George Eaton

2 weeks ago | newstatesman.com | George Eaton

Rachel Reeves is not where she wanted to be. When the Chancellor announced winter fuel payment cuts almost a year ago they were designed to advertise her strength. In order to restore economic stability, ran the narrative, Reeves would venture where previous governments feared to tread (David Cameron repeatedly rejected Tory demands to means-test pensioner benefits). Wonks applauded her taboo-busting.

2 weeks ago | morningcall.substack.com | George Eaton

Good morning, it’s George here. Rachel Reeves is seeking to mask cabinet divisions over next week’s Spending Review by announcing £15bn of investment for transport outside London (Ed Miliband, Angela Rayner and Yvette Cooper have yet to settle their budgets with the Chancellor). But below I report on what’s behind the new tensions inside No 10. Keir Starmer’s Downing Street was dysfunctional from its earliest days. Labour, senior figures often say, had a plan to win but not a plan to govern.

2 weeks ago | newstatesman.com | George Eaton

Keir Starmer’s Downing Street was dysfunctional from its earliest days. Labour, senior figures often say, had a plan to win but not a plan to govern. Blame for this was attributed to Sue Gray, who resigned as Starmer’s chief of staff after just four months in office and whose tenure still “casts a long shadow” in the words of one government source. No 10 has strived ever since to recover from this false start.

2 weeks ago | morningcall.substack.com | George Eaton

Good morning, it’s George here. As parliament returns from recess, Labour’s divisions are on full display. Expect Rachel Reeves’ looming Spending Review (11 June) to dominate this week as the Treasury seeks to settle with cabinet ministers resisting spending cuts. Below I report on the alternative programme that Andy Burnham set out at Compass’s weekend conference and Labour’s insurgent soft left. Inside Labour there might not be a vacancy but there is always a contest.

2 weeks ago | newstatesman.com | George Eaton

Inside Labour there might not be a vacancy but there is always a contest. The government’s early unpopularity means this is even more true than usual. Over the last fortnight – via her leaked memo to Rachel Reeves – Angela Rayner’s alternative vision has become clearer. MPs believe both the Deputy PM and her more Blairite rival Wes Streeting are monitoring their support within the parliamentary party. But it is Andy Burnham who is most clearly positioning for a post-Starmer world.