“We need to change the sick note culture”

Rishi Sunak unveiling new plans to overhaul the benefits system…

Had a couple of days off and absolutely ploughed through this.

A spectacularly good tale - as enraging as it is engaging.

Cracking read by Sonia Purnell

I haven’t read the article yet BUT…

…this cover photo by Oli Scarff is incredible.

Photo-journalists and broadcast news camera staff are the cornerstone of this industry

This is significant.

Tim Loughton is a very well respected back bencher - the sort of MP junior MPs look to in times of direction.

When some MPs say they’re walking away, no one cares.

Tim Loughton MP 🇺🇦 walking away is one that Conservative HQ notices…

I feel seen…

(Great piece by Sophie Heawood on the front of FT Weekend House & Home section)

I'm very pleased to be quoted in today's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee report on 'Trusted voices' - you can read their full findings here.
committees.parliament.uk/publications/4…

It’s the Blackpool South by-election in three weeks - Paul McNamara and I have been talking to voters there, and to the candidates vying to be its next MP.

🎥 Neil Corbett
🎬 Sophie Larkin-Tannett

EXCLUSIVE:

@Alextomo asks Former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells if she misled parliament.

She’s been seen publicly for the first time since Channel 4 News released damning revelations confirming Post Office management knew of issues with remote access to its Horizon system…

Our interview with the Shadow Chancellor today. Rachel Reeves confirms to Paul McNamara that Labour will commit to keeping the government’s full childcare expansion, but will not commit to scrapping the two-child limit. You can watch in full here.

🎥 Ian hunter

“We will honour the commitments that have been made to parents.”

Rachel Reeves tells Paul McNamara Labour will go ahead with the plan to give eligible working parents of children as young as nine months old, 30 hours of free childcare a week from September 2025.

EXCLUSIVE: More secret tapes prove Post Office boss was briefed on 'covert operations team' that could access subpostmaster accounts remotely.

channel4.com/news/exclusive…

THIS is a person who knows sports…!

#COYS

“I am not whipped by the Conservative Party, I am only loyal to my region.”

Individuals can “cut through” national trends, West Midlands Mayor Andy Street tells Paul McNamara - as polls suggest the Tories will suffer in the upcoming local elections.

DUP statement on Sir Jeffrey Donaldson:

'The Party Chairman has received a letter from Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP confirming that he has been charged with allegations of an historical nature”

He is stepping down as Leader of the party

Sudan crisis: Minister says UK will 'effectively double' aid and breaks down in tears

“It’s pretty much Boris Johnson’s levelling up 2.0.”

Paul McNamara asks Sir Keir Starmer whether he’ll commit “real new money” to councils with his plans to shift power away from Westminster.

The Labour leader says he will “unlock” money that has been pledged but not delivered.

Keir Starmer asked if he’ll stick to ban on zero hours contract and deliver it in his first term in Government? (By Lizzy Buchan)

“Yes”

'Elsewhere on the BBC...Did The Terminator predict the future correctly?!'

Oh.

Good morning.

This is an election-footing posting.

It's an arm around the right of the party, but it's also:

🙋‍♂️someone happy to be carted out for interviews on the trickiest of days, and...

🙋‍♂️someone perhaps happier to say the things Downing St are a little queasy about

#BREAKING

Robert Halfon will be standing down at the next General Election.

He's the 63rd Tory to stand down.

He's only 55.