Welcome. Labour leader chairs a cabinet session this morning having lost his deputy PM, his representative to the US, and his top strategist all within less than a 14 days.
The Commons begins a month-long break this tonight, which will provide some relief. If MPs are out of Westminster, they are unlikely to engage in rebel activity.
Prior to their departure, lawmakers will spend several hours in a debate on Peter Mandelson, which is expected to focus on whether the Prime Minister was right to select him initially and whether he has been completely honest about what he knew regarding communications to a controversial figure when he defended the ambassador last week.
Additionally, there’s more unfavorable developments for the leader this morning. A poll of Labour party members indicates:
- Just one quarter of them think the party is moving in the right direction.
- Merely 26% of them have a favourable opinion of Starmer, against nearly six in ten who view him unfavourably.
- Lucy Powell, who was sacked by Starmer as leader of the Commons, has a significant advantage over Bridget Phillipson, in the contest to be deputy leader. She is viewed as the loyalist candidate, while her opponent is seen as the option for members who want to express some dissent.
All polling are subject to error, internal party surveys are particularly difficult, and in some respects the views of party members are not highly significant at the moment.
Likelihood of a contest in the near future still look very slight, and even if Powell were to win the number two position, the post carries almost no formal power within the party.
Still, the polling doesn’t look good.
The Day’s Agenda
- 9.30am: The Prime Minister chairs cabinet.
- Today: He meets relatives of people killed at a tragic event to mark the publication of the new legislation.
- Morning: Kemi Badenoch is on a visit in London.
- 11.30am: David Lammy takes questions in the Commons.
- 11.55am: Sarah Jones gives a speech to the a law enforcement group.
- Midday: The government holds a lobby briefing.
- Afternoon: The health secretary visits the London Ambulance Service.
- After 12.30pm: Lawmakers begin a three-hour emergency debate on the appointment process and events leading to the removal of the former envoy to the US.
Polling results is unreliable, particularly when sampling a limited population such as political supporters.
Individuals wanting to reach out, online platforms or below the line are the primary methods of getting in touch during certain hours.
Readers are asked to point out mistakes, even minor typographical mistakes, as every mistake is insignificant to correct.
