There’s some very annoyed civil servants, given the news came straight after a string of late nights in the run up to the spending review During an all-staff call announcing the news, the comments were turned off 😬

Exclusive from Aubrey Allegretti Sir Keir Starmer will be told to launch a new national inquiry into grooming gangs in a report set to explicitly link the issue with men of Pakistani origin Baroness Casey, who has spent months looking into the issue, has concluded that white

Read my full story about Baroness Casey’s report and her recommendation the PM should launch a new national inquiry into grooming gangs: thetimes.com/uk/crime/artic…

Exc: Asylum seekers have been taken trampolining, bowling, to the cinema and on shopping sprees, including to a store selling luxury hair extensions, Reform says My interview with Zia Yusuf on his “DOGE” team’s mission and discoveries so far thetimes.com/article/795e65…

BREAKING: Sir Keir Starmer has announced a national inquiry into grooming gangs after a damning report explicitly linked the issue to men of Pakistani origin The audit by Baroness Casey found that white British girls were ‘institutionally ignored for fear of racism’ Starmer’s

Now confirmed: PM Keir Starmer says: “I’ve never said we should not look again at any issue. I wanted to be assured that on the question of any inquiry. That’s why I asked Louise Casey, who I hugely respect, to do an audit. “She’s looked at the material, and she has come to the

Am told the national grooming gang inquiry recommended by Louise Casey will also coordinate a series of separate local inquiries, crucially also with the statutory powers they haven’t had in the past Yvette Cooper to set this out to MPs on Monday when Casey report is published

Exc: More Whitehall cuts as the Department for Business and Trade tells staff that headcount will drop from around 8,000 to 6,500. It comes after departments signed up to admin cost cuts as part of the spending review. But DBT insiders say there are also strategic reasons

Confirmed: Liz Kendall’s welfare bill will be introduced to the Commons and published tomorrow. Second reading vote TBC but scheduled for first week of July, committee stage the following week. Dozens of Labour MPs are threatening to vote against and abstain - in what could be

New: Liz Kendall has written to Labour MPs saying welfare reforms will provide "fairness: to the taxpayer and those who need support". The DWP secretary is inviting colleagues for briefings to "hear your reflections" - given whips' concern about the size of a rebellion. But she

Exc: The union behind a potential teachers’ strike is facing a revolt from its own staff after offering them a below-inflation pay rise. A salary increase of just 2% was proposed by the National Education Union (NEU) - half what was handed to the teachers it represents.

Kemi Badenoch leaves open the option the Conservatives could vote against welfare reforms next week. Asked if the Tories will vote for, against or abstain the changes to PIP and UC, she says she doesn’t want to alert Labour to her plans. Instead she tells me to “keep a close

Fascinating new detail and precise numbers on the “grafting realists” and “striving moderates” No 10 are pinning their electoral hopes on via Aubrey Allegretti They’ll target the grafters via bus adverts and the strivers via Martin Lewis and Mumsnet thetimes.com/article/00f732…

Exc: Keir Starmer wants to win over “authoritarian-leaning” voters by ramping up evidence of action on tackling migration and crime. Delve inside the new comms strategy for boosting trust in the government. It’s described by Labour insiders as a way to help neutralise Reform,

Rachel Reeves's tears were nothing to do with her job, says Keir Starmer The PM tells Virgin Radio: "[It was] nothing to do with politics, nothing to do with the ups and downs of this week, or her relationship with anybody in the Labour party - purely personal." Starmer says

Angela Rayner has been dispatched to rally Labour MPs after a difficult week. She’s addressing the PLP in parliament tonight.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves arrives for PLP with her sister and Labour chair Ellie Reeves in tow. She’s not speaking, just there to support. A few other cabinet in attendance too for what’s seen as a big moment where a morale boost is needed.

Angela Rayner acknowledged MPs feel “disheartened and bruised” after last week’s welfare vote She said “we must learn from this and we will”. Rayner gave the remarks at the weekly meeting of MPs, and sat next to the chancellor, Rachel Reeves.

The Deputy PM went further to show contrition at handling of the welfare bill, I’m told. She told MPs: “I hear you when you say it’s not just the policy, it’s the process.” But after bitter infighting, Rayner said colleagues must “rely on our unity and strength in tough