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Harriet Symonds

Harriet Symonds

@harriet_symonds

The Sánchez Doctrine: How The Greens Are Remaking Their Foreign Policy Offer
Political parties
The Sánchez Doctrine: How The Greens Are Remaking Their Foreign Policy Offer
The left insurgent party has swelled with those backing its stance on Gaza, but how will the Greens formulate a new foreign and defence policy that will satisfy members and attract swing voters? Harriet Symonds investigates
Starmer Loyalist Labour MPs Resist Campaigning For Burnham In Makerfield
Political parties
Starmer Loyalist Labour MPs Resist Campaigning For Burnham In Makerfield
Exclusive: A number of Labour MPs who oppose replacing Keir Starmer are refusing to campaign for Andy Burnham in the Makerfield by-election.
Battle For Britain – How Reform Plans To Take On Andy Burnham
Political parties
Battle For Britain – How Reform Plans To Take On Andy Burnham
The outcome of the Makerfield by-election will determine the direction of Britain. Harriet Symonds explores how Nigel Farage’s Reform are taking the fight to the King of the North
Ed Miliband Allies Say He Has Numbers for Leadership Challenge
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Ed Miliband Allies Say He Has Numbers for Leadership Challenge
Ed Miliband has the numbers to stand in a leadership contest if Andy Burnham is unable, his allies say.
Wes Streeting Ally Resigns As Health Minister
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Wes Streeting Ally Resigns As Health Minister
Zubir Ahmed, a junior minister in the Department of Health and Social Care, has resigned from government saying he has "irrevocably" lost confidence in the Prime Minister.
Starmer Enters The Danger Zone
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Starmer Enters The Danger Zone
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been put on notice by Labour MPs after a dismal set of local election results.
East London Labour Deploys Rayner In Bid To Avoid Seismic Locals Defeat To Reform
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
East London Labour Deploys Rayner In Bid To Avoid Seismic Locals Defeat To Reform
Angela Rayner has accused Reform UK of being anti-working class in a bid to help Labour keep hold of a London council that it has controlled since its inception over six decades ago.
Ed Miliband Says He Will “Double Down, Not Back Down” On Clean Energy
Environment
By Harriet Symonds
Ed Miliband Says He Will “Double Down, Not Back Down” On Clean Energy
Ed Miliband has said he will “double down, not back down” on the government’s clean energy mission in the face of critics calling on him to change course.
Political Donations From Overseas To Be Capped At £100,000
Foreign affairs
By Harriet Symonds
Political Donations From Overseas To Be Capped At £100,000
Political donations from British citizens living overseas will be capped at £100,000 as part of a major reform to the role of money in politics.
Lib Dems Fear Frustrated MPs Could Defect To The Greens
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Lib Dems Fear Frustrated MPs Could Defect To The Greens
There is concern within the Liberal Democrats that some of their MPs could defect to the Greens amid restlessness over the direction of the party.
Shabana Mahmood Warns Labour MPs They Cannot “Retreat To Comfort Of Fairytales” On Immigration
Home affairs
By Harriet Symonds
Shabana Mahmood Warns Labour MPs They Cannot “Retreat To Comfort Of Fairytales” On Immigration
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said reforms to the immigration system are about "compassion and control" as she faces down Labour MPs concerned by the changes.
Labour Deputy Leader Opposed By-Election Attack On Green Drug Policy
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Labour Deputy Leader Opposed By-Election Attack On Green Drug Policy
Lucy Powell was among the Labour figures privately concerned about attacking the Greens' drug policy during the Gorton and Denton by-election campaign, PoliticsHome understands.
John Healey Warns UK Bases At Risk Of ‘Indiscriminate’ Strikes After Ayatollah Death
Foreign affairs
By Harriet Symonds
John Healey Warns UK Bases At Risk Of ‘Indiscriminate’ Strikes After Ayatollah Death
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed in a coordinated United States and Israeli military offensive.
Government Abandons Plan To Delay 30 Council Elections
Home affairs
By Harriet Symonds
Government Abandons Plan To Delay 30 Council Elections
Keir Starmer has scrapped plans to postpone dozens of local elections.
Tim Allan Quits As Keir Starmer's Director Of Communications
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Tim Allan Quits As Keir Starmer's Director Of Communications
Tim Allan has resigned as Keir Starmer's director of communications, further deepening the crisis facing the Prime Minister's premiership.
Peter Mandelson To Retire From House of Lords
Parliament
By Harriet Symonds
Peter Mandelson To Retire From House of Lords
Lord Mandelson is to step down from the House of Lords after it was revealed he leaked sensitive government documents to the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Inside The Battle Over Banning Under-16s From Social Media
Technology
Inside The Battle Over Banning Under-16s From Social Media
Under pressure, Starmer has opened the door to an Australia-style ban on under-16s using social media. But the Prime Minister’s own thinking on the issue is changing as he fights with Kemi Badenoch to champion online safety. The House reports on an issue inflaming passions like few others
Labour MPs Divided As Andy Burnham Eyes Westminster Return
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Labour MPs Divided As Andy Burnham Eyes Westminster Return
Andrew Gwynne’s resignation may have cleared a path for Andy Burnham’s return to Westminster, prompting a stark divide among Labour MPs and a fresh headache for Keir Starmer.
Ministers Tell Labour MPs Jury Reforms Could Come With Review Clause
Home affairs
By Harriet Symonds
Ministers Tell Labour MPs Jury Reforms Could Come With Review Clause
The government has told Labour MPs that the decision to scale back jury trials could be reviewed if the court backlog is reduced to a certain level, PoliticsHome understands.
Lord Hermer Urges Labour MPs To 'Not Throw Away' Government Achievements
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Lord Hermer Urges Labour MPs To "Not Throw Away" Government Achievements
Attorney General Lord Hermer has urged Labour MPs to focus on the government's achievements amid speculation about the party leadership.
Will Major Welfare Reform Happen In 2026?
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Will Major Welfare Reform Happen In 2026?
The Labour backbench rebellion that forced Keir Starmer to abandon welfare reform was one of the most bruising moments for the Prime Minister in 2025. He is determined to try again next year. Will he succeed?
Copyright Thwarts Plan To Recreate Love Actually Moment In Prime Minister's TikTok
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Copyright Thwarts Plan To Recreate Love Actually Moment In Prime Minister's TikTok
A plan for Keir Starmer to pay tribute to a scene from the Christmas film Love Actually in his first TikTok video was scrapped over copyright concerns.
Former Marine Emerges As Surprise Name In Race To Succeed Keir Starmer
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Former Marine Emerges As Surprise Name In Race To Succeed Keir Starmer
Armed forces minister Al Carns is being discussed as a wildcard candidate to succeed Keir Starmer.
Tories Stand By Chairman After He Likened Reform Logo To Nazi Badge On X
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Tories Stand By Chairman After He Likened Reform Logo To Nazi Badge On X
The Tories have refused to condemn a social media post by their chairman, which seemingly likened a Reform UK logo to a Nazi badge.
Will Nigel Farage's Attempt At Fiscal Restraint Work?
Economy
By Harriet Symonds
Will Nigel Farage's Attempt At Fiscal Restraint Work?
Harriet Symonds asks whether Reform UK's attempt at fiscal restraint will convince voters they are ready for government
Half of 2024 Labour Voters Have Gone Elsewhere, Party Privately Tells MPs
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Half of 2024 Labour Voters Have Gone Elsewhere, Party Privately Tells MPs
Exclusive: Half of voters who backed Labour at the last general election have deserted the party, according to internal polling shared with Labour MPs.
Nigel Farage Abandons Reform UK's Promise To Cut Taxes
Economy
By Harriet Symonds
Nigel Farage Abandons Reform UK's Promise To Cut Taxes
Reform leader Nigel Farage has abandoned plans for tax cuts, breaking from Reform UK’s previous manifesto commitments.
Tories Launch New Campaigning Unit
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Tories Launch New Campaigning Unit
The Conservatives have set up a new unit in a bid to sharpen their doorstep strategy.
Reform Moves To Shore Up Fiscal Credibility Ahead of Budget
Economy
By Harriet Symonds
Reform Moves To Shore Up Fiscal Credibility Ahead of Budget
With the budget looming next month, Reform has a point to prove that they are the party voters can trust on the economy.
Public Wants More Balanced Coverage Of Political Parties, New Polling Suggests
Culture
By Harriet Symonds
Public Wants More Balanced Coverage Of Political Parties, New Polling Suggests
Voters want more balanced broadcast coverage of political parties to reflect the emerging multi-party system, new research from YouGov and Cardiff University suggests.
Security Minister Says Claims That Government Collapsed China Spy Case Are 'All Untrue'
Foreign affairs
By Harriet Symonds
Security Minister Says Claims That Government Collapsed China Spy Case Are "All Untrue"
Security minister Dan Jarvis has described accusations that the government interfered to collapse the China spy case as “all untrue” and defended the role of Keir Starmer's national security adviser, Jonathan Powell.
'There’s No Great Conspiracy': Inside Team Robert Jenrick
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
"There’s No Great Conspiracy": Inside Team Robert Jenrick
Robert Jenrick lost the last leadership race but many think he’s preparing for the next one. Harriet Symonds explores the shadow justice minister’s operation
Andy Burnham Casts A Shadow Over Labour Party Conference
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Andy Burnham Casts A Shadow Over Labour Party Conference
The figure of Andy Burnham is looming large over Liverpool as Labour MPs prepare to gather in Merseyside this weekend for their annual party conference.
Liberal Democrats Set To Reshuffle Top Team After Party Conference
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Liberal Democrats Set To Reshuffle Top Team After Party Conference
The Liberal Democrats will reshuffle their frontbench after their party conference in Bournemouth this weekend, senior party figures have told PoliticsHome.
'Morgan Is Taking Over': What We Learned From Keir Starmer's Major Reshuffle
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
"Morgan Is Taking Over": What We Learned From Keir Starmer's Major Reshuffle
Keir Starmer's reshuffle provided a clear glimpse into the government's "phase two" priorities, but is already being described as a No 10 power grab. "Morgan [McSweeney] is taking over big time," said one Labour MP.
Concern Grows Reform Is Turning Into A Party Of Tory Rejects
Political parties
By Harriet Symonds
Concern Grows Reform Is Turning Into A Party Of Tory Rejects
Nigel Farage's party has become a home for former Conservatives – but there are concerns within Reform UK that too many Tory switchers risks doing it more harm than good.