![\"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 WEDNESDAY CHEAT SHEET<\/p>\n \u2014 Kemi Badenoch argued that links between Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein are distracting from crises in Nato and the Middle East. <\/strong><\/p>\n \u2014 Keir Starmer stonewalled questions about what he knew when he appointed his U.S. ambassador. <\/strong><\/p>\n \u2014 Mandelson reiterated his regret for being pals with Epstein and said more of their correspondence will come out. <\/strong><\/p>\n \u2014 Defense Secretary John Healey told POLITICO the U.K. could do more to help protect Poland, after Russian drones entered its airspace. <\/strong><\/p>\n \u2014 The latest numbers on the Labour deputy leadership race are soon to drop, amid claims one candidate has hit the magic number of MPs. <\/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 A FOREIGN CRISIS, AND A DOMESTIC ONE:<\/strong> Nato is edging closer to war and Keir Starmer has just begun talks with the Israeli president about the carnage in the Middle East. But Kemi Badenoch managed to turn the twin global crises into serious domestic pressure about Peter Mandelson.<\/p>\n Indeed: <\/strong>The Conservative leader used her PMQs questions to argue the simmering scandal about Mandelson\u2019s former friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein is a distraction for the government at such a sensitive moment.<\/p>\n The line: <\/strong>\u201cThe ambassador should be in the White House talking about how we respond to incursions into NATO airspace,\u201d Badenoch argued. \u201cInstead, he\u2019s giving interviews about himself to the Sun.\u201d Indeed, Mandelson spoke to the Sun\u2019s man at large in Washington<\/a>, Harry Cole, to reiterate his regret for being mates with Epstein. \u201cI felt it like an albatross around my neck,\u201d he explained, admitting he fell for Epstein\u2019s \u201clies\u201d and insisting he never saw wrongdoing firsthand. Writeup here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Coming attractions: <\/strong>In the same interview, Mandelson also confirmed there\u2019s \u201ca lot of traffic, correspondence, exchanges\u201d between the pair which \u201care going to surface.\u201d Eek. It\u2019s a different line to the \u201cf*ck off \u201d he gave to the FT in June<\/a>, when Pol Ed George Parker asked him about Epstein. Looks like the first one is when he, erm, sent emotional message of support to Epstein while he faced underage sex charges, as Cole revealed this afternoon<\/a>.<\/p>\n In the heat of the political knockabout: <\/strong>Starmer could at least boast during PMQs<\/a> that Mandelson was indeed in the White House last night. Although the ambassador happened to be there with Scottish First Minister John Swinney, rather than to talk about Nato. The PM noted, nevertheless, that Mandelson is involved in the international engagement on Ukraine, Poland and the Middle East.<\/p>\n But but but: <\/strong>That was about the only element of the whole jangled saga Starmer had an answer to. Badenoch asked what the PM knew about the Epstein relationship when he appointed Mandelson; urged him to publish all vetting documents and records of the relationship; and questioned whether it\u2019s \u201ctenable<\/a>\u201d for Mandelson to remain in post, not least in light of his official dealings with Epstein<\/a> after the paedophile was convicted.<\/p>\n Nothing to see here: <\/strong>Starmer stonewalled the Badenoch questions with waffle about how \u201cfull due process was gone through in relation to this appointment,\u201d and insisted he retains full confidence<\/a> in his ambassador. His spokesperson told reporters afterwards that the Mandelson relationship with Epstein was public knowledge (not least due to FT reporting<\/a> from June 2023) but refused to spell out what the PM knew. The bath robe photo<\/a> was not public knowledge, for example.<\/p>\n Mismatch: <\/strong>The spokesperson insisted, as Starmer did in the Commons, that Epstein\u2019s victims are at the \u201cforefront\u201d of minds, but would not explain why concern for victims was trumped when Mandelson was appointed. Gloria Allred, an attorney representing 27 victims Epstein victims, has told Andrew Marr on LBC tonight that Mandelson should quit. <\/p>\n You made the call, pal:<\/strong> Badenoch said the episode was an illustration of Starmer\u2019s \u201cbad decisions, his bad judgment and his total weakness.\u201d Labour MPs shifted around in discomfort, while the Tories chuntered. Political theatre-loving Conservative MP Charlie Dewhurst slapped his thigh with glee as Badenoch worked towards her peroration. Undeterred, the Starmer spokesperson also insisted the PM is confident Mandelson poses no current security risk, given concerns further material could compromise our man in DC.<\/p>\n A rare event: <\/strong>There\u2019s no doubt Badenoch managed to shoot the Mandelson issue up the political agenda in Westminster. One Conservative aide, a Badenoch-skeptic, said it was a \u201cmuch-needed win,\u201d adding: \u201cThe big question, though, is whether this marks the dawn of a newly laser-focused Conservative leader, or just a flash in the pan handed to her by a story that is impossible to ignore.\u201d Our Noah\u2019s usual scorecard is here<\/a>. <\/p>\n Punching the bruise:<\/strong> The Conservatives said Starmer had \u201cput his Party, and his friend Mandelson above our national security.\u201d And Starmer-critical Labour MPs aren\u2019t helping either. Deputy Labour leadership candidate Bell Ribeiro-Addy told the i Paper<\/a> Mandelson should resign, and was soon joined by fellow leftie MP Kim Johnson<\/a>. Most Labour MPs don\u2019t seem to be chattering about it in their WhatsApp groups so far, though. <\/p>\n Back to the international angle:<\/strong> A Badenoch spokesperson told hacks after PMQs that \u201cat a critical moment for international security and for the security of NATO, it\u2019s untenable to have an ambassador in Washington who is more concerned with his personal political survival than the future of the West.\u201d<\/p>\n We are focused on the future of the West, honest: <\/strong>Before being hauled into the Mandelson debate, Starmer opened PMQs with condemnation of the \u201cegregious and unprecedented violation of Polish and Nato airspace by Russian drones\u201d last night. Polish President Donald Tusk said the alleged 19 drones in question, some of which were shot down, put the nation at its closest to open conflict since World War Two. Russia has insisted it did not plan to attack targets in Poland.<\/p>\n Nevertheless: <\/strong>Tusk said Poland will invoke Article 4 of NATO, meaning the nations will consult on their response. Defense Secretary John Healey told my POLITICO colleague Esther Webber this afternoon Britain is mulling what more it can do to protect Poland. \u201cI have asked the U.K. armed forces to look at options about how we can bolster that NATO air defense over Poland,\u201d he said during a press conference with E5 counterparts following a summit in London. <\/p>\n He\u2019s awake! <\/strong>Trump posted on his Truth Social<\/a> site in the past hour: \u201cWhat\u2019s with Russia violating Poland\u2019s airspace with drones? Here we go!\u201d<\/p>\n And meanwhile, in the other war: <\/strong>Starmer is locking horns in Downing Street right now with Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, to discuss the other conflict Mandelson needs to be courting Trump on. The PM told the Commons he will \u201ccondemn Israel\u2019s action\u201d in Qatar this week and \u201cbe clear that restrictions on aid must be lifted, the offensive in Gaza must stop, and settlement building must cease.\u201d It\u2019s not clear what the U.K. might do if the Israelis rebuff the demands, however.<\/p>\n And lo: <\/strong>The Israeli government was briefing this afternoon that Herzog will \u201cvoice firm opposition to the British government\u2019s stance on Israel,\u201d including the proposal to recognize the state of Palestine, suggestions of sanctions and repetition of \u201cHamas propaganda\u201d about starvation in Gaza. This meeting is not going to go too well, it seems. <\/p>\n Here\u2019s an idea:<\/strong> SNP Westminster boss Stephen Flynn launched a brutal PMQs attack<\/a> on Starmer for welcoming Herzog into No.10. But the PM said giving up on a diplomatic solution would amount to \u201cthe politics of students.\u201d The Lib Dems, meanwhile, urged Starmer to summon the Israeli ambassador over the strikes on Doha.<\/p>\n Worth noting: <\/strong>There was no red carpet for Herzog when he arrived in Downing Street in the past 30 minutes. There was one for Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian leader, on his recent visit.<\/p>\n DRIVETIME DEBRIEF<\/p>\n HAMMERING THE REFRESH BUTTON:<\/strong>\u00a0The entire Labour movement will once more be refreshing the internet at 7 p.m. to find out where the MP nomination tallies in the deputy leadership race are sitting after another 24 hours of clamoring for votes.\u00a0This is the page<\/a>\u00a0that should be updated. Cabinet minister Bridget Phillipson is out in front with more than 50 public endorsements (according to the great\u00a0Election Maps UK spreadsheet<\/a>) while Powell is not too far behind. But team Bridget has been briefing she has passed the 80 mark in total.\u00a0<\/p>\n Worth noting:<\/strong> Fellow minister Alison McGovern dropped out of the race<\/a> in the last 30 minutes so her handful of nominations can go to someone else. A campaign official told Playbook PM she had a good level of support but there was a desire to unify behind Bridget and she did not want to put colleagues in a difficult position. <\/p>\n After the latest numbers land \u2026<\/strong>\u00a0MPs will log into the online hustings at 8 p.m. in an attempt to find out what the candidates might do with the role.<\/p>\n In the meantime \u2026\u00a0<\/strong>LabourList\u00a0has been publishing opinion articles<\/a>\u00a0from most of the six candidates. Education Minister Josh MacAlister backed (surprise surprise) Phillipson on the morning round. And the Red Wall Group has thrown its weight behind \u2026\u00a0any northern woman<\/a>.<\/p>\n SPEAKING ABOUT REFORM:\u00a0<\/strong>Keir Starmer used PMQs to take a free hit at Nigel Farage and co. after Labour backbencher Simon Opher set him up with a question about the potty COVID vaccine claims made at their conference over the weekend. Starmer attacked the \u201cshocking and baseless claims that vaccines are linked to cancer,\u201d while Farage sat there laughing and Richard Tice (who has made vaccine-skeptic noises in the past<\/a>) shouted at the PM to \u201cback it up.\u201d<\/p>\n ON AN UNRELATED NOTE:\u00a0<\/strong>Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told the Culture, Media and Sport Committee this afternoon the government could crack down on GB News presenting \u201cpolitical polemic\u201d as news. She said MPs have complained to her about Farage fronting shows on the frothing broadcaster and warned that a \u201cpolarized and fragmented\u201d media landscape is threatening democracy.\u00a0<\/p>\n DOING HERM TO THE GANGS:<\/strong> Top government legal eagle Richard Hermer insisted \u201cno sensible, practical or effective measures should be off the table\u201d when it comes to tackling small boats arrivals. He told a Lords committe this morning the U.K. has not \u201ckept pace\u201d with how Article 8 of the ECHR is being applied in domestic courts, despite other European nations being \u201cmore effective\u201d on the same front. He said the govrnment is \u201ckicking the tyres hard\u201d on the issue. <\/p>\n On a related note:<\/strong> The Sky News debate about migration, featuring new Home Office Minister Mike Tapp, is happening from 7 p.m. Sky has been trumpeting some polling<\/a> to advertise its show, which found immigration the top concern among voters. It\u2019s one poll; polls are often wrong; etc etc. <\/p>\n A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN PLAYBOOK PM CAN GET BEHIND:<\/strong> The Lib Dems are shouting about their proposed amendment to the buses bill, which could face a vote at 6 p.m. tonight, to impose harsh penalties on d***heads who play audio through phone speakers on public transport. Playbook PM hopes the Lib Dems will then move on to banning sit-down restaurants from claiming to sell \u201cstreet food,\u201d and forcing people who order \u201cbowl\u201d food to eat the bowl too. Is there a food-related bill coming down the track?<\/p>\n WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT:<\/strong> AI will be used to monitor offenders in communities, the justice department announced. <\/p>\n What the government doesn\u2019t want to talk about:<\/strong> The business and trade department is preparing to cut 600 roles from its overseas network, raising concerns about the government\u2019s ability to support British exporters abroad, my POLITICO colleague Caroline Hug reports<\/a>. <\/p>\n BEYOND THE M25<\/p>\n ON THE CONTINENT:<\/strong>\u00a0European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen used her State of the Union address to announce a tougher approach towards Israel, saying the EU executive will sanction \u201cextremist ministers\u201d and violent settlers while pausing bilateral payments to the nation.\u00a0My colleagues have the rundown<\/a>.<\/p>\n Trouble ahead:\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cEurope must fight,\u201d\u00a0von der Leyen said<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 but both the far right and far left groups in the European Parliament are set to demand she faces a no-confidence vote just two months after the last one.\u00a0POLITICO\u2019s European Parliament Correspondent Max Griera has a writeup<\/a>.<\/p>\n LES MIS\u00c9RABLES:<\/strong>\u00a0Riot police clashed with protestors in Paris who took to the streets over discontent with the government.\u00a0Sky News has the images<\/a>\u00a0as more than 250 people were arrested. New PM S\u00e9bastien Lecornu pledged to\u00a0work with opposition parties<\/a>\u00a0to sort the budget crisis, telling citizens: \u201cWe will get there.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n THROWING SHADE:\u00a0<\/strong>Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris admitted \u201cit was recklessness\u201d to leave Joe Biden\u2019s decision to run for re-election up to the then U.S. president and his wife Jill Biden. In extracts from her forthcoming book \u201c107 Days,\u201d Harris, who lost the race to Donald Trump in 2024, wrote: \u201cThe stakes were simply too high. This wasn\u2019t a choice that should have been left to an individual\u2019s ego.\u201d\u00a0My Stateside colleagues have further deets<\/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 TONIGHT\u2019S MEDIA ROUND<\/strong><\/p>\n LEADING THE NEWS BULLETINS:<\/strong>\u00a0Channel 5 News<\/strong>\u00a0(5 p.m.),\u00a0ITV Evening News<\/strong>\u00a0(6.30 p.m.) and\u00a0Channel 4 News<\/strong>\u00a0(7 p.m.) will focus on Russia firing drones inside Poland\u2019s airspace.<\/p>\n Tom Swarbrick at Drive<\/strong>\u00a0(LBC, until 6 p.m.):\u00a0Former Scottish First Minister\u00a0Humza Yousaf\u00a0<\/strong>(5.05 p.m.).<\/p>\n Drive with John Pienaar<\/strong>\u00a0(Times Radio, until 7 p.m.): Former Benjamin Netanyahu adviser\u00a0Daniel Rubenstein<\/strong>\u00a0\u2026 former U.S. Ambassador to Poland\u00a0Daniel Fried<\/strong>\u00a0\u2026 former U.S. National Security Adviser\u00a0John Bolton<\/strong>\u00a0\u2026 former Transport Secretary\u00a0Louise Haigh<\/strong>\u00a0\u2026 the Mirror\u2019s\u00a0Mikey Smith<\/strong>\u00a0and former Tory adviser\u00a0Kirsty Buchanan<\/strong>\u00a0(both 6 p.m.).<\/p>\n BBC PM<\/strong>\u00a0(Radio 4, 5 p.m.): Former CIA Director\u00a0David Petraeus<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Tonight With Andrew Marr<\/strong>\u00a0(LBC, 6 p.m.): Tory peer\u00a0David Willetts<\/strong>\u00a0\u2026 Labour peer\u00a0Maurice Glasman<\/strong>\u00a0\u2026 former Foreign Office Permanent Secretary Simon McDonald \u2026 former Israel Security Agency Director\u00a0Ami Ayalon<\/strong>\u00a0\u2026 lawyer Gloria Allred<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Farage \u2014 Immigration\u00a0<\/strong>(GB News, 7 p.m.): Former Prime Minister\u00a0Liz Truss<\/strong>\u00a0\u2026 former Chancellor\u00a0Kwasi Kwarteng<\/strong>\u00a0\u2026 Labour MP\u00a0David Pinto-Duschinsky<\/strong>\u00a0\u2026 Labour peer\u00a0Dianne Hayter<\/strong>\u00a0\u2026 Tory MP\u00a0Nick Timothy<\/strong>\u00a0\u2026 Lib Dem MP\u00a0Max Wilkinson<\/strong>\u00a0\u2026 former Tory Cabinet Minister\u00a0Jacob Rees-Mogg<\/strong>\u00a0\u2026 former Labour PPC\u00a0Kevin Craig<\/strong>\u00a0\u2026 former Donald Trump adviser\u00a0Jason Miller<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The Immigration Debate<\/strong>\u00a0(Sky News, 7 p.m.):\u00a0Home Office Minister\u00a0Mike Tapp<\/strong>\u00a0\u2026 Shadow Justice Minister\u00a0Kieran Mullan<\/strong>\u00a0\u2026 Lib Dem Home Office Spokesperson\u00a0Lisa Smart<\/strong>\u00a0\u2026 Reform UK Head of Policy\u00a0Zia Yusuf<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The Evening Edition with Kait Borsay\u00a0<\/strong>(Times Radio, 7 p.m.): Former Labour Europe Minister\u00a0Denis MacShane<\/strong>\u00a0(7.15 p.m.) \u2026 former Israeli government spokesperson\u00a0Eylon Levy\u00a0<\/strong>(7.25 p.m.).<\/p>\n Cross Question with Iain Dale<\/strong>\u00a0(LBC, 8 p.m.): Labour MP\u00a0Luke Charters\u00a0<\/strong>\u2026 Tory MP\u00a0Andrew Mitchell<\/strong>\u00a0\u2026 the Telegraph\u2019s\u00a0Annabel Denham<\/strong>\u00a0.. Refuge charity ambassador\u00a0Sharon Gaffka<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Patrick Christys Tonight\u00a0<\/strong>(GB News, 9 p.m.): Popular Conservatism Director\u00a0Mark Littlewood<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Newsnight\u00a0<\/strong>(BBC 2, 10.30 p.m.): Labour Deputy Leadership contender\u00a0Bell Ribeiro-Addy<\/strong> TWEETING TOMORROW\u2019S PAPERS TONIGHT:<\/strong>\u00a0Alfie Tobutt<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n REVIEWING THE PAPERS TONIGHT:<\/strong>\u00a0Times Radio\u00a0<\/strong>(10.30 p.m.): Journo\u00a0Laura Trevelyan<\/strong> and HuffPost\u2019s\u00a0Kevin Schofield<\/strong>\u00a0\u2026\u00a0Sky News\u00a0<\/strong>(10.30 p.m. and 11.30 p.m.):\u00a0The Mirror\u2019s\u00a0Kevin Maguire\u00a0<\/strong>and Times Radio\u2019s\u00a0Adam Boulton<\/strong>.<\/p>\n WHERE TO FIND BOOZE IN WESTMINSTER TONIGHT<\/p>\n UNI PRICES?<\/strong> Former Business Secretary Greg Clark is delivering a Bob Kerslake memorial lecture, about the future of unis, hosted by public services consultants PSC. It\u2019s happening at the PSC offices in Monument. Tickets needed. <\/p>\n PINTS AND PIXELS:<\/strong> BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, is hosting a Labour Digital back to school bash tonight, at the Horse and Guardsman from 6.30 p.m. Deets here<\/a>. <\/p>\n CLINK WITH THE PINK: <\/strong>The FT has its summer party on the Strand from 7 p.m. Invites needed. <\/p>\n TOMORROW\u2019S WORLD<\/p>\n HAPPENING OVERNIGHT: <\/strong>The Work and Pensions Committee has a report out about merging the National Careers Service with the Jobcenter, and the Environmental Audit Committee publishes a government response to its report about the Antarctic.<\/p>\n WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT:<\/strong> Armed forces mentors and a tunnel beneath the Thames. <\/p>\n HEALTH SCARE: <\/strong>The latest NHS waiting list stats are published at 9.30 a.m.<\/p>\n IN THE COMMONS: <\/strong>MPs get going at 9.30 a.m. with transport questions and Commons Leader Alan Campbell\u2019s first business questions, before backbench debates on regional transport inequality and suicide prevention.<\/p>\n BREAKING THE RULES OF LAW:<\/strong> Suella Braverman, Richard Tice and David Frost are speaking at a Prosperity Institute event, launching a report about the ECHR Braverman co-authored, at 11 Charles Street from 9.30 a.m.<\/p>\n DOG EAT DOG: <\/strong>Westminster\u2019s Dog of the Year competition<\/a> is back.<\/p>\n LISTENING WITH CARE: <\/strong>Department for Health and Social Care Permanent Secretary Samantha Jones and NHS England interim Chief Executive Jim Mackey are probed by the Public Accounts Committee about reducing NHS waiting times for elective care at 10 a.m. <\/p>\n IN THE LORDS: <\/strong>Peers start asking questions at 11 a.m. before the sixth committee stage session of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. It ran until after 3 a.m. last night. <\/p>\n CLOSING TIME: <\/strong>MP nominations close at 5 p.m. in the Labour deputy leadership contest. <\/p>\n ANY OTHER BUSINESS<\/p>\n IN MEMORIAM:<\/strong>\u00a0Pollster Robert Worcester<\/strong>, the founder of MORI (now Ipsos UK) died aged 91 last week. Ipsos called Worcester a \u201c\u00a0trailblazer in the field of market research\u201d and a \u201cfervent advocate for survey integrity\u201d in its tribute.\u00a0Outgoing Ipsos CEO Ben Page said<\/a>\u00a0\u201ceveryone in our industry and politics owes him a debt of gratitude.\u201d<\/p>\n WHAT I\u2019VE BEEN READING:<\/strong> Media commentator Ian Silvera<\/strong> writes on his Substack<\/a> about political reporters and their fascination with Reform vs. the Lib Dems. <\/p>\n Speaking of political reporters \u2026 <\/strong>the Guardian has a piece about<\/a> how Will Lewis<\/strong>, now editor of the Washington Post, gave secret advice to Boris Johnson while vice chair of the Associated Press. The AP noted that board members provide oversight of its executive leadershpi and have no involvedment in its journalism. <\/p>\n MEA CULPA:<\/strong> The Treasury says its reserve fund has been spent on pressures such as public sector pay in previous years (under the last government.) The department has not yet published claims against the fund this year.<\/p>\n PACKED LUNCH OR PALACE LUNCH:<\/strong> Subject to change, here are the\u00a0lunch\u00a0menus on the estate tomorrow:\u00a0Bellamy\u2019s:<\/strong>\u00a0Jerk chicken with rice and peas; tuna fillet with butternut squash, zucchini and pumpkin seeds; soy and maple tofu steak with stir fried vegetables, baby corn and rice noodles \u2026 The Debate:<\/strong>\u00a0Jerk chicken with rice and peas; smoked salmon and cream cheese quesadilla with sweetcorn and black bean salad and chipotle sauce; breaded lemon tofu fingers with pitta, chicory kohlrabi salad and tartare \u2026 Terrace Cafeteria:<\/strong>\u00a0Jerk chicken with rice and peas; soya bean and chickpea eggplant with walnut and sage pesto; Chiddingly beef hot pot \u2026\u00a0River Restaurant:<\/strong> Mango, chili and ginger salmon with mixed pepper couscous and salad; eggplant parmigiana with spiced wedges and salad; sausage and mash.<\/p>\n ON THIS DAY IN POLITICS:<\/strong> On Sept. 10, 1967, Gibraltar voted to remain a British Overseas Territory rather than become part of Spain by 99.6 percent to 0.4 percent. On the same day in 2022, King Charles <\/strong>was formally proclaimed as monarch at a meeting of the Accession Council. And in 2024<\/a>, Jon Trickett<\/strong> was the sole Labour MP to vote against the government\u2019s cuts to winter fuel payments while Mel Stride was knocked out of the Tory leadership race.<\/p>\n WRITING PLAYBOOK TOMORROW MORNING:<\/strong> Andrew McDonald<\/strong>.<\/p>\n THANKS TO:<\/strong> My editor Luke McGee<\/strong>, reporter Noah Keate<\/strong> and the POLITICO production team for making it look nice.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE to the POLITICO newsletter family:<\/strong> Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | EU Election Playbook | Berlin Playbook | Global Playbook | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | Digital Bridge | China Watcher | Berlin Bulletin | D.C. Playbook<\/a> | D.C. Influence<\/a> | All our POLITICO Pro policy morning newsletters<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Presented by Shell UK By EMILIO CASALICCHIO with NOAH KEATE Good afternoon. This is Emilio Casalicchio. WEDNESDAY CHEAT…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11384,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7757],"tags":[748,393,4884,257,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-413586","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-london","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-england","10":"tag-great-britain","11":"tag-london","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115180993133684437","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/413586","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=413586"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/413586\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11384"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=413586"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=413586"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=413586"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\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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\u2026 former Tory Chair\u00a0Jake Berry<\/strong>.<\/p>\n