![\"London](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/nl-header_politico_london-playbook.png\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\nBy EMILIO CASALICCHIO<\/strong><\/p>\n with NOAH KEATE<\/strong><\/p>\n Good afternoon.<\/strong> This is Emilio Casalicchio.<\/p>\n THE WAR KEEPS SPREADING:\u00a0<\/strong>World leaders are tonight scrambling for information after Israel launched a surprise attack on senior Hamas leaders in Qatar. The IDF confirmed it conducted \u201ca precise strike\u201d at what a Hamas official told broadcasters was its top negotiating team in Doha. The White House said U.S. President Donald Trump was notified about the plans while Middle Eastern nations lined up to condemn the attack. POLITICO has a writeup here<\/a>\u00a0and the Beeb is running\u00a0a liveblog<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s a conversation starter:<\/strong>\u00a0No doubt the bombing of another nation will be on the agenda when Keir Starmer welcomes Israeli President Isaac Herzog to Downing Street tomorrow. Will the PM repeat Wes Streeting and tell Herzog the Israeli government is leading<\/a> its nation to \u201cpariah status?\u201d Don\u2019t forget Starmer is mulling whether to recognize the state of Palestine at the upcoming UN summit. Downing Street this afternoon condemned the escalation and said it would \u201crisk further destabilization.\u201d<\/p>\n In the meantime:\u00a0<\/strong>The PM will be meeting NATO boss Mark Rutte in No.10 this evening.<\/p>\n TUESDAY CHEAT SHEET<\/p>\n \u2014 Labour figures are eager to see the first nominations data in the deputy leadership race.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2014 Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson appeared to take an early lead among MPs and members.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2014 There are now six candidates confirmed in the race and a few dropouts.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2014 The government said Boris Johnson will be audited as another row swirls around the ex-PM.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2014 Steve Baker has started selling t-shirts.<\/strong><\/p>\n **A message from Shell UK:<\/strong> Shell is a vital contributor to the UK, supporting energy security, jobs and economic value. We believe that a predictable and globally competitive fiscal and regulatory climate will enable us to invest to strengthen the UK\u2019s energy security and drive economic opportunity. Find out more, and disclaimer: shell.co.uk\/about-us<\/a>.**<\/strong><\/p>\n TOP OF THE NEWSLIST<\/p>\n CLICK IT HARDER:<\/strong> Figures across the Labour movement will be furiously refreshing this webpage<\/a> tonight, desperate to find out how the deputy leadership nominations are falling.<\/p>\n No phones at the dinner table: <\/strong>MP nomination tallies for the six candidates so far will land here<\/a> around 7 p.m. with fewer than 48 hours to go before the nominations window closes.<\/p>\n In the race so far:<\/strong> The contest has been hotting up through the afternoon, with scorned ex-Cabinet minister Lucy Powell<\/strong><\/a>, Local Government Minister Alison McGovern<\/strong><\/a> and Liverpool Wavertree MP Paula Barker<\/strong><\/a> joining Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson<\/strong><\/a>, Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Emily Thornberry<\/strong><\/a> and Socialist Campaign Group pick Bell Ribeiro-Addy<\/strong><\/a>. Click names for their full pitches.<\/p>\n Scores on the door: <\/strong>Election Maps U.K. has a great spreadsheet<\/a> tracking the public endorsements each of the candidates has won from colleagues so far. Phillipson is out in front, with expectations among some MPs she will get over the 80 mark tonight. <\/p>\n Worth remembering:<\/strong> Lots of backbenchers rate Phillipson after she engaged with them on planned<\/a> SEND reforms \u2014 in contrast to the approach on the aborted welfare cuts. She also won the tacit support<\/a> of Cabinet colleague Wes Streeting (little surprise since she\u2019s the No.10 candidate) even though ministers have been told not to get involved<\/a>.<\/p>\n Is it all over before it\u2019s started?<\/strong> Despite expectations in SW1 that the Labour membership will elect whichever candidate promises to give Keir Starmer the biggest wedgie, LabourList published a poll<\/a> this afternoon suggesting the opposite. Phillipson led the table with a net score of +39 percent \u2014 joint with non-runner Lou Haigh (who endorsed Lucy Powell in an interview with Andrew Marr on LBC this eve). Fellow non-runner Ed Miliband was third most popular on 30 percent, then non-runner Rosena Allin-Khan on 26 percent \u2014 the most popular among the London MPs.<\/p>\n Then on to the other actual candidates: <\/strong>Thornberry was next down the line with 20 percent, McGovern (who\u2019s on Newsnight later) had 19 percent, Powell was on 1 percent and Ribeiro-Addy was on 3 percent. LabourList did not ask about Barker, since no-one saw her bid coming.<\/p>\n Usual disclaimer: <\/strong>This is one poll from a sub-group of a sub-group of our great nation (i.e. the kinds of freaks who own political membership cards) and polls have a habit of being wrong. But numbers like these will drive the chatter about the race among the people who matter.<\/p>\n And if we take it at face value \u2026<\/strong> the poll suggests being a fully-fledged member of the Starmer circle and backing all the decisions he\u2019s made in government so far is no barrier to winning an internal Labour election. \u201cWow,\u201d one Labour MP said when Playbook PM showed them the poll results.<\/p>\n Or to put it another way<\/strong> \u2026 it suggests the membership wants a deputy leader who will keep quiet and give \u201cPhase Two<\/a>\u201d a proper chance, rather than someone who risks destabilizing the government, despite having little real power.<\/p>\n Other explanations:<\/strong> One Labour staffer noted that Phillipson is a \u201clikable, capable northern woman. I think that counts for a lot.\u201d It\u2019s almost as though the big Times interview<\/a> with glossy photoshoot was no coincidence.<\/p>\n Even more takes: <\/strong>Others noted the clear membership churn since the Jeremy Corbyn era, making the electorate more *ahem* pragmatic. But those on the left were more skeptical, with one person arguing \u201cit\u2019s just a poll of name recognition, and once you exclude those who don\u2019t know you are dealing with small sample sizes.\u201d The same person noted that if No.10 is not treating the contest as a walk in the park, the Phillipson position can\u2019t be all that secure.<\/p>\n The hottest take:<\/strong> A third person said the numbers show even the average Labour member is less engaged in politics than the weirdos in and around parliament, Playbook PM included. <\/p>\n Onto the next bit: <\/strong>Phillipson is also thinking about the next stage of the contest too, praising the \u201cwisdom of the unions\u201d in her TUC speech this afternoon\u00a0and insisting the government will overturn Lords amendments to the workers\u2019 rights bill \u201cno ifs, no buts.\u201d That bit got a sizable cheer from the room, according to my POLITICO colleague Dan Bloom, who was there. He noted that Phillipson delivered ample content about her working-class background too.<\/p>\n But but but:\u00a0<\/strong>Even No. 10-allied\u00a0union chiefs who spoke to Dan want a proper contest (at least two candidates \u2014 amid suggestions Phillipson could win this week if no rival gets enough nominations) and someone who can speak truth to Starmer. \u201cWe\u2019re not looking for Keir mark two,\u201d said one. The 11 affiliated union leaders are being love-bombed by hopefuls. Due to the short timelines, most won\u2019t have time to canvas their full membership on who to back.<\/p>\n Not standing:<\/strong> Former Cabinet Minister Anneliese Dodds<\/strong><\/a> and 2024 MP Sarah Owen<\/strong><\/a> ruled themselves out of the race. Veterans Minister Al Carns<\/strong> had been calling around colleagues for nominations too but has since given up<\/a>. Nothing from fellow phone-hitter<\/a> Kim Leadbeater<\/strong> so far. <\/p>\n The other big next thing \u2026<\/strong> aside from the nomination tallies tonight and tomorrow, is the hustings. But in a proper no-fun move, the bloodletting polite debate will happen in private and online at 8 p.m. tomorrow evening. Times Radio hack Carole Walker heard<\/a> the move to host the debate on the internet had raised the hackles of some MPs.<\/p>\n The thing no-one is listening to: <\/strong>Meanwhile the work of government appears to continue, with Starmer meeting his not-so-new look Cabinet this morning. He said the government needs to \u201cgo up a gear\u201d \u2014 although his spokesperson refused to agree with reporters that the wording sounds like an admission the administration has been operating in second gear or worse. <\/p>\n DRIVETIME DEBRIEF<\/p>\n WATCHDOGS GONNA WATCH:<\/strong> Boris Johnson\u2019s use of public funds will face a full audit, the government confirmed, amid questions over whether he has been misusing them for his commercial endeavors. The Guardian revealed evidence<\/a> suggesting the ex-PM has been claiming public duties allowances for private interests, while fellow former PM Gordon Brown said<\/a> the rules should be changed to force ex-PMs to publish their business interests.<\/p>\n Good luck with that:<\/strong> The Lib Dems are calling on Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch to condemn Johnson and rule him out of standing in a future leadership election \u2014 which is not up to her.<\/p>\n What Old Bozza wanted to talk about:<\/strong> Calling for the so-called Coalition of the Willing to begin operations in Ukraine now, as the Nightly reported<\/a>. <\/p>\n All of which should serve as a reminder \u2026 <\/strong>to those Conservatives who pine to have Johnson back as their leader that his messages can often take a back seat to controversy.<\/p>\n WHAT THE GOVERNMENT DOESN\u2019T WANT TO TALK ABOUT:\u00a0<\/strong>Downing Street did its absolute best not to comment on U.K. Ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson purportedly\u00a0appearing in the Jeffrey Epstein \u201cbirthday book<\/a>.\u201d Wes Streeting said of the ambo and Labour grandee this morning: \u201cI\u2019m sure he will have more to say. But I don\u2019t think we should tar everyone as kind of guilty by association.\u201d The housekeeper in one of the pics featuring Mandelson spoke to the Telegraph.<\/a> <\/p>\n SHOW US THE MONEY:\u00a0<\/strong>John Healey\u2019s new Defense Industrial Joint Council will meet Wednesday, my colleagues Esther Webber and Dan Bloom hear. The body will bring together industry bigwigs and union leaders who want a say in how the U.K. will ramp up defense production. One U.K. aerospace executive said the noises from government are \u201cencouraging\u201d but warned concrete details might have to wait for yet another strategy (the defense investment plan), which isn\u2019t due until the end of the year.<\/p>\n Big wheels keep on turning:\u00a0<\/strong>The U.K. officially joined the multinational Common Armoured Vehicle (CAVS) program, as announced by Defense Minister Vernon Coaker in his big address at the first day of DSEI, where Esther has been hanging out. Patria and Babcock have entered an agreement to support manufacturing of Patria 6\u00d76 vehicles in the U.K.<\/p>\n SHIFTING SANDS:<\/strong>\u00a0Britain saw its first uncontrolled small boat landing in almost three years over the weekend, when a vessel came ashore in Kent without being intercepted at sea. Bloomberg\u2019s Ellen Milligan\u00a0got the scoop<\/a>, and also hears the Home Office wants Border Force<\/a>\u00a0to take small boats intercepted in French waters back to France \u2014 which would require permission from Paris.<\/p>\n TRIPLE LOCKED: <\/strong>Kemi Badenoch insisted the Tories are committed to the pensions triple lock, despite suggesting in the past it could be up for grabs. Asked after her speech in the City this morning whether she might scrap it, she insisted: \u201cNo. The triple lock is Conservative policy, has been, and it continues to be.\u201d <\/p>\n Nevertheless: <\/strong>Badenoch insisted the Tories could cut the welfare bill and (classic political gambit klaxon) offered to work with Labour to find \u201ccommon ground\u201d on the issue. <\/p>\n Overseas and loving it:<\/strong> Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride was having fun miles from the Badenoch speech, chatting with fellow former bigwigs in Washington D.C. Pic here<\/a>.<\/p>\n REPORTS OUT THIS AFTERNOON: <\/strong>The Future Health think tank (founded by ex-Matt Hancock SpAd Richard Sloggett) has a report out<\/a> about targeting neighborhood health to counter Reform.<\/p>\n WHAT THE LIB DEMS WANT TO TALK ABOUT:<\/strong> The Care Quality Commission report published today that warned<\/a> corridor care in A&E has become a \u201cregrettable reality.\u201d Health spokesperson Helen Morgan said the government \u201cdoes not seem able to grasp the scale of the challenge it is facing\u201d on the issue.<\/p>\n WHERE ARE THEY NOW? <\/strong>Conservative former minister Steve Baker launched his \u201cFighting for a Free Future\u201d movement all about getting \u201ca British Javier Milei\u201d into Downing Street. It even has its own merch site<\/a> \u2014 for the discerning fashionista who wants \u201ctaxation is worse than theft\u201d on a t-shirt.<\/p>\n SOCIAL (MEDIA) AFFAIRS<\/p>\n THAT\u2019S POLITICS:<\/strong>\u00a0Stockton North MP Chris McDonald (briefly) endorsed Bridget Phillipson for deputy prime minister despite David Lammy only just getting his feet under the table. The graphic was swiftly deleted but captured for posterity by\u00a0the Express\u2019 Christian Calgie<\/a>.<\/p>\n BEYOND THE M25<\/p>\n THIS KENT BE HAPPENING:<\/strong> Eight Kent Labour MPs wrote to Reform council leader<\/a> Linden Kemkaran condemning her \u201cconspiracies\u201d about COVID vaccines. Kemkaran told Times Radio at the weekend Reform should consider<\/a> investigating whether the jabs are linked to cancer, as a speaker at the Reform conference argued<\/a>.<\/p>\n UKRAINE UPDATE:<\/strong>\u00a0Russian President Vladimir Putin told Donald Trump he intends to occupy Ukraine\u2019s Donbass region in a few months, according to Volodymyr Zelenskyy. My continental colleague Elena Giordano has further deets<\/a>.<\/p>\n On the ground:\u00a0<\/strong>The Ukrainian president said 24 civilians queuing to receive their pensions were killed in a Russian airstrike on a village in the Donetsk region, with another 21 people wounded.\u00a0Sky has more<\/a>.<\/p>\n IN NEPAL:<\/strong>\u00a0Nepal\u2019s prime minister resigned after demonstrations against a social media ban left at least 22 people dead. The Telegraph has the rundown<\/a>.<\/p>\n AID ATTACK:\u00a0<\/strong>Climate activist Greta Thunberg\u2019s flotilla carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza was struck by a drone in Tunisian waters. My POLITICO colleague Ketrin Jochecov\u00e1 has a writeup<\/a>.<\/p>\n **A message from Shell UK<\/strong>: Decarbonising UK transport and businesses will require a comprehensive approach involving policy, technology and infrastructure. Transport is the UK\u2019s highest-emitting sector and decarbonising it is essential to the UK achieving net zero by 2050. We\u2019re working on a range of solutions to address this. We provide access to one of the UK’s largest electric-charging networks<\/a>, we are at the forefront of the sector as one of the world\u2019s largest traders and suppliers of biofuels, and we are developing skills needed for the energy transition, including training 250 electricians to install<\/a> charge points. For business, we supply thousands of UK firms with power. We\u2019re also working with logistics and aviation partners through the development of digital solutions like Avelia to help customers access the benefits of lower carbon fuels. Find out more, and disclaimer: shell.co.uk\/about-us<\/a>.**<\/strong><\/p>\n TONIGHT\u2019S MEDIA ROUND<\/p>\n LEADING THE NEWS BULLETINS:<\/strong> Channel 5 News<\/strong>\u00a0(5 p.m.) focuses on NHS hospital league tables and has an interview with Health Minister Karin Smyth<\/strong> \u2026 BBC News at Six<\/strong>, ITV Evening News<\/strong>\u00a0(6.30 p.m.) and Channel 4 News<\/strong>\u00a0(7 p.m.) all lead on Israel striking Hamas leaders in Qatar.<\/p>\n Tom Swarbrick at Drive<\/strong>\u00a0(LBC, until 6 p.m.):\u00a0RMT Senior Assistant General Secretary John Leach<\/strong> (5.05 p.m.) \u2026 Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham <\/strong>(5.35 p.m.). <\/p>\n Drive with John Pienaar<\/strong>\u00a0(Times Radio, until 7 p.m.): Karin Smyth<\/strong> \u2026 Labour MP Clive Efford <\/strong>\u2026 former Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Jonathan Conricus<\/strong> \u2026 French Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces Committee Vice President H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Conway-Mouret<\/strong> \u2026 former U.S. Middle East Special Envoy for Humanitarian Affairs David Satterfield<\/strong> \u2026 former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The News Agents<\/strong>\u00a0(Podcast, drops at 5 p.m.): World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Tonight With Andrew Marr<\/strong>\u00a0(LBC, 6 p.m.): Karin Smyth<\/strong> \u2026 former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh<\/strong> \u2026 Labour MP Dawn Butler<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Dewbs and Co <\/strong>(GB News, 6 p.m.): Tory peer Jacqueline Foster<\/strong> \u2026 former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi<\/strong> \u2026 former Tory Cabinet Minister Ranil Jayawardena <\/strong>\u2026 former Lib Dem adviser Jo Phillips<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge<\/strong> (Sky News, 7 p.m.):\u00a0Labour Deputy Leadership contender Bell Ribeiro-Addy <\/strong>(7.05 p.m.) \u2026 Karin Smyth <\/strong>(7.40 p.m.) \u2026 former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng <\/strong>\u2026 Lib Dem MP Christine Jardine<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The Evening Edition with Kait Borsay <\/strong>(Times Radio, 7 p.m.): Academic Luciano Zaccara<\/strong> (7 p.m.) \u2026 former British Ambassador to Iran Nicholas Hopton<\/strong> (8 p.m.). <\/p>\n Cross Question with Iain Dale<\/strong>\u00a0(LBC, 8 p.m.): Labour MP Rosie Wrighting <\/strong>\u2026 Conservative MP Ashley Fox<\/strong> \u2026 Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin<\/strong> \u2026 the Mail on Sunday\u2019s Dan Hodges<\/strong>. <\/p>\n Jacob Rees-Mogg\u2019s State of the Nation <\/strong>(GB News, 8 p.m.):\u00a0Tory MPs Esther McVey <\/strong>and Andrew Rosindell<\/strong> \u2026 former Health Minister Maria Caulfield<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Patrick Christys Tonight <\/strong>(GB News, 9 p.m.): Reform UK councilor Laila Cunningham<\/strong> \u2026 Migration Watch UK Chair Alp Mehmet<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Newsnight <\/strong>(BBC 2, 10.30 p.m.): Labour peer and former Home Secretary David Blunkett<\/strong> \u2026 Labour deputy leadership contender Alison McGovern<\/strong>.<\/p>\n TWEETING TOMORROW\u2019S PAPERS TONIGHT:<\/strong> George Mann<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n REVIEWING THE PAPERS TONIGHT: Times Radio <\/strong>(10.30 p.m.): Playbook\u2019s own Dan Bloom<\/strong> and PoliticsHome\u2019s Nadine Batchelor-Hunt<\/strong> \u2026 Sky News<\/strong>\u00a0(10.30 p.m. and 11.30 p.m.):\u00a0LBC\u2019s Ali Miraj<\/strong> and journo Jenny Kleeman<\/strong>.<\/p>\n **Introducing Live Monitoring for U.K. Parliament:<\/strong> Imagine if every time the topic you cared about was mentioned in a committee meeting, you received a live alert showing who said it, in what context, and with a direct link to the video. POLITICO Pro\u2019s new speech-to-text tool does exactly that \u2013 saving hours spent in select committee rooms or buried in transcripts. With transcript snippets, timestamped video links and context at your fingertips, this tool transforms how members and staffers track Parliament. If you would like to save yourself hours of unnecessary work, speak to our team today<\/a>.**<\/strong><\/p>\n WHERE TO FIND BOOZE IN WESTMINSTER TONIGHT<\/p>\n STUDENT PRICES?<\/strong> Labour Students and the NUS are hosting a drinks reception for comrades (staffers and MPs included) who began their political lives in the student movement, from 6 p.m. at One Great George Street. Student ID not required \u2014 and VKs not included at the bar. \ud83d\ude22<\/p>\n SOFT DRINKS ONLY: <\/strong>The Health Foundation holds its annual reception at IET London: Savoy Place from 6.30 p.m. <\/p>\n MUSING WITH MODERATES:<\/strong>\u00a0Former Development Minister\u00a0Anneliese Dodds gives the\u00a0<\/strong>Rita Hinden memorial lecture<\/a>, hosted by the Renewal journal, at\u00a0City St George\u2019s University from 6.30 p.m. followed by a reception.<\/p>\n TOMORROW\u2019S WORLD<\/p>\n HAPPENING OVERNIGHT:<\/strong> The Public Accounts Committee has a report out about governance of big projects, while the Scottish Affairs Committee has a report out about space launches.<\/p>\n NEXT LEG OF THE TRIP:<\/strong> New Business Secretary Peter Kyle heads from Washington D.C. to China. <\/p>\n OFF GUARD: <\/strong>Parliamentary security staff walk out<\/a> for another 24 hour strike, from 7 a.m.<\/p>\n CONTINENTAL DRIFT: <\/strong>European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers her State of the Union address<\/a>, from 7 a.m. U.K. time. <\/p>\n WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT: <\/strong>Hospitals, energy supplies and cyber security.<\/p>\n WHAT ELSE THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT: <\/strong>Defense, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Defense Secretary John Healey appearing at the big DSEI arms fair. <\/p>\n\n \n<\/tr>\n \n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PRJ-00048743_Shell-UK-Brand-Campaign-DOOH_Newsletter-banner_300x250px-1.jpg\")
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