Has any other politician ever called a by-election on an explicitly anti-transparency, pro-sleaze ticket before?

Thinking of opening a book on how long it will be between Farage finally shutting up and the first emergency podcast dropping

Remember that episode of The Thick of It with the press conference where the announcement is that there is no announcement...?

LNER is telling people not to travel today or tomorrow - but their trains are still running. Are they hoping that the trains will be empty? Or are they hoping that just the right number of people ignore their advice? It really isn’t a helpful thing to say to people with travel plans.

I’m sure this is the right decision, but it would have been nice to have a Darren in No 10. One day our time will come! www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cw...

Darren Jones says he won't challenge Andy Burnham for Labour leadership - live updates

The prime minister's chief secretary was considering entering a contest - he now says "Andy Burnham is going to be the next prime minister".

bbc.co.uk

Personally I think that Steve Bray has entertained us all for long enough. I would like him to announce a timetable for his departure.

So is this morning all about watching for a lectern in Downing Street?

The sacking of Olly Robbins has been badly handled by Keir Starmer. No.10's bullish response is further damaging the already fraught relationship between civil servants and ministers www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/mand...

The Mandelson vetting blame-game is causing serious damage to ministerial-civil service relations | Institute for Government

The sacking of Olly Robbins has been badly handled by Keir Starmer.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Written English has barely changed in 300 years. If you can read Harry Potter, you can read Robinson Crusoe (1719).

New timetable for implementing employment rights act pushes 'fire and rehire' changes back to January 2027 www.gov.uk/government/p...

Plan to Make Work Pay and Employment Rights Act: timeline update

gov.uk

Has Starmer just taken time on live TV to announce that he does not in fact plan to do anything?

Division on the abolition of the qualifying period! Very exciting!

Lord Vauxhall also minded to accept Government amendments. I think this is going to pass!

Clear Lib Dems won’t be blocking the Employment Rights Bill in the Lords.

Lord Fox for the Lib Dem’s in the Lords endorses the six month qualifying period. But says there is unease about removing the compensation limit. Says the has been confusion about the word ‘lift’ but looks like LibDems will support Government.

I see the point but I have a nagging feeling that Cromwell. might also have had some issues with his behaviour towards others “Hinchingbrooke School has five houses names after historical figures connected with its history, including Pepys and Oliver Cromwell.” www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Pepys concern may lead to Hinchingbrooke School house change

The academy says it may rename a house over concerns about Samuel Pepys' historical treatment of women.

bbc.co.uk

I think section 15 of ERRA 2013 gives govt the power to change the cap (including removing the 52 week limit, and setting the cap anywhere from 1-3x median earnings) by Order, which must be approved by both Houses. www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/2...

Well this seems to settle things. Will be interesting to see what now happens to the initial period of employment - it’s still in the Bill despite the Lords’ amendments

Financial Times@financialtimes.com · 8mo ago

Breaking news: The UK government has caved to pressure from businesses to soften its workers’ rights legislation on.ft.com/485K1tF

Division! This time on day one rights. Will the Lords insist on their imposition of a six month qualifying period? (I suspect they will)

Division! House of Lords voting on whether to insist on its ERB amendment allowing employees to opt out of being offered guaranteed hours.

For reasons I can’t quite explain, this remains the funniest thing I have ever seen. Giggling now fourteen years later.

Alistair Coleman@alistaircoleman.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Happy Fenton Day to all who celebrate. Jesus Christ, fourteen years. youtu.be/3GRSbr0EYYU

@mrjamesob.bsky.social - since you’re talking about it this morning!

Darren Newman@daznewman.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Following Last nights drubbing in the House of Lords over the Employment Rights Bill, I have a suggestion for the Government on how to deal with the qualifying period for unfair dismissal: rangeofreasonableresponses.com/2025/10/29/t...

Following Last nights drubbing in the House of Lords over the Employment Rights Bill, I have a suggestion for the Government on how to deal with the qualifying period for unfair dismissal: rangeofreasonableresponses.com/2025/10/29/t...

The Employment Rights Bill and day-one rights

The Employment Rights Bill failed to clear the final stage of its passage through Parliament last night. The House of Lords chose to insist on a number of amendments that had been rejected by the C…

rangeofreasonableresponses.com

Altogether the Governments points would have been better made if they just let the civil servants who wrote the speeches conduct the debate. Watching Government front benchers read out the notes they were given was excruciating.

One last division - this time on the school staff negotiating body. Again, I wouldn’t rate the government’s chances.

And now a division in union political funds. Government has lost every division so far so it doesn’t bode well for them. #employmentrightsbill

Government commits to a review of the right to be accompanied!

Bill will also go back to the commons to reconsider the unfair dismissal qualifying period. Government torn to shreds on that motion