Adam Payne
@adampayne26.bsky.social
Editor of PoliticsHome. Sometimes heard on our weekly podcast, The Rundown. Contact me: adam.payne@politicshome.com & DMs.
More top @matildamartin.bsky.social data work, this time showing why there are growing calls for council tax to be overhauled
Highest rates (% of house price) are in some of the country's poorest areas
@jonathanbrashmp.bsky.social, chair of council tax reform APPG, says the figures are "insane"
Highest rates (% of house price) are in some of the country's poorest areas
@jonathanbrashmp.bsky.social, chair of council tax reform APPG, says the figures are "insane"
November 10, 2025 at 3:38 PM
More top @matildamartin.bsky.social data work, this time showing why there are growing calls for council tax to be overhauled
Highest rates (% of house price) are in some of the country's poorest areas
@jonathanbrashmp.bsky.social, chair of council tax reform APPG, says the figures are "insane"
Highest rates (% of house price) are in some of the country's poorest areas
@jonathanbrashmp.bsky.social, chair of council tax reform APPG, says the figures are "insane"
+ @robfordmancs.bsky.social on hyper-fragmentation...
bad for: the historic Labour / Tory duopoly, FPTP, the polling industry
good for: turnout?
"More choice and more uncertainty may make for a messier democracy, but perhaps a healthier one too"
bad for: the historic Labour / Tory duopoly, FPTP, the polling industry
good for: turnout?
"More choice and more uncertainty may make for a messier democracy, but perhaps a healthier one too"
October 27, 2025 at 3:26 PM
+ @robfordmancs.bsky.social on hyper-fragmentation...
bad for: the historic Labour / Tory duopoly, FPTP, the polling industry
good for: turnout?
"More choice and more uncertainty may make for a messier democracy, but perhaps a healthier one too"
bad for: the historic Labour / Tory duopoly, FPTP, the polling industry
good for: turnout?
"More choice and more uncertainty may make for a messier democracy, but perhaps a healthier one too"
This is either a superb or dire omen, nothing in between
October 20, 2025 at 5:12 PM
This is either a superb or dire omen, nothing in between
Me from Manchester:
How much trouble is Badenoch in? "It’s make or break for her," says one restless backbencher
Veteran Tories urge younger Conservative MPs to chill out, say opposition is a marathon, not a sprint
The shadow cabinet minister overheard calling Jenrick "f****** desperate"
How much trouble is Badenoch in? "It’s make or break for her," says one restless backbencher
Veteran Tories urge younger Conservative MPs to chill out, say opposition is a marathon, not a sprint
The shadow cabinet minister overheard calling Jenrick "f****** desperate"
October 8, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Me from Manchester:
How much trouble is Badenoch in? "It’s make or break for her," says one restless backbencher
Veteran Tories urge younger Conservative MPs to chill out, say opposition is a marathon, not a sprint
The shadow cabinet minister overheard calling Jenrick "f****** desperate"
How much trouble is Badenoch in? "It’s make or break for her," says one restless backbencher
Veteran Tories urge younger Conservative MPs to chill out, say opposition is a marathon, not a sprint
The shadow cabinet minister overheard calling Jenrick "f****** desperate"
From Peter Kellner's latest substack:
Of 560 Labour voters present and recent past (switched since '24), *not one* said any of the following when asked about gov's best achievements
Some obv will be conscious of these things, but Labour still has a big problem, he writes: "voters aren’t hearing"
Of 560 Labour voters present and recent past (switched since '24), *not one* said any of the following when asked about gov's best achievements
Some obv will be conscious of these things, but Labour still has a big problem, he writes: "voters aren’t hearing"
October 7, 2025 at 8:34 AM
From Peter Kellner's latest substack:
Of 560 Labour voters present and recent past (switched since '24), *not one* said any of the following when asked about gov's best achievements
Some obv will be conscious of these things, but Labour still has a big problem, he writes: "voters aren’t hearing"
Of 560 Labour voters present and recent past (switched since '24), *not one* said any of the following when asked about gov's best achievements
Some obv will be conscious of these things, but Labour still has a big problem, he writes: "voters aren’t hearing"
...As the graph shows, 74% of Kent County Council's 23-24 expenditure was on social care and homelessness, suggesting very limited room for savings
In September, council leader Linden Kemkaran told us there's no "magic way" of avoiding the need for tax rises
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
In September, council leader Linden Kemkaran told us there's no "magic way" of avoiding the need for tax rises
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
October 6, 2025 at 9:47 AM
...As the graph shows, 74% of Kent County Council's 23-24 expenditure was on social care and homelessness, suggesting very limited room for savings
In September, council leader Linden Kemkaran told us there's no "magic way" of avoiding the need for tax rises
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
In September, council leader Linden Kemkaran told us there's no "magic way" of avoiding the need for tax rises
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
... + multi-talented colleague PolHome Tom's brief promotion to the PM's chief of staff
October 1, 2025 at 10:35 AM
... + multi-talented colleague PolHome Tom's brief promotion to the PM's chief of staff
me from Liverpool:
Labour MPs get the fire-in-the-belly PM speech they wanted. But some fear it's too late, and the reality facing Starmer is still very tough
Burnham is humbled ("he united the party," said a Cabinet minister)... but not gone. He's still waiting in the wings
Labour MPs get the fire-in-the-belly PM speech they wanted. But some fear it's too late, and the reality facing Starmer is still very tough
Burnham is humbled ("he united the party," said a Cabinet minister)... but not gone. He's still waiting in the wings
October 1, 2025 at 10:34 AM
me from Liverpool:
Labour MPs get the fire-in-the-belly PM speech they wanted. But some fear it's too late, and the reality facing Starmer is still very tough
Burnham is humbled ("he united the party," said a Cabinet minister)... but not gone. He's still waiting in the wings
Labour MPs get the fire-in-the-belly PM speech they wanted. But some fear it's too late, and the reality facing Starmer is still very tough
Burnham is humbled ("he united the party," said a Cabinet minister)... but not gone. He's still waiting in the wings
Our Labour conf coverage kicks off with a bang:
Big @siennarodgers.bsky.social read on whether Starmer can survive
PM ally Nick Thomas Symonds defends "one of the most resilient people I’ve ever met" in a chat w/ @sophiealichurch.bsky.social
pieces from Powell & Phillipson
(+ much more to come)
Big @siennarodgers.bsky.social read on whether Starmer can survive
PM ally Nick Thomas Symonds defends "one of the most resilient people I’ve ever met" in a chat w/ @sophiealichurch.bsky.social
pieces from Powell & Phillipson
(+ much more to come)
September 27, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Our Labour conf coverage kicks off with a bang:
Big @siennarodgers.bsky.social read on whether Starmer can survive
PM ally Nick Thomas Symonds defends "one of the most resilient people I’ve ever met" in a chat w/ @sophiealichurch.bsky.social
pieces from Powell & Phillipson
(+ much more to come)
Big @siennarodgers.bsky.social read on whether Starmer can survive
PM ally Nick Thomas Symonds defends "one of the most resilient people I’ve ever met" in a chat w/ @sophiealichurch.bsky.social
pieces from Powell & Phillipson
(+ much more to come)
It’s more or less taken me all summer, but as I approached the final pages I really didn’t want it to end. Finished, appropriately perhaps, in Lucca’s Piazza Napoleone, extraordinarily rich in detail right until the closing syllable. What a read!
September 24, 2025 at 12:29 PM
It’s more or less taken me all summer, but as I approached the final pages I really didn’t want it to end. Finished, appropriately perhaps, in Lucca’s Piazza Napoleone, extraordinarily rich in detail right until the closing syllable. What a read!
Several sources involved in the new party told PoliticsHome that a formal split in 'Your Party' now appears inevitable
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
September 18, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Several sources involved in the new party told PoliticsHome that a formal split in 'Your Party' now appears inevitable
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
A hugely exciting week for me as I:
1. vanquish memories of myriad ticket-buying failures
2. tick off a massive bucket list gig
1. vanquish memories of myriad ticket-buying failures
2. tick off a massive bucket list gig
September 13, 2025 at 11:10 AM
A hugely exciting week for me as I:
1. vanquish memories of myriad ticket-buying failures
2. tick off a massive bucket list gig
1. vanquish memories of myriad ticket-buying failures
2. tick off a massive bucket list gig
“Having an Ed Davey interview just after a Madonna song and before Teenage Dirtbag is so much better than leaning into Wato"
An insightful @sophiealichurch.bsky.social piece on the Lib Dem ‘jam & Jerusalem' comms stategy — inc the voter they're now going after
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
An insightful @sophiealichurch.bsky.social piece on the Lib Dem ‘jam & Jerusalem' comms stategy — inc the voter they're now going after
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
September 13, 2025 at 8:12 AM
“Having an Ed Davey interview just after a Madonna song and before Teenage Dirtbag is so much better than leaning into Wato"
An insightful @sophiealichurch.bsky.social piece on the Lib Dem ‘jam & Jerusalem' comms stategy — inc the voter they're now going after
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
An insightful @sophiealichurch.bsky.social piece on the Lib Dem ‘jam & Jerusalem' comms stategy — inc the voter they're now going after
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
It'll be interesting to see how Reform handles the Mandelson / Epstein story
Here's what Farage told Harriet Symonds and Tom Scotson in their recent interview...
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Here's what Farage told Harriet Symonds and Tom Scotson in their recent interview...
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
September 10, 2025 at 11:26 AM
It'll be interesting to see how Reform handles the Mandelson / Epstein story
Here's what Farage told Harriet Symonds and Tom Scotson in their recent interview...
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Here's what Farage told Harriet Symonds and Tom Scotson in their recent interview...
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Another e.g of the risk for Reform in alienating potential voters through odd/conspiratorial/online takes. The anti-vax stuff is most shocking. But here's (h/t @noahvickers.bsky.social) some climate change scepticism, + Tice playing down species decline in his Express iview ("dinosaurs disappeared")
September 8, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Another e.g of the risk for Reform in alienating potential voters through odd/conspiratorial/online takes. The anti-vax stuff is most shocking. But here's (h/t @noahvickers.bsky.social) some climate change scepticism, + Tice playing down species decline in his Express iview ("dinosaurs disappeared")
James Lyons, who left No 10 comms last week, says on LinkedIn the original plan was to depart later this year but that Starmer’s reset meant it was “sensible” to go sooner
He says the Downing St New Media Unit must be replicated across Whitehall, warning some gov comms has “barely changed” in 25yrs
He says the Downing St New Media Unit must be replicated across Whitehall, warning some gov comms has “barely changed” in 25yrs
September 8, 2025 at 11:16 AM
James Lyons, who left No 10 comms last week, says on LinkedIn the original plan was to depart later this year but that Starmer’s reset meant it was “sensible” to go sooner
He says the Downing St New Media Unit must be replicated across Whitehall, warning some gov comms has “barely changed” in 25yrs
He says the Downing St New Media Unit must be replicated across Whitehall, warning some gov comms has “barely changed” in 25yrs
@zoecrowther.bsky.social's latest graph shows how Rupert Lowe is comfortably out-earning other MPs, including his former Reform colleagues, when it comes to posting on X
“This is the most expensive job I've ever had. Trust me - if I wanted financial gain, I wouldn't be doing this," he told PolHome
“This is the most expensive job I've ever had. Trust me - if I wanted financial gain, I wouldn't be doing this," he told PolHome
September 8, 2025 at 10:07 AM
@zoecrowther.bsky.social's latest graph shows how Rupert Lowe is comfortably out-earning other MPs, including his former Reform colleagues, when it comes to posting on X
“This is the most expensive job I've ever had. Trust me - if I wanted financial gain, I wouldn't be doing this," he told PolHome
“This is the most expensive job I've ever had. Trust me - if I wanted financial gain, I wouldn't be doing this," he told PolHome
You’ll do well to find a better read on Your Party — its genesis, strategy, and many internal tensions — than this by colleague @siennarodgers.bsky.social
So many nuggets to choose from, like this: what’s in a name? A lot, actually
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
So many nuggets to choose from, like this: what’s in a name? A lot, actually
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
September 6, 2025 at 9:52 AM
You’ll do well to find a better read on Your Party — its genesis, strategy, and many internal tensions — than this by colleague @siennarodgers.bsky.social
So many nuggets to choose from, like this: what’s in a name? A lot, actually
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
So many nuggets to choose from, like this: what’s in a name? A lot, actually
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
In the end, then, it wasn't really a reshuffle for newcomers, with just two junior ministers (Emma Reynolds, Douglas Alexander) getting the nod, but more a Cabinet musical chairs
as illustrated by this arresting graph courtesy of @zoecrowther.bsky.social
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
as illustrated by this arresting graph courtesy of @zoecrowther.bsky.social
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
September 5, 2025 at 5:01 PM
In the end, then, it wasn't really a reshuffle for newcomers, with just two junior ministers (Emma Reynolds, Douglas Alexander) getting the nod, but more a Cabinet musical chairs
as illustrated by this arresting graph courtesy of @zoecrowther.bsky.social
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
as illustrated by this arresting graph courtesy of @zoecrowther.bsky.social
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Follow our coverage of what is shaping up to be a very significant Cabinet reshuffle
September 5, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Follow our coverage of what is shaping up to be a very significant Cabinet reshuffle
Rayner’s resignation letter
September 5, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Rayner’s resignation letter
@matildamartin.bsky.social's latest data dive finds London councils stand to be most impacted by the closure of the social care visa
Axing it without an immediate scheme to boost domestic recruitment was "extremely risky" — IfG's @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Axing it without an immediate scheme to boost domestic recruitment was "extremely risky" — IfG's @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
September 4, 2025 at 2:47 PM
@matildamartin.bsky.social's latest data dive finds London councils stand to be most impacted by the closure of the social care visa
Axing it without an immediate scheme to boost domestic recruitment was "extremely risky" — IfG's @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Axing it without an immediate scheme to boost domestic recruitment was "extremely risky" — IfG's @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
The IfG analysis of Starmer's No 10 shake-up:
For the reset to pay off, the PM must provide clarity,
@instituteforgovernment.org.uk associate director @hannahkeenan.bsky.social writes for us
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
For the reset to pay off, the PM must provide clarity,
@instituteforgovernment.org.uk associate director @hannahkeenan.bsky.social writes for us
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
September 1, 2025 at 7:42 PM
The IfG analysis of Starmer's No 10 shake-up:
For the reset to pay off, the PM must provide clarity,
@instituteforgovernment.org.uk associate director @hannahkeenan.bsky.social writes for us
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
For the reset to pay off, the PM must provide clarity,
@instituteforgovernment.org.uk associate director @hannahkeenan.bsky.social writes for us
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
nail on head:
‘Gov’s inability to sequence and frame its positive announcements, and to anticipate how punitive actions would dominate the news cycle, requires urgent attention. It is not enough to make policy announcements; there must be a coherent story that MPs and the public alike can follow.’
‘Gov’s inability to sequence and frame its positive announcements, and to anticipate how punitive actions would dominate the news cycle, requires urgent attention. It is not enough to make policy announcements; there must be a coherent story that MPs and the public alike can follow.’
July 17, 2025 at 10:26 PM
nail on head:
‘Gov’s inability to sequence and frame its positive announcements, and to anticipate how punitive actions would dominate the news cycle, requires urgent attention. It is not enough to make policy announcements; there must be a coherent story that MPs and the public alike can follow.’
‘Gov’s inability to sequence and frame its positive announcements, and to anticipate how punitive actions would dominate the news cycle, requires urgent attention. It is not enough to make policy announcements; there must be a coherent story that MPs and the public alike can follow.’
Suspended MP Neil Duncan-Jordan tells PoliticsHome’s Tom Scotson:
“Although I’ve been suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party today, I’ve been part of the Labour & trade union movement for 40 yrs and remain as committed as ever to its values.
“To my constituents: it’s business as usual”
“Although I’ve been suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party today, I’ve been part of the Labour & trade union movement for 40 yrs and remain as committed as ever to its values.
“To my constituents: it’s business as usual”
July 16, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Suspended MP Neil Duncan-Jordan tells PoliticsHome’s Tom Scotson:
“Although I’ve been suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party today, I’ve been part of the Labour & trade union movement for 40 yrs and remain as committed as ever to its values.
“To my constituents: it’s business as usual”
“Although I’ve been suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party today, I’ve been part of the Labour & trade union movement for 40 yrs and remain as committed as ever to its values.
“To my constituents: it’s business as usual”