Keir Starmer's credit arrears
Jury service is a civic duty that meant Matthew Pennycook, the Housing Minister, missed a slew of affordable-home announcements while dispensing justice. He's one of three government frontbenchers plus a group of other MPs summoned to decide the guilt or innocence of the criminally accused. One of their number who was called up joked it's part of a plot by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood to convince colleagues that the courts system is broken and requires radical reform after the retired judge Brian Leveson proposed curtailing jury trials. Serving is believing.
Strike-threatening doctors are giving Wes Streeting a headache and we hear the Health Secretary is increasingly unpopular with peers. Twice, a noisy Wesleyite army has invaded the Lords end of the terrace, including the Friday the assisted dying bill cleared the Commons. MPs and peers jealously guard their turf. A snout growled that on both occasions merry members of Wes's crew adopted don't-you-know-who-we-are attitudes when challenged.
Reform shape-shifter Lee Anderson doesn't know whether he's coming or going. The Tory defector walked into the wrong lobby during a welfare bill vote. A north-west England Labour MP clocked the hard-right party's deputy leader, Richard Tice, hoiking '30p Lee' out of the voting line. Anderson is supposed to be chief whip of Reform's four MPs. Awks.
There are mutinous whispers among senior ranks of James Cleverly's Territorial Army (TA) regiment over the former Tory foreign secretary's promotion to colonel. The TA veteran delivered a speech to a regimental dinner of the 100 (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery to celebrate his elevation from the lesser rank of lieutenant colonel. Not satisfied with being knighted, he clearly wants more people to have to call him 'sir'. According to one senior officer present, eyebrows rocketed and jaws plummeted when it sounded during the speech as though 'not very' Cleverly believed the post would come with a salary. It doesn't; it's honorary. 'We weren't sure whether he was joking or seriously naive,' groaned a snout. No money tree there. Sir!
'Farage Assistance Group' was wealth-tax champion Neil Kinnock's barbed-if-polite suggestion for the name of Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana's new left collaboration. It wasn't his first thought, though. On hearing of the party plan, Labour's former leader growled: 'Are they going to call it the Fruit and Nut Party?' Raisin' the bar for puns there, Neil.
With Starmer now expected to shuffle the pack for the first time in September, Westminster is awash with speculation over likely winners and losers. While the Prime Minister has personally reassured the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, that her job is safe, Tech Sec Peter Kyle has been spoken of as a replacement. But Labour insiders warn those fancying a bump up not to make it too obvious. Back in 2023, one recalls, it was Lucy Powell and Darren Jones who battled for the shadow tech brief. The winner? A Labour leader who loathes off-the-record briefings gave the job to the aforementioned Kyle.
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Boris Johnson's erstwhile Substack-ing svengali Dominic Cummings once said Lisa Nandy would be a far better Labour leader than poor old Keir Starmer. The guru's blog is often peppered with references to 'brilliant women' he used to work with in the civil service. He often contrasts these with useless male duffers who didn't – remember 2020? – know what epidemiology was. Cummings is now in the process of setting up his own party. Names suggested for the project include the 'Third Force' and the 'Start-Up Party'. Only one problem so far. All of the first members are men, observes a snout. No women want to join, however 'brilliant' they are.
Polls keep telling us that Reform is on course to be the largest party after the next general election. While that election is (probably) four years away, that means the party is scrambling to find suitable candidates. Who's on the list for 2029 then? One snout whispers that the ex-Mumford & Sons banjo maestro turned culture wars 'independent YouTuber' Winston Marshall could be interested in a seat. Marshall, whose dad, Paul, just happens to be a major shareholder in GB News – home to Reform leader Nigel Farage's prime time show – surely wouldn't need to sing for a plum constituency.
Snout line: Got a story? Write to tips@newstatesman.co.uk
[See also: The Tories are responsible for the Afghan resettlement fiasco]
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The Guardian
37 minutes ago
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The Guardian view on talking in class: the writers speaking up for oracy education are right
Two years ago, Sir Keir Starmer enthused about teaching speaking skills. So schools campaigners were understandably dismayed when oracy – otherwise known as speaking and listening – did not appear in the interim report of the curriculum review for England headed by Prof Becky Francis. Peter Hyman, the former New Labour adviser who became a headteacher, has been a key figure behind the revival, over the past decade, of an idea developed in the 1960s. Steps to embed the importance of verbal communication in education have already been taken, with more than 1,000 schools working with the charity Voice 21, and a parallel project in Scotland. The hope expressed by children's authors and others last week is that its absence from the draft report was an oversight which will soon be rectified. The task before Prof Francis's commission is a daunting one, with reformers of all kinds looking to it for solutions. An evidence call attracted 7,000 responses, with the future of special educational needs provision, and a wish to reduce exams, among key issues raised. But it should be clear to the panel, and to ministers, that oral learning also matters. One reason is the rising number of children arriving in primary school with speech and language skills below the expected level. While some pupils catch up later, others need specialist help. Communication difficulties are one reason for the increase in the number of education, health and care plans (EHCPs), which set out what such support entails. The reasons for such complex changes are not yet fully understood, although the pandemic has had an impact. The challenge of artificial intelligence, in relation to university studies as well as schools, is another factor behind a renewed emphasis on talking. Given the easy availability of technological tools to aid writing, it is arguably more important than ever that people are equipped to share ideas and knowledge through speech as well. In many European countries oral examinations are far more common, in schools as well as universities, whereas in the UK 'vivas' are mostly reserved for postgraduate studies. In foreign language learning, the importance of speaking is taken for granted. But while oracy already features in the maths and science curriculum, as well as in English, it is often marginalised. The tricky task of reformers is to alter teaching practice so that more weight is placed on verbal communication, without making this yet another assessment hurdle to be cleared. For its champions, the core of oracy education is the ability to make connections. They want young people to be able to express themselves, and point out that this is a vital life skill – for example, in job interviews and the kinds of public‑facing work that seem least likely to be taken over by machines – for which school should prepare them. Big gaps in confidence about public speaking have long been recognised among the most glaring social inequalities. This doesn't mean that everyone should aspire to be a debating champion. Different accents, personalities and ways of relating should be valued, not ironed out. But if our schools are to keep pace with our frenetically changing world, it is surely right that they should maximise the facility for language, which is part of what makes us human.
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Keir Starmer to raise Gaza starvation with Donald Trump during Turnberry summit
The Prime Minister and President will hold talks at the Ayrshire gold course. Keir Starmer will raise the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and try to seal a US trade deal during a high-stakes summit with Donald Trump on Monday. The Prime Minister will also demand tough action against Vladimir Putin when he meets the US President at Turnberry. The Republican arrived at Prestwick airport on Friday to kickstart a five day trip that will combine golf and political meetings. He played his Turnberry course over the weekend and will travel to his other golf club at the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire on Monday as well. One of his final acts at Turnberry will be talks with Starmer on a range of international and domestic issues. Condemnation of the Israeli Government' s actions in Palestine are growing as people in Gaza starve. Starmer, who said he is 'horrified' by the crisis, wants Trump to revive ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas when they meet. He also hopes to get a trade deal between the US and UK, which is currently in draft form, over the line. The President and the Prime Minister will travel together for a private engagement in Aberdeen after their Turnberry meeting. Trump will open his third golf course on Tuesda y during his stay in Aberdeenshire, where he is also expected to meet First Minister John Swinney. Trump was seen teeing off at his Turnberry golf course over the weekend. A woman shouted 'We love you Trump' as the US president played golf. Wearing a white baseball camp branded USA, Trump waved to journalists as he arrived on the green at Trump Turnberry in Girvan, Ayrshire, driving a white golf buggy. A female well-wisher could be heard repeatedly shouting 'we love you Trump' and 'thank you'. Someone else shouted: 'Trump Trump Trump Trump '. The sound of cheering could be heard as Trump took a shot. Protesters carrying placards stood in the dunes at Trump Turnberry, urging the president: 'Don't trust Starmer '. Three people carried placards reading: 'President Trump don't trust Starmer'. The hand-painted sign also branded the Prime Minister an explicit term. A woman holding it wore a red baseball cap with fake hair which read Make America Great Again, and appeared to laugh as she watched Mr Trump. Another female supporter dressed in a floral anorak, held a US flag and wore a baseball cap reading Make England Great Again. She carried a smaller sign which also branded Sir Keir an explicit term. They were joined by a man dressed in black, who wore an Adidas baseball cap. A Trump supporter who travelled from Liverpool to Ayrshire in the hope of seeing the US President at his Turnberry golf course said he is 'chuffed' to have interacted with the President. Tom English, 37, who made the four-and-a-half hour journey with some other Trump supporters, explained: 'We rushed up here hoping to get a glimpse of him. And that's happened this morning when we've got to interact with him a little bit. 'We couldn't really hear him because he was trying to shout to us in this wind, in the Scottish wind on the coast. So it was kind of hard to hear what he said. 'But he blew a kiss to the girls. Gave us a little wave. Trump junior gave us a little wave. And that's what it was about. 'We just wanted to see him in the flesh, and to get that interaction was an added bonus.' When asked what he and the other supporters had said to the president, English recounted: 'Just that we love him, basically. The UK loves Trump. Don't believe the mainstream media.'
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
Sir Keir Starmer set for Donald Trump trade talks as PM walks diplomatic line between EU allies and US on Gaza
Gaza and transatlantic trade are set to dominate talks between Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer when the pair meet in Scotland on Monday. Downing Street said the prime minister would discuss "what more can be done to secure the ceasefire [in the Middle East] urgently", during the meeting at the president's Turnberry golf course in Ayrshire. Talks in Qatar over a ceasefire ended on Thursday after the US and Israel withdrew their negotiating teams. Mr Trump blamed Hamas for the collapse of negotiations as he left the US for Scotland, saying the militant group "didn't want to make a deal… they want to die". Sir Keir has tried to forge close personal ties with the president, frequently praising his actions on the world stage despite clear foreign policy differences between the US and UK. The approach seemed to pay off in May when Mr Trump announced the agreement of a trade deal with the UK that would see several tariffs lowered. The two leaders are expected to discuss this agreement when they meet, with the prime minister likely to press the president for a lowering of outstanding tariffs on imports such as steel. Prior to the visit, the White House said the talks would allow them to "refine the historic US-UK trade deal". Extracting promises from the president on the Middle East may be harder though. 1:30 Despite some reports that Mr Trump is growing frustrated with Israel, there is a clear difference in tone between the US and its Western allies. As he did over the Ukraine war, Sir Keir will have to walk a diplomatic line between the UK's European allies and the White House. On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced his country would formally recognise a Palestinian state in September, the first member of the G7 to do so. That move was dismissed by Mr Trump, who said it "doesn't carry any weight". 0:45 The UK, French and German leaders spoke over the weekend and agreed to work together on the "next phase" in Gaza that would see transitional governance and security arrangements put in place, alongside the large-scale delivery of aid. Under pressure from members of his own party and cabinet to follow France and signal formal recognition of Palestine, Sir Keir has gradually become more critical of Israel in recent months. On Friday, the prime minister said "the starvation and denial of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, the increasing violence from extremist settler groups, and Israel's disproportionate military escalation in Gaza are all indefensible". Government sources say UK recognition is a matter of "when, not if", however, it's thought Downing Street wants to ensure any announcement is made at a time when it can have the greatest diplomatic impact. 1:19 Cabinet ministers will be convened in the coming days, during the summer recess, to discuss the situation in Gaza. The UK has also been working with Jordan to air drop supplies, after Israel said it would allow foreign countries to provide aid to the territory. President Trump's trip to Scotland comes ahead of his second state visit to the UK in September. Downing Street says Ukraine will also likely be discussed in the meeting with both men reflecting on what can be done to force Russia back to the negotiating table. After the meeting at Turnberry, the prime minister will travel with the president to Aberdeen for a private engagement. Mr Trump is also expected to meet Scottish First Minister John Swinney while in the country.
