No 10 director of technique resigns over revelation about sexually specific feedback about Diane Abbott in personal electronic mail in 2017
Keir Starmer has been hit by a contemporary Downing Avenue resignation. Paul Ovenden has resigned as director of technique at No 10 over revelations, first revealed by the Mail, that in 2017 he made sexually specific feedback about Diane Abbott in a personal electronic mail.
Ovenden was a Labour get together press officer on the time.
In his story for the Mail, Dan Hodges studies:
The Mail understands that Mr Ovenden had exchanged emails with a former colleague in 2017 during which he retold a narrative a couple of recreation of ‘shag, marry, kill’ involving Ms Abbott he had overheard.
He then graphically recounted the dialog during which two girls described performing intercourse acts on Ms Abbott, 71, the veteran MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington.
Mr Ovenden has resigned to keep away from changing into ‘a distraction’.
Key occasions
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Why Paul Ovenden’s resignation’s resignation matters
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MPs to hold emergency debate on Mandelson vetting process after Speaker grants SO24 application from David Davis
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Security minister says he’s ‘extremely disappointed’ CPS has dropped charges against two men accused of spying for China
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Farage claims byelection not needed after defection because Kruger will be voting in ‘same way’ as when he was Tory
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Starmer says he would never have appointed Mandelson ambassador if he had known at time full details of Epstein links
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No 10 director of strategy resigns over revelation about sexually explicit comments about Diane Abbott in private email in 2017
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Kruger defection shows Reform UK ‘shapeshifting into the Conservatives’, say Lib Dems
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‘Gutted’ – how Tories are reacting to Kruger’s defection
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No 10 accuses Musk of using ‘dangerous and inflammatory’ language at rally on Saturday
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Badenoch suggests her support for two-child benefit cap contributed to Kruger’s decision to defect
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Badenoch rejects claim from Kruger and Farage that Tory party is finished
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Labour says Kruger defection shows Reform UK are ‘Tory tribute act’
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Farage declines to say how his partner was able to afford £885,000 home in Clacton – but stresses proper stamp duty paid
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Farage claims there is ‘almost a competition’ among leftwing parties to be anti-Israel
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Farage declines to repeat suggestion his partner was able to buy £885,000 home in Clacton because she was from wealthy family
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Farage claims Starmer won’t be Labour leader at time of next election, and Burnham would drag party to left
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Kruger says, even if Robert Jenrick took over as Tory leader, he does not think they could now overtake Reform UK
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Farage accuses police of not taking death threats against him on TikTok seriously
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Kruger says he was ‘very disappointed’ by Boris Johnson’s record in government after Brexit
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Farage says vast majority of people attending Tommy Robinson rally in London were ‘good, ordinary, decent people’
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Kruger says Tories were ‘failure’ in office, they are finished as national party, but conservatism ‘isn’t over’
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Danny Kruger defects to Reform UK from Tories, with Farage putting him in charge of preparing party for government
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Musk calls Ed Davey ‘craven coward’ after Lib Dem leader accuses him of ‘dangerous interference in our democracy’
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Mandelson should lose Labour whip in Lords if it is shown he was not ‘frank’ about Epstein relationship in vetting, MP says
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UK and US line up string of deals to build modular nuclear reactors in Britain
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Smith sidesteps question about whether Mandelson should lose Labour whip in House of Lords
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Starmer did not see ‘detail’ of Mandelson’s emails to Epstein until after PMQs, skills minister Jacqui Smith says
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Starmer facing fresh questions over Mandelson emails to Epstein
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Starmer urged to condemn Elon Musk’s ‘fight back or die’ speech to London rally as Labour MPs question his leadership
Why Paul Ovenden’s resignation’s resignation issues
Paul Ovenden will not be well-known, however journalists and commentators conversant in how Downing Avenue works are saying that his departure (see 3.03pm) is extremely important. He was seen as one of many key figures within the operation.
From my colleague Jessica Elgot
No matter you consider these messages, the fact is that this story and Paul Ovenden’s subsequent resignation has provoked pure unadulterated fury from long-serving Labour aides. Many saying they don’t consider Starmer ought to have accepted his resignation.
Regardless that he’s the least well-known, Ovenden’s resignation has the potential to be essentially the most consequential of all due to the interior backlash it is going to trigger among the many most long-serving and dependable Starmer aides.
From Patrick Maguire from the Instances
Onerous to overstate the dismay inside authorities at this – lot of discomfort that Ovenden has needed to give up for recounting what he calls a “foolish dialog” eight years in the past. Leaves Starmer and not using a speechwriter, and plenty of different issues, forward of convention
Senior authorities supply assaults Starmer on Ovenden resignation: “You may inform all it’s essential learn about a pacesetter from who and what they combat for.
“The prime minister ought to have taken one take a look at certainly one of his most skilful and dependable aides and torn up the resignation.”
From Kevin Schofield from HuffPost UK
Not many individuals outdoors Westminster will know who Paul Ovenden is, however his departure is arguably extra important than Angela Rayner’s, given the important thing position he performed in No.10 and his significance to Keir Starmer.
From the Home Journal’s Sienna Rodgers, former editor of LabourList
Paul Ovenden going is large information. The extremely influential director of political technique, previously within the comms crew after which head of assault and rebuttal, was Morgan McSweeney’s predominant ally.
From the Solar’s Harry Cole
Unhealthy information for No10 as Paul Ovenden was main member of the fact primarily based neighborhood left in Downing Avenue. Presumably why he’s been taken out now in a factional hit job.
Would anybody actually take pleasure in their 8 yr outdated leaked WhatsApps being made public?
From the BBC’s Henry Zeffman
Fairly unbelievable the churn in authorities over simply 15 days — bear in mind the Downing Avenue shakeup which preceded the crises of the previous 2 weeks?! However by way of instant proximity to Starmer and affect over his day after day work, Paul Ovenden’s arguably most important
From the Solar’s Jack Elsom
Paul Ovenden’s departure from No10 has left a lot of his loyal colleagues reeling. One senior govt insider: “Paul is likely one of the good guys and the best political thoughts within the nation. The Labour landslide was in no small half all the way down to his technique and work ethic, and the harm to the undertaking can be immense.”
From Alex Wickham from Bloomberg
Authorities supply on Ovenden’s departure:
“He is likely one of the greatest. None of us can be working on this constructing with out him – and this nation wouldn’t have had the possibility for a greater future with out him.”
MPs to carry emergency debate on Mandelson vetting course of after Speaker grants SO24 utility from David Davis
Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker, has simply introduced that he has granted an emergency debate on the vetting procedures that have been utilized earlier than Peter Mandelson was appointed ambassador to the US. The talk will happen tomorrow, earlier than the Commons rises for the convention recess.
Hoyle was responding to an utility for a debate from David Davis, the Tory former cupboard minister. Davis was making use of for a debate underneath the SO24 (standing order 24) process.
Safety minister says he is ‘extraordinarily disenchanted’ CPS has dropped expenses in opposition to two males accused of spying for China
British prosecutors have mentioned they’re dropping expenses in opposition to two males, together with a former researcher for a senior UK politician, who had been accused of spying for China.
In an announcement on the choice to MPs, Dan Jarvis, the safety minister, mentioned that he was “extraordinarily disenchanted” that the case was not going to trial. He mentioned:
Members proper throughout the home can be conscious that the fees associated to allegations of Chinese language espionage inside parliament, and they’ll need reassurance.
Now, many members can be as extraordinarily disenchanted as I’m that there’ll no longer be a trial. The choice to not proceed with this prosecution is an unbiased one for the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] to make in its position because the UK’s unbiased prosecuting authority.
Nonetheless, I wish to be clear that the federal government stays gravely involved about the specter of Chinese language espionage.
Parliament and our democracy are sacrosanct and any try by any overseas energy to infiltrate or intervene with parliamentary proceedings is totally unacceptable.
Unusually, Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker, additionally intervened in the beginning of the assertion to say he was “very sad” about this final result too.
We don’t, in fact, talk about the element of safety issues regarding parliament on the ground of the home, however given the crucial points raised by this case, I’m asking officers to think about whether or not any additional steps which must be taken, operational, strategic or authorized, to make sure that all those that work on this parliament are capable of undertake their actions securely and with out interference.
I’m a really sad Speaker with what’s occurred. The truth that for 2 years, two years, and it’s taken ’til immediately for anyone to withdraw this case, that isn’t good or adequate.
Farage claims byelection not wanted after defection as a result of Kruger can be voting in ‘similar means’ as when he was Tory
A reader asks:
Why does the defection of a sitting MP from one get together to a different not robotically set off a byelection? Absolutely the citizens chosen the individual on the idea of the get together they signify and never the person?
The reply is – as a result of parliament has by no means handed a legislation requiring that. Arguably, it ought to. However there are many constitutional reforms that arguably it ought to have handed.
After all, there’s a lengthy historical past of MPs saying that an MP who defects ought to resign and set off a byelection as a matter of precept – just for them to take the other view when their get together is the beneficiary of a change like this. Right here is Nigel Farage saying byelections ought to occur in a post on social media in 2022.
Christian Wakeford defects as an MP from Tory to Labour.
If he calls a by-election then that’s fantastic.
If not, he’s the Dishonourable Member for Bury South.
On the Reform UK press convention this morning Danny Kruger mentioned whether or not or not the get together was going to set off a byelection was actually a matter for Farage, the get together chief. However Kruger implied he didn’t see the necessity, saying that he would stick with it talking up for conservative rules as he mentioned he would when he was elected.
Farage additionally claimed a byelection was not wanted. He mentioned:
I don’t assume Danny goes go change any politics in any way. He’ll vote the identical means. He’ll assume the identical means. He simply occurs to see that we’re the automobile by means of which he can obtain the issues that he desires to see for the nation, not the present, failing Conservative get together.
To be sincere with you, if he joined from the Labour get together, and if he’d been elected on a Labour manifesto and are available, then I believe maybe in that state of affairs the voters within the constituency would say, ‘Properly, cling on, absolutely we’ve obtained the appropriate to have a say on this?’
Usually, the general public don’t like byelections. Usually the general public don’t like being requested to vote if I believe it’s pointless.
And simply as we’ve had defections in Wales, we’ve had defections in Scotland, and right here, no, there’s no want for byelections. Different events don’t do them both.
Commenting on Danny Kruger’s defection, the Inexperienced get together co-deputy chief Rachel Millward mentioned:
Let’s bear in mind the Tories introduced us 14 years of damaging austerity, local weather inaction, a disastrous Brexit and the financial incompetence of Liz Truss. Having this lot be a part of you is hardly something to shout about. It’s really embarrassing. However it does function a loud alarm bell for the remainder of us in regards to the threats to this nation if Reform UK have been ever to type a authorities.
Starmer says he would by no means have appointed Mandelson ambassador if he had identified at time full particulars of Epstein hyperlinks
Keir Starmer has mentioned he would by no means have appointed Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US if he had identified on the time the complete extent of Mandleson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
In his first public feedback on Mandelson’s sacking, Starmer additionally mentioned the peer had not helped his case by the way in which he responded to questions from the Overseas Workplace about his personal emails to Epstein.
In an interview with broadcasters, Starmer mentioned:
Peter Mandelson, earlier than he was appointed, went by means of a due diligence course of. That’s the propriety and ethics crew. He went by means of a course of, and subsequently I knew of his affiliation with Epstein.
However had I identified then what I do know now, I’d have by no means appointed him, as a result of what emerged final week have been emails, Bloomberg emails which confirmed that the character and extent of the connection that Peter Mandelson had with Epstein was far totally different to what I had understood to be the place once I appointed him.
On high of that, what the e-mail confirmed was he was not solely questioning however desirous to problem the conviction of Epstein on the time that for me, went and minimize throughout the entire strategy that I’ve taken on violence in opposition to girls and ladies for a few years, and this authorities’s strategy.
On high of that, what emerged final week, on Wednesday night late, have been Peter Mandelson’s responses to questions which were put to him by authorities officers. I checked out these responses, and I didn’t discover them in any respect satisfying.
And subsequently, on the idea of these three issues, the character and extent of the connection being far totally different to what I’d understood to be the place on the level of appointment, the questioning and difficult of the conviction, which, as I say, goes to the center and cuts throughout what this authorities is doing on violence in opposition to girls and ladies and the unsatisfactory nature of responses from Peter Mandelson final week to the inquires manufactured from him by authorities officers, I took the choice to take away him.
The Tories have claimed that Starmer ought to have identified in regards to the full extent of the Mandelson/Epstein relationship at PMQs final week, the place he defended the ambassador, as a result of at that time the Overseas Workplace had already taken media calls in regards to the emails that have been subsequently revealed after PMQs on Wednesday afternoon. (See 9.52am.)
However Starmer mentioned he didn’t know the content material of the emails obtained by Bloomberg when he answered questions from Kemi Badenoch within the Commons.
What I knew earlier than PMQs was that there had been media inquiries. I didn’t know the content material of the Bloomberg emails, and I knew that questions had been put to Peter that he had not but answered, and he hadn’t answered them by the point I obtained to PMQs, there’s, in fact, a time lag in America, however I knew that there have been questions which were put to him, however I didn’t know what solutions he was going to provide to these questions.
That got here in a while Wednesday, and that’s why, at that time, I gave the reply I did at PMQs. And that’s the extent of what I knew on the time.
Starmer additionally mentioned that Mandelson solely responded “very late on Wednesday” to the questions authorities officers had requested him in regards to the emails.
No 10 director of technique resigns over revelation about sexually specific feedback about Diane Abbott in personal electronic mail in 2017
Keir Starmer has been hit by a contemporary Downing Avenue resignation. Paul Ovenden has resigned as director of technique at No 10 over revelations, first revealed by the Mail, that in 2017 he made sexually specific feedback about Diane Abbott in a personal electronic mail.
Ovenden was a Labour get together press officer on the time.
In his story for the Mail, Dan Hodges studies:
The Mail understands that Mr Ovenden had exchanged emails with a former colleague in 2017 during which he retold a narrative a couple of recreation of ‘shag, marry, kill’ involving Ms Abbott he had overheard.
He then graphically recounted the dialog during which two girls described performing intercourse acts on Ms Abbott, 71, the veteran MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington.
Mr Ovenden has resigned to keep away from changing into ‘a distraction’.
Kruger defection exhibits Reform UK ‘shapeshifting into the Conservatives’, say Lib Dems
Like Labour (see 12.51pm), the Liberal Democrats are additionally arguing that the Danny Kruger defection exhibits Reform UK is popping Tory. In an announcement Daisy Cooper, the Lib Dem deputy chief, mentioned:
The Conservative get together is a shell of its former self. It’s no surprise that lifelong Conservative voters who really feel deserted by Badenoch and appalled by Farage have turned to the Liberal Democrats of their droves.
Nigel Farage’s get together is shapeshifting into the Conservatives in entrance of our very eyes. It’s attending to the purpose the place the one distinction between them is only a barely lighter shade of blue.
‘Gutted’ – how Tories are reacting to Kruger’s defection
When Nadine Dorries defected to Reform UK at their convention simply over per week in the past, there have been most likely many within the get together blissful to see her go. Danny Kruger’s determination to leap is a a lot larger deal in political circles, even when Dorries is healthier identified. He’s the primary sitting Tory MP to affix Nigel Farage’s get together. (Or at the very least this Farage get together – two sitting Tory MPs defected to Ukip, and gained their seats once more in byelections, which gained’t occur this time as a result of Kruger will not be going to face down.)
Right here is a few response to Kruger’s transfer from Conservatives, and Tory-linked commentators.
From Tory MP Jack Rankin
So unhappy to learn this. Danny isn’t just like the clowns they’ve accepted of late. He’s sensible and sensible and good.
While we share the same evaluation of the change the nation wants, I disagree strongly in regards to the automobile with which to take action: However I respect his determination.
Gutted.
From Ben Houchen, the Tory Tees Valley mayor
I like Danny. He’s an excellent man. Principled, clear in his convictions, a deep thinker and never an MP that’s pushed by ego or self promotion. Unhappy to see him go away.
From Robert Colvile, head of the Centre for Coverage Research, a Tory thinktank
Does this make Danny Kruger the one individual in British politics to have had David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage as their line supervisor?
(Speechwriter to Dave, political secretary to Boris, govt prep for Nigel.)
From Mark Reckless, who defected to Ukip when he was a Tory MP
Having carried out related, I used to be impressed by @danny__kruger calm, measured and authoritative manner all through the press convention. Key problem is to arrange new construction of governance past conventional ‘coverage’ temporary.
When Reckless defected, he resigned a triggered a byelection, which he gained as a Ukip candidate. Kruger will not be doing the identical.
From Tobias Ellwood, a former Tory minister
Sorry to see my good good friend Danny Kruger go.
His feedback resonate:
‘Conservatism will not be over – removed from it…However a failure of the Conservative Social gathering has created area for an alternate.’
Arguably since Brexit, Tories have overlooked the place they sit the political spectrum.
From Robert Buckland, the previous Tory justice secretary
Hey @danny__kruger, you might be presupposed to be my @Conservative MP. What on earth do you assume you might be doing? Native folks didn’t vote for this!
From David Skelton, the previous head of Renewal, a centre-right thinktank
He’ll be getting some partisan brickbats, however @danny__kruger is an efficient man and an excellent thoughts. One of many few to know that Toryism is much more than market liberalism. That is undoubtedly a coup for Reform.
From Ian Birrell, the journalist who as soon as wrote speeches for David Cameron
Danny Kruger wrote the hug-a-hoodie speech for Cameron, says ‘a purely punitive strategy to crime & dysfunction can’t work’ and argues ‘love is a uncared for crime-fighting machine.’ Sorry to see he’s joined Reform because it flirts with hate-fuelled far-right. However it’s a major transfer
From Christopher Hope, political editor of GB Information
What’s uncommon about Danny Kruger’s defection is that his profession could be very a lot in entrance of him, reasonably than behind him – as has been the case with another Reform defections.
And right here is an extract from an article that James Heale, deputy political editor of the Spectator, has written for the Telegraph on three explanation why the defection issues.
Kruger is probably going a portent of issues to come back. His argument on the press convention this morning was much less about ideology, extra about practicality. He referred, a number of occasions, to Reform being one of the best “automobile” to win the following election and save the nation from decline. Others are prone to observe him each in parliament and at a grassroots degree throughout the nation. In talking of Reform as “radical not a revolution” Kruger is talking the language of many atypical Conservatives who again the get together final time, regardless of reservations.
He’ll now be used as respiratory proof to indicate that for respectable Tories, Reform UK is the one viable hope on the subsequent election.
There aren’t any pressing questions within the Commons immediately, however one assertion, at 3.30pm. It’s from Dan Jarvis, the safety minister, on the Official Secrets and techniques Act.
Keir Starmer hosted a gathering with junior ministers in No 10 this morning, Ailbhe Rea from Bloomberg reports.
NEW Keir Starmer summoned junior ministers, PPSs and whips into Quantity 10 this morning to rally the troops after his worst week in workplace.
– Nobody talked about Mandelson immediately, however Darren Jones confronted questions on bettering comms and the way to not alienate progressive voters
The PM mentioned after protest this weekend it’s a battle for the soul of the nation, asking “are we a rustic that brings folks collectively or pushes folks aside?”
– Jonathan Reynolds (chief whip), PM and Jones addressed the assembly
– McSweeney didn’t attend
– Attendees nonetheless say privately they’re dismayed about Mandelson disaster and the way No 10 dealt with it
On the Downing Avenue foyer briefing the PM’s spokesperson confirmed that, though Peter Mandelson is now not ambassador to Washington, he stays a authorities worker. The phrases of his departure are an HR matter and can be set out later, the spokesperson mentioned.
The spokesperson additionally declined to say why Keir Starmer was not instructed the element of the Mandelson emails to Jeffrey Epstein forward of PMQs final week.
As Jacqui Smith instructed the media this morning, the Overseas Workplace began getting questions in regards to the emails on Tuesday final week and at that time requested Mandelson for his account. Starmer was not instructed the small print till after PMQs, Smith mentioned. (See 10.11am.)
The spokesperson backed up this account, however declined to provide extra details about precisely what Starmer had and had not been instructed forward of PMQs.
No 10 accuses Musk of utilizing ‘harmful and inflammatory’ language at rally on Saturday
Downing Avenue has accused has accused Elon Musk of utilizing “harmful and inflammatory” language at rally in London on Saturday organised by Tommy Robinson.
Requested about Musk’s “combat again or die” speech, the PM’s spokesperson mentioned:
The UK is a good, tolerant and respectable nation. The very last thing the British folks need is that this kind of harmful and inflammatory language.
The spokesperson mentioned the language threatened “violence and intimidation on our streets”.
