🚨NEW: Former Tory minister defects to Labour🚨

Conservative MP Dan Poulter says Tories have become a “nationalist party of the right” which has abandoned compassion & the NHS

Story:

theguardian.com/politics/2024/…

Slightly random one - Tory MP Ruth Edwards has left government (she was a whip). Eastleigh's Paul Holmes has replaced her.

Another MP apparently quitting a government post, I assume to try to fight for the seat.

Please share widely - the second year of the Martha Mills Young Writers’ Prize. We’re thrilled to have the wonderful Philip Pullman as a judge - Martha was such a fan of his books

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Question: in an election year, what are Sunak's reasons for going for a defence spending boost?

1. Sees as genuine priority?
2. Party management?
3. Election boost?

I just checked our latest Opinium poll. Defence sat *ninth* in terms of importance for voters.

Hoping Institute for Fiscal Studies will look at Sunak's defence pledge - suspect not much of a spending choice has been made at all.

Interesting political question: is this driven by the election or party management? Labour's analysis is Sunak's judgement has become seriously blurred on this point.

Just watching Sunak in Germany. I haven't heard a person say 'Olaf' so many times since my niece first saw Frozen.

Was it always the plan for Dowden not to go for Rayner over the sale of her old council house, or did she successfully neutralise it?

Hard to say, but suspect a clearly nervous Rayner will be relieved with how that #PMQs went.

Let’s repeat again - another Tory conference is not a bonus for Sunak

Many congrats - a wonderful privilege to be part of the Post.

Here’s what this is all about:

theguardian.com/politics/2024/…

Tonight’s The Observer

NEW: Remember that open ended government idea of abolishing national insurance contributions?

Well, the over-65s do... & Labour think it has created a major opportunity to target one of few remaining tory strengths.

Our story: theguardian.com/politics/2024/…

A bit of a surprise to see the so-called magic of the FA Cup being extinguished by the... [checks notes] FA... Pathetic.

A fortnight before the local elections...

NEW: Since Sunak announced the cancellation of HS2's northern legs, we've spent £1.4m on properties along a line we're no longer building.

Big pressure also being applied to flog off some land before the election, to create a trap for Labour.

Story: theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/a…

Plymouth Argyle, I love you.

NEW: Angela Rayner says that if she's found to have committed a criminal offence, she will step down. Statement: