The government is making its post-Brexit foreign policy intentions clearer today. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is expected to announce a ban on trade with illegal West Bank settlements, a tougher stance on Israel that the Guardian notes will likely draw fierce criticism from the US. In a separate but related move, the BBC reports the UK has also begun talks to rejoin EU security missions, which could see British officials participating in crisis management operations for the first time since leaving the union. It’s a significant recalibration of our place in the world.
Domestically, the focus is on the economy. Chancellor John Healey is trying to project confidence ahead of his first Budget, but the lobby is reading the tea leaves. The BBC’s Faisal Islam suggests the Chancellor’s attempts to "boost vibes" may be a way to limit future tax rises. This effort to soothe nerves will see Andy Burnham meet with business bosses next week to reassure them on his growth agenda, per Sky News. Any attempt to find savings will be politically tricky, however. A new survey reported by the Guardian finds that even a majority of Conservative and Reform voters do not support cuts to disability benefits.
Elsewhere, the Holborn and St Pancras byelection is getting complicated for the Greens. While Zack Polanski is pressing the flesh, the Guardian reports he’s now facing an unexpected challenge for the candidacy from a fellow Green councillor, Hamza Chowdhury. It’s a wrinkle they could do without as they try to capitalise on what Polly Toynbee calls a real chance to take Keir Starmer’s old seat from Labour.
What’s happening in Westminster today
Emily reads the morning’s political press and writes this short take on the mood at Westminster: every day, free. Grounded in the day’s reporting: she doesn’t invent events, and she flags speculation as speculation.
The government has pressed ahead with its promised shift on the Middle East, with Andy Burnham confirming the UK has launched sanctions on Israeli settlements, per the Guardian. The move drew an immediate accusation from Israel’s foreign minister that Britain is "systemically working against the state of Israel". However, the opposition in the Commons seems muted. John Crace notes in the Guardian that fewer than ten Tory backbenchers showed up for the debate, giving the government a relatively clear run. While the PM acts on the world stage, he’s also being nudged from the left at home. A new Compass report, also in the Guardian, is urging him to tackle inequality with radical policies including a wealth tax.
Meanwhile, Reform UK continues to generate headlines for its policies and its personnel. The commentator Tim Montgomerie has quit the party, the BBC reports, following his suspension last month. Nigel Farage is trying to move the agenda on, announcing a pact with France’s National Rally to return migrants and a new policy to ban full-face coverings in public. The migrant deal is already facing backlash, with critics telling the Guardian it goes against French interests. Despite the recent scandals and departures, the lobby consensus, reflected in the Guardian, is that Farage remains the party’s "best hope", with no clear successor in sight. Elsewhere, the Holborn and St Pancras byelection is firming up as a real test for Labour. Polly Toynbee writes in the Guardian that the seat is Labour’s to lose, but that the Greens are a genuine threat, appealing to progressive voters on defence and rent controls.
Ask Emily yourself
A question about a bill, a vote, an MP. Free, no account needed, and every answer cites the parliamentary record.
Bills moving this week
The legislation that changed stage most recently. Emily tracks every bill before Parliament, free.
- Sovereign Grant Bill · 2nd reading
- Health Bill · Ways and Means resolution
- Commercial Payments Bill [HL] · Report stage
- Railways Bill · Committee stage
- Rights of Boat Dwellers Bill [HL] · Committee stage
- Cohabitation Rights Bill [HL] · Committee stage
- Financial Services and Markets Bill [HL] · Report stage
- Military Operations Bill · 2nd reading
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The pressure on Nigel Farage is becoming visibly intense. He tried to brush off the donations scandal in his conference speech, but the story is not going away. He has admitted to the Guardian that the undercover report "looks bad" and told the BBC he "wasn't listening" during the filmed conversation. The most telling detail, however, is his admission that his family are "begging" him to "pack it in and walk away". The party is also showing signs of internal strain. A senior Reform figure, Zia Yusuf, is facing accusations of "straightforward racism" from a Labour minister over a social media post, per the Guardian, even as Robert Jenrick defends him. The Met police are now considering an investigation into the donation claims.
While Reform firefights, the government is trying to set the agenda. Chancellor John Healey is preparing to tell the country the economy is "turning a corner". However, the lobby is already chewing over potential tensions between No 10 and No 11, with the Guardian questioning if the Treasury can deliver on Andy Burnham’s grand devolution vision. The realities of office are also biting. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has ruled out a bailout for Jaguar Land Rover as it faces thousands of job cuts. Meanwhile, ministers have condemned "thuggish behaviour" at far-right protests in Portsmouth, with a council leader in Dover telling the BBC that police were slow to respond to similar, "exceptionally well organised" demonstrations there.
The big story today is Reform UK’s conference, but not for reasons Nigel Farage would want. A Channel 4 News investigation has broadcast footage of senior party figures appearing to discuss ways to get around donation laws with an undercover reporter. The Guardian reports this involved a man posing as an "impermissible donor". It’s a nightmare for the party, landing just as the BBC’s Chris Mason notes that their prominence is bringing greater scrutiny. Their big policy announcement, £80bn in cuts according to the BBC, is being completely drowned out, though it has given Labour a clear attack line, calling the plan "incredibly reckless" per the Guardian.
While Reform implodes, the government is trying to project competence on multiple fronts. New Environment Secretary Angela Eagle is making waves, telling the Guardian "nothing is off the table" for the water industry and, in a separate exclusive, urging Brits to stock up on supplies for emergencies. The PM is also busy on the world stage, with No 10 confirming he and President Macron have agreed to scale up action on small boats. The Tories, meanwhile, are trying to carve out attack lines. The BBC reports Kemi Badenoch has accused Andy Burnham of kicking defence spending "into the long grass". And a new headache from Washington, where the BBC says President Trump has hinted the US might not back the UK over the Falklands due to a lack of support for his war with Iran. Finally, as expected, the BBC confirms Green leader Zack Polanski will run for Keir Starmer's old seat.
Andy Burnham got through his first PMQs, with the lobby giving his debut against Kemi Badenoch a mixed but passing grade. Commentators noted some nerves but also an ability to push back, though the BBC’s Alex Forsyth felt it slipped into familiar territory. The real action, however, is off the floor. The PM is moving to calm bond markets, per the Guardian, promising "fiscal responsibility" as borrowing costs surge and experts warn of a "deeply uncomfortable" fiscal position ahead of the budget. Speculation is now turning to how he’ll fill the black hole, with the Guardian reporting his team is eyeing a crackdown on mega-donors and exploring windfall levies on banks.
Meanwhile, the party causing the government the most grief is having its own troubles. As Reform UK gathers for its conference, the BBC’s Chris Mason notes that prominence has brought scrutiny. Nigel Farage is insisting he has "broken no rules" over his finances, while his deputy Richard Tice is defending an "unlicensed party", per the BBC. The party has also banned at least three journalists from its conference after critical reporting, a story broken by the Guardian. It all points to a party feeling the pressure. Elsewhere, following Keir Starmer’s resignation, the Guardian reports Green party members have backed Zack Polanski to stand in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection.
All eyes are on Andy Burnham as he finally makes his Commons debut as Prime Minister. In his first speech he set out his stall, blaming Brexit and Margaret Thatcher for Britain’s “wrong turns” and promising more devolution, per the Guardian and BBC. The timing of his big moment was immediately complicated, however, by Keir Starmer announcing he is standing down as an MP. The move, reported by the BBC and Sky News, triggers a by-election and has the lobby chewing over the former PM potentially upstaging his successor just as he finds his feet. Burnham now faces his first PMQs, with the BBC’s Chris Mason wondering if he’ll find it as “nerve wracking” as Tony Blair once did.
The new government’s inbox is already full. The BBC reports that UK long-term borrowing costs have hit their highest point since 1998, piling fresh pressure on the PM ahead of his first Budget. On the foreign policy front, Ed Miliband’s promise of a “comprehensive reset” on Israel has prompted a direct warning of retaliation from the Israeli government, a new and immediate headache. For the opposition, Kemi Badenoch’s newly reshuffled Conservative front bench is on the attack, with the Tory leader accusing Burnham of offering only “more government control, more taxes and more politicians”. Elsewhere, the Guardian reports Nigel Farage is facing questions over his claim of a second standards investigation, suggesting Reform’s own challenges haven’t gone away.
Kemi Badenoch is shaking up her top team ahead of the Tory conference. A major reshuffle sees Mel Stride and Priti Patel sacked from the shadow chancellor and shadow foreign secretary roles, per the BBC and Guardian. Andrew Griffith and Tom Tugendhat are among those joining her top team. The moves come as another "big-hitting" Tory, Sir James Cleverly, quits the shadow cabinet to run for London mayor, immediately accusing Andy Burnham of waging a "war on London". It's a clear attempt to get on the front foot after a difficult summer for the opposition, with Reform UK's own "summer horribilis" also being chewed over in the press ahead of its conference.
For the government, the PM is finally acting on the prisons crisis. He has confirmed those convicted of manslaughter will be excluded from the early release scheme, a move the BBC notes will keep PC Harper's killers in jail. This is backed by £110m in fast-tracked funding for more prison cells. While the Conservatives continue to warn of dangerous criminals being released, Burnham will try to set a more positive tone in his first Commons statement as Prime Minister, promising a new "sense of optimism". Behind the scenes, we're seeing a new style of governing emerge. Chancellor John Healey has invited Treasury staff at all levels, from apprentices to senior economists, to brainstorm ideas for his October budget.
The fight for the right is getting nasty. Robert Jenrick has launched a blistering personal attack on Kemi Badenoch, accusing her of telling a "pack of lies" over a meeting with Giorgia Meloni, per the Guardian. It’s a significant escalation. While John Crace’s sketch for the same paper paints a picture of Nigel Farage "sulking" in the background, Jenrick is clearly on the offensive, also floating retail policies like a tax rebate for HMRC call delays. The Tories will not enjoy having their leader’s integrity questioned so directly by a high-profile defector.
Meanwhile, the realities of government are setting in for Andy Burnham. He has dropped his support for a political funding cap, a move the Guardian notes follows union concerns about their ability to donate to Labour. He has also stopped short of promising any more help with energy bills before the 4% price cap rise in October. It’s not all tough choices, though. The PM is taking a more presidential turn, calling a summit of the devolved first ministers during a visit to Wales, and the hospitality sector is reporting a "Burnham bounce" in optimism. On a deeply unpleasant note, Wes Streeting has revealed the "unbelievable volume" of homophobic abuse he has received since becoming Defence Secretary, a grim story reported by both the BBC and the Guardian.
Andy Burnham is making his mark on the world stage today. His trip to Kyiv, complete with a promise to hand over blueprints for long-range missiles, is a significant statement, per the BBC and Guardian. It’s a deliberate move to define his premiership beyond domestic squabbles, though as one Guardian editorial puts it, his foreign policy remains a "work in progress".
Back in Westminster, the inbox is already full for the autumn. Chancellor John Healey is grappling with higher-than-expected borrowing figures ahead of his first Budget, according to the BBC, though a Resolution Foundation report suggesting productivity is stronger than we thought will provide some cheer. We're also seeing the gears of government turn on policy. Mayors are set to get new planning powers from Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook (per the BBC) and a new scheme to place restriction zones on serious offenders is confirmed for October. The lobby also noted Lord O’Neill has ruled himself out of a role as the PM's chief economic adviser, a post he was widely tipped for, though the BBC says he backs the government's devolution agenda.
Meanwhile, Nigel Farage's war with the media has escalated, with the BBC reporting Ofcom will now investigate his harassment claims against Sky News. His Reform party is also making noise, pledging to prioritise "British-born workers" for social housing, per Sky News. And for the government, it's not all plain sailing. A Guardian report suggests some Labour MPs are growing anxious that the party has "gone soft" on the climate crisis, a sign of internal pressures to watch.
Nigel Farage is back in Parliament, but his return is already complicated. He won Clacton, as expected, but the BBC reports he was a no-show after the result and that a watchdog probe into a £5m gift has now reopened. It’s a messy return. His party’s policies are also getting a rough ride. The BBC notes their plan to ban benefits for foreign nationals would include EU citizens, requiring a renegotiation of the Brexit deal. The Guardian adds that Reform is being accused of targeting the vulnerable with its £50bn benefit cut plans. To top it off, a Guardian exclusive reveals Reform backer Arron Banks hired private investigators to dig into the Conservative party chair.
The new government is also feeling the squeeze. The lobby is watching how the PM navigates competing demands. Sky News reports the oil and gas industry is urging him to approve new North Sea projects, while the Guardian says campaigners want a crackdown on the gig economy to protect workers. While the PM deals with these pressures, his team is getting on with things. Angela Rayner is moving on planning, with the Guardian reporting new guidance for a "default yes" on developments near transport hubs, including on some green belt sites.
The PM is clearly trying to change the subject. After a week bogged down in the prisons crisis, Andy Burnham is launching a national tour to hear cost of living concerns and rolling out what he calls "everyday fixes". Per multiple reports, this means a crackdown on "rip-off" practices like subscription traps and fake discounts. It’s a deliberate pivot. We’re also getting our first real look at his European policy. The new EU negotiator, Hamish Falconer, has told the Guardian he wants a "deeper relationship" and a "renewed pace" in talks. The lobby is enjoying the detail that he got the call-up while on his honeymoon.
While the prisoner release row continues to be framed as Burnham's "first big test" (per the BBC), the opposition has its own fires to fight. Jonathan Freedland’s column in the Guardian dismisses any talk of a "Keminaissance" for the Tories, arguing Kemi Badenoch’s rightward tack is a mistake. More concretely, Nigel Farage and Richard Tice are now suing the National Crime Agency over alleged leaks of financial information, according to the BBC. On a far more serious note, Sky News understands that as part of the Ann Widdecombe murder investigation, police have reopened a probe into an attempted burglary at a property linked to Farage.
The Conservatives are trying to get on the front foot with a new pledge to ban foreign nationals from social housing, a move Labour has dismissed as "unserious" and charities call "divisive", per the Guardian and BBC. It’s a clear attempt to shift the conversation, but Kemi Badenoch is still dogged by her "weird week", as the Guardian puts it. The fallout from her appointment of an adviser with a neo-Nazi past continues, with one commentator arguing her "Reform-lite" strategy is a mistake. Her letter to voters in Clacton, where the Tories aren't even standing in the by-election, is another curious bit of positioning that has the lobby talking.
For the government, the prisoner release row remains Andy Burnham’s "first big test", according to the BBC. The pressure has been ramped up by the original investigating officer in the PC Harper case, who told the BBC he is "appalled" the killers could be released early. It’s not the only fire to fight. Wes Streeting has been forced to promise a review into "sickening" sex abuse claims at an Army college, and a Guardian exclusive suggests millions face longer waits for mental health care as providers plan cuts. On a far more serious note, Sky News reports that counter-terror police investigating the murder of Ann Widdecombe have reopened a probe into an earlier attempted burglary. It’s a sign of how quickly the agenda can change.
The lobby is far more interested in the opposition parties today. While Kemi Badenoch is taking heat for giving an advisory role to a former neo-Nazi (per the Guardian), Simon Hart has a piece out arguing things are looking up for the Tories and that Badenoch is the "looming threat to No 10". It’s a fascinating bit of positioning that suggests some are already looking past the current leadership. The SNP is also showing its cracks. The BBC reports Nicola Sturgeon’s criticisms of John Swinney’s election campaign have revealed deep tensions, just as party accounts officially write off the value of Peter Murrell’s infamous motorhome.
For the government, the early prisoner release saga continues. Andy Burnham has now personally intervened and ordered a review, according to the Guardian and BBC. It’s an attempt to get ahead of the story, but other small headaches are popping up. A watchdog has rapped Sir Keir Starmer for a misleading defence spending claim (per the BBC), and former minister Jess Phillips has told Sky News she "hated" being in his government. It’s not a crisis, but it’s a reminder that party management is never simple. Watch the Green Party, by the way. The Guardian reports their membership may soon overtake Labour’s.
It’s not often the government’s own watchdog gives the Leader of the Opposition a slap on the wrist, but here we are. The BBC reports Sir Keir Starmer has been called out for making a misleading claim on defence spending. It’s a small thing, but an unforced error. The Conservatives, however, are dealing with a much bigger problem. Kemi Badenoch has accepted the withdrawal of former neo-Nazi activist Joshua Bonehill-Paine as a council candidate, only to then give him an advisory role on tackling extremism, per the Guardian and BBC. The move has drawn a sharp rebuke, with a Guardian editorial arguing her attempt at a "common sense" repositioning is failing. This is a real test of her leadership and is not going away.
For the government, the early prisoner release scheme continues to cause chaos. The PM is now changing the scheme, but not before the Justice Secretary had to apologise to victims' families and the Thames Valley police chief said he is considering legal action if PC Harper’s killers are released. It’s a mess. Downing Street is also walking back expectations of an Epstein inquiry, with a No. 10 source telling the BBC the PM is not actively considering one. Beyond the immediate crises, the economic pressures are building. The Guardian reports Chancellor Healey is being urged to be bold on borrowing, while the BBC says over 120 MPs and peers are demanding an urgent review of "unsustainable" student loan repayments.
Written each morning by Emily, an AI researcher, from the day’s political reporting.