Glitter amid the gloom

Good Tuesday morning. This is Sam Blewett at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD: Keir Starmer will today tell Britain there’s “light at the end of this tunnel” — even if the journey has some grim pit stops along the way. The prime minister will use his party conference speech this afternoon to detail how he’ll “build a new Britain,” hoping that unleashing a little cheer will help move his nascent administration on from a difficult spell of bickering and gloom. 
Twist and Shout: But with the conference climaxing long before an Oct. 30 budget that’ll include more tricky choices, Starmer can’t just pretend it’s all golden. He’ll tell party members and rows of grinning Cabinet ministers he can’t offer “false hope” and that renewal requires a “shared struggle” with short-term pain that’ll pay off in the long run. The BBC carries more of the previewed quotes.
The big moment: Starmer, who was rehearsing his 45-minute speech into the night, will take to the stage in Liverpool at 2 p.m. for the first address by a prime minister to a Labour conference in 15 years. 
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Dissent shall not be tolerated: Starmer will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last year’s glitter-bombing, particularly after Chancellor Rachel Reeves was interrupted by a heckler on Monday — showing that protestors can still penetrate the arena even if security is super tight. Playbook hears Downing Street has been trying to police dissent in other ways, with Labour-friendly think tanks being told to ease off on further criticism of the decisions to maintain the two-child benefit limit and slash pensioners’ winter fuel allowance.
The warm-up act: Cabinet Office chief Pat McFadden will be trying out a bit of cheer on the morning broadcast round right now, which includes the 8.10 a.m. slot on the Today program. A dose of optimism is exactly what Cabinet ministers Playbook has been speaking to have been calling for. “We need to see some positivity,” as one put it. 
Get a grip: The task ahead for Starmer is outlined starkly in this piece by POLITICO’s Esther Webber, who hears from one government aide they are “deeply pissed off” both at Freebie-gate not being handled strongly enough and at the endless leaks to the press. “It’s taken us 14 years to get here and a few people are fucking it up.” One reason some suspect these stories have gained such traction is the lack of a clear domestic agenda. A Whitehall official complains: “When people look back on the first 100 days, they will just remember prisoners being let out [and] worrying about money.”
On a mission: Starmer’s defenders say the answer lies in his “five missions,” the prism through which all government ministers have been asked to deliver. Josh Simons, Labour MP and former director of Labour Together, tells Esther there “can’t be enough” promotion of the missions, hinting at the feeling among some in government that this has not been trumpeted loudly enough yet. Read Esther’s piece here.
Special delivery: Trailed titbits from Starmer’s speech have secured a few splashes already. The Times was on the receiving end of his promise to “root out” welfare fraudsters to save an anticipated £1.6 billion over five years … the Mirror gets a promise that a new “Hillsborough law” to tackle state cover-ups will be introduced to parliament by the next anniversary of the tragedy in April … and the Sun hears that businesses caught flouting visa rules will be banned from hiring foreign workers as he recommits to bringing down net migration.
Rules are made to be bent: Starmer may well have a bit more pep in his step as reports suggest that Reeves could free up billions of pounds more in capital spending by changing how her self-imposed fiscal rules are calculated. The Guardian’s Kiran Stacey and Richard Partington hear the chancellor could exclude Treasury losses on the Bank of England winding down its crisis-era quantitative easing bond-buying program to find £15 billion — and shift the new National Wealth Fund and GB Energy institutions off the government’s books to find another £15 billion more headroom for borrowing. And voila! There’s that “black hole” filled.
The smiling faces: It was unclear last night whether Sue Gray would be in the audience for Starmer’s speech, having been absent so far after the bitter briefing about her salary being bigger than the PM’s created quite the headache for the government. But Waheed Alli, the Labour peer at the center of the donation row, has been a proud attendee. Snaps of him braving the rain and the political storm in Liverpool ​​make the splashes of the Telegraph and the Mail. 
The defense: Cabinet ministers have been making impassioned defenses of Gray, with one suggesting there’s a whiff of misogyny in the attacks on Starmer’s chief of staff. “Someone has to give people news they don’t want to hear, while other people draw back — and it’s often the men,” one told Playbook. “When you’re an older woman you tend to be a bit more of a lightning rod.” They also suggested there was toxicity in some quarters targeting Alli because he’s “a gay Muslim.” “He was just a guy who left school at 16 and set up his own business,” they argued. “He genuinely just wants a Labour government so people like him can have a chance too.”
But the beef is real: There’s real skepticism about claims Gray and Morgan McSweeney aren’t actually at war. “All these stories about Sue and Morgan getting on — do they bollocks! You only need to be in a room with them,” one person in the government said. 
Sort it out: The FT’s Lucy Fisher and Jim Pickard hear Cabinet ministers want Starmer to “get a grip” on the infighting by bolstering his Downing Street operation with extra hires. But there are those who want dismissals, too. The Independent’s David Maddox hears from some who want Simon Case ousted immediately, even though the Cabinet secretary is planning to stand down by the end of the year due to health issues.
Slightly sunnier Starmer: Starmer gave a pre-speech blast of optimism at Labour’s Business Day on Monday evening when he talked about the U.K.’s underlying economic strengths. Playbook’s Stefan Boscia writes in to say Starmer told the hundreds of business execs at the ticketed event (RRP £3,000) that “we’re a huge economy … with a very rich environment for investment, if we are clear about the conditions for investment.” 
It’s all good, guys: The PM sought to assure that the government’s upcoming workers’ rights reforms will not damage the economy. He said that the proposed reforms — including banning “exploitative” zero hours contracts and increasing trade union access to workplaces — are things that “good businesses” are doing anyway and would improve productivity. 
But the reviews are in from business chiefs … and they’re not pretty, according to my London Influence colleague John Johnston. Several attendees said they had abandoned the event during the day, while others reported that despite the hefty price tag there was “no real face time” and that ministers weren’t interested in networking, which is, er, the whole reason they pay the top rates. 
Plus: Multiple industry insiders told John the program was “dull,” “oversubscribed” and ministers were “on transmit all day.” Three grand got rubbish buffet sandwiches, John was told. Though the cakes were a hit. 
FROM LIVERPOOL TO NEW YORK: Starmer will face the media after his conference speech, recording a series of interviews that won’t air until Wednesday’s morning round. Then he’s onto a jet packed with Lobby hacks flying off to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. The PM did stop by the press room to chat to hacks on Monday, but won’t be treating political editors to the customary cozy drinks with the party leader.
THE BIG KNEES-UP: A so-far subdued conference will be in full party mode tonight, with the Mirror throwing its customary bash. Some big Labour figures who belted out songs last time have told Playbook they are planning to skip the karaoke — all too aware of the perilous politics of song choice now they’re in government. Ministers will also be trying to put the cork back in the bottle of a rather alarming booze story.
Calling time? The Telegraph’s front page claims pubs could be forced to close their doors early under new “nanny state” plans. The hare was set running by comments from public health minister Andrew Gwynne’s comments about “tightening up on some of the hours of operation.” Nigel Farage was frothing with rage, as were Tory leadership contenders Tom Tugendhat and Robert Jenrick, who reckons Starmer hates pubs, which may come as some surprise to staff at his north London local.
But but but: The supposed plans are flatly denied. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “It is categorically untrue that the government is considering changing alcohol licensing hours.” One official pointed out Playbook PM’s report that Wes Streeting was out until 4 a.m. on Monday as evidence the health secretary is hardly trying to curb late-night boozing. The claim is that Gwynne was actually discussing bars that flout existing opening rules and not clamping down on fun.
Up in smoke: The Sun’s Harry Cole and Jack Elsom hear ministers have been reconsidering proposed curbs to smoking outdoors and will not hit horse racing under the measures. But beer gardens remain a target.
Workers’ rights: Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has told the Guardian’s Jessica Elgot that upcoming legislation on workers’ rights will include a maximum probation period of about six months at the vast majority of businesses and hit back at “scaremongering” about the plans. But union concerns might not be totally allayed. Playbook hears they fear putting probation periods in law at all could actually benefit bosses over workers.
DIRT BIKE DERBY: Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is the first to take the conference stage this morning. She’ll argue that rising street crime is “corroding the fabric of our communities” and unveil plans to give cops more powers to seize what the Home Office calls “deafening and dangerous” off-road bikes. The i has more.
BLAME GAME: Home Office Minister Angela Eagle said former U.S. President Donald Trump created “vitriol” against migrants through social media, adding that right-wing Conservatives — whom she did not name — had used language that had given a “yellow flashing light” to racists. Read the story on the Guardian.  
OUCH: The pro-Palestine protester who heckled Chancellor Rachel Reeves during her speech told the Hyphen news website he was subjected to “excessive force” when being escorted out of the conference hall. The 24-year-old — who requested anonymity despite deciding to make a massive scene in front of hundreds of cameras — said he complained about the handcuffs being too tight but that was dismissed. He said Labour has now suspended his membership, citing the need “to protect the party from real and lasting harm.”
More to come: Primary school pupils from across Liverpool will this morning join Labour MPs Kim Johnson, Sharon Hodgson and Simon Opher in delivering a letter to the conference calling for the expansion of free school meals to all children in state schools. The action kicking off at 9 a.m. is part of a campaign by the National Education Union.
More jeering: Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy was also heckled when she told a Justice for Palestine fringe that “our political lobbying must intensify” as a result of the worsening conflict in the Middle East. PA has more.
RED SCARE: RMT boss Mick Lynch told a rally that union bosses hope to have “complete organization of the U.K. economy by trade unions,” adding: “We’re not in every workplace … and that’s the prize we’ve got to keep our eyes on.” The story splashes the Daily Mail. 
TODAY ON THE MAIN STAGE: Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (10.05 a.m.) … Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy (11.35 p.m.) … Prime Minister Keir Starmer (2 p.m.) … Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood (4 p.m.) 
PICK OF THE FRINGE: Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones discusses public services investment with the IFG (9 a.m., Arena Room 6, ACC) … Ed Miliband is on an IPPR panel chatting about energy targets (9.15 a.m., Museum of Liverpool) … Science ministers Patrick Vallance and Peter Kyle in conversation with Labour Together’s Sarah Hunter (9.30 a.m., Arena Room 2, ACC) … Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds at a BCC event with Paul Nowak and Shevaun Haviland (10 a.m., Arden Lounge, ACC) … Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden in conversation with the Guardian’s Pippa Crerar on how Labour won the election (11 a.m., Arena Room 2, ACC) … Darren Jones discussing growth at Tony Blair Institute for Change (11 a.m., Auditorium 1B, ACC) … Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall discusses food banks at the New Statesman fringe (11 a.m., Hall 2D ACC) … Prisons Minister James Timpson discusses the future of justice at a Fabian Society event (11 a.m., Event Room, Maritime Museum, 4th Floor) … 
There’s more: Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson in conversation with the Spectator (11 a.m., Arena Room 1, The ACC Liverpool) … Jonathan Reynolds in conversation with Bloomberg’s Lizzy Burden (12.30 p.m., Arena Room 2, ACC) … West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin in conversation with Centre for Cities (12.30 p.m., Museum of Liverpool) … Faith Minister Wajid Khan, Stockport MP Patrick Hurley and campaigner Brendan Cox reflect on the causes of the riots (12.30 p.m. Arena Room 12, Main ACC) … Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn talks trading relations with Chatham House (1 p.m., Hilton Hotel) … West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker is in conversation with Centre for Cities (3.30 p.m., Museum of Liverpool) … Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham talks growth with IPPR North (4 p.m.,  Arena Room 9, ACC) … MP Josh Simons talks about the race for the White House with LabourList, Third Way and IPPR (4.10 p.m., Revolución de Cuba Bar) … Starmer biographer Tom Baldwin reacts to the big speech with a TBI panel (5 p.m., Auditorium 1B, ACC) … Chancellor Rachel Reeves is on an IPPR panel on securonomics (invite-only, 5.15 p.m., Arena Room 9, ACC) …
Into the evening: Darren Jones in conversation with Labour Together, followed by drinks with Rachel Reeves (5.30 p.m., Arena Room 2, ACC) … The Holocaust Educational Trust are in conversation with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and Holocaust survivor Mala Tribich (5.30 p.m., Albert 4, Hilton Hotel) … Defence Secretary John Healey in conversation with BAE Systems (5.30 p.m., Meeting Room 4B ACC) … The Tony Blair Institute in conversation with Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Science Secretary Peter Kyle on tech delivering the five missions (6 p.m., Auditorium 1B, ACC) … Lisa Nandy talks 5G and SMEs (6.45 p.m.,  Hall 2D, ACC) … Whipless MPs Zarah Sultana, Richard Burgon, John McDonnell and Labour MP Nadia Whittome hold a socialist rally (7 p.m., Meeting Room 11A, ACC) … Yvette Cooper, Bridget Phillipson and Jess Phillips are at a rally against violence towards women and girls (7.30 p.m., Meeting Room 4A, ACC) … Labour First host a rally with MPs Pat McFadden, Angela Eagle, Employment Minister Alison McGovern and AI Minister Feryal Clark (7 p.m., Hilton Hotel) … Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar in conversation with the Scottish Fabian Society (7.45 p.m., Maritime Museum). 
For the party people (beware, most of these will be invite only):  LBC has its party (7.30 p.m.) … U.K. Music and TikTok host their big bash with a special appearance from Will Young (7 p.m.) … Lisa Nandy will be doing a DJ set at Labour Students Disco (7 p.m.) … Total Politics hosts its reception (9.15 p.m.) … Labour Friends of Israel reception (9.30 p.m.) … and the Mirror Party closes the night (10 p.m.). 
ANOTHER NEW CIVIL SERVANT: Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is hiring a foreign affairs adviser to boost her presence on the world stage, the Times’ Aubrey Allegretti reports. Allies reckon it is part of a broader attempt to ­assert her authority, with one MP saying: “There are definitely some people in government who are trying to keep her in her box. But people are looking beyond Keir and the next election, and Angie is well placed to show she can be more than just a secretary of state.” 
TICK-TOCK: Ministers been told they have until the end of the year to decide whether HS2 trains should run to Euston, according to the Times. Sources close to the project warned that “costs would spiral” if there were more delays. 
ROYAL FUNDING: The cost of the grant that funds the monarchy is due to increase by more than 53 percent in the next year to £132 million, up by £45 million, according to the Guardian. Officials said the extra money will be used to fund the £369 million update to Buckingham Palace.
TOPICAL STAT DROP: The winter fuel payment statistics for winter 2023 to 2024 are out at 9.30 a.m., showing the trends in winter fuel payments including country of receipt, number of households in receipt and all recipients.
WAR IN LEBANON: Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon killed at least 492 people on Monday, according to Lebanese health authorities. Foreign Secretary David Lammy tweeted that he’s “deeply alarmed” by civilian casualties. Hundreds more people have been displaced by the strikes. Lebanon’s Interior Minister Bassam al-Mawlawi announced that schools in Beirut, Tripoli and southern Lebanon would be opened as shelters. Read more on POLITICO. 
Away from Liverpool: Lammy will speak at the U.N. Security Council on how the U.K. can do more with allies to tackle the major issues — including ongoing conflict and climate change.
MRS. WORLDWIDE: Home Secretary Yvette Cooper will join a five-country ministerial call with counterparts from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the U.S. The key topics of discussion include migration and child sexual exploitation and abuse.
POWER IN UKRAINE: Ukraine’s Western allies fear a political power grab is under way that may imperil efforts to keep electricity flowing this winter. Tensions reached a flashpoint after Volodymyr Kudrytskyi was fired as chief executive of the national power transmission network. In a June interview with POLITICO, Kudrytskyi said the presidential administration wants to put Ukraine’s energy system under its direct control. “It is all about centralizing power,” he warned.
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Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden broadcast round: Times Radio (6.50 a.m.) … 5Live (7.05 a.m.) … Sky (7.30 a.m.) … BBC Breakfast (7.30 a.m.) … LBC (7.50 a.m.) … Today (8.15 a.m.) … GMB (8.30 a.m.) … GB News (9.05 a.m.).
Shadow Health Secretary Victoria Atkins broadcast round: Times Radio (7.50 a.m.) … Sky News (8.15 a.m.) … GB News (9.15 a.m.).
Also on Today: Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham (7.30 a.m.) … Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald (8.40 a.m.).
Also on Nick Ferrari at Breakfast: Royal College of Nursing General Secretary Nicola Ranger (7.05 a.m.) … former NHS Pay Review Body Chair Jerry Cope (7.10 a.m.) … former speech writer for Prime Minister Tony Blair Philip Collins (8.05 a.m.) … environmental campaigner Feargal Sharkey (8.20 a.m.) … Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham (8.50 a.m.) … Conservative peer Graham Brady (9.20 a.m.). 
Also on Times Radio Breakfast: NFU President Tom Bradshaw (7.45 a.m.) … TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak (8.35 a.m.) … Former Conservative leader William Hague and former Scottish Labour Leader Kezia Dugdale (9 a.m.) … Committee on Standards in Public Life Chair Jonathan Evans (9.45 a.m.).
Hugo Rifkind live from the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool  10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Politics Live (BBC Two 12.15 p.m.): Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds … FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack … POLITICO’s own Rosa Prince … the Sunday Times’ Caroline Wheeler. 
Leaders Speech Special (BBC Two 12.15 p.m.): Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson … Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner … Labour Together’s Jonathan Ashworth … the House’s Sienna Rodgers … the Spectator’s Isabel Hardman.
**Be part of the conversation at the Financial Services UK Summit, happening November 28. Gain insights into the future of financial policy and regulation in the City of London, with high-impact discussions and debates. Secure your spot now!**
POLITICO UK: Keir Starmer’s victory lap turns sour.
Daily Express: Fury as Labour ‘silences’ winter fuel pay debate.
Daily Mail: Union boss: We’ll seize control of U.K. economy.
Daily Mirror: Victory for truth and justice. 
Daily Star: It’s Booty McBootface.
Financial Times: Reeves stokes borrowing rules debate with signal on higher capital spending.
i: Reeves looks at cutting benefits to fund public spending boost.
Metro: E-bike crime boom. 
The Daily Telegraph: Light at end of this tunnel, PM tells Britain.
The Guardian: PM vows to end gloom as Labour seeks to lift spending restrictions.
The Independent: PM’s vow to revive UK — as he dismisses ‘silly’ freebies stories. 
The Sun: Nick’s Strictly S.O.S.
The Times: Labour to crack down on benefit fraudsters.
LIVERPOOL WEATHER: It’ll be raining and cold. Sorry to not have better news. High 15C, low 9C. 
SPOTTED … at POLITICO’s Happy Hour at Revolution, presented by Intuit: Attorney General Richard Hermer … MPs Phil Brickell, Helena Dollimore, Josh Fenton-Glynn, Mark Ferguson, Sarah Hall, Uma Kumaran, Keir Mather, Lola McEvoy, Kirsty McNeill, Julie Minns, Luke Murphy, Joe Powell, Mike Reader, Jake Richards, Lucy Rigby, Tom Rutland, Imogen Walker, Melanie Ward and Katie White … Labour Party COO John Lehal … GMB’s Jamie Hanley … South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard … No. 10 SpAd Donjeta Miftari … Health SpAd Kirsty O’Brien … No. 10 Press Secretary Sophie Nazemi … Intuit’s Executive Vice President Kerry McLean and Director of Corporate Affairs Rob Burlison … the BBC’s Adam Fleming and Vicki Young … Sky’s Jo Coburn … the News Agents’ Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall … the New Statesman’s Andrew Marr … Sky’s Sam Coates.
Also spotted … drinking Champagne and eating the usual cupcakes with Cabinet ministers’ faces on them at the Sky party in the bowels of the ACC … Cabinet ministers Rachel Reeves, Wes Streeting (who opened his midnight DJ set with “Independent Women” in honor of Reeves), Lucy Powell, Bridget Phillipson, Darren Jones, Jonathan Reynolds (who started his DJ set with “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”) and Peter Kyle … Labour Together chief Jonathan Ashworth singing along to Pulp’s “Common People” with minister Abena Oppong-Asare … Headland’s Luke Sullivan … Health Minister Karin Smyth … MPs Kanishka Narayan, Imogen Walker, Dan Tomlinson, Polly Billington, Antonia Bance, Paul Waugh, Jake Richards, Chris Curtis, Tom Rutland, Mark Ferguson, Uma Kumaran, Josh Simons, Mike Tapp and Sarah Coombes … No. 10’s Sophie Nazemi, Prentice Hazell, Henna Shah, Tom Webb, Donjeta Miftari and Tom Lillywhite … Labour COO John Lehal … SpAds Harjeet Sahota, Amy Provan, Matt Pound, Katie Martin, Richard Howarth, Chris McQuiggin, Ben Fazakerley, Anthony McCaul, Jonty Leibowitz, Owain Mumford, Jamie Williams and Finn McGoldrick … Sky’s Beth Rigby, Jon Craig, Sam Coates, Steph Schwarz, Cecily Thompson and Lucy Aitkens … Political Editors Kate McCann, Pippa Crerar, David Wooding, Anushka Asthana and Katy Balls. 
Also spotted: Spinning the decks at LabourList’s karaoke/DJ night: Justice Minister Alex-Davies Jones, who played Chappell Roan’s “Hot to Go!” (with the room doing the dance moves) … Care Minister Stephen Kinnock bringing the brat summer to rainy Liverpool with Icona Pop and Charli XCX’s “I Love It” … South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard with the Arctic Monkeys’ “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” … and Stella Creasy with B*Witched’s “C’est La Vie” … supporting dance moves were provided by MPs Yuan Yang and Keir Mather. 
Also spotted … chowing chicken satay and churros at the Global Counsel reception at Revolución de Cuba: Chancellor: Rachel Reeves … Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson … Health Secretary Wes Streeting … Economic Secretary to the Treasury Tulip Siddiq … Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury James Murray … MPs Mark Ferguson, Chris Curtis, Alan Gemmell, Emma Reynolds, Emma Hardy, Sally Jameson, Josh MacAlister, Luke Murphy, Melanie Onn, David Pinto-Duschinsky, Gregor Poynton, Steve Race, Jake Richards and Spencer Thompson … Labour peers Peter Mandelson, Iain McNicol and Rosie Winterton Rosie Winterton … North East Mayor Kim McGuinness … South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard … No. 10’s Morgan McSweeney and Varun Chandra … PLP Secretary Matthew Faulding … Labour Director of Digital Tom Lillywhite … SpAds Sophia Kewell, Matt Pound and Henna Shah … Labour Together’s Jonathan Ashworth … the News Agents Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel … Starmer biographer Tom Baldwin. 
Also spotted … at lobbying firm Cavendish’s party on the mezzanine of Revolution: Government Whip Vicky Foxcroft … No. 10 Press Secretary Sophie Nazemi … new MPs Jen Craft, Uma Kumaran, Chris Vince, Tracy Gilbert and Jake Richards … adviser to the East Midlands mayor Helen McCullough … and deputy head of comms at City Hall James Ryan.
Also spotted … at the i reception in partnership with Airbnb … Tourism Minister Chris Bryant … Children’s Minister Janet Daby … Flooding Minister Emma Hardy … MPs Stella Creasy, Jonathan Davies, Steve Race, David Smith and Nick Thomas-Symonds … and half the Lobby.
Also spotted … at the Irish Labour Society reception … Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn … Irish Ambassador Martin Fraser … Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, former Welsh First Minister Vaughan Gething … Northern Ireland Opposition Leader Matt O’Toole … Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden. 
Also spotted … at the “Britain Renewed” reception with the Future Governance Forum, UCL Policy Lab and This Day: Ed Miliband, Liz Kendall and Shabana Mahmood … playwright James Graham … This Day’s Gary Lubner … UCL Policy Lab Director Marc Stears … Future Governance Forum Director Nathan Yeowell … Attorney General Richard Hermer …Scotland Minister Kirsty McNeil … MP Georgia Gould … New FGF Chair and former Deputy Cabinet Secretary Helen MacNamara … News Agent Lewis Goodall … Labour Together’s Christabel Cooper … former Political Secretary to Tony Blair John McTernan … Demos’ Polly Curtis … British Future Director Sunder Katwala.
JOB ADS: UnHerd is hiring a deputy editor. 
WRITING PLAYBOOK PM: Andrew McDonald.
WRITING PLAYBOOK WEDNESDAY MORNING: Sam Blewett.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: Green Party Co-Leader Carla Denyer … former Tamworth MP Chris Pincher … former Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns … former Horsham MP Jeremy Quin … Cardiff North MP Anna McMorrin  … Shadow Policing Minister Matt Vickers … former UUP MLA Robin Swann … Tory peer Richard Spring … former DWP SpAd James Heywood … former Herald columnist Iain Macwhirter … Sunday Times Executive Editor Ben Preston.
PLAYBOOK COULDN’T HAPPEN WITHOUT: My editors Zoya Sheftalovich, Jack Blanchard and Alex Spence, diary reporter Bethany Dawson and producer Dean Southwell.
CLARIFICATION: This newsletter has been updated to clarify the spotted list the Global Counsel party.
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