A year ago today, Birmingham City Council declared itself effectively bankrupt. For The New Statesman, I interviewed Max Caller, Birmingham's lead commissioner, who was brought out of retirement to turn the council around. Catch it in this week's issue! newstatesman.com/encounter/2024…

How to handle Reform UK is a challenge as daunting for His Majesty’s reduced official opposition as unseating Labour. 🙊 Kevin Maguire with this week’s Westminst... newstatesman.com/politics/commo…

In another address in 2012 he declared that he wanted to “kill off the health and safety culture for good”. 📫 Today’s Morning Call, with George Eaton newstatesman.com/politics/uk-po…

“For now, the key question is where Patel’s 16 votes go in the next round.” 🖊️ Rachel Cunliffe newstatesman.com/politics/uk-po…

“Starmer is unashamedly expanding the state. The Grenfell report is a reminder that small government, as much as big government, has consequences.” 📫 Today’s Morning Call, with George Eaton newstatesman.com/politics/uk-po…

“Nothing turns Donald Trump into an exploding toad faster than the loss of the spotlight.” 📔 Tina Brown in this week’s diary newstatesman.com/diary/2024/09/…

“Cue a million reminders on social media of Dorries’ ostrich-anus munching on I’m a Celebrity… while parliament was sitting and she was an MP.” 🖊️ Alison Phillips newstatesman.com/politics/media…

Then the PM went on BBC 5Live and invaded his own family’s privacy by telling all. “We must stop him saying things like that,” groaned a frustrated aide. 🙊 Kevin Maguire with this week’s Westminst... newstatesman.com/politics/commo…

“It is an unwritten, and largely unspoken, rule of appointment to high office in the Church of England: if you want to be archbishop of Canterbury, you cannot be seen to want it.” 🖊️ Pippa Bailey on the race for Lambeth Palace: newstatesman.com/politics/relig…

How Labour is challenging long Cameronism. newstatesman.com/politics/uk-po…

“It’s not about going in for beer and sandwiches or having a photo opportunity, it’s an engagement based on what we can do together to improve the lives of millions of working people”. 🗣️ George Eaton meets Paul Nowak newstatesman.com/politics/polit…

I don’t doubt that AI will one day write a “good” novel. But why would anyone want to read it? 🖊️ Megan Nolan newstatesman.com/culture/books/…

“Keir Starmer is the kind of guy who relished cagoule-clad holidays in the Lake District long before life in No 10.” 🖊️ Alison Phillips newstatesman.com/politics/media…

“It can seem strange to pay extra for qualities of disposition and discretion rather than flamboyance. At first. 🍷 Andrew Jefford newstatesman.com/culture/food-d…

The man who fixes broken councils newstatesman.com/encounter/2024…

“Trump 2.0 isn’t just a boor, he’s a bore. He’s looking as passé as Meghan Markle’s podcast career, while Harris is the sizzling trailer of a new show we’re praying will be as good as it looks.” 📔 Tina Brown in this week’s diary newstatesman.com/diary/2024/09/…

“Those who least wish to serve, the logic goes, are best suited to the task.” 🖊️ Pippa Bailey on the race for Lambeth Palace: newstatesman.com/politics/relig…

“The writers I love speak to me from the page in whatever way they can, and they tell me, in that particular moment, what it’s like to be alive.” 🖊️ Megan Nolan newstatesman.com/culture/books/…

“Mr Starmer must avoid appearing a prisoner of the past. Should Labour fall short, impatient voters will soon defect. For proof of that, the new government need only look to Germany.” 🔴 This week’s New Statesman leader. newstatesman.com/new-statesman-…

Great piece by George Eaton - If the PM really wants to create a “preventative state” we need to define prevention spend and then grow the share of govt spending that goes on this. Successive govts have failed to do this - and as a result we still have a failing “reactive state”.