“Go with the plan, not with the mood.”
That's Justice Minister Sarah Sackman's motto - amid calls to water down the jury trial reforms and the threat of a backbench rebellion.
“I’m making a case for something that I think is the right thing to do.”
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Super interesting reporting from @meganekenyon.bsky.social on Zack Polanski's Nato position, and whether the issue could yet split the Green party
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
How have things changed since Sarah Everard's murder five years ago? My report:
Women in Westminster: The 100. I'm on the list! 2026
Lovely to be listed on the Women in Westminster: The 100 list for 2026 alongside so many women I admire!
Thank you @thehousemag.bsky.social #WiW100
Who is Keir Starmer without Morgan McSweeney? He is beginning to show us.
This week's politics column
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Rarely - if ever? - have we heard Starmer be so explicit that he wants to avoid repeating the mistakes of Iraq.
But it's been a part of his thinking since entering office and was why he choose Hermer back in 2024 (snubbing Emily Thornberry) www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Lovely, wise and touching farewell column from George Eaton, who is leaving the NS after 17 years! He has been a brilliant colleague and I'm going to miss him hugely
a year is a long time in politics
A pen portrait of Antonia Romeo, the colourful new Cabinet Secretary
magazine.newstatesman.com/2026/02/19/a...
Excl: Keir Starmer's team has been working with Brendan Cox despite his past resignations from three charities after claims of sexual misconduct.
Top scoop from @anooshc.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
“Performance review by osmosis”!
In this week's New Statesman politics column I speak to the blob! And the blob tells me it is furious about Chris Wormald's treatment, frustrated with Keir Starmer and Labour, and thinking deeply about the longer-term survival of the civil service
www.newstatesman.com/the-politics...
On the latest episode of the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social pod, @pronouncedalva.bsky.social and I discuss the latest following Morgan McSweeney and Tim Allan's resignations:
🚨 Morgan McSweeey resigns
👇🏻
magazine.newstatesman.com/2026/02/08/m...
Thank you both 🙏🏻
🔴 BREAKING: Labour Together paid controversial PR firm £30k to investigate journalists who were digging into how its undeclared funding
Reporters from Sunday Times, Guardian and other outlets targetted
*And* Morgan McSweeney knew about it
Full story:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
Great report by @pronouncedalva.bsky.social revealing the influence of Mandelson on this Labour operation:
It was good to join Politics Live earlier to discuss the Mandelson fallout and plug this week's cover story!
You can watch back here 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
I've been in such a tunnel with the Peter Mandelson story but thank you to everyone who came to this and to my brilliant fellow panellists!
It was a total pleasure to have some time to think about the deeper problems in our politics and some possible solutions, with a really engaged audience.
This week's New Statesman cover story is my report on how Peter Mandelson came to be appointed as ambassador - who knew what and when, what due diligence was done, how the decision was reached.
Good to hear it mentioned at PMQs. Please give it a read
www.newstatesman.com/politics/lab...
Fantastic new issue of the New Statesman out now!
Great, penetrating essay on Britain’s way forward by Paul Ovenden.
EXC interview with the Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez setting out an alternative socialist future.
And Ailbhe Rea on the fallout from Starmer’s Burnham battle.
Angela Rayner reportedly eyeing up SEND reforms as her next focus, according to @pronouncedalva.bsky.social - an area that could potentially be a huge headache for the Labour govt
Worries over a repeat of the welfare rebellion forced govt to look again at its initial proposals last year
This week's New Statesman politics column - on the fallout from the Burnham blocking www.newstatesman.com/the-politics...
Excl: Zack Polanski will not stand as the Green Party candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election.
A Green Party source told @newstatesman1913.bsky.social that whoever is chosen as the party’s candidate will be selected by the local party.
🚨NEW Majority of Manchester voters polled say Labour "wrong" to block Burnham in exclusive polling
@newstatesman1913.bsky.social
👇
54% say Labour "wrong" to block Burnham bid (8% say it's "right")
62% say Burnham should be "free to seek selection as an MP"
www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...
I want to start posting here more and what a day to start. I think Bluesky doesn't bury posts with external links so it should be good for sharing articles. New Statesman colleagues said this recent piece on the Europe debate in the PLP was well-received on here, so here's to more of that!
NEW: Andy Burnham has less than 24 hours to run in Gorton & Denton
Mayors must declare their candidacy by 5pm Saturday.
@newstatesman1913.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
The next Labour revolt could be over leasehold after some MPs warned the government not to break its manifesto pledge to cap ground rents.
One backbench MP told the New Statesman that if the government breaks its promise to leaseholders, “I have no doubt there would be a rebellion”.
As our @ethangcroft.bsky.social first reported several months ago
- Mayors need permission from the NEC to stand for parliament
- NEC figures could argue that a gender imbalance in the PLP could require a female candidate (an unofficial all-woman shortlist)
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
“Wes will want to move quickly, before Andy comes back,” a minister said as the news broke.
Lots of excitement in SW1 but also huge hurdles for Burnham to overcome with the NEC - detailed in the piece.
www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...
