Welcome. Keir Starmer chairs a government session this today after losing 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 recess this tonight, which brings some respite. If MPs are out of Westminster, they are unlikely to engage in dissident plotting.
Prior to their departure, lawmakers will spend several hours in a discussion on Peter Mandelson, which is likely to focus on whether the Prime Minister was right to appoint him initially and whether he has been completely honest about what he was aware of regarding emails 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 party supporters suggests:
- Only 25% of them feel the party is moving in the correct path.
- Only 26% of them have a positive opinion of the leader, against nearly six in ten who view him unfavourably.
- Lucy Powell, who was dismissed by the Prime Minister as a senior role, has a significant advantage over the education secretary, in the contest to be deputy leader. Phillipson is viewed as the loyalist candidate, while Powell is seen as the choice for members who want to express some dissent.
Surveys are subject to error, party membership polling are especially challenging, and in some respects the views of party members are fairly irrelevant at the moment.
The chances of a leadership challenge anytime soon still look minimal, and even if Powell were to win the number two position, the post holds almost no formal power within Labour.
Nevertheless, the results appears good.
The Day’s Agenda
- Morning: The Prime Minister chairs cabinet.
- Today: He meets relatives of people killed at Hillsborough to mark the publication of the public office accountability bill.
- Later: Kemi Badenoch is on a visit in the capital.
- Late morning: David Lammy takes questions in the Parliament.
- Noon: Sarah Jones gives a speech to the a law enforcement group.
- Noon: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.
- Lunchtime: The health secretary visits the emergency services.
- After 12.30pm: MPs begin a lengthy emergency debate on the selection and circumstances leading to the dismissal of the former envoy to the United States.
Survey results is unreliable, especially when surveying a limited group such as political supporters.
Individuals wanting to contact, social media or below the line are the main ways of communication during specified hours.
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