Emilio Casalicchio
@e_casalicchio
POLITICO London Playbook PM Editor. Writing the latest from Westminster in a 5pm(ish) newsletter Mon-Fri. [email protected]
Agree with this
Lee Rowley was key to the Kemi project. The significance of his departure cannot be overstated:
EXCL: Former Unite boss Len McCluskey enjoyed private jet flights and football tickets arranged by the firm who built a multi-million pound hotel for the union, a report seen by BBC finds bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…
At liaison committee Keir Starmer kills speculation he could delete the department for culture media and sport. Asked if it will still exist after next reshuffle: "Yes."
OK clarification on this: The government position is that any minister who resigns due to breaching the code will not get a severance payout. Some "techincal" breaches might not result in resignation. But all resignations will be deemed "serious" breaches, so no severance
NEW GOVERNMENT "ETHICS" COMMISSION: The PM seems to think ministers who resign/are sacked for breaches of the ministerial code that are not "serious" still deserve thousands of pounds in severance cash. And "serious" is of course not defined - so open to abuse
Same for "serious" breaches of revolving door rules. But severance pay amounts to 1/4 of ministerial salary - meaning a junior minister would be asked to repay around £5,500 or £16,800 for a Cabinet minister. Hardly a huge deterrent given salaries on offer for outside roles...
NEW GOVERNMENT "ETHICS" COMMISSION: The PM seems to think ministers who resign/are sacked for breaches of the ministerial code that are not "serious" still deserve thousands of pounds in severance cash. And "serious" is of course not defined - so open to abuse
NEW: Environment Sec Steve Reed confims @danbloom1 scoop from last week that the govt will abolish water regulator Ofwat
Ofwat looks for the chop, as I scooped on Friday Water Commission report this morning recommends combining the water regulator’s functions with the Drinking Water Inspectorate and parts of the Environment Agency and Natural England to form a new organization in England
Worth bearing in mind ... Conservative members as young as 15 were able to vote to pick the next PM multiple times between 2015 and 2024. Because Tories let all members vote in leadership elections and minimum membership age is 15: bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politi…
If Labour think you’re old enough to vote at 16 do they also think you’re old enough to stand for election at 16? If not, why not? If yes, and the 16 year old becomes an MP, how will they fit in their studies? Remember they can’t leave education until they’re 18.
🦬 IN LONDON PLAYBOOK PM TONIGHT ... 🏘️ Everything you need to know about the planning amendments row ⁉️ Plus: Which Conservative frontbencher asked more than 2,000 questions in 12 months? Read the full newsletter and subscribe (for free) here: politico.eu/newsletter/lon…
EXCL: Council tax cuts are “not going to happen” in Reform UK-run authorities because the pressures on social care are too great, DOGE chief Zia Yusuf has told POLITICO He went further than Nigel Farage, who has said it wouldn’t be a priority politico.eu/article/nigel-…
EXCL: Ministers are poised to announce they will scrap Ofwat next week Two people with knowledge of the planning tell me an announcement on ditching the water regulator is being lined up for Monday (A long-awaited independent report on the state of the industry drops at 7am)
🗞️ IN LONDON PLAYBOOK PM TONIGHT (published before Diane Abbott news) ... 🚨 SCOOP: Peers could BLOCK media foreign ownership rule tweak required for Telegraph sale Read the full newsletter and subscribe (for free) here: politico.eu/newsletter/lon…
The speed (lack thereof) of all this is INSANE
Government's latest cladding announcement appears to have two new bits. A deadline of 2031 for medium rise blocks and a power for the state to step in and do the work if building owners fail to without "reasonable excuse"
Labour MP Chris Hinchliff statement - after being stripped of the Labour whip
