Prime minister’s questions: a shouty, jeery, very occasionally useful advert for British politics. Here’s what you need to know from the latest session in POLITICO’s weekly run-through. What they sparred about: U-turns. The latest reverse ferret on digital ID gave Tory Leader Kemi Badenoch the perfect catalyst to lash Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the various 180-degree shifts he has made since he entered office. If your internet was down: Officials confirmed Tuesday evening digital ID would be optional rather than mandatory for right to work checks, a climbdown from the PM’s pledge last fall to introduce checks by the next general election. The recent identity crisis joins a long line of policy alterations, which Badenoch was more than happy to ask about. Bagging the win: The Tory leader welcomed the “rubbish policy” getting put on the scrapheap, though crowed that the change of heart came just after Health Secretary Wes Streeting urged ministers to “try to get it right first time.” Awks. In response, the PM reiterated his determination to “make it harder for people to work illegally,” and said there would still be mandatory digital checks. Hmm … Grab the sick bags: The PM attempted to divert attention by making queasy political analogies. Highlighting the number of PMs, chancellors and housing ministers under the last Tory government, Starmer said “they had more positions in 14 years than the Kama Sutra. No wonder they’re knackered and left the country screwed.” Yuck. Plough on: Badenoch recovered from that mental image by sharply moving on to inheritance tax for farmers. Ministers said they would increase the threshold at which it should be paid just two days before Christmas. The Tory leader pleaded the PM for an apology over the “misery” caused to farmers, claiming some were “so terrified” they sold their farms. The PM stood his ground insisting they were changing the “failed approach” of the last government. Stable geniuses: As usual, both leaders focused on politics over policy, and traded blows over who is the most vulnerable. Starmer laid into the Tory “sinking ship” following former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi’s defection to Reform labeling it a “second Boris wave.” Badenoch, who has enjoyed some more favorable press coverage of late, quipped: “I’m alright.” Battle of the backbenchers: The Tory leader tried exploiting Starmer’s weakness by raising frustration among his backbenchers and possible future leadership threats. “This Prime Minister treats his MPs so badly,” she said. “They follow his lead and he hangs them out to dry every time.” Tortured metaphor: The pair traded barbs about U-turns on business rates for pubs, but Starmer’s speechwriters couldn’t resist another dig after seeing an “Ikea shadow cabinet” during a visit to the Swedish store earlier this week. “The trouble is nobody wants to buy it, it’s mainly constructed of old dead wood and every time you lose a nut it defects to Reform.” Boom boom! In the crosshairs: Reform UK may have just five MPs, but Nigel Farage’s party featured in some of Starmer’s other answers too. The PM slammed Reform as an “absolute disgrace” for its stance on X owner Elon Musk, and labeled Farage a “[Vladimir] Putin apologist” for opposing boots on the ground in Ukraine. Expect plenty more of this as the local elections draw closer. Helpful backbench intervention of the week: Lewisham East MP Janet Daby mentioned falling knife crime and homicide levels in London under Labour’s Sadiq Khan, and decried the Tory and Reform UK records in the capital. No surprises for guessing how Starmer responded? By agreeing with her entirely. Totally unscientific scores on the doors: Starmer 6/10. Badenoch 7/10. Familiar attack lines were deployed on both sides of the aisle. Badenoch said the U-turns reflected Starmer’s ineptitude as the PM slammed her record in office and number of defections. Neither leader landed a killer blow, but the digital ID U-turn left Starmer on the back foot, and so just handed Badenoch the win.

LONDON — The BBC will attempt to have Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit over the way it edited a 2021 speech thrown out of court. Filings in the southern district of Florida published Monday said the BBC would “move to dismiss” the case because the October 2024 documentary for the flagship Panorama program which carried the edited speech was not made, produced or broadcast in the state. The court lacks “personal jurisdiction” over the BBC, and the U.S. president “fails to state a claim on multiple independent grounds,” the filing says. In a lawsuit filed last month Trump demanded more than $5 billion after accusing the corporation of misleadingly editing his Jan. 6, 2021 speech, delivered ahead of the storming of the U.S. Capitol during the 2020 presidential election certification process. Trump’s lawsuit, filed in federal court in Miami, claims the BBC “maliciously” strung together two comments Trump made more than 54 minutes apart to convey the impression that he’d urged his supporters to engage in violence. The corporation apologized to Trump when the botched edit became public but said it did not merit a defamation case. The broadcaster said the episode of its Panorama current affairs program was not shown on the global feed of the BBC News Channel, while programs on iPlayer, the BBC’s catchup service, were only available in the U.K.  Public figures claiming defamation in the U.S. have to demonstrate “actual malice,” meaning they have to show there was an intent to spread false information or some action in reckless disregard of the truth. The BBC filing says Trump “fails to plausibly allege” this. It said the documentary included “extensive coverage of his supporters and balanced coverage of his path to reelection.” BBC Director General Tim Davie and news CEO Deborah Turness announced their resignations in November after the very public row with the U.S. president hit the headlines. A BBC spokesperson said: “As we have made clear previously, we will be defending this case. We are not going to make further comment on ongoing legal proceedings.”

LONDON — If there’s one thing Keir Starmer has mastered in office, it’s changing his mind. The PM has been pushed by his backbenchers toward a flurry of about-turns since entering Downing Street just 18 months ago.  Starmer’s vast parliamentary majority hasn’t stopped him feeling the pressure — and has meant mischievous MPs are less worried their antics will topple the government.  POLITICO recaps 7 occasions MPs mounted objections to the government’s agenda — and forced the PM into a spin. Expect this list to get a few more updates… PUB BUSINESS RATES  Getting on the wrong side of your local watering hole is never a good idea. Many Labour MPs realized that the hard way. Chancellor Rachel Reeves used her budget last year to slash a pandemic-era discount on business rates — taxes levied on firms — from 75 percent to 40 percent. Cue uproar from publicans. Labour MPs were barred from numerous boozers in protest at a sharp bill increase afflicting an already struggling hospitality sector. A £300 million lifeline for pubs, watering down some of the changes, is now being prepped. At least Treasury officials should now have a few more places to drown their sorrows. Time to U-turn: 43 days (Nov. 26, 2025 — Jan. 8, 2026). FARMERS’ INHERITANCE TAX  Part of Labour’s electoral success came from winning dozens of rural constituencies. But Britain’s farmers soon fell out of love with the government.  Reeves’ first budget slapped inheritance tax on farming estates worth more than £1 million from April 2026. Farmers drive tractors near Westminster ahead of a protest against inheritance tax rules on Nov. 19, 2024. | Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images Aimed at closing loopholes wealthy individuals use to avoid coughing up to the exchequer, the decision generated uproar from opposition parties (calling the measure the “family farm tax”) and farmers themselves, who drove tractors around Westminster playing “Baby Shark.”  Campaigners including TV presenter and newfound farmer Jeremy Clarkson joined the fight by highlighting that many farmers are asset rich but cash poor — so can’t fund increased inheritance taxes without flogging off their estates altogether. A mounting rebellion by rural Labour MPs (including Cumbria’s Markus Campbell-Savours, who lost the whip for voting against the budget resolution on inheritance tax) saw the government sneak out a threshold hike to £2.5 million just two days before Christmas, lowering the number of affected estates from 375 to 185. Why ever could that have been?  Time to U-turn: 419 days (Oct. 30, 2024 — Dec. 23, 2025). WINTER FUEL PAYMENTS  Labour’s election honeymoon ended abruptly just three and a half weeks into power after Reeves made an economic move no chancellor before her dared to take.  Reeves significantly tightened eligibility for winter fuel payments, a previously universal benefit helping the older generation with heating costs in the colder months.  Given pensioners are the cohort most likely to vote, the policy was seen as a big electoral gamble. It wasn’t previewed in Labour’s manifesto and made many newly elected MPs angsty.  After a battering in the subsequent local elections, the government swiftly confirmed all pensioners earning up to £35,000 would now be eligible for the cash. That’s one way of trying to bag the grey vote. Time until U-turn: 315 days (July 29, 2024 — June 9, 2025).  WELFARE REFORM Labour wanted to rein in Britain’s spiraling welfare bill, which never fully recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic.  The government vowed to save around £5 billion by tightening eligibility for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a benefit helping people in and out of work with long term health issues. It also said other health related benefits would be cut. However, Labour MPs worried about the impact on the most vulnerable (and nervously eyeing their inboxes) weren’t impressed. More than 100 signed an amendment that would have torpedoed the proposed reforms.  The government vowed to save around £5 billion by tightening eligibility for Personal Independence Payment. | Vuk Valcic via SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images In an initial concession, the government said existing PIP claimants wouldn’t be affected by any eligibility cuts. It wasn’t enough: Welfare Minister Stephen Timms was forced to confirm in the House of Commons during an actual, ongoing welfare debate that eligibility changes for future claimants would be delayed until a review was completed.  What started as £5 billion of savings didn’t reduce welfare costs whatsoever.  Time to U-turn: 101 days (Mar. 18, 2025 — June 27, 2025).  GROOMING GANGS INQUIRY  The widescale abuse of girls across Britain over decades reentered the political spotlight in early 2025 after numerous tweets from X owner Elon Musk. It led to calls for a specific national inquiry into the scandal. Starmer initially rejected this request, pointing to recommendations left unimplemented from a previous inquiry into child sexual abuse and arguing for a local approach. Starmer accused those critical of his stance (aka Musk) of spreading “lies and misinformation” and “amplifying what the far-right is saying.” Yet less than six months later, a rapid review from crossbench peer Louise Casey called for … a national inquiry. Starmer soon confirmed one would happen. Time to U-turn: 159 days (Jan. 6, 2025 — June 14, 2025).  ‘ISLAND OF STRANGERS’ Immigration is a hot-button issue in the U.K. — especially with Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage breathing down Starmer’s neck. The PM tried reflecting this in a speech last May, warning that Britain risked becoming an “island of strangers” without government action to curb migration. That triggered some of Starmer’s own MPs, who drew parallels with the notorious 1968 “rivers of blood” speech by politician Enoch Powell. The PM conceded he’d put a foot wrong month later, giving an Observer interview where he claimed to not be aware of the Powell connection. “I deeply regret using” the term, he said. Time to U-turn: 46 days (May 12, 2025 — June 27, 2025).  Immigration is a hot-button issue in the U.K. — especially with Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage breathing down Starmer’s neck. | Tolga Akmen/EPA TWO-CHILD BENEFIT CAP  Here’s the U-turn that took the longest to arrive — but left Labour MPs the happiest. Introduced by the previous Conservative government, a two-child welfare cap meant parents could only claim social security payments such as Universal Credit or tax credits for their first two children. Many Labour MPs saw it as a relic of the Tory austerity era. Yet just weeks into government, seven Labour MPs lost the whip for backing an amendment calling for it to be scrapped, highlighting Reeves’ preference for fiscal caution over easy wins.  A year and a half later, that disappeared out the window. Reeves embracing its removal in her budget last fall as a child poverty-busty measure got plenty of cheers from Labour MPs — though the cap’s continued popularity with some voters may open up a fresh vulnerability. Time until U-turn: 491 days (July 23, 2024 — Nov. 26, 2025).

Prime minister’s questions: a shouty, jeery, very occasionally useful advert for British politics. Here’s what you need to know from the latest session in POLITICO’s weekly run-through. What they sparred about: Foreign affairs. Keir Starmer wanted solving the cost of living to define 2026 but, as is so often the case, Donald Trump put paid to that. The PM and Tory Leader Kemi Badenoch started the new year as they meant to go on by jousting about the U.S. president’s plan to control Greenland — and whether NATO had any future. First, a news line: One of Starmer’s new year resolutions may have been to make more news at PMQs. He succeeded on that front at least by confirming MPs would have a debate and vote on deploying British troops to Ukraine, if a ceasefire was reached. “That is consistent with recent practice, and I’ll adhere to that.” Here’s looking at you, Tony Blair. Statement of discontent: Badenoch’s line of attack was initially tricky to spot, as she agrees with the PM about supporting Ukraine and protecting Greenland’s sovereignty from Donald Trump. However, while praising Starmer’s “efforts to advance peace,” Badenoch lambasted the “frankly astonishing” decision for the PM not to make a statement to the Commons as a “fundamental lack of respect.” War of words: Starmer pointed out Tuesday’s coalition of the willing meeting in Paris resulted in a political declaration rather than a legal deployment. He stressed any British troops would “only be after a ceasefire to support Ukraine’s capabilities to conduct deterrent operations,” and there was ample time for MPs to “make their points of view.” Finger-pointing: That, natch, wasn’t enough for Badenoch, who claimed Starmer was running “scared” of MPs. “He’s got no choice but to be here,” she said about his presence in the chamber. “If he could skip this, we know he would do.” There’s nothing like PMQs to reduce an international issue to personal disagreements. Calling for an urgent meeting of NATO members, the PM praised a “strong” meeting of the bloc last year and highlighted that the Tory leader criticized him for missing PMQs to attend it. Military might: Starmer used PMQs as a vehicle to summarize Tuesday’s events in France, stressing the troops “would be to support Ukraine’s capabilities, it would be to conduct deterrence operations and to construct and protect military hubs.” However, there was less clarity about the exact number of people who would be deployed — which is either because ministers can’t tell us or they don’t yet know. Back to the domestic: Naturally, interest in the nuances of Kyiv’s position and the future of Greenland could only last so long. What began as a spiky exchange descended into the usual tirade of anger as the duo squared off over defense spending, protecting Northern Ireland veterans, and Shadow Attorney General David Wolfson representing sanctioned Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. The outcome, as always, was clear as mud. Helpful backbench intervention of the week: Brentford and Isleworth MP Ruth Cadbury queried when legislation reforming leasehold would be introduced. It was a new year, but the same Starmer — he didn’t provide a timetable but sang the praises of his reforms for renters and laid into the Tories and, er, Reform UK for voting against them. Totally unscientific scores on the doors: Starmer 6/10. Badenoch 7/10. Neither leader enjoyed their best outing as they cranked back into gear after Christmas. Sober minds on the volatile geopolitical situation were missing in action: Badenoch ripped into the PM not speaking to Donald Trump recently, while Starmer tore into Tory contradictions. The Conservative leader slamming Starmer for not making an explicit statement after such a monumental meeting just about gave her a very middling win.

LONDON — Keir Starmer confirmed on Wednesday that members of parliament would vote on whether to deploy British troops to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. The coalition of the willing signed a declaration of intent on Tuesday evening, which would mean British and French troops being sent to Ukraine if a peace deal were reached. “Were troops to be deployed under the declaration signed, I would put that matter to the House for a vote,” Starmer told MPs at prime minister’s questions in the House of Commons. The PM added he would put the question of legal deployment “to this house for a debate beforehand and for a vote on that deployment. That is consistent with recent practice, and I’ll adhere to that.” Committing troops to war rests in the hands of the prime minister, but there is a precedent to seek approval from MPs. Former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair won support from MPs to join the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. “There would only be deployment after a ceasefire,” Starmer insisted. “It would be to support Ukraine’s capabilities, it would be conduct deterrence operations and to construct and protect military hubs.” He said the debate would mean “all members could know exactly what we’re doing [and] make their points of view,” and a vote was “the proper procedure in a situation such as this.” Starmer’s spokesperson last year refused to explicitly confirm MPs would have a vote on deployment, stating that would be “getting ahead of ourselves.”

LONDON — Nigel Farage on Wednesday rebuffed his ally Donald Trump’s desire to seize control of Greenland from Denmark. The Reform UK leader and friend of the U.S. president, currently leading in British opinion polls, joined Prime Minister Keir Starmer in criticizing American plans to acquire the autonomous Danish territory. “I agree with the prime minister,” Farage told a press conference Wednesday. “This should be for the people of Greenland and Denmark to decide. Of course I do.” However, the right-wing populist leader argued that Trump has pinpointed “some genuine security concerns around Greenland” which will only become more relevant as climate change impacts the Arctic region. “There is a strong feeling in British intelligence circles and many in NATO that there needs to be a significant NATO base located directly on the north — in Greenland,” Farage said. Danish PM Mette Frederiksen has issued a strong rejection of Trump’s threats, while Starmer joined European leaders Tuesday in signing a joint statement stressing the “inviolability” of Greenland’s borders. However, the White House doubled down overnight, saying Trump is considering “a range of options” to acquire Greenland including the use of military force. Farage argued that Greenland had already been “moving further and further away from Danish control, and is pretty close to establishing its own level of independence, and the fear is that they will fall prey to very large amounts of Chinese money and Chinese influence.” He added: “As ever with things that Trump says, they may sound outrageous, and in the case of potentially using force, they are. But there is a point behind it.” Farage said he doubted that Trump would use force to take Greenland as that “probably would be the end of NATO.”

LONDON — Denmark and Greenland should determine Greenland’s future, Keir Starmer said Monday after Donald Trump revived threats to take control of the Arctic territory. The U.K. prime minister told broadcasters he stood with Danish PM Mette Frederiksen, who warned Sunday the United States has no right to annex the self-ruling Danish territory. “The future of Greenland is for Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark,” Starmer told Sky News Monday. “Denmark is a close European ally, a close NATO ally, and the future therefore has to be for Greenland [and] for the Kingdom of Denmark, and only for Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark.” Pushed explicitly on Frederiksen’s warning that the U.S. has no right to take over the territory, Starmer said: “I stand with her, and she’s right about the future of Greenland.” The PM also responded “yes” to the BBC when asked if he would join the Danes in saying “hands off Greenland.” Trump has long advocated for the mineral-rich territory to become part of the United States, and on Sunday told reporters on Air Force One: “We need Greenland from a national security situation.” Starmer has walked a tricky diplomatic tightrope in maintaining good relations with Trump. The center-left British prime minister is under pressure from some of his own MPs to condemn the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by American troops on Saturday. Maduro is due to appear before a U.S. court Monday on drugs and weapons charges. Starmer refused to say whether Trump’s actions broke international law, arguing “it’s a complicated situation.” The “peaceful transition to democracy” should be prioritized, he said. Emily Thornberry, chair of the U.K. parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and a senior Labour MP, said the U.S. military action in Venezuela “sets a really bad precedent” for countries like China and Russia.

LONDON — Westminster discourse was blessed with a host of new words and phrases during a tumultuous 2025 — and some of them even made sense. Keir Starmer got to fight with tech bro Elon Musk, schmooze Donald Trump, endure frustration from his MPs over Labour’s dreadful polling, reshuffle his government, and preside over a stagnant economy — all while working out a “vision” some 18 months into office. As 2026 screams into view, POLITICO has looked back over the year and picked out all the weird phrases we’d rather forget. 1. Coalition of the willing: The body of nations that sprang up to support Ukraine as U.S. backing looked dicey. Defined by their “vital,” “urgent” and “pivotal” meetings, but often challenged by an unwilling dude across the pond. 2. Smorgasbord: Sweden’s given us IKEA, ABBA — and now the best way to explain an unsatisfying mix of tax rises. Thanks, chancellor! 3. AI Opportunities Action Plan: Never has a government announcement contained so many nouns. 4. AI MP: Why bother with constituency casework when ChatGPT’s around? Labour MP Mark Sewards bagged some help from LLMs … with mixed results. 5. “Beautiful accent”: Trump’s verdict on Starmer’s voice as the unlikely bromance blossomed. 6. Rent license: Everyone pretended to know about housing law as Chancellor Rachel Reeves faced scrutiny for not having one of these when renting out the family home. 7. Rod fishing license: One for the real hardcore license fans. Then-Foreign Secretary David Lammy faced questions for fishing with U.S. Vice President JD Vance without the right paperwork. In a totally unconnected event, he was reshuffled to the justice department shortly after. 8. Board of Peace: Tony Blair was on the list of people to preside over a post-war Gaza … until he very much wasn’t. 9. Golden economic rule: The Conservatives’ shiny and instantly forgettable plan to restore credibility in managing the public finances. Perhaps the No. 1 rule should have been keeping Liz Truss out of No. 10?   10. Lawyer brain: Starmer was frequently accused of acting like a lawyer, not a leader. At least he had a fixed term back when he was chief prosecutor. 11. Liberation Day: Trump’s big old chart slapped global tariffs on allies and sent Whitehall into a tailspin … before a TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out) retreat on some of them. 12. The Andrew formerly known as Prince: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor had to settle for a hyphenated surname after outrage about his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 13. Raise the colors: Politicians spent the summer showing how much they loved flags as Brits — including organized far-right groups — plastered the Union Jack on every lamppost and roundabout in sight. 14. Lucy Listens: Lucy Powell decided the best way to recover from getting sacked from government was to run for Labour deputy leader, win, and hear endlessly from irate Labour members. 15. Joe Marler: Health Secretary Wes Streeting compared himself to a rugby player from the Celebrity Traitors after he was accused of plotting to oust Starmer. Hanging out in a Scottish castle could be quite cushy if the running-for-PM thing doesn’t work out. 16. Driving the DLR: Starmer’s premiership was compared to steering the, er, driverless part of Transport for London. 17. Double Contributions Convention: National insurance became exciting for a brief second amid a row about the India trade deal. Let’s never make that mistake again. 18. Disruptors: What Starmer wants from his ministers. Alas, they slightly misinterpreted the memo and enjoyed disrupting his leadership instead of the Whitehall status quo. 19. Build Baby Build: Housing Secretary Steve Reed not only mimicked Trump’s words but also donned a red baseball cap. The merch was a treat at Labour conference, but it was all a bit cringe.  20. Trigger Me Timbers: Leaks from this imaginatively-named Labour WhatsApp group saw two MPs suspended for vile language. Remember, assume everything in a group is public.  21. Humphrey: Obviously the best-named AI tool ever, the government’s own tech overlord paid tribute to that most conniving of civil servants in the classic BBC sitcom “Yes, Minister.”  21. Humphrey: Obviously, the best-named AI tool ever, the government’s own tech overlord paid tribute to that most conniving of civil servants in classic BBC sitcom “Yes, Minister.”  | David Zorrakino/Europa Press via Getty Images 22. Right to Try: A phrase describing a new guarantee for people entering work — and which might double up as a stirring campaign slogan for the PM. 23. Patriotic renewal: Get those flags out again as No. 10 presses the jargon button to describe what this whole government thing is about. 24. Thatcher Fest: The celebrations marking the centenary of the Iron Lady’s birth knew no bounds. 25. One in, one out: Britain and France struck a treaty for small boat crossings — until one returned migrant recrossed the English Channel to Blighty.   26. Zacktavist: A new generation of Greens got behind “eco-populist” leader Zack Polanksi — and could treat themselves to a mug with his face on for £7 a pop. 27. Yantar: Russia made its meddling against Britain known by deploying a spy ship into territorial waters … although it failed to remain incognito.   28. Two up, two down: Chancellor Rachel Reeves mooted increasing income tax by 2p and cutting national insurance by 2p … before (probably) realizing it would mark the end of her time in the Treasury. 29. Island of strangers: The PM channeled Reform with a speech on migration featuring this phrase. It was compared to former Tory MP Enoch Powell’s infamous “Rivers of Blood” speech … and Starmer later retracted the whole thing. 30. Bob Vylan: A previously obscure rap duo was thrust into the spotlight after calling for “death, death to the IDF” [Israel Defence Forces] at Glastonbury. The BBC came under fire, because of course it did. 31. Persistent knobheadery: That’s one way for a Labour source to justify suspending the whip from four MPs. 32. Sexist boys’ club: Setting up a political party is harder than it looks. Who’d have thought it? Ex-Labour MP Zarah Sultana’s tough words for her fellow independent MPs as the flailing Your Party launched meant some of them left anyway. All’s fair in love and war.   33. F**king suck it up: Running a council is pretty tricky. Reform’s Kent County Council Leader Linden Kemkaran told her fellow councilors they’d have to cope with tough decisions in these colorful terms. Running a council is pretty tricky. Reform’s Kent County Council Leader Linden Kemkaran told her fellow councilors they’d have to cope with tricky decisions in these colorful terms. | Gareth Fuller/PA Images via Getty Images 34. Three Pads Rayner: Angela Rayner’s tenure as deputy PM and, erm, housing secretary came to an abrupt end after she failed to pay the correct amount of property tax — but not before earning this moniker. 35. Further and faster: How did the government react to its local elections shellacking? By vowing to carry on in exactly the same way, albeit more intensely. 36. Phase Two: Starmer’s much-hyped fall reset of his government was followed by one calamity after another. Not too late for Phase Three! 37. Danish model: Ministers decided migration could be solved by copying Copenhagen. Anything for a trip to the continent.   38. The Liz Truss Show: Britain’s shortest-serving former prime minister used extra time on her hands to woo MAGAland with yet another political podcast. Cannot be unseen.   39. I rise to speak: MPs deploying this phrase gave an instant red flag that they may, just may, have used AI to help write their speeches.  40. Judge Plus: Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s assurance that her assisted dying bill still had plenty of legal safeguards, despite a High Court judge getting dropped from the process.   41. Pride in Place: After Boris Johnson’s “leveling up” (RIP), Labour tries a similar approach in all but name. 42. Waste Files: Elon Musk inspired a host of U.K. DOGE copycats keen to slash complex government budgets from their armchairs. 43. Project Chainsaw: No, Starmer isn’t suddenly a Javier Milei fan, but his government wanted to reshape the state — with some bandying about this subtle, civil service-spooking nickname. 44. Global headwinds: The ultimate euphemism for how the orange-colored elephant in the room changed everything.   45. Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention: Want Britain closer to the EU? Choose a trade agreement guaranteed to send even the most ardent Europhile to sleep. President Trump’s trade wars caused global headwinds throughout the year. | Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images 46. Headphone dodgers: A nuisance to everyone, the Lib Dems went full throttle by pledging to fine the public transport irritants £1,000. It’s a wonder the party isn’t leading the polls. 47. StormShroud drones: All wars create an opportunity for futuristic tech that hopefully does what it says on the tin. 48. Return hubs: Ministers insist migration definitely isn’t getting outsourced to other countries by mooting third-party “processing” … something Albania won’t even take part in. See also: Deport Now, Appeal Later.  49. Far-right bandwagon: Starmer’s row with Musk reached a crescendo with the PM’s phrase lobbed at some proponents of an inquiry into grooming gangs operating in the U.K. 50. Impossible trilemma: Ahead of the budget, a top think tank warned that Reeves faced the unenviable task of meeting fiscal targets while sticking to spending promises and not raising taxes. No pressure. 51. Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister: Darren Jones’ prefect vibes were rewarded with a brand spanking new gig in the pre-shuffle right at the start of Phase Two. 52. Growth people feel in their pockets: One No. 10 press officer may have collected their P45 after publishing *that* press release. 53. Mainstream: This totally normal, nothing-to-see-here, soft-left Labour group definitely isn’t a vehicle for Andy Burnham’s return to Westminster.   54. Plastic patriots/plastic progressives: The synthetic material really got a kicking from Labour, who deployed the terms to slam Reform and the Greens respectively. Let’s hope voters have reusable bags. 55. Quint: Five lucky people (Starmer, Reeves, Lammy, Jones and Pat McFadden) who apparently decide how government operates. Great job, guys! 56. Hard bastard: The PM’s best effort to show he was “tough enough,” Ed Miliband-style. We all know how that ended.    57. Global Progress Action Summit: Progressives met in a desperate attempt to figure out how to avoid a trouncing from populists. More updates as we get them. 58. Contribution: Reeves’ framing of higher taxes, carefully sidestepping the fact that taxes aren’t optional. 59. Maintenance department: Deffo-not-future Labour leadership contender Wes Streeting’s description of how the party presents itself publicly. Stirring stuff. 60. Terminator: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood earned an Arnie-inspired new nickname as she tried to show Labour is really, really tough on migration, honest. 61. Reverse Midas Touch: Anything the PM touches, including ID cards, is hit by this tragic affliction, according to his critics. 62. V levels: The natural successor to A and T level educational qualifications. Just a matter of time before there’s one for each letter of the alphabet. 63. Culturally coherent: Tory rising star Katie Lam’s justification for deporting legal migrants got her into some hot water. 64. 24/7 circus of sh*t: One former Tory aide’s pithy description of the Home Office. Who are the clowns? 65. Six seven: Nobody over the age of 11 understands this meme — yet the PM unleashed havoc in a classroom by joining in. 66. Civilizational erasure: America’s dystopian portrayal of what Europe is facing probably won’t feature in many tourist brochures. 67. Turning renewal into reality: Starmer’s ambition for next year in his final Cabinet meeting of 2025. Bookmark that one.

LONDON — Keir Starmer began 2025 by promising the “fight for change” would define his every hour. It didn’t quite work out. But in fairness to the British prime minister, Westminster has seen plenty of change this year — and more than a few fights. Starmer can raise his festive pint to making it to “Phase 2,” more school breakfast clubs, falling interest rates, occasionally successful dealmaking with the U.S. and Brussels, and progress (maybe?) in Gaza and Ukraine. But inevitably, the rest of SW1 was more occupied with Reform UK’s ascent, Zack Polanski’s arrival, tax hikes and U-turns, four directors of comms, three U.S. ambassadors, two political directors, and a deputy PM all at sea. In short, politics didn’t tread much lighter on Westminster lives this year — and 2026 looks set to be even heavier. So before the wheels start turning again, we should look back and honor those who made an outstanding contribution to the chaos, or otherwise, in 2025. It’s time for Playbook’s entirely unscientific annual awards. MINISTER OF THE YEAR Honorable mention to Nick Thomas-Symonds, Starmer’s pal who inched Britain closer to Brussels without riots on the streets, and even got a promotion out of it (if that’s what you call attending weekly Cabinet). Shabana Mahmood’s star is rising fast and Darren Jones has moved to the heart of No. 10, but they each have much to prove on asylum reform and digital ID. So for sheer stubborn stickability, this one goes to Ed Miliband. The energy secretary won big in the spending review, refused Starmer’s attempt to reshuffle him and held together most of Labour’s green pledges while net zero fell out of fashion. Party members love his fighting talk and there’s even some silly leadership chatter. Reality will hit next year as the visible costs of net zero pile up. Until then, live the dream. OPPOSITION POLITICIAN OF THE YEAR Zack Polanski bobbed for contention, having already pulled the Greens level with the Tories, but it would be mad not to hand this one to Nigel Farage. Who else could take a band of upstarts through racism rows, council in-fighting and a hokey-cokey whip, yet still define the Westminster narrative all year and be the presumptive PM (for now)? Reform UK’s rising poll ratings brought huge donations which are now funding a rapid expansion in staff. Whether that lead has peaked, whether it’ll survive tactical voting, hard policy or attempts at discipline, and how much it rests on Farage himself, we’ll find out more in 2026 — but for now, we’re all dancing to Nigel’s tune. BACKBENCHER OF THE YEAR A tough one this time. An honorable mention goes to about half the PLP — not least Meg Hillier, Marie Tidball and the many other Labour MPs who forced July’s crashing U-turn over disability benefit cuts. Playbook’s DMs were also full of decent suggestions for campaigns including Natalie Fleet restricting rapists’ parental responsibility, Sarah Owen securing bereavement leave for more couples who have a miscarriage and Anneliese Midgley pushing No. 10 on a Hillsborough Law and Olivia’s Law. But if only one Labour backbencher’s name ends up in history books this year, it may well be Tonia Antoniazzi. Sure, the victory for her amendment to decriminalize abortion showed where this parliament sits on the issue — but there was serious organizing too. Antoniazzi was at pains to present hers as a narrow reform and saw off plans to go further. Her strategy worked. Despite fractious debate beyond the Commons, the change passed with little fanfare and marked a moment when Britain trod a different path to the U.S. SACKING OF THE YEAR Peter Mandelson. In political death as in life, the U.S. ambassador dominated SW1 — even from 3,500 miles away — and his exit over old emails to Jeffrey Epstein marked a moment when the danger accelerated for Keir Starmer. Mandelson’s posting to D.C. had a decent start, heralding big promises on trade in a way that might have vindicated his pal Morgan McSweeney’s desire for a schmoozer. But the PM’s decision to defend Mandelson, then dump him a day later, rebounded on Starmer and his chief of staff and gave Tory Leader Kemi Badenoch a much-needed boost. The Dark Lord always has his revenge. Sacking of the year: Peter Mandelson. | Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images RESIGNATION OF THE YEAR There were so many contenders, from Tulip Siddiq’s departure as a Treasury minister and Danny Kruger’s defection to Reform UK to Tim Davie and Deborah Turness’ explosive double exit from the BBC. But for sheer impact, it had to be Angela Rayner. The deputy PM’s resignation over her tax affairs prompted a reshuffle that put ministers’ noses out of joint, removed a key figure in Labour’s soft left and derailed the delicate balance between a technocratic PM and his more human deputy. Rayner and Starmer were genuinely close and it is telling that he said she’ll be back in Cabinet. The results of that HMRC investigation will be watched closely in 2026 — but some allies already think she’ll be able to rehabilitate herself enough to run for leader.  SPECIAL ADVISER OF THE YEAR The frustration among Labour aides when Starmer’s veteran comms chief Steph Driver left in September showed how much she is missed from No. 10. But it seems appropriate to hand this one to a serving SpAd, and Playbook reckons Jamie Williams deserves the crown. Since he landed in the Home Office in October, Shabana Mahmood’s media aide has been keeping his new boss exactly where she wants — in the headlines and facing to the right — like he did for Steve Reed the rest of the year. An ex-private sector consultant (and, fun fact, Cabinet Office Minister Josh Simons’ stepbrother), Williams honed his Tiggerish, disciplined yet polite style under Labour’s general election attack unit and is a smooth operator in his own right. Good thing too, as he’ll have his work cut out in 2026. COMEBACK OF THE YEAR A late entry from Tim Allan, who returned to No. 10 after 27 years to be its latest director of comms and promptly declared war on the Lobby — but this one goes to Lucy Powell. Days after being sacked as Commons leader, she reinvented herself, bested a thicket of rivals and beat Bridget Phillipson by a whisker. (It was so close, some of her critics grumble that Powell would’ve lost if there was still an electoral college of unions, members and MPs.) What she does now with the job apart from listening is up to her. ICONIC OUTFIT OF THE YEAR An honorable mention for Andrea Jenkyns’ glittery number, but Playbook has something way more prosaic in mind — Keir Starmer’s suit jacket in the Oval Office. Think of it like a costume on a stage; whipping King Charles’ invitation letter to Donald Trump from his breast pocket was a “jazz hands” moment for a PM not given to theatrics. It almost didn’t happen; Starmer’s aides had to persuade White House officials not to take the letter off him before the big moment. But it produced the photo of No. 10’s dreams, kicked off a beautiful friendship and began the trade push that led to that “deal” in May. Who cares if we’re still trying to work out the details? Or if the “coalition of the willing” still hasn’t got boots on the ground? It beats being in the president’s bad books … right? POLITICAL ADVISER OF THE YEAR The survivor of 14 years under the Tories had every right to sail away, but Sheridan Westlake just couldn’t let go. Parachuted into a demoralized CCHQ, the former “super-SpAd” reinvented himself as an irritant to the government, ghost-writing endless parliamentary questions (and consuming an ironic quantity of taxpayer resource in the process). He and colleagues claimed some responsibility for the Rayner scalp. The Tories have improved at the game of parliamentary opposition — even if Nigel Farage is playing on a different pitch. LEADERSHIP CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR There were just so many to choose from. Who could forget Robert Jenrick chasing fare-dodgers, Andy Burnham going for the bond markets, or the buzz around rising star Katie Lam at Tory conference? (OK, some readers might have missed that last one). But here Playbook bows to the inevitable, and hands it to Wes Streeting. Seldom has a minister so firmly entered the hive mind as a contender with their job and loyalty intact (well … ish), and so little gritty detail about actual plotting in the public domain. Of course, Streeting’s team would say, because no such machinations are taking place. Kudos to his tightrope-walking all the same. Interview of the year: Keir Starmer with Tom Baldwin. | Leon Neal/Getty Images BROADCAST ROUND OF THE YEAR Wes Streeting also triumphs in what was broadly a fallow year for iconic media rounds. The morning after those briefings that he could mount a coup against Starmer, the health secretary’s counter-attack on the “toxic” culture in No. 10 swung the narrative in his favor and achieved the unthinkable — some MPs feeling sorry for the Cabinet minister. Chapeau. INTERVIEW OF THE YEAR Keir Starmer with Tom Baldwin. Baring his soul to his biographer, the PM told a human story of a man mourning his brother. But Starmer also revealed his political frailties, and his admission that he should have read his own “island of strangers” speech better will be one of the things his critics remember most this year. PEER OF THE YEAR Honorable mention to John McFall, who as Lord Speaker oversaw an ever more assertive chamber on government policy and assisted dying — and by stepping down early to care for his wife with Parkinson’s, has reminded us all where our priorities should really lie. But Playbook hands this one to Charlotte Owen. Her appointment as one of the youngest peers was controversial, but Owen did what every good parliamentarian should — pinpointed an issue, got stuck in and didn’t stop campaigning until she achieved change. New laws on deepfake porn are a testament to that. EXCUSE OF THE YEAR Nigel Farage’s response to claims that he said racist things as a teenager had an impressive range. We saw outright denials, then claims of poor memory, Farage insisting he did nothing “in a hurtful or insulting way,” and a pivot to attacking the racism aired on the BBC in the 1970s. Playbook can’t wait to see how he responds next. SCOOP OF THE YEAR The news that Rachel Reeves would no longer hike income tax — broken on a Thursday night by the FT’s George Parker, Anna Gross and Sam Fleming — stood apart from the usual pre-budget briefing for the anguish it inspired inside the Treasury. Unauthorized and market-moving, it stung because it removed spinners’ hopes of managing the news themselves.  WTF MOMENT OF THE YEAR There were so many to choose from; Reform’s Nathan Gill being jailed for taking pro-Russia bribes … David Lammy’s fight with a French taxi driver … Donald Trump’s Eurovision-style tariff board … a speaker at Reform’s conference linking the Covid-19 vaccine to royal cancer … and (of course) Rachel Reeves crying in the Commons. But Playbook has to hand it to the endless stream of WTF moments created by Your Party. From that first glorious night of chaos in July to the stand-off over £800,000, Zarah Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn will keep us hacks gainfully employed for some time to come. Press conference of the year: Donald Trump (and occasionally Keir Starmer) at Turnberry. | Robert Perry/Getty Images PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE YEAR Donald Trump (and occasionally Keir Starmer) at Turnberry. The president showed who the special one was in this relationship with 88 minutes of freewheeling chatter about Gaza, Ukraine, “windmills,” tariffs, Sadiq Khan, Epstein and Victoria Starmer — all before the meeting had started. The prime minister and three of his aides could only watch with frozen smiles. Playbook’s Emilio Casalicchio would be proud. BEARD OF THE YEAR Boris Johnson’s face fungus. GAFFE OF THE YEAR Another crowded field, from the Tories misspelling Britain on a chocolate bar to David Lammy fishing with JD Vance without a license. But this prize can only go to the Office for Budget Responsibility. Uploading the budget response (and therefore the meat of the budget) to a predictable URL was a misjudgment for the ages that cost OBR chair Richard Hughes his job. And they might have got away with it too, if it weren’t for those meddling Reuters hacks. BACKSEAT DRIVER OF THE YEAR Tony Blair. The ex-PM’s global supervillain good governance organization pushed digital ID straight onto Labour’s agenda, while Blair himself got involved (with mixed success) with the plan for Gaza and even interviewed Shabana Mahmood about God. The man just can’t let go. U-TURN OF THE YEAR Keir Starmer gave us so many contenders, from a national grooming gangs inquiry and winter fuel payments to (at the 11th hour) inheritance tax for farms — but shelving PIP disability benefit cuts was as significant as it gets. The U-turn crystallized how No. 10 had mishandled its own backbenchers and emboldened Labour’s soft left at the highest levels, including Angela Rayner. You could even argue it nudged the two-child benefit cap to its full demise four months later. Best of luck to DWP Minister Stephen Timms, who has to put forward alternative reforms in 2026. SURVIVOR OF THE YEAR Morgan McSweeney. The No. 10 chief of staff is still at the heart of Starmer’s operation — at the time of writing, anyway — even after so many aides shuffled out the door. Briefing-gate made him the story, MPs mutter about his future, and some argue his influence has waned (e.g. on blaming Brexit for our ills) — but the man who spent so long building the Starmer project remains a big part of its future. Roll on 2026, when we’ll see exactly what that future holds. Perhaps McSweeney and Starmer will be joint winners in this category next year?

LONDON — To mark the festive season POLITICO’s London Playbook asked a host of key players in Westminster to share the best — and worst — Christmas presents they’ve ever received. Here’s what came back. Lucy Powell, deputy Labour leader: As a kid, probably my Girls World (no-one under age of 45 would understand) was my best.  As an adult, we only do Secret Santas now and we write a list for that.  But recently my (lovely) husband bought me the same present he bought me the year before … John Swinney, Scottish first minister: Best gift? Steve Clarke’s early Christmas gift to the nation with a 4-2 win over Denmark to secure a World Cup spot next year. Ed Davey, Lib Dem leader: When my wife got me my first set of base layers, I at last understood why my lovely mum had always asked for Damart. Mel Stride, Conservative Shadow Chancellor: My best present was a pedal car when I was around 5. I can still remember it being unveiled on the kitchen table. It seemed huge and high up and loaded with the promise of long drives and adventure. I loved that car. Beth Rigby, Sky News political editor: Best? An Arsenal Christmas bauble. Worst? A Tottenham Hotspur mug. An Arsenal Christmas bauble. | Julian Finney/Getty Images Richard Hermer, attorney general: Best present? Mr Muscle drain cleaner for all those governmental blockages. Worst present? Media coverage last year that referred to me as a Londoner, rather than as being from Wales. James Heale, Spectator deputy pol-ed: My best Christmas book was receiving a copy of Alan Clark’s diaries as a schoolboy. Sadly, most Tory backbenchers live much less exciting lives these days. Douglas Alexander, Scotland Secretary: The ‘best’ present was my son — who was born much earlier than expected … and so arrived in December. The ‘worst’ gift was the year there weren’t any presents at all … as the Manse [a house provided for church ministers] was burgled during the Christmas Eve service my dad was taking. Wendy Chamberlain, Lib Dem chief whip: My husband bought me a keyboard and rather than wrap it he put a card with a pound note inside it on the tree and wrapped a packet of Quavers for under the tree. These were my clues. I ended up pretty frustrated and confused, particularly given that I’ve never played a musical instrument … Natalie Bennett, Green Party peer and former leader: Worst? Call it a cautionary tale for older relatives: when I was 10 (1976), my grandmother was trying to be “down with the kids” and gave me the latest Abba cassette. But youth taste in suburban Sydney had already moved on and I was careful not to tell any of my peers because Abba was by then deeply uncool. My best was when my then-partner Jim got an artist to draw a picture of my former Battersea staffie [Staffordshire Bull Terrier] Beanie. The artist captured her energy and enthusiasm beautifully. Luke Tryl, More in Common pollster: I don’t think anything can beat getting Mighty Max Skull mountain age 5 or 6. It’s all been disappointment since then. Katie White, DESNZ Minister: My best gift might actually be a gift this year, after I spotted what looked very much like a confirmation order from a generous gift giver. If my hopes are right, it’s the viral, now TikTok-famous Yorkshire pecorino. The worst, and possibly least romantic, gift I’ve ever received was a poached egg pan from Woolworths. Stephen Flynn, SNP’s (follicly-challenged) Westminster leader: The mother bought me caffeine shampoo last year or the year before.