Eleni Courea

‘Deeply shocking’: Nigel Farage faces fresh claims of racism and antisemitism at school Bafta-winning director among contemporaries urging contrition and apology from Reform UK leader, who denies the allegations

💥 NEW: ‘Deeply shocking’: Nigel Farage faces fresh claims of racism and antisemitism at school

“He would sidle up to me and growl: ‘Hitler was right,’ or ‘Gas them,’ sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers".

Read on for more...

www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...

Some Labour insiders think Team Starmer were following the Brownite playbook… but the outcome was significantly different. Great piece by @ecourea.bsky.social & co

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Come for the intro from Damian McBride's Power Trip:

Briefing war spotlights relationships between three of Labour’s most senior figures Rift said to be driven between Keir Starmer and Morgan McSweeney even before attacks on Wes Streeting

Our read on the relationship between Keir Starmer, Morgan McSweeney and Wes Streeting after this week's extraordinary briefing war 👇

Why did it all kick off? How did it go wrong? And what longer-running rifts has it exposed?

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Would there be a lease? They bought the site in 2018 so they own it outright

Boris Johnson approved China’s London super-embassy proposal in 2018 Exclusive: Conservatives under Theresa May gave Beijing assurances that it could proceed with the proposal

Exclusive: Boris Johnson approved China’s super-embassy proposal in 2018 — and welcomed the fact it was “China’s largest overseas diplomatic investment” anywhere in the world

He made a commitment it would be built alongside the new British embassy in Beijing

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Conservatives complain to whips about fellow MP’s comments on legally settled people Exclusive: Criticism of Katie Lam comes amid widespread confusion in the party over its policy on indefinite leave to remain

EXC: Conservative MPs have complained to party whips over Katie Lam's remarks that many legal immigrants should be deported to make the UK “culturally coherent”

“It’s either dog-whistle or it’s so vague it’s meaningless,” one Tory MP said

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Lucy Powell urged ministers to rethink legal action against Labour donor’s firm Exclusive: Intervention by deputy leadership contender could have saved company based in her Manchester constituency millions

EXC: Lucy Powell urged ministers to reconsider legal action against a developer in her seat founded by a Labour donor

Powell wrote to Rayner on behalf of Urban Splash after bumping into Tom Bloxham at a fundraiser

She said she was acting as a constituency MP

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

There is an organised group of residents - the Royal Mint Court Residents' Association - that has been very vocally against the project from the start and has led opposition to it in submissions to the local planning inquiry. I do recognise this doesn't apply to all residents

China threatened to retaliate against UK over foreign influence rules Exclusive: Chinese officials warned that targeting its security apparatus would have negative consequences for relations

EXC: China threatened to retaliate against the UK govt if ministers targeted parts of its state under foreign influence rules

Chinese officials warned the FCDO the move would have negative consequences for relations after we reported it was being considered

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Starmer on horns of dilemma over China’s seven-year mega-embassy saga Decision time is coming after Labour called in the planning application for a new building in east London

My read on the 7-year-long Chinese embassy saga at Royal Mint Court

— How Chinese officials sought to overturn the council's refusal behind the scenes before ministers intervened

— Residents are preparing to seek a judicial review if the government approves it

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Rachel Reeves to lift two-child benefit cap in November’s budget Exclusive: Officials exploring options to change rule that affected 1.7 million children in Great Britain last year UK politics live – latest updates

EXCL: Rachel Reeves is set to lift the two-child benefit limit in the budget with officials exploring options of a new tapered system.

The Treasury is exploring if it might instead be limited to three or four children – or whether there could be a tapered rate.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

"OUTRAGE AS FARAGE THREATENS MASS DEPORTATION OF LEGAL IMMIGRANTS"
Full Story: t.ly/IBk_I
@ecourea.bsky.social for @theguardian.com

#NigelFarage faces condemnation after threatening thousands of #LegalImmigrants with #deportation.

#TheGuardian
#TomorrowsPapersToday
#IBPAPERS

Migration minister Mike Tapp shudders as Peter Mandelson's emails to Epstein are read out to him on BBC Breakfast

He says they are "disturbing" but that we should consider Mandelson's statement expressing regret

He says the PM retains confidence in him "as far as I know"

Shabana Mahmood: justice secretary and rising star of the Labour party Described as a pragmatic politician with an instinct for the times, Mahmood is thought of by some as a future Labour leader

Shabana Mahmood's promotion to home secretary is at the centre of this reshuffle

Read my profile of her from this summer👇

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

From silence to statehood: how Trump’s indifference moved the UK on Palestine Under pressure on domestic and international stage to act on Gaza, a shrug from the president allowed Starmer to make pledge

How a shrug from Donald Trump moved the UK's position on Palestine:

— Trump comments on Monday gave Starmer the green light
— Policy inc. conditions on Israel drafted largely by Jonathan Powell
— Senior govt figures privately say all roads lead to recognition

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Cabinet ministers and third of MPs call on Starmer to recognise state of Palestine More than 220 MPs sign letter to prime minister and foreign secretary calling for British recognition of statehood

EXC: Keir Starmer is under intense pressure from his most senior cabinet ministers to move faster on recognising Palestine

Angela Rayner and Yvette Cooper are understood to be among ministers who believe the UK should take the lead on Palestinian statehood

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Back in action from today after three gorgeous weeks in Puglia and Sicily

China considers lifting sanctions on UK parliamentarians as relations warm Exclusive: Restrictions to be reviewed as embassy official says ‘UK-China relations are showing a positive momentum’

EXC: China is considering lifting the sanctions it imposed on UK parliamentarians in 2021 in the latest sign of warming relations between London and Beijing

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

He sent it anyway while driving to Stalybridge with his wife. Lutnick rang him straight away and said: "Johnny, I got your message. I don't know what it means"

The signal was so bad Reynolds was missing every 5th word and was worried he would accidentally agree to sell the NHS

Great anecdote from trade sec Jonathan Reynolds over lunch with lobby journalists

His first WhatsApp message to US commerce sec Howard Lutnick was drafted through a cross-Whitehall process and the result was "something no human being would send or be able to understand"

UK and Gibraltar close to post-Brexit agreement on border with Spain David Lammy and territory’s chief minister to meet with EU and Spain to get Eurostar-style arrangement over the line

UK and Gibraltar close to post-Brexit agreement on border with Spain

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

British officials hopeful that US will start lifting car tariffs this week Exclusive: Trade secretary to meet US counterpart with aim of implementing first parts of deal in coming days

EXC: UK officials are hopeful the US will begin implementing the deal to reduce tariffs this week

The aim is to secure a proclamation from Donald Trump in the coming days. Officials expect tariffs on cars to be reduced first, before steel/aluminium

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

UK ministers delay AI regulation amid plans for more ‘comprehensive’ bill Law expected to include safety and copyright issues but delay likely to raise concerns about ongoing lack of regulation

EXC w/ @kiranstacey.bsky.social: Plans to regulate artificial intelligence have been delayed by at least a year

Ministers are planning a bumper bill in the next king's speech to regulate the technology and its use of copyrighted material

www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Reform’s new chair Zia Yusuf: a man intent on making Nigel Farage PM Former leftwing student defends leader’s Southport comments and insists party stands for British values

Worth rereading this excellent profile of Zia Yusuf from @ecourea.bsky.social last year 👇

www.theguardian.com/politics/art...

Reform’s new chair Zia Yusuf: a man intent on making Nigel Farage PM Former leftwing student defends leader’s Southport comments and insists party stands for British values

The profile is here:

www.theguardian.com/politics/art...

Profile - Zia Yusuf - BBC Sounds The millionaire businessman turned chairman of the Reform UK party.

I spoke to BBC Profile a few weeks ago about my conversation with Zia Yusuf before I wrote the first newspaper profile of him:

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Ministers offer concessions on AI and copyright to avoid fifth Lords defeat Exclusive: Data bill faces being shelved amid standoff over plans to allow AI firms to use copyrighted content

EXC: Ministers have offered a series of last-minute concessions on copyright protections in an effort to avoid a fifth defeat in the House of Lords today

The data bill faces the prospect of being shelved if the impasse isn't broken

www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

The only way to trigger a leadership contest is if 20% of the PLP back a challenger candidate. Labour MPs might be grumbling about some of the govt's decisions but there's no chance of that happening for the foreseeable future

I think that's the point — Labour MPs didn't manage to oust Corbyn as leader!