Thanks Stephen 🙏🏻

Do it! ❤️

How likely is that? There’s a great read from the new Stateman’s new pol ed @pronouncedalva.bsky.social, who is turning out to be an inspired hire, here www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

Thanks so much Gaby

Yes! Can't wait to be back on it - reunited with Anoosh!

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

This quiet move by Starmer suggests he has identified an issue he wants to fix after the welfare bill.

It could be a very significant change. It might mean no repeat of the winter fuel/welfare cuts - and might also mean he pushes his govt in a new - more progressive? - direction

The decision-making process is being called into question after the welfare reforms.

One Starmer ally says they don’t think the PM would have chosen that approach if he had had all of the facts available to him.

Starmer allies worry that this process bounces the PM into decisions he wouldn’t otherwise make — and he ends up making the less progressive choice.

It plays into the narrative in @patrickmaguire.bsky.social and @gabrielpogrund.bsky.social's book — that it is often advisers who call the shots.

This is how most decision making has worked in the past year: the tendency has been to reach a “house view” before a call on any policy area is presented to the PM for a final decision.

You can see the necessity of streamlining the amount of information reaching the PM. But...

Insiders say govt's worst decisions have followed the same path:
- Treasury officials say they need to make a cut
- Reeves is persuaded
- McSweeney says it would work politically
- Decision has such a head of steam by the time it's presented to Starmer that it's a fait accompli

Thank you this is very kind!

Gift link here 🎁🔗 www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...

(Yes I am trying to remember to post on here again)

Full story on Sue Gray's next move 👇🏻 www.bloomberg.com/news/article...