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The Latest Breaking News from Helen Macnamara

Charities welcome Burnham’s vow to end rough sleeping but warn he cannot ignore ‘hidden homelessness’ crisis

’If anyone’s going to do it, it will be him’, says Manchester homelessness charity boss

The Independent UK

Will Andy Burnham spark an exodus of London’s middle classes?

Why middle class Londoners could quit the capital if Andy Burnham hammers the South with tax rises, writes Nicholas Cecil

Evening Standard

Q&A: We’ve been in No 10 when a new PM arrives. Here’s what will happen to Burnham on day one

IN THE ROOM: Former Downing Street insiders Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson are here to give you a peek behind the curtain on a PM’s first day, reports Maja Anushka

The Independent UK

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What some are already getting very wrong about Shabana Mahmood

The frontrunner for the position of chancellor in Andy Burnham’s cabinet widely expected to be Shabana Mahmood. Some commentators have already taken to criticising the potential move, in a way that Helen MacNamara has branded ‘annoying’ and Cleo Watson called ‘misunderstood’.

The Independent UK

Starmer was doomed in his first 100 days. Here’s what Burnham needs to do to avoid the same fate

IN THE ROOM: Starmer’s first 100 days in power reveal much about what led to his downfall. All the more reason for Andy Burnham to learn from them, say ex-Whitehall insiders Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson. Reported by Maja Anushka

The Independent UK

Why Burnham might be better off aligning with the US – not the EU

IN THE ROOM: Andy Burnham's proposal to fix the UK's dire economic situation is to devolve and cosy up to Europe – but the solution may lie elsewhere, argues Helen MacNamara. Reported by Maja Anushka

The Independent UK

The real reason Nigel Farage fired himself

IN THE ROOM: Nigel Farage's 'quit-and-reapply' stunt was intended to prove himself as the anti-establishment underdog, but all he’s really done is highlight the holes in his own illusion, say ex-Whitehall insiders Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson. Reported by Maja Anushka

The Independent UK

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Is Nigel Farage’s luck finally running out?

IN THE ROOM: The ‘comeback kid’ has faced an onslaught of scandals in the last few weeks: houses, donations, gold bullion, and more. Ex-Whitehall insiders Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson explain Farage’s playbook and why it might not be working anymore, as reported by Maja Anushka

The Independent UK

The Independent returns as exclusive news partner of Henley Literary Festival

Nigella Lawson, Celia Imrie, and Eric Idle also appear on this year’s star-studded line-up

The Independent UK

Shabana Mahmood tipped for chancellor as John Healey in frame for Home Office

IN THE ROOM: The Independent understands that Mahmood is now among the leading names being discussed for the Treasury, while Healey is being spoken of in Westminster as the frontrunner to take over at the Home Office if she is moved, writes Maja Anushka

The Independent UK

The reason Andy Burnham may already be repeating Keir Starmer’s biggest mistake

IN THE ROOM: Nominations to replace Keir Starmer won’t even begin until 9 July – but just days after being sworn in, Burnham may already showing some red flags, warn Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson. Reported by Athena Stavrou and Maja Anushka

The Independent UK

Keir Starmer’s legacy will be ‘managing to p*** off everyone’, ex-No 10 insider says

IN THE ROOM: From farmers and veterans to judges and pensioners, Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson ask whether the prime minister’s legacy will be defined by the very groups he alienated on the road to reform, as reported by Athena Stavrou and Maja Anushka

The Independent UK

How Rayner played key role in Mandelson files release – and Labour’s humiliation

Former deputy cabinet secretary Helen MacNamara has highlighted how pivotal the ex-deputy prime minister was to the document release

The Independent UK

Why Labour’s anti-Burnham argument doesn’t work

In this clip from the latest episode of In The Room, Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson break down the curious case of Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester.

The Independent UK

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The Independent UK

We’re former No 10 insiders – ask us anything about Labour’s future, Reform, the Greens, and what’s next for Keir Starmer

ASK ME ANYTHING: In The Room hosts and former Whitehall insiders Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson answer your questions on local elections, Keir Starmer’s future, the Mandelson files, civil service drama, and whether Nigel Farage could really be our next prime minister

The Independent UK

Voices: How King Charles survived a rogue ambassador’s storm among the teacups to dazzle Trump

COMMENT: Even an awkward bit of friendly fire in the form of leaked comments which emerged from the UK’s own ambassador to the US couldn’t take the sheen off the King's charm offensive, says Helen MacNamara

The Independent UK

Keir Starmer ‘threw Olly Robbins under the bus’ in wake of Mandelson vetting row

Exclusive: Helen MacNamara calls Starmer’s decision to sack Olly Robbins ‘unacceptable’

The Independent UK

Voices: The government’s in big trouble – here are the 5 things I’d do to fix it

COMMENT: From farming to fuel, the warning signs are already here, says ‘In the Room’ co-host Helen MacNamara. What we need is crisis planning, which is about imagination, not optimism. Right now, the UK risks lacking in both

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The Independent UK

Voices: Morgan McSweeney and the classic mistake he made with his mobile phone

COMMENT: A petty theft – of the kind that happens every day on Westminster streets – has prompted an outbreak of conspiracy theories and added to public mistrust. But the loss of the former chief of staff’s work device has also shone an unflattering light on those who should be…

The Independent UK

Ministers were stockpiling French wine days before Brexit deadline as ‘no deal’ exit loomed

Britain came close to leaving the European Union without a trade deal under Boris Johnson’s leadership

The Independent UK

What happened to Morgan McSweeney’s phone?

Former Deputy Cabinet Secretary Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson, former No.10 special adviser, react to the news that Morgan McSweeney’s phone was snatched in London.

The Independent UK

Voices: How Farage and Cameo showed British politics is up for sale

COMMENT: From personalised videos to crypto ventures, the UK’s politicians are increasingly turning influence into income – and blurring the line between public service and private gain, says Cleo Watson

The Independent UK

Mandelson files deconstructed: How 147 pages add up to very little

In this clip from the latest episode of In The Room, Helen and Cleo report back after combing through the first Mandelson file drop, page by page – and find it coming up rather short.

The Independent UK

‘You try to identify how much trouble you will personally be in’: Inside government at a time of crisis

Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson from The Independent’s ‘In the Room’ podcast lift the lid on life inside government

The Independent UK

Former deputy cabinet secretary reveals the inner workings of Cobra meetings

As the US-Iran war rumbles on, Keir Starmer will be spending his days dashing in and out of lots of important meetings, including Cobra (which actually stands for ‘cabinet office briefing rooms’ – the origins of the ‘A’ remains a bit of a mystery).

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