Congratulations to Electoral Disfunction, Iran: The Latest, The Daily T' and The Rachman Review shortlisted for 'Podcast of the Year'. mailchi.mp/2de7175ebadb/news… @BethRigby @RuthDavidsonPC @HarrietHarman @venetiarainey @RolandOliphant @CamillaTominey @timothy_stanley @gideonrachman

How hard can elite archery be anyway....

@WeAreOpenreach @bt_uk your workers caused the following damage to my property some weeks ago when I kindly allowed them entry to my driveway, for access to poles on another property which was difficult for your staff to access. I sent the claims form to the company you use in these matters, but they don’t answer or return calls for me to check what, if any progress is being made. Can you advise?

Really looking forward to this one. If you’re coming to Party Conference, join @RuthDavidsonPC and me as we talk about why we set up Prosper UK, what we’re building & the opportunity ahead for the centre-right. We hope to see you there. prosperuk.com/andy_street_an…

A small but nonetheless instructive par on p2 of today’s paper

Breadcrumbs. Piecemeal changes. Tinkering around the edges. Just like business rates, Labour can see a system that isn’t working and still won’t grasp real reform. Student loan interest rates have skyrocketed. Their answer? Clearer information. Not enough. Not nearly enough. Andy Burnham needs to grip this and bring forward real reform

ED insider - we talk big money in politics. @RuthDavidsonPC on how Tories feeling, @jessphillips on how govt likely to respond & we discuss the almighty political row on its way: YouGov polling shows 60% Britons agreed on limits, so PM will think he’s on right side of opinion

Reform are about to learn the lesson of the law of diminishing returns. In 2020, Michael Bloomberg spent $1 billion employing 2,400 staff and saturating coverage on his Presidential campaign. It came to nothing. Money is an accelerant, not a cure. If the fundamentals are good, it improves things. If they’re bad, things will get a whole lot worse. You can buy staff and advertising, but you can’t buy judgement or integrity. Sometimes a bigger cheque just means you make more of the same mistakes. The Conservatives are up for the fight. We are raising millions, attracting new donors and winning back old ones because people can see what is coming. Britain does not need another protest party. It needs common sense, a serious plan and a party capable of bringing the country together. That is who we are. And it is what Reform will never be.

This is painful to watch. A story about a serious safety fault - a gas leak - on the most controversial Scot Gov transport asset ever had been running for around nine hours on the BBC, yet the Scot Gov Transport Secretary (and his official) appear totally unaware

Today in The Times I’ve spoken about something deeply personal. In 2018 my brother Tariq took his own life. He never told anyone, not his closest family and friends, what he was going through. Looking back, we believe stigma was a large part of it. He isn’t alone. More than 7,000 people die by suicide every year in the UK, and over 70% were not in contact with the mental health services that might have saved them. It remains one of the biggest killers of young people. I’m supporting this campaign because of Philip Pirie, who lost his son Tom in 2020 and has since rallied experts and politicians around the country to push for change. When he approached me, I was very happy to join forces with him. Together we’re calling – alongside psychiatrists, charities and MPs from across the political spectrum – for a national public health campaign to reduce the stigma around suicidal thoughts and encourage more people to reach out for help. Public health campaigns work: we’ve seen it with drink-driving and HIV/AIDS. And the evidence suggests this one would more than pay for itself. Every life saved spares a family unimaginable grief and the country real cost. Giving people permission to speak saves lives. If you’re struggling, or worried about someone who is, the Samaritans are there free, day or night, on 116 123. thetimes.com/article/11bef78…

What’s it like travelling on the prime minister’s plane? And will it be any different with Andy Burnham? @BethRigby has the inside track from her many trips abroad as Sky's political editor. 🎧 Listen to #electoraldysfunction: trib.al/W8y8zVY

James will make a brilliant London mayor. Can't wait to get out and campaign for him. 👍

A heartfelt plea from me to you, dear follower. Over 100 years of grassroots rugby in North Edinburgh is in a precarious position. Would you, or your business, like to play your part in securing our future? On & off the park, there's opportunities to be part of @BroughtonRugby.

Polling from More in Common found that lowering business rates for local shops was the public’s top choice for saving the high street. Instead of tinkering around the problem, government needs to start fixing it. Rethink the rates. If you agree, sign our petition: prosperuk.com/rethink_the_ra…

Remembering the late, great Dolly, who brought joy, comfort and inspiration to so many - including the millions of children given free books through her Imagination Library. We will always ❤️ you.

Quite a thread

thetimes.com/article/a2b1ce0… Lots to agree with here from Malcolm Rifkind. Who has held so many offices that the Times just gave up and went with 'he was an MP' (7 ministerial positions, of which 4 were cabinet, including the biggies of Defence and Foreign Sec). Worth a listen?

No, **YOU** got to meet the world's favourite diplomat last night.... @AmbJapanUK

Today we launch Rethink the Rates to put business rates reform firmly on the agenda before the Budget. We want to hear from businesses across the country about what the system is doing to them and what needs to change. Have your say: rethinktherates.uk

My Lord. What mad, brilliant brain made this happen? Seabrook Prawn Cocktail in the absolute premier league of crisps, too. Amazing.