Good morning. The Prime Minister heads a government session this today having lost his deputy PM, his representative to the US, and his top strategist all within less than a two weeks.
The Commons begins a four-week break this evening, which offers some relief. With lawmakers away from Parliament, they are unlikely to participate in rebel activity.
Prior to their departure, lawmakers will spend several hours in a discussion on a former minister, which is expected to focus on whether the Prime Minister was correct to appoint him in the first place and whether he has been fully candid about what he was aware of regarding communications to a controversial figure when he defended the envoy last week.
And there is more bad news for the leader this today. A poll of Labour party members indicates:
- Only one quarter of them believe Labour is moving in the right direction.
- Only 26% of them have a positive opinion of Starmer, against 59% who view him negatively.
- Lucy Powell, who was sacked by Starmer as leader of the Commons, has a clear lead over the education secretary, in the race to be deputy leader. Phillipson is viewed as the pro-leader candidate, while Powell is seen as the option for members who want to express some dissent.
Surveys are potentially fallible, internal party surveys are particularly difficult, and in some respects the views of supporters are fairly irrelevant at the moment.
Likelihood of a leadership challenge anytime soon still look minimal, and even if the candidate were to win the number two position, the post holds almost no formal power within Labour.
Nevertheless, the results doesn’t look good.
The Day’s Agenda
- 9.30am: The Prime Minister chairs cabinet.
- Today: Starmer meets relatives of people killed at a tragic event to mark the publication of the public office accountability bill.
- Later: Kemi Badenoch is on a visit in London.
- Late morning: The justice secretary takes questions in the Commons.
- Noon: The policing minister gives a speech to the a law enforcement group.
- Noon: The government holds a lobby briefing.
- Afternoon: The health secretary visits the London Ambulance Service.
- After 12.30pm: MPs begin a lengthy emergency debate on the appointment process and circumstances leading to the dismissal of the former envoy to the US.
Polling data can be unreliable, particularly when surveying a limited population such as party members.
Individuals wishing to reach out, online platforms or comment sections remain the primary ways of getting in touch during certain hours.
Readers are encouraged to highlight errors, including small typos, as no error is too small to correct.
