Sunak’s defence announcement was a challenge to European countries and a clear message to Donald Trump.

Government sources tell @POLITICOEUROPE the UK is well placed to get into Trump’s good books as ministers push NATO members to hike defence spending.

politico.eu/article/britai…

This is quite revealing

Military guard out to greet Scholz and Sunak

NEW Sunak will face questions about UK’s stagnant defence spending when he heads Germany today

“If the UK still wants to have a leading part in European security then it needs to increase its spending,” a senior German govt official told POLITICOEurope

politico.eu/article/rishi-…

This must be the first time Rishi Sunak has ever been accused of being a playboy prime minister

Well that's the top of Playbook sorted

EXCL The UK now preparing for “strikes back and forth” between Iran and Israel. Via this morning’s Playbook

Me and Esther Webber have written about David Cameron being seen as a “man in a hurry” in the Foreign Office, as he rushes to rehabilitate his legacy by performing on the world stage

But his strident diplomacy on the Middle East has riled many Tories

politico.eu/article/uk-dav…

When asked to list Truss’ biggest achievement Sunak talks about her “signing trade deals around the world” post-Brexit.

Quite the U-turn after he once said Truss’ Australia and NZ trade deals (the only two brand new deals negotiated by her) were “one-sided” against the UK #PMQs

Think Starmer had too many targets to aim at today - he didn’t really hit any of them #PMQs

Half-way through and all we’ve had is “you had Truss as leader vs you had Corbyn as leader”.

#PMQs

Good pre prepared like from Sunak. Says Starmer should spend less time reading that book [by Truss] and spend more time reading his deputy’s tax advice” #PMQs

Kemi Badenoch the biggest name so far to say she is voting against Sunak’s smoking ban

Interesting that more Tory voters are in favour of cigarette ban than Labour voters

This is PR gold for Farage

'They say history is written by the victors, but that hasn’t stopped Liz Truss having a go.'

👌 Noah Keate

politico.eu/article/liz-tr…