Alain Tolhurst

JUST IN: Josh Simons quits government.

Starmer: "to avoid any ongoing distraction from delivering the Government’s mission, you have taken the difficult decision to step aside."

Laurie Magnus probe found no breach of the ministerial code.

Story to follow

It's probably this and everyone should read it.

jwmason.org/slackwire/po...

🚨 OUT NOW 🚨 Reform's revolt on the right

➡️ Director of British Future @sundersays.bsky.social, pollster Scarlett Maguire & @robfordmancs.bsky.social join @alaintolhurst.bsky.social & @tomscotson.bsky.social to discuss the threat to Reform from newer parties on the right

🎧 Listen: pod.fo/e/39888f

The civil war raging in SW9 Infernos, fraud investigations and a very chaotic Zoom call: The Loughborough Estate only gets worse

There's been secret chemical barrels, accusations of devil worship and allegations of millions of pounds of fraud.

But now things have gotten even stranger on one of south London's biggest estates.

www.the-londoner.co.uk/loughborough...

Learning a second language can be hard. Signing up for Pre-K and 3-K is easy.

Go to myschools.nyc to apply today. Deadline is tomorrow at midnight!

A vote for Bulbasaur is a wasted vote. Only Squirtle can beat Charmander in Gorton & Denton

Government Puts Final Touches To Digital Communications Overhaul The Labour government is preparing to launch a major overhaul of Whitehall-wide communications as part of its push to reach more voters online.

Government is preparing to launch its digital communications overhaul

The work, months in the making, is expected to see the New Media Unit given expanded capacity to boost the Labour administration's digital reach, PolHome understands

@zoecrowther.bsky.social & @adampayne26.bsky.social report

An End To The Resident Doctors' Dispute Could Cause New Problems For Government The long-running resident doctors’ dispute that has dogged successive governments may finally be nearing resolution. But, as Noah Vickers reports, ...

Resident doctors' strikes: Labour MPs are quietly optimistic that a deal with the BMA might soon be reached - but there are fears that an end to the dispute could cause new problems for the government.

My feature for @thehousemag.bsky.social

www.politicshome.com/news/article...

Italy are the fourth six nations team to try a red away shirt and unfortunately they have all been dog shit

🚨 OUT NOW 🚨Is this the Green Party's moment?

🗣️Green MP @elliechowns.bsky.social, Director of Thinks Insight & Strategy Allie Jennings, & PolHome Editor @adampayne26.bsky.social join @alaintolhurst.bsky.social
to take a look at the voters thinking of backing the Greens
🎧 Listen now: pod.fo/e/393114

DOG AT THE OLYMPICS
FULL COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS

Have written about how the below is one symptom of a really bad set-up at the centre of government. It makes sense that in the moment prime ministers keep trying to find a different person to do various jobs, but the problem is also a structural one, and the dysfunctional structure keeps on winning

The longer I cover politics the more I think this is true; if you want to be party leader/PM then the best time to run is whenever there is a contest. Waiting for the ‘right time’ rarely works out the way you want it to, better to try and fail than sit it out and regret

Whitehall’s Whispers: Inside The Antonia Romeo Row As the Prime Minister prepares to appoint Antonia Romeo as Cabinet Secretary, Ben Gartside looks at the fierce battles to block her appointment

EXC: Lord McDonald has attempted to block Antonia Romeo from promotions three times previously.

In anonymised sections of his memoir, McDonald describes Romeo as “self-promoter”, and the 2017 investigation findings as “catastrophic and damning”.

www.politicshome.com/news/article...

Casework Crisis: Increase In Constituency Caseload Takes Its Toll The inexorable growth in casework is stopping MPs from fulfilling their other roles. Alice Lilly sifts through the inbox looking for what might be ...

The workload facing MPs and their staff is growing, in ways that aren't visible to the public: casework and the inbox.

For @thehousemag.bsky.social, I delved into what the workload looks like, why it's growing, and what this means for how MPs can balance the different aspects of their role

Government Abandons Plan To Delay 30 Council Elections Keir Starmer has scrapped plans to postpone dozens of local elections.

The government has confirmed it is scrapping plans to delay 30 local council elections after receiving legal advice

In a letter seen by PolHome, ministers were warned that the decision to delay dozens of local elections would be illegal

Nigel Farage's Reform UK had launched a legal challenge

Over 50 Academics Warn That Voting System Is Not Fit For Multi-Party Politics Dozens of academics have written to the government to warn that the current voting system risks producing distorted results on an 'unprecedented' s...

"The collision of a multiparty electorate with a voting system designed for two parties is creating new risks for Britain".

I signed this letter. It's not about blocking Reform;it's about the danger to democracy of a system that can't cope with multiparty voting
www.politicshome.com/news/article...

Everyone in the world comes to get married at the NYC Marriage Bureau. Last week, the Mayor stopped by to officiate a few of those ceremonies. 
 
Thank you to all the couples who shared their joy with us. Happy Valentine's Day, New York. 
 
 Watch the full video at Youtube.com/nycmayorsoffice

🚨 OUT NOW 🚨 Editors assemble: Can Starmer survive?

The House & PoliticsHome editors @franciselliott.bsky.social, @siennarodgers.bsky.social and @adampayne26.bsky.social join @alaintolhurst.bsky.social to discuss what the PM could do to get to the May elections and beyond

🎧 Listen: pod.fo/e/38ecfe

Unprecedented PolHome / House scenes as — for the first time — the three editors — @siennarodgers.bsky.social, @franciselliott.bsky.social & I — gather around the mics

We reflect on a mad week and ask, what next for Starmer?

hosted by @alaintolhurst.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/e...

Keir Starmer’s next cabinet secretary must learn the lessons from Chris Wormald’s mistakes | Institute for Government The next cabinet secretary needs to be a far more visible civil service leader.

Some thoughts on Chris Wormald's short stint as cabinet secretary, and what Starmer needs from his next pick - which includes someone who's going to be a much more visible leader for hundreds of thousands of civil servants. 👇

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/next...

Labour Women Push Starmer To Dismantle 'Boys' Club' After Mandelson Scandal As he prepares to address the women's Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) on Wednesday afternoon, Keir Starmer is being urged to make the Peter Mandel...

Ahead of Starmer addressing the Women’s PLP at 1pm today we report:

- Starmer has been having meetings with women across the party in recent days to listen to their concerns

- Some MPs pushing for more women in Cabinet reshuffle

- What MPs think Mandelson revelations mean for VAWG strategy

Thought Ed Miliband was really enjoying himself on the morning round today, getting to properly stretch his legs - this extravagant “Yes!” being a highlight

I’m sure this will be great, but I kind of like the mystery? I feel as though I know as much as I need to, the gaps are fine

(Also, all caps please when you use his name)

Keir Starmer Says He Will Keep Fighting 'As Long As I Have Breath Left In My Body' Keir Starmer has said he will not 'walk away' from Downing Street as the Prime Minister looks to strengthen his position among Labour MPs.

Keir Starmer has told Labour MPs he will not "walk away" from No 10 and that he will keep fighting "as long as I have breath left in my body”

A minister told PolHome the Prime Minister was “stronger than he was at the beginning of the day” after addressing a restless Parliamentary Labour Party

MoJ orders deletion of UK’s largest court reporting archive Courtsdesk, which supports the media in monitoring records, is an important tool for journalists and the move raises concerns over open justice

The Ministry of Justice has ordered the deletion of the UK’s largest court reporting archive.

This risks undermining open justice, and I believe, undermines the public accountability role of the press by making it harder to see what is going on in the courts.

www.thetimes.com/article/77b0...

Bill Belichick's Girlfriend Wears Shirt Tied to Robert Kraft Prostitution Bust Is Jordon Hudson taking a shot at Robert Kraft ... on behalf of Bill Belichick?

I’m sorry, Jordon Hudson did what now

www.tmz.com/2026/02/08/j...

Quite a good hit rate if your true aim is to end up in the House of Lords though