pronouncedalva.bsky.social
Associate Editor at Bloomberg, covering UK politics.
Ex-New Statesman, Politico's Westminster Insider podcast.
Bred and buttered in Belfast.
Sometimes TV/radio/podcasts.
31 posts
6,190 followers
85 following
Regular Contributor
Active Commenter
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(Feels wrong putting the same thing on two platforms, like repeating a joke when people haven't heard it.)
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Very fair. I guess what I really mean is that even to political journalists he is a relatively unknown/ bland choice. Although as we dive into his tenure at health he may become less boring!
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Sad thinking about what might have been if Keir Starmer had gone for the candidate with serious main character energy, Antonia Romeo.
www.thetimes.com/article/d1c5...
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And welcome @lucygjwhite.bsky.social and @joemayes.bsky.social! Full house of the Bloomberg lobby team on bluesky now
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In particular they seem to be worried that doctors won't be sufficiently trained to spot coercion, or the bill doesn't make it clear enough how they will be trained. And Jess Asato argues above that actually you can never know
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They'll implement it if it passes, emphasises a Number 10 aide, but “does anyone want all that time and resource spent on something we did not promise to do? Probably not.” www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
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In Number 10, some are worried about the consequences if it passes. “There are lots of big policies in the Labour manifesto that need energy and time,” said one aide. “Assisted dying isn’t in the manifesto."
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Some new Lab MPs who instinctively favoured the bill are now leaning toward voting against it over fears that protections against coercion aren't strong enough. But those involved in bringing the bill still say that if everyone who has pledged their support votes in favour on Friday, it will pass.
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Many MPs remain undecided, with the issue dominating conversation in the tearooms and corridors of Westminster. For some who have only had the role for just over four months, the vote is causing a lot of conflict - even distress - as their inboxes flood with messages about this life or death issue
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Streeting is known to have leadership ambitions but his supporters say he intervened purely because he cares about the issue - and actually his intervention puts him at odds with many on his own flank and probs most Labour MPs. But he is said to regret putting the PM in an uncomfortable position
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Streeting's interventions have prompted greater scrutiny of the whole cabinet on the issue.
For, the majority of cabinet, inc: Ed Miliband, Liz Kendall, chief whip
Against: Wes Streeting, Bridget Phillipson, Angela Rayner (per sources)
Others expected to announce how they're voting on the day
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The Wilson-style strategy is risky, esp with Wes Streeting said to be showing leadership the prime minister hasn’t - and in the opposing direction.
The media scrutiny has caused frustration with Streeting among the cabinet, and Starmer himself held a meeting with him to express his displeasure
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“I don’t think he has fully thought through the political consequences of this for him if it falls,” says @steverichards.bsky.social. “It will be associated with his government if it gets through and will be seen as a lost opportunity for Starmer if it fails.” www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
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That comes with the big caveat - emphasised by No 10 - that we don't know for certain that Starmer still supports it - even though we have his past comments and plenty of people in the know say they're expecting him to vote for it.
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Despite Starmer's position on assisted dying being known, by declining to repeat his position in recent months, he leaves British politics in the odd position of having a PM hoping to see social reform, without showing personal leadership on it in the way eg. Cameron did on gay marriage in 2013.
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That approach is not proving so straightforward. It's far from clear the bill will pass, cabinet ministers like Wes Streeting have spoken out against it, and even some in Number 10 say they would rather it didn't pass, so they could spend political time and energy on other things
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Keir Starmer, who said last year he supports a change in the law, might have been been modelling himself on Harold Wilson's approach to abortion and gay rights reformss: give time to a private member's bill, but let govt take credit for posterity. BUT... www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
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A few days after Labour's election victory, new ministers and aides were already worrying that Starmer's promise to grant a vote on assisted dying could open up splits in the cabinet and be messier than the new PM had anticipated. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
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Reeves was among those calling for tougher action on bankers’ bonuses in the wake of the global financial crash. Now she’s running the economy, and declaring that the crackdown on banks after 2008 went “too far.”
More on her plans in today's newsletter 👇 www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
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Me plz Jess 🙏🏻
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Yo - I'm new here!
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thanks Tom! Really loved making that one