Jessica Elgot
@jessicaelgot.bsky.social
I'm the Guardian's deputy political editor in Westminster
Story? Email - [email protected]
Signal - jessicaelgot.51
https://www.theguardian.com/profile/jessica-elgot
Story? Email - [email protected]
Signal - jessicaelgot.51
https://www.theguardian.com/profile/jessica-elgot
EXC - I've seen a leaked policy document from Labour in opposition which sets out how to approach assisted dying.
The document sets out how it could be introduced as a private member’s bill, suggesting that would still allow “heavy influence” for the government in the process
The document sets out how it could be introduced as a private member’s bill, suggesting that would still allow “heavy influence” for the government in the process
December 3, 2025 at 3:37 PM
EXC - I've seen a leaked policy document from Labour in opposition which sets out how to approach assisted dying.
The document sets out how it could be introduced as a private member’s bill, suggesting that would still allow “heavy influence” for the government in the process
The document sets out how it could be introduced as a private member’s bill, suggesting that would still allow “heavy influence” for the government in the process
Truly shocking that Rachel Reeves had the audacity to call herself the U14 girls chess champions when she won the U14 girls chess championship but some bloke thought she was talking about something else.
December 3, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Truly shocking that Rachel Reeves had the audacity to call herself the U14 girls chess champions when she won the U14 girls chess championship but some bloke thought she was talking about something else.
I don’t think I’m over interpreting but Polanski seems to hint quite strongly in his Rest is Politics podcast that he’s thinking of running against Stella Creasy in Walthamstow. Think that would be a pretty brave move (in the Sir Humphrey sense). One of the v few Labour with a genuine personal vote
December 2, 2025 at 3:40 PM
I don’t think I’m over interpreting but Polanski seems to hint quite strongly in his Rest is Politics podcast that he’s thinking of running against Stella Creasy in Walthamstow. Think that would be a pretty brave move (in the Sir Humphrey sense). One of the v few Labour with a genuine personal vote
Reposted by Jessica Elgot
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
EXC - Angela Rayner is to lay a new amendment to the workers rights bill
She will urge the government to move the unfair dismissal changes to begin next year not 2027 but accept the union negotiated changes
MPs want to lay down a marker so the Lords don’t gut more of the bill
She will urge the government to move the unfair dismissal changes to begin next year not 2027 but accept the union negotiated changes
MPs want to lay down a marker so the Lords don’t gut more of the bill
December 2, 2025 at 9:25 AM
EXC - Angela Rayner is to lay a new amendment to the workers rights bill
She will urge the government to move the unfair dismissal changes to begin next year not 2027 but accept the union negotiated changes
MPs want to lay down a marker so the Lords don’t gut more of the bill
She will urge the government to move the unfair dismissal changes to begin next year not 2027 but accept the union negotiated changes
MPs want to lay down a marker so the Lords don’t gut more of the bill
Reposted by Jessica Elgot
Very good analysis from @jessicaelgot.bsky.social on Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves’s entwined fates:
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Starmer has little choice but to bind himself closer to his chancellor
Ditching Rachel Reeves would put spotlight back on real context for decision to drop idea of breaching manifesto
www.theguardian.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Very good analysis from @jessicaelgot.bsky.social on Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves’s entwined fates:
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Attorney general urges Nigel Farage to apologise to classmates over alleged racism and antisemitism
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Attorney general urges Nigel Farage to apologise to classmates over alleged racism and antisemitism
Exclusive: Richard Hermer, a senior Jewish minister, says Reform leader ‘clearly deeply hurt’ many people with his alleged behaviour
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Attorney general urges Nigel Farage to apologise to classmates over alleged racism and antisemitism
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
BREAKING - Richard Hughes resigns as chair of the OBR
December 1, 2025 at 4:34 PM
BREAKING - Richard Hughes resigns as chair of the OBR
Reposted by Jessica Elgot
This is somewhat nerdy/technical but reveals utterly woeful practices at the OBR – where they relied on free Wordpress plugins to protect some of the most sensitive economic data the UK publishes.
Absolutely dismal stuff, and not just one junior staffer screwing up.
Absolutely dismal stuff, and not just one junior staffer screwing up.
OBR PDFgate investigation is out. obr.uk/docs/dlm_upl...
obr.uk
December 1, 2025 at 2:49 PM
This is somewhat nerdy/technical but reveals utterly woeful practices at the OBR – where they relied on free Wordpress plugins to protect some of the most sensitive economic data the UK publishes.
Absolutely dismal stuff, and not just one junior staffer screwing up.
Absolutely dismal stuff, and not just one junior staffer screwing up.
- Starmer admits for the first time publicly he considered raising income tax
- Piles pressure on the OBR over Budget leak, calling it "serious error"
- Raises prospect of serious new renegotiation with EU on trade
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
- Piles pressure on the OBR over Budget leak, calling it "serious error"
- Raises prospect of serious new renegotiation with EU on trade
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Starmer raises pressure on head of OBR by saying budget leak was ‘serious error’
PM says he is ‘very supportive’ of spending watchdog but breach was a ‘massive discourtesy’ to parliament
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 12:45 PM
- Starmer admits for the first time publicly he considered raising income tax
- Piles pressure on the OBR over Budget leak, calling it "serious error"
- Raises prospect of serious new renegotiation with EU on trade
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
- Piles pressure on the OBR over Budget leak, calling it "serious error"
- Raises prospect of serious new renegotiation with EU on trade
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
This was the point I was trying to make in my question to Starmer today. No one believes these forecasts or what the government told the OBR in order to get them. So why are we carrying on with this?
The correct argument from the right is surely not 'she lied in order to justify tax rises to pay for welfare spending (some of which they also supported)' it is 'there's at least £30bn of reckless assumptions here about how to secure the public finances':
Suggestion Rachel Reeves exaggerated fiscal pressures is absurd
Chancellor was instead far too optimistic about public finances and government’s ability to secure cuts
www.ft.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:44 AM
This was the point I was trying to make in my question to Starmer today. No one believes these forecasts or what the government told the OBR in order to get them. So why are we carrying on with this?
Reposted by Jessica Elgot
This story is starting to make me feel I’m going slightly mad - maybe RR overdid the gloom, but the tax rises are paying for a) the welfare U-turns b) the £10bn-plus increase in headroom c) scrapping the two child limit d) bits of other spending eg higher local gov costs 🤷🏻♀️
December 1, 2025 at 8:15 AM
This story is starting to make me feel I’m going slightly mad - maybe RR overdid the gloom, but the tax rises are paying for a) the welfare U-turns b) the £10bn-plus increase in headroom c) scrapping the two child limit d) bits of other spending eg higher local gov costs 🤷🏻♀️
The reason this has been whipped up is the Budget is incredibly boring and tame, with no fundamental reform of anything. It’s a bit of fiscal drag and some tinkering on issues of marginal interest. Really the question is why wasn’t there more serious measures given the economy’s relative stability?
It’s an indictment of our media that more time is being spent on whether Reeves lied about the need to raise taxes than on the actual substance of the policies announced on Wednesday.
November 30, 2025 at 9:46 AM
The reason this has been whipped up is the Budget is incredibly boring and tame, with no fundamental reform of anything. It’s a bit of fiscal drag and some tinkering on issues of marginal interest. Really the question is why wasn’t there more serious measures given the economy’s relative stability?
Reposted by Jessica Elgot
“Oh conference”.
Chair in the Your Party debate on dual membership: "No booing, conference. If you are unkind, there will be consequences." (After lots of booing re dual membership)
"We do not want any fights or arguments. Let's be calm...I'm going to have to turn the mic off. Oh conference, dear dear dear."
"We do not want any fights or arguments. Let's be calm...I'm going to have to turn the mic off. Oh conference, dear dear dear."
November 29, 2025 at 3:48 PM
“Oh conference”.
‘We had six MPs and four factions’: inside Your Party’s toxic power struggles
A terrific read from @peterwalker99.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
A terrific read from @peterwalker99.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘We had six MPs and four factions’: inside Your Party’s toxic power struggles
Some say Jeremy Corbyn is too non-committal for project to work, while others blame Zarah Sultana’s combative nature
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:52 AM
‘We had six MPs and four factions’: inside Your Party’s toxic power struggles
A terrific read from @peterwalker99.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
A terrific read from @peterwalker99.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Here is a demonstration on trusting the govt’s word -
At Monday’s briefing spox said they would “overturn all attempts to scupper these plans, including watering down day one protection from unfair dismissal"
At *exactly* the same time, unions and biz groups were in DBT negotiating this climb down
At Monday’s briefing spox said they would “overturn all attempts to scupper these plans, including watering down day one protection from unfair dismissal"
At *exactly* the same time, unions and biz groups were in DBT negotiating this climb down
NEW - the government poised to water down flagship workers rights bill, ditching day one rights to unfair dismissal but reducing qualifying period from two years to six months.
But in concession to unions, government will remove provisions for up to nine months probation.
But in concession to unions, government will remove provisions for up to nine months probation.
November 27, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Here is a demonstration on trusting the govt’s word -
At Monday’s briefing spox said they would “overturn all attempts to scupper these plans, including watering down day one protection from unfair dismissal"
At *exactly* the same time, unions and biz groups were in DBT negotiating this climb down
At Monday’s briefing spox said they would “overturn all attempts to scupper these plans, including watering down day one protection from unfair dismissal"
At *exactly* the same time, unions and biz groups were in DBT negotiating this climb down
Reposted by Jessica Elgot
Three years is a long time in politics
November 27, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Three years is a long time in politics
Reposted by Jessica Elgot
It's such a bizarre framing. Labour MPs think taking 450k kids out of poverty is putting the country first! That's why they wanted it to happen! It's not because they personally benefit.
Headline on The World at One just now:
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
November 27, 2025 at 1:16 PM
It's such a bizarre framing. Labour MPs think taking 450k kids out of poverty is putting the country first! That's why they wanted it to happen! It's not because they personally benefit.
Worth pointing out that this is a direct breach of the manifesto
NEW - the government poised to water down flagship workers rights bill, ditching day one rights to unfair dismissal but reducing qualifying period from two years to six months.
But in concession to unions, government will remove provisions for up to nine months probation.
But in concession to unions, government will remove provisions for up to nine months probation.
November 27, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Worth pointing out that this is a direct breach of the manifesto
NEW - the government poised to water down flagship workers rights bill, ditching day one rights to unfair dismissal but reducing qualifying period from two years to six months.
But in concession to unions, government will remove provisions for up to nine months probation.
But in concession to unions, government will remove provisions for up to nine months probation.
November 27, 2025 at 4:57 PM
NEW - the government poised to water down flagship workers rights bill, ditching day one rights to unfair dismissal but reducing qualifying period from two years to six months.
But in concession to unions, government will remove provisions for up to nine months probation.
But in concession to unions, government will remove provisions for up to nine months probation.
Reposted by Jessica Elgot
NEW: BBC tells staff they cannot quote Trump line removed from Reith Lecture
BBC News article & Media Show prevented from repeating Rutger Bregman’s corruption allegation in its coverage… of whether the BBC censored his speech!
BBC/Trump fallout continues
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
BBC News article & Media Show prevented from repeating Rutger Bregman’s corruption allegation in its coverage… of whether the BBC censored his speech!
BBC/Trump fallout continues
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
BBC tells staff they cannot quote Trump line removed from Reith Lecture
Journalists not allowed to repeat Rutger Bregman’s corruption claims against US president in coverage of edit
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:36 PM
NEW: BBC tells staff they cannot quote Trump line removed from Reith Lecture
BBC News article & Media Show prevented from repeating Rutger Bregman’s corruption allegation in its coverage… of whether the BBC censored his speech!
BBC/Trump fallout continues
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
BBC News article & Media Show prevented from repeating Rutger Bregman’s corruption allegation in its coverage… of whether the BBC censored his speech!
BBC/Trump fallout continues
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Biggest alarm on day 2 of the Budget coming in two key areas -
- SEND, which will see DfE potentially facing a £20bn timebomb in two years
- Hospitality - where lots of hospitality businesses panicking about new rates. One hotel owner saying they are facing £60k increase...
- SEND, which will see DfE potentially facing a £20bn timebomb in two years
- Hospitality - where lots of hospitality businesses panicking about new rates. One hotel owner saying they are facing £60k increase...
November 27, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Biggest alarm on day 2 of the Budget coming in two key areas -
- SEND, which will see DfE potentially facing a £20bn timebomb in two years
- Hospitality - where lots of hospitality businesses panicking about new rates. One hotel owner saying they are facing £60k increase...
- SEND, which will see DfE potentially facing a £20bn timebomb in two years
- Hospitality - where lots of hospitality businesses panicking about new rates. One hotel owner saying they are facing £60k increase...
Rachel Reeves confirms our scoop from September - two child benefit cap is lifted today in full
November 26, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Rachel Reeves confirms our scoop from September - two child benefit cap is lifted today in full
Reposted by Jessica Elgot
Rachel Reeves can count herself (at least a bit) lucky. OBR productivity downgrade would have knocked £16 billion off tax receipts. But she was saved by £32 billion of *extra* receipts from higher inflation and a shift to more tax-rich growth (lower profits, higher wages).
November 26, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Rachel Reeves can count herself (at least a bit) lucky. OBR productivity downgrade would have knocked £16 billion off tax receipts. But she was saved by £32 billion of *extra* receipts from higher inflation and a shift to more tax-rich growth (lower profits, higher wages).