Educating Bridget
The big talking point as MPs return from their Easter hols is whether Bridget Phillipson has been given a makeover and instructed to smile brightly on TV. Labour colleagues noticed the Education Secretary has started beaming in front of the cameras after previously appearing stern. The warmer tone comes after class troublemakers briefed she could be permanently excluded in a summer reshuffle. A sympathetic colleague who read Roald Dahl's Matilda to his children observed that Phillipson, when looking less like a tyrannical Miss Trunchbull and more like an engaging Miss Honey, complied with new No 10 tuition for ministers to be happy and confident after their glumness at the Tory legacy had backfired.
Few hunts are, thankfully, likely to prove as inconclusive as the search for who leaked Labour MPs' LGBT+ group WhatsApp messages after the UK Supreme Court transgender ruling. A suspect, growled an angry member, was identified and flatly denied involvement in the comments reaching public eyes. Of course they did. Long live informants!
There was unbridled joy across the political spectrum in the WhatsApp team managed for Leeds United fans by peer John Mann following their promotion to the Premier League. Lord John Mann of the People, as the baron styles himself, plays the club's anthem 'Marching on Together' on his mobile at meetings. To keep onside, a group including Theresa May's old mouthpiece Robbie Gibb and DUP ex-MP Ian 'Baby Doc' Paisley Jr must require united support.
It's all kicking off in Worcestershire where two one-time Conservative MPs now in rival parties go head-to-head for a county council seat in next week's local elections. Stephen Dorrell, a minister during the Thatcher and Major eras, is standing for the Lib Dems against Alan Amos, a single-term Tory MP for Hexham who later jumped ship to Labour before returning to the Cons and in this contest wears a Reform rosette. The national disintegration of Kemi Badenoch's party is played out locally in Bedwardine.
There was a full house for a mobile prostate-testing clinic on the Westminster estate, with parliament's male members queuing in droves to be checked. The awareness campaign was championed by the former London black-cab driver Clive Efford, Labour MP for Eltham and Chislehurst. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with 52,000 cases annually in the UK, and the former shadow minister, 66, is an evangeliser for earlier and regular examinations. He judged doctors to be initially dismissive before his own diagnosis in November 2023 despite a family history. Efford has since had the all-clear. One or more queuers may live because of his efforts.
[See also: Labour is at war over the Treasury]
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Scotsman
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- Scotsman
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The Guardian
an hour ago
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How Labour can build a stronger British economy
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Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
Two Labour-run councils 'considering all options' to challenge migrant hotel use
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She pointed out that under the national Labour government, the use of hotels has halved from 402 to 210, with the aim of stopping the use of any hotels by the end of this parliament. 5:43 But she continued: "Following the temporary High Court injunction granted to Epping Forest District Council, we are closely monitoring developments and reviewing our legal position in light of this significant ruling." Cllr Dean added that they had previously explored their legal options to challenge the use of the hotel but decided against them, as temporary injunctions were not being upheld. However, the Epping ruling "represents a potentially important legal precedent", which is why they are "carefully assessing" its significance for Tamworth. 11:48 "We fully recognise the UK government has a statutory duty to accommodate people seeking asylum. However, we have consistently maintained that the prolonged use of hotel accommodation may not represent the best approach - either for our local community or for the asylum seekers themselves," she said. "We will continue to work constructively with government departments and all relevant agencies while making sure the voice of our community is heard at the highest levels of government." Last night, Conservative-run Broxbourne Council also announced it was exploring its legal options, and the Reform UK leader of Kent County said she was writing to fellow leaders in Kent to explore whether they could potentially take legal action as well. 6:18 Use of Epping hotel 'sidestepped public scrutiny' The prime minister and the home secretary are under huge pressure to clear the asylum backlog and stop using hotels across the country to house those waiting for their applications to be processed. Protests have sprung up at migrant hotels across the country. 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A government attempt to delay the application was rejected by the High Court judge earlier on Tuesday, Home Office barristers arguing the case had a "substantial impact" on the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, in performing her legal duties to asylum seekers. But Mr Justice Eyre dismissed the Home Office's bid, stating that the department's involvement was "not necessary". The judge said the hotel's owners "sidestepped the public scrutiny and explanation which would otherwise have taken place if an application for planning permission or for a certificate of lawful use had been made". He added: "It was also deliberately taking the chance that its understanding of the legal position was incorrect. This is a factor of particular weight in the circumstances of this case." Reacting to Tuesday's judgment, border security minister Dame Angela Eagle said the government will "continue working with local authorities and communities to address legitimate concerns".
