farage’s Reform Party is on the march. The ex-Downing Street aide is expected to appear on a panel alongside media executives and polling specialists Friday. McSweeney is the most prominent figure associated with British politics appearing at the Prague summit, after the Ministries of Defence and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office opted not to send any ministers. The conference is not yet seen as a “must-attend” event by government leaders in London, despite the British government’s stated commitment to integrate more closely with European allies on defense and security.  McSweeney’s …

How to replace a Prime Minister and get away with it – POLITICO

How to replace a Prime Minister and get away with it – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

As Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and former health secretary Wes Streeting jostle for influence in the Labour party, host Sascha O’Sullivan looks at what it takes to turn around a party’s fortunes mid-term. Former John Major aide Daniel Finkelstein explains how the Conservative Prime Minister managed to win the 1992 elections against the odds and differentiate himself from his predecessor, Margaret Thatcher. Theo Bertram, former Tony Blair and Gordon Brown advisor turned think tank boss, talks Sascha through Brown’s fateful decision not to call a snap election after taking over from Blair, and the challenge he faced in gripping the No. 10 machine. The most recent history of mid-term Prime Ministers might prove most instructive for any new Labour Prime Minister, and Rishi Sunak ‘s former deputy director of policy James Nation takes Sascha inside the effort to reboot his premiership. He tells Sascha Sunak’s team found themselves hamstrung by the manifesto commitments promised in 2019, and struggled to keep the party from infighting after taking over from Liz Truss. Sascha discusses the lessons …

Even insiders don’t know what Burnham has planned for Britain – POLITICO

Even insiders don’t know what Burnham has planned for Britain – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

A fourth person who has worked with Burnham said that might be a plus when it comes to winning the next general election against the insurgent Reform Party. “I know it’s a banal thing, but we’ve not had a northern prime minister for a really long time, unless you count Rishi Sunak,” this person said. (Sunak represented a leafy Yorkshire constituency but is from the south of England.) “It does matter, because every weekend conversation … will be migration, housing, cost of living, dirty high streets, antisocial behaviour. Great — we win on those, we win the country.” The first person who has worked with Burnham said it is deeper than raw electoral politics. This person said Burnham sees many policy issues through two main lenses — rewiring the economy and bringing communities together. As such, he is not totally off the world stage. As mayor, he has carved out time in his diary to see diplomats — in part because Manchester has the most consulates of any English city apart from London. And he …

New Mandelson files lay bare what went wrong in Downing Street – POLITICO

New Mandelson files lay bare what went wrong in Downing Street – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The files show Mandelson asked for a £547,201 severance payment after his sacking (he got £75,000), and told the FCDO’s Chief People Officer Mark Power in September that his “chief concern” was arriving back with “maximum dignity and minimum media intrusion.” “[Labour MPs] are more preoccupied with the £500,000,” said a third Labour MP loyal to Starmer. “What kind of person asks for that?” But this is only one step on the road for Starmer’s No. 10, and for possible questions about the prime minister’s judgement. The government has yet to publish extensive WhatsApp and email communications between Mandelson and Starmer’s ministers and aides, not just about his appointment and dismissal but about broader politics, relationships and strategy. Downing Street also announced on Wednesday that it will review the separate national security vetting system. | Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images Wednesday’s files show the concern that the breadth of this planned publication — forced in a vote by the opposition Conservative Party — sparked in No. 10. As Starmer prepared to agree to the transparency …

Why Britain struggles to hold onto its prime ministers – POLITICO

Why Britain struggles to hold onto its prime ministers – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron’s sudden departure from No. 10 in 2016 after Britain’s vote to leave the European Union triggered a period of unprecedented churn in British politics. None of his successors — Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak — served a full parliamentary term. Three were ousted from high office by their own side. It wasn’t always this way: Prime ministers used to last. Margaret Thatcher completed 11 years at the top, spending the whole of the 1980s in No. 10. Her successor John Major lasted six-and-a-half years, and Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair enjoyed more than a decade in power. So what’s going on? From acute cost-of-living pressures to a weak No. 10, POLITICO’s Westminster Insider podcast asked historians and former political advisers why it now seems impossible for a British prime minister to last very long at the top.  It’s the economy, stupid — David Runciman, political historian David Runciman is a political historian and host of the “Past, Present, Future” podcast. He believes Britain’s instability is not …

How the global effort to keep AI safe went off the rails  – POLITICO

How the global effort to keep AI safe went off the rails  – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The Trump administration “is very focused on encouraging the success of AI around the world. So this is an important opportunity and a strong showing for the U.S. government,” Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade William Kimmitt said at an event in Washington this month. American companies, including OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta, are announcing billions of dollars in investments in India this week — stealing a march on the Chinese, as Beijing is only sending a small delegation because the event clashes with Chinese New Year.  The U.S. delegation is led by White House tech policy director Michael Kratsios, whereas Vice President JD Vance headed the last summit in Paris. On Thursday — the day world leaders including Indian PM Narendra Modi, Macron and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva are meeting in New Delhi — President Donald Trump is in Washington to hold the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace.  That clash has already drawn former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair away from India, where he had been due to speak. His …