Good afternoon. This is Emilio Casalicchio.
MONDAY CHEAT SHEET
— Keir Starmer launched another Downing Street reset with a claim his administration is entering “phase two.”
— Rising star minister Darren Jones got a big promotion to No.10 while another comms chief is off.
— There are mixed reviews of all the moves. We have the full goss.
— Yvette Cooper confirmed significant restrictions to refugee reunions between families.
— Kemi Badenoch continued her war with the Guardian.
**A message from Google: Our Be Internet Legends programme has already helped millions of children learn online safety skills and be confident digital explorers. On Thursday 11th September, you’re invited to join thousands of parents/carers, teachers and students for our annual ‘Back to School’ assembly, in partnership with Parent Zone. Learn more: parentzone.org.uk/beinternetlegends.**
TOP OF THE NEWSLIST
DRINK TO THE RESET: Labour MPs will tonight toast the big Keir Starmer government reset … and cross their fingers it turns their miserable poll ratings around.
Fixed smiles and warm wine: Backbenchers have been invited to a reception at Labour HQ in Southwark from 7 p.m. The PM is not addressing the event, Playbook PM is told. But can we ever trust what these press aides tell us?
A metaphor for his government: Indeed, hours after Downing Street officials insisted to reporters there would be no ministerial reshuffle this week … the reshuffle, with a press release ready to go, began. To be fair, it consisted of one big change on the ministerial front (plus some backfilling) but some pretty significant movements inside the No.10 machine.
The big one: HMT second-in-command Darren Jones has been shifted into No.10 to become “chief secretary to the prime minister” — a role that hasn’t existed until now. He will be based in No.10 and take “operational oversight” of delivery for the PM, with the delivery unit moved from the Cabinet Office into Downing Street. He will work hand-in-hand (no squabbling, lads) with Pat McFadden, who will to continue to focus on delivery across the departments from the Cabinet Office. The mission boards and all that jazz will remain in place on the back-end.
The short title: It sounds from the Downing Street explanations like Jones will be the minister for making sh*t happen — in what sounds like an admission too little sh*t happened in Starmer’s first 14 months in power. Playbook PM is told Jones will report to both the PM and McFadden. What could possibly go wrong?
The back-filling: Former junior HMT minister James Murray — known as a safe pair of hands — replaces Jones in the Treasury gig. His elevation to the Cabinet means Labour weakens its credentials on having a state-educated top team. Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson — who was the PM’s “growth champion” and, like HMT minister Torsten Bell, is an alumni of the Resolution Foundation — has replaced Murray.
On the proper back-end: The PM’s deputy chief of staff Vidhya Alakeson — said to be popular among departmental SpAds — has been promoted to take oversight of policy and delivery … while Daniel York-Smith has been confirmed as the new top civil service aide to the PM, after covering tax and welfare in HMT … and Minouche Shafik, ex-of Columbia University, the Bank of England and the aid department, has been confirmed as his new economic adviser.
Benched … or henched? Alakeson appears to replace both former Head of Policy Stuart Ingham and former head of policy delivery Liz Lloyd, who is moving out of No.10. The Beeb’s Henry Zeffman got those first.
Answers on a postcard: No-one is quite sure what Ingham’s new title, “senior counsel to the prime minister and director of strategic interventions,” means. Although allies insist it’s a stronger role in the political unit. Lloyd is expected to move elsewhere in government.
Also out: Head of the No.10 Policy Unit Olaf Henricson-Bell is leaving his role, our Dan Bloom scooped.
Is it just Playbook PM … or are all these overlapping policy roles mind-bendingly confusing? That is part of the rationale for the changes, according to insiders. Three directors of policy were creating a confused leadership structure. Although some SpAds are still confused about who runs policy, since Alakeson remains a deputy to Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney.
Also confusing: Starmer replaced his two directors of communication with … two directors of communication. Times Pol Ed Steven Swinford scooped this morning that James Lyons is out less than 12 months after joining the operation. But rather than leaving the remaining DoC, Steph Driver, in place alone, Starmer appointed Blair-era comms aide Tim Allan as a second DoC.
However, however, however: Officials insist Allan will focus on the overarching comms strategy, while Driver will make the daily decisions. “She will be CEO and he will be chair — and everyone knows where the power is in that relationship,” one person said.
Just to help matters: Commentator Steve Richards recalled Allan’s leaving drinks from No.10 in 1998, when Blair noted, half joking: “Tim’s even more right wing than me.”
So what is this all about? Some on the inside argue it’s the PM taking control, acknowledging weaknesses and putting more trust in those closest to him. Others accept it’s about fixing problems — and agree with the need for people with more experience. One person clued into the Starmer regime said the changes are about putting the correct structure into No.10 after it was not done at the start of the administration or after Sue Gray was booted out in October.
The more cutting assessment: Economist Paul Johnson told Times Radio the reshuffle shows how “staggeringly unprepared” Labour was for government.
Pretending the world is not as it is: No.10 of course denies the Starmer administration has been floundering, and claims the changes this morning are all part of the grand plan. The line is that year one was about stabilization in the wake of the Conservative binfire, and that now attention can be turned in year two to “turbocharging” implementation. The PM’s spokesperson said the changes will “bolster” the capability of No.10.
Forced to be a little bit honest: In an interview on Radio 5 Live this afternoon, presenter Matt Chorley managed to make Starmer admit he had been “frustrated” about how slow things have been — although the PM still gave the spin line about phase one being “fixing the foundations” and phase two being “delivery, delivery, delivery.” He even put out a little video making the claim. “Sad we missed phase one,” quipped one former Labour aide.
A quick note on that front: The public may not appreciate the PM obfuscating about things not quite going to plan. Check out this Tony Blair clip (which Dan Bloom flagged in his great piece on the delivery struggles of the Starmer administration) in which the then-PM admits being totally blindsided by an issue. Almost no politician speaks like this now — and instead they seem fixed on pretending mistakes and weaknesses do not exist.
From weakness to power: Starmer told Chorley the changes are about making No.10 “more powerful to drive through the changes we need.” His press sec, asked by Playbook PM whether the PM thinks he has wasted time since entering office, said Starmer “wants to make sure the entire government is delivering for the British people.”
How it’s all landed: Most people Playbook PM has spoken to seem pleased about Jones. He is seen as sensible, strong on the media and able to deliver things behind the scenes, after leading the spending review negotiations. Suspicions were raised after he began texting MPs — including some he has never spoken to before — over the weekend asking how their summers were. At least it’s an indication No.10 knows it needs to keep backbenchers on side.
And on the internal changes: The reviews seem to swing between great news and the kick up the backside the government needed, and despondence that nothing will ever change. “The deckchairs on the Titanic attack line is pretty accurate sadly,” said one close observer with skin in the game. “And it’s just going to keep happening until it’s Keir and Rachel that are the ones getting moved on.” Eek.
Indeed: Spectator Pol Ed Tim Shipman commented: “One more heave and Starmer’s glaring political weaknesses will be solved, comrades! PM running out of people to blame for his own lack of direction.” Ouch. And on the comms front, ex-No.10 aide Lee Cain noted that Starmer might want to think about what his message is, rather than how it’s delivered. Double ouch.
Fingers crossed, eh: “Today’s restructure and personnel changes in No.10 probably go wider than some expected — the proof of how effective they are will take a few months to tell, but the priority of PM is clear: to deliver change for British people and fast,” said one former No.10 aide. “The reality is that it has to work this time for the government to change the prevailing political weather.”
Chaos experts weigh in: “This chaotic reshuffle shows a Downing Street in crisis,” Conservative Chair Kevin Hollinrake said. “It’s like firefighters arguing about the hose whilst the house burns down.” No giggling at the back. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick had fun too.
More to come: Insiders reckon there are more personnel changes coming, not to mention a reshuffle among lower-rung ministers.
DRIVETIME DEBRIEF
PUT THAT FAMILY REUNION ON ICE: Yvette Cooper this afternoon confirmed to the Commons she will temporarily suspend the current refugee family reunion route while a new system is drawn up. The new regime is expected to lengthen the time before refugees can apply to bring their families to the U.K. and introduce contribution requirements. Until then, refugees will be covered by the same family migration rules as everyone else.
In quotes: “We do need to address the immediate pressures on local authorities and the risks from criminal gangs using family reunion as a pull factor to encourage more people onto dangerous boats,” Cooper said. The Mirror’s Dave Burke dug out some Cooper quotes from 2021 in which she warned a lack of safe legal routes for family reunion will drive more people into the hands of gangs.
Just flagging: Cooper also joined the PM in the summer flag-flying lovefest. Waving flags and singing “God Save the King” is done so with pride because flags represent “togetherness, fairness and decency,” Cooper said. Starmer earlier told the BBC he was “a supporter of flags” and had a St George’s flag in his Downing Street flat. The PM’s spokesperson told reporters he hadn’t seen it, but tried to impart to reporters it’s well big.
Further reading: My colleague Annabelle Dickson delved into what is going on with all this flag-flying last week, and how politicians should respond. Ex-Labour minister John Denham told her politicians should be quite relaxed about the movement.
STILL TO COME IN THE COMMONS: Foreign Secretary David Lammy is delivering a statement about Gaza … after which Defense Secretary John Healey will deliver one about Ukraine.
WARBURTON DEAD: Former Conservative MP David Warburton — who quit the Commons amid allegations of sexual misconduct which were later withdrawn — was found dead in a West London flat. The BBC has a writeup.
KEMI VS THE GUARDIAN PART 94: Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed the Guardian report casting doubt on her claims she was offered a place at a prestigious U.S. medical school at 16. In a TV clip she said the Guardian is “reporting on hearsay” and “can try and cast aspersions as much as they like.”
RAYNING ON THE RESET PARADE: Starmer heaped praise on Angela Rayner and of course ignored questions on 5 Live about whether she swerved tax when she bought a flat in Hove. He said she was an “incredible prime minister” — before correcting his Freudian slip to “deputy prime minister.” Downing Street said Rayner cannot give full information about her housing arrangements due to a court order which she is attempting to lift so she can set the record straight.
LATEST REFORM PRESS CONFERENCE: Reform’s Richard Tice and Zia Yusuf claimed in a Westminster press conference this morning that “rip off” local government pension schemes are overcharging and underperforming for taxpayers. The FT has a writeup.
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT: Eight new areas are joining an existing 20 running a pilot aimed at giving child victims of sexual abuse faster protection and care.
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT DOESN’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT: A government AI trial found the tech helped civil servants make “small” time savings — not quite matching big claims from ministers about how AI can transform the state. Our Pro Tech U.K. colleagues discovered the findings in the small print of the business department’s Microsoft Copilot trial, which was unable to determine whether the limited time savings increased productivity.
**Are you an Playbook fan, and French reader? Then you’ll love Le Weekly, our upcoming weekly French newsletter! Every Saturday at 10 am, enjoy a selection of the best articles powered by our international newsrooms, with additional insights, analyses and perspectives offered by Nicolas Barré, Editor-in-Chief. Sign up today to start receiving Le Weekly on September 6!**
SOCIAL (MEDIA) AFFAIRS
JOURNOS OF TOMORROW: Rachel Reeves marked schools returning with a tough grilling from the kids. “I’ve been hearing about you in the news that you like taxes,” one said, to a nervous laugh from the chancellor.
BEYOND THE M25
SIGNATURE MOVE: The Nottingham Post set up a petition telling Nottinghamshire County Council’s Reform UK Leader Mick Barton to “stop hiding from press scrutiny” after the party’s local councilors were banned from talking to the paper and Nottinghamshire Live. More than 25,000 people signed the petition saying councillors “can control the story and hide the truth” when they pick and choose which hacks to speak to.
NORTH OF THE BORDER: Anas Sarwar said “there’s a genocide happening in Gaza” after he was confronted during a return from recess speech. The Scottish Labour leader’s remarks were also overshadowed by protestors chanting in the atrium below him at Glasgow Caledonian University. The Scotsman has more.
VDL MENACED: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s plane was hit by GPS interference during her tour visiting “frontline states” Sunday. While the plane landed safely in Bulgaria, it was unable to use electronic navigational aids. My colleague Pieter Haeck has further info.
NO WHISPERING HERE: Chinese President Xi Jinping criticized other countries’ “bullying practices” at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin where Russia’s Vladimir Putin was in attendance. In a swipe at U.S. President Donald Trump, Xi positioned Beijing as the upholder of “fairness and justice.” POLITICO’s Ketrin Jochecová has the latest.
IN AFGHANISTAN: More than 800 people have been killed and at least 2,800 injured after a 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit Afghanistan’s northeastern remote province of Kuna. Sky News has the rundown.
**A message from Google: Children today are growing up in a digital world, so giving them the tools and knowledge to make good decisions online is essential. Google’s Be Internet Legends programme helps children learn key online safety skills and offers fun interactive materials to help them become confident online. Research by IPSOS Mori found that kids are twice as likely to show a better understanding of internet safety after taking part in the programme. The curriculum also helps children understand the impact of AI, and how to use it safely. On Thursday 11th September, join thousands of parents/carers, teachers and students for our annual Back to School assembly, in partnership with Parent Zone. Learn more at: parentzone.org.uk/beinternetlegends.**
TONIGHT’S MEDIA ROUND
LEADING THE NEWS BULLETINS: Channel 5 News (5 p.m.), BBC News at Six, ITV Evening News (6.30 p.m.) and Channel 4 News (7 p.m.) all focus on Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s changes to asylum rules.
Tom Swarbrick at Drive (LBC, until 6 p.m.): Labour peer and former Cabinet Minister John Hutton (5.05 p.m.).
Drive with John Pienaar (Times Radio, until 7 p.m.): Skills Minister Jacqui Smith … Refugee Council CEO Enver Solomon … Belarusian politician Franak Viacorka … APCO Worldwide’s Jo Tanner and ConHome’s Henry Hill (both 6 p.m.).
BBC PM (Radio 4, 5 p.m.): Jacqui Smith … Migration Observatory Director Madeleine Sumption.
News Hour (Sky News, 5 p.m.): Save the Children Afghanistan Advocacy Director Samira Sayed Rahman (5.30 p.m.) … Tony Blair’s former Political Secretary John McTernan (5.45 p.m.) … former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov (6.30 p.m.).
Tonight With Andrew Marr (LBC, 6 p.m.): Jacqui Smith … Keir Starmer’s former adviser Peter Hyman … podcaster and former Shadow Cabinet Minister Jon Ashworth … former Tory Chief Whip Simon Hart.
GBN Tonight (GB News, 7 p.m.): Labour MP Graham Stringer … Reform UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice … Migration Watch UK Chair Alp Mehmet.
The Evening Edition with Kait Borsay (Times Radio, 7 p.m.): Former Benjamin Netanyahu adviser Daniel Rubenstein (7.15 p.m.) … UNICEF Afghanistan Communications Specialist Salam Al-Janabi (7.25 p.m.) … former NATO Representative to Russia John Lough (8 p.m.).
Cross Question with Iain Dale (LBC, 8 p.m.): Environment Secretary Steve Reed … Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith … S4 Capital’s Martin Sorrell … former Daily Mirror Editor Alison Phillips.
Jacob Rees-Mogg’s State of the Nation (GB News, 8 p.m.): Former Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster … Reform UK councilor Laila Cunningham … former Labour MP Stephen Pound … former Tory MP John Redwood.
Newsnight (BBC 2, 10.30 p.m.): Labour Red Wall Caucus Chair Jo White … former Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg.
TWEETING TOMORROW’S PAPERS TONIGHT: George Mann.
REVIEWING THE PAPERS TONIGHT: Times Radio (10.30 p.m.): Broadcaster Nina dos Santos and POLITICO’s Anne McElvoy … Sky News (10.30 p.m. and 11.30 p.m.): Times Radio’s Adam Boulton and the Telegraph’s Annabel Denham.
WHERE TO FIND BOOZE IN WESTMINSTER TONIGHT
ELECTIONS NEEDED: Labour MPs should get their asses down to HQ in Southwark.
TOMORROW’S WORLD
EDGING CLOSER TO RETIREMENT AGE: Keir Starmer turns 63 overnight.
GETTING THE NEW GANG TOGETHER: The PM will chair a meeting of his cabinet at 9.30 a.m.
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT: Criminal sentences and zero emission vehicles.
WHAT THE TORIES WANT TO TALK ABOUT: Kemi Badenoch will deliver a speech in Aberdeen about fossil fuels.
GREEN SHOOTS: The new co-leadership of the Greens will be announced at 11 a.m. during their annual conference in London.
IN THE LORDS: Peers materialize from 11 a.m. for further committee debate on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
IN THE COMMONS: MPs rock up for Foreign Office questions at 11.30 a.m. before the second reading of the devolution bill.
MIDDLE EAST CRISIS: Palestinian Ambassador to the U.K. Husam Zomlot will speak at Chatham House from 1 p.m.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
NEW GIGS: Former Greater London Authority official Kate Webb joined No. 10 recently to work on infrastructure and housing policy (per Dan Bloom’s big read on the Starmer machine) … broadcaster Paris Gourtsoyannis is joining BBC Scotland next month as a political correspondent, meaning his outgoing role at STV is up for grabs … and CCHQ has hired Dylan Selby as a press officer.
And an upgrade: The Telegraph’s Dominic Penna has been promoted to senior political correspondent.
WHAT I’VE BEEN READING: On his Substack, mathematician Oliver Johnson explains how government claims about school attendance, reported in the BBC over the weekend, are a case of bad stats use.
PACKED LUNCH OR PALACE LUNCH: Subject to change, here are the lunch menus on the estate tomorrow: Bellamy’s: Veggie sausage roll with carrot and rocket salad and balsamic dressing; jerk pork with rice and peas; salmon and haddock fishcake with crushed peas, charred endive and tartare … The Debate: Jerk pork with rice and peas; portobello mushroom shakshuka with egg; tandoori tuna with cumin zucchini quinoa, pickled red onion, daikon and coriander yoghurt … Terrace Cafeteria: Jerk pork with rice and peas; haddock fillet with creamy spinach, crushed new potato, spring onion and mustard hollandaise; ginger tofu with chickpea stew, roast zucchini, eggplant and toasted almonds … River Restaurant: Lime and dill coley with broccoli, giant couscous salad and mango and avocado salsa; roasted vegetable tofu kebab with khubz bread and kebab shop trimmings; bangers and mash with peas and gravy.
ON THIS DAY IN POLITICS: Former Prime Minister Tony Blair delivered his famous “people’s princess” tribute to Princess Diana on this day in 1997. Clip here.
WRITING PLAYBOOK TOMORROW MORNING: Andrew McDonald.
THANKS TO: My editor Matt Honeycombe-Foster, reporter Noah Keate and the POLITICO production team for making it look nice.
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