After a year of interviews, GET IN, the full story of Labour’s path to power under Keir Starmer and first months in government by me and @Gabriel_Pogrund, is out on 13 February. Pre-order it now.

College lecturer Tecwen Whittock arrives at Southwark Crown Court. Whittock, along with Charles Ingram and wife Diana have been charged with deception and conspiracy after they allegedly cheated to win the jackpot on the television quiz show Who Wants to be a Millionaire (2003)

Column: Farage v Starmer is the only game in town – and the view from Reform HQ and No 10 on Kemi Badenoch's Thatcherite turn https://t.co/nj4qudtEoy

The State of It podcast has details about a secret WhatsApp group of MPs who are tempted to move against Kemi Badenoch sooner rather than later Listen to @Steven_Swinford, @Gabriel_Pogrund, @cazjwheeler and @patrickkmaguire Tap the link below to hear more ⬇️

If you are a Conservative MP who wants Kemi Badenoch gone before May this is, unfortunately, a dangerously good speech on its own terms.

Exclusive from our new podcast The State of It: Kemi Badenoch’s shadow cabinet is divided over her future and some shadow ministers are so concerned they are considering the 'nuclear' option of resigning to precipitate a leadership contest Allies of the Tory leader believe that

A podcast? Not another one?!yes but listen: the State of It with @patrickkmaguire @Gabriel_Pogrund @cazjwheeler @Steven_Swinford is immediately essential. The Tiffany bit at the start made me laugh out loud. Confidently produced, tons of panache.

NEW PODCAST: The Robert Jenrick you don’t see in public, Kemi Badenoch’s future, Whitehall’s Chinese whispers, and a night out at Thatcher’s 100th birthday party https://t.co/cuKb43Gnfe

In which @patrickkmaguire parties like it’s 1986 and @cazjwheeler discovers a WhatsApp group of MPs planning to oust Kemi Badenoch https://t.co/94QWjeIPmo

Welcome to episode 2 of The State of It, the new politics podcast from The Times and The Sunday Times - this week live from the Conservative Party conference Come for the scoops and insight, stay to hear @patrickkmaguire singing Tiffany in the small hours at Margaret Thatcher's

Another unhappy customer on Whitehall adds: "A total mistake to let someone of her calibre leave. She is a young Muslim woman from Dewsbury who understands more than most what is needed in order for us to make inroads with the electorate."

Some unease in parts of government over departure of No 10 energy and climate adviser Carys Roberts, former IPPR director who helped deliver DESNZ a record settlement in spending review. "It is very concerning that that yet another leading progressive female voice is leaving."

Also understand Carys Roberts, former IPPR boss, is among those leaving No10 in this big shake-up of the policy unit John Bachelor, former Treasury civil servant, has joined the unit

With a couple of exceptions, No 10's policy unit has now been almost comprehensively cleared out – some concern aired internally that long-serving women politically aligned with the PM are being replaced by external experts without the same political experience.

Another spad adds: "Women and equalities was in terrible shape when she took over and she calmed down an extremely dangerous political area for Morgan with sensible and pragmatic decision making... Keir must be gutted."

As with other recent No 10 departures, colleagues across government v unhappy. Some responses to this news: "Yet another long time loyalist leaving must have others in the building wondering who is next." ‘The idea that a shaken No 10 somehow benefits from this is mad."

Lula, who was poached from Angela Rayner's office in opposition, was responsible for women, equalities, DCMS and social cohesion in No 10. Was also a key part of the team that wrote Labour's 2024 manifesto.

I understand that Muneera Lula, one of Keir Starmer's longest-serving policy advisers, handed in her resignation to the prime minister yesterday. Another of the dwindling number of spads personally loyal to him gone.

Great piece by @MattChorley:

Perils of the dead metaphor on sorry display with this gimmick. “Back of a fag packet” refers to the blank interior of the carton casing, not the rear face of the carton.

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