Steerpike

To the US, where the FBI has been searching for Charlie Kirk's shooter, after the 31-year-old was tragically killed while speaking at an Utah Valley University event. The Trump ally was a firm advocate of free speech and debate, and his death has shocked supporters across the world. The FBI has given a statement this afternoon after a man was arrested in connection with the incident, with Utah governor Spencer Cox confirming: 'We got him.' 22-year-old Tyler Robinson has named as the suspect, after a family member came forward with information that Robinson had implied he had committed the crime. The gunman was initially reported as on the loose – but earlier this afternoon the US President claimed that the police had arrested a suspect over the fatal attack.

Oh dear. It’s not just in Westminster that Keir Starmer’s party is having trouble. Welsh Labour are also having a meltdown as they prepare to face their next electoral test. The Caerphilly by-election – called after the tragic death of Hefin David – has kicked off in earnest, ahead of polling day on 23 October. The Welsh parliamentary constituency has been held by Labour since its creation in 1999. But it seems that the reds are doing all they can to lose this onetime safe seat, with both Plaid and Reform UK breathing down their necks… The Labour leader of Caerphilly council has sensationally resigned and left the Labour Party today. Sean Morgan has now told the BBC that he expects Plaid to win and Reform to come second and described his old party as a ‘busted flush.

Can Lord Mandelson cling on as Our Man in Washington? That is the question all of Westminster is asking this morning. The British ambassador to the United states did a grovelling interview with the Sun's Harry Cole today in which he admitted that he had continued his association with the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein ‘far longer than I should have done.’ It comes after a congressional investigation discovered that the Labour peer had referred to Epstein as his 'best pal' in a birthday message he wrote for the convicted sex offender in 2003. What did Mandy tell Starmer about his relationship with Epstein before being appointed Ambassador? Mandelson told Cole there are further email exchanges between himself and Epstein that 'we know are going to surface'.

It's all change in Sir Keir Starmer's government. After his former deputy Angela Rayner resigned from both her government and party positions on Friday following an ethics probe into her tax affairs, the Prime Minister reshuffled his cabinet and his junior ministers. Those weren't the only changes Starmer made, however – new appointments to the PM's team at the start of last week saw Darren Jones MP move from the Treasury to No. 10. And even before that, the Prime Minister recruited another strategist in a bid to turn his government's fortunes around after an, um, difficult first year in office. But it wasn't a match made in heaven, with new recruit Tom Kibasi (who helped Starmer win his 2020 leadership campaign) quitting the job after just two weeks in post.

It is a plot line worthy of a Sopranos episode. A newly-elected Prime Minister, flushed with electoral success, triumphantly sacks his onetime rival – only to discover, a year later, that she is now in pole position to become his new deputy. That's right folks, Emily Thornberry – the gin-loving, flag-bashing Islington Dame – has returned to haunt Keir Starmer once more. Trebles all round! With Angela Rayner gone, the question of who succeeds her as deputy leader is exercising much of the Labour party. Early opinion is that it has to be a woman and preferably one who can provide a bit of a foil to Starmer. Luckily, there is no shortage of disgruntled, displaced and dissatisfied wimmin who fit the bill.

In Tory world, it is a year for big anniversaries. One hundred years ago, Margaret Thatcher was born; fifty years after that, she won the Conservative leadership. To mark the occasion, various shindigs are planned, with the party conference next month expected to pay tribute to the Iron Lady's legacy. A week after that there is a gala dinner for the eponymous centre, named in her honour. Heading up the guests alongside the likes of Julian Fellowes, 'Beefy' Botham and Joan Collins is none other than Sir Mark Thatcher, son of Margaret and Denis. It is the first time he has given a public speech about his mother's life and legacy, twelve years after her passing.

Senior Reform figure Zia Yusuf has been on quite the journey within the party. The businessman first came to prominence as party chairman after taking over from now-deputy Richard Tice MP, promising to professionalise the growing party. Then, three months ago to the day, Yusuf shocked party colleagues and members by announcing his resignation from the role, posting on X that: ‘I no longer believe working to get a Reform government elected is a good use of my time, and hereby resign the office.’ He returned less than 48 hours later, however, to take on an Elon Musk-style role as Reform UK's Head of DOGE. And now, during Nigel Farage's address to the conference, Yusuf has been announced as the party's Head of Policy. Alright for some!

On the eve of Reform’s annual conference, the party has dropped another bombshell. Former Tory culture secretary Nadine Dorries has defected to Reform UK – a move Nigel Farage has gushed he is ‘absolutely delighted’ about. In an explosive interview with the Daily Mail, Dorries has declared ‘the Tory party is dead’ – and advised party members to ‘now think the unthinkable and look to the future’.  Dorries’ defection follows the ex-cabinet minister’s three decades as a Conservative party member. As reported by the Mail, her talks with Farage did not involve a guaranteed place in a Reform government. Yet while the once-vociferous Boris Johnson ally is not currently a sitting MP, Dorries has not ruled out a return to the Commons.

It is a tough time for the Tories right now. Nigel Farage's grinning face appears to be everywhere, as the Conservatives desperately try to find fresh relevance in opposition. One idea that some senior figures within Conservative Campaign Headquarters have alighted upon in recent months is creating a new 'digital army'. The hope is that ever-online true-blue types will function in the same way that Reform's internet supporters do for Farage: amplifying the party's message and posting support for leader Kemi Badenoch. This evening saw the last salvo in this e-initiative. An email went out to the Tories' young guns, urging them to volunteer for instruction in the nation's capital.