New figures from the Office for National Statistics show consumer price inflation rose to 3.3% in March from 3%. The first Iran war reading…
Fuel costs drove the increase: “Prices in the transport division rose overall by 4.7% in the 12 months to March 2026, up from 2.4% in the 12 months to February.” Steepest rise in motor fuel costs since 2022…
Reeves said: “This is not our war, but it is pushing up bills for families and businesses.” See how many times the war gets blamed from now on…
Olly Robbins is out at the FCDO. The runners and riders:
There were some suggestions swirling around the FCDO that the next permanent secretary should be a woman seeing as none had ever occupied the role. Sources say David Lammy was keen on the idea when he held the Foreign Secretary post…
The Humble Address was passed on 4 February 2026. The first tranche published on 11 March. As of the 21 April the second half of the release is not yet out…
Darren Jones said at the time of the first release that the second batch was “not quite ready” but would be released “in the coming weeks.” There were suggestions that the second tranche would be released immediately following parliament’s return from Easter recess…
Some journalists are now reporting that the release of the files will not come before local elections on 7 May. The State Opening of Parliament is on the 13th…
The Sunday Telegraph reported:
“Downing Street sources say they want the files to be published as soon as possible – although The Telegraph understands it is unlikely to happen before the local elections.
Whitehall sources again blamed the Foreign Office for delays, with one saying: ‘The bit of Government that has been most difficult to get stuff from is the Foreign Office, who have been quite obstructive from the start – which has raised suspicion on whether they were hiding something.'”
A government source tells Guido that figures considering the release of files are extremely concerned about the publication of severely damaging information inside. All three humble addresses since 2017 were fully acted on within the same parliamentary session…
The first release concerned “all the documents that are available in relation to Peter Mandelson’s appointment and dismissal” which leaves ministerial and other communications up for release in the next and final tranche. No10’s ill-advised handling of the Olly Robbins fiasco shows the centre of government is less able to control events than it would like…
Another government source insisted that the files would come prior to May. Any attempt to delay the release of the files until after the May elections would be the final straw for Starmer’s freefalling operation…
Matthew Doyle this afternoon:
“I have never sought any head of mission, ambassador or any equivalent leadership-type posting. I was never aware of anyone speaking to the FCDO about such a role for me. My desire after leaving No 10 was to stay in UK politics.”
ICYMI: Downing Street Doesn’t Deny Trying to Give Doyle Top Job in Foreign Office
Every month, we’ll publish the power rankings of all the leading lights in the party based on our readers’ responses. Click here to fill in the survey, and the results will be published at the end of the month. Here’s how last month played out…
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Douglas Alexander – a friend of Starmer’s – was asked on Sky News if the PM will be in post at the next election. He wasn’t so sure himself:
“I think he will. There are no certainties but of course I think he will lead and I think he should because, frankly, on the biggest call in this parliament he’s exercised the right judgment, which is to keep us out of someone else’s war.”