Tory MP Tom Hunt had a bit of a drama last night as he realised he didn’t have an ID to vote for today’s local elections. A screenshot of these texts have circulated Twitter and of course, Labour took the opportunity to jump on it. Ipswich Labour posted this:

Turns out, Tom has a pattern of losing and forgetting things, as this is a common symptom of dyspraxia – a disability he is diagnosed with. Tom got in touch with Guido to express his hurt at Labour’s attack, saying “When Labour say ‘don’t be like Tom Hunt’, they’re basically saying ‘don’t be dyspraxic'”. He went on to point out their hypocrisy over this issue as Labour are often calling for better representation of neurodivergent and disabled people in the Commons. Labour’s “mockery” of Tom wasn’t very inclusive of them…

As MPs and hacks were aggressively soliciting donations from each other for their charity London marathon runs in late April, one suspect sponsorship seems to have gone unnoticed. Shadow DCMS secretary Thangam Debbonaire raised over two grand for a charity called “Bristol Refugee Rights”. It’s got some pretty racey ideas when it comes to migration…

The charity campaigns for changes to help migrants access state benefits more easily when they turn up to the UK as well as supporting radical changes to the definition of those who want to claim refugee status such that it includes victims of “poverty” and “environmental destruction.” No prizes for guessing what effect that would have on their numbers. Senior Labour shadow ministers Ian Murray and Fleur Anderson, as well as the Reynolds family, donated to the cause. With Labour opening its wallet for massive immigration their claims to support border control run thin…

This isn’t the only suspect interaction Debbonaire has had with the charity sector. The charity she was director of from 2011 to 2014 made a £27,000 loss, upon which she immediately resigned. The accounts are overdue to this day. Is Thangham Labour’s Achilles’ Heel?

The Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) has predicted that the UK will be the slowest-growing economy in the G7 next year. All thanks to our so-called Conservative government’s high taxes and borrowing…

The OECD has forecast that the UK’s GDP will rise by just 0.4% this year and 1% in 2025, nearly half that of the US. The OECD said “tax receipts keep rising towards historic highs of about 37% of GDP” and Hunt’s NI cuts “only partially offsets the ongoing fiscal drag from frozen personal income tax thresholds”. They also blast the increased corporate tax rate (from 19% in 2021 to 25% now). Higher taxes and borrowing does not promote growth, Chancellor…

Meanwhile, the ongoing decline of the London Stock Exchange’s is a matter of huge concern for those in the City. British success stories like chip-maker ARM and entertainment group Flutter have listed outside the UK thanks to regulations and high taxes. Hopefully Labour can learn a few things from the Tories’ mistakes…

There’s no end to the spin war. Two days before polling day the Labour-run Milton Keynes council issued a statement slamming the Tory government for failing to provide funds for a GP surgery expansion project. Voters might want to seek a second opinion, though…

As it turns out, the council does actually have the funds to submit a planning application for the expansion. The decision not to was taken at a meeting of the Integrated Care Board, which the Labour-run council happens to have a seat on. Hilariously, as a leaked email has now revealed, the recommendation not to expand the GP surgery was taken by… the Council itself. Local Tory MP Ben Everitt is furious and has complained to the returning officer, Labour agent and the police over Labour’s statement. One way to destroy the police forever is to criminalise spin…

John Swinney has confirmed his bid at a press conference in Edinburgh. What will Forbes do?

Sturgeon’s former Deputy promises a “centre-left platform” and “an approach to net zero that takes people and business with us.” Swinney took a while to mention his party’s founding aim: he says “more people need to be convinced” of independence. Frustratingly close, is it?

UPDATE: On Kate Forbes, Swinney says: “I want her to play a significant part in the team” in a“very involved, senior position”.

UPDATE II: Kate Forbes announces she won’t stand for leader, saying:

“I have concluded that the best way to deliver the urgent change Scotland needs is to join with John Swinney and advocate for that reform agenda within the Scottish Government. I can therefore today announce that I will not be seeking nomination as the next SNP leader. John will therefore have my support and endorsement in any campaign to follow.”

The latest YouGov poll won’t be good news for Downing Street while they brace themselves for local election results. It puts the Tories at 18%, Labour a 26 percentage point lead. Not particularly helpful for the Tories on polling day…

Though it’s no surprise the Tories are sinking in the polls, perhaps the bigger news is that Reform are on 15%, just 3 percentage points away from the Tories. Though they’re only fielding 300 candidates in the locals, they could pip the Tories to second place in the Greater Manchester mayoral race and in Blackpool South. Reform Deputy Leader Ben Habib tells Guido:

“The nation is waking up to the fact that the Conservative Party is no longer conservative. Reform will replace the Conservative Party for ‘small c’ conservatism in the country.”

Imagine the polls if Nigel stood…