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EXPLAINED: Cleo watson | Vintage Vibes

In The Room | Count Binface vs Farage: Flakes, Ferraris and the Clacton by-election

With the Clacton by-election just days away, In The Room welcomes perhaps Nigel Farage’s most unusual opponent: Count Binface.

The Independent UK

Jimmy McLoughlin: Labour’s lack of business experience is a problem

IN THE ROOM: Jimmy McLoughlin tells In The Room that ministers do not all need to have run companies – but government must understand how business works. Reported by Maja Anushka

The Independent UK

Why Zack Polanski keeps making the same mistake

IN THE ROOM: After another online row, Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson discuss whether the Greens are struggling to adapt to life in the political mainstream. Maja Anushka reports

The Independent UK

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What Andy Burnham’s first interview as PM really revealed

IN THE ROOM: Andy Burnham has kicked off his second week as PM with a Laura Kuenssberg interview. But how did he fare in this first scrutiny test? Ex-Whitehall insiders Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson weigh in. Reported by Maja Anushka

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

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

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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

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

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The Independent UK

In The Room: Why Starmer’s resignation speech struck a chord with an ex-No 10 adviser

In The Room co-host and former No 10 special advisor Cleo Watson has reacted to Keir Starmer’s emotional resignation speech, drawing parallels to her former boss Theresa May’s departure.

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

Inside ‘massively awkward’ cabinet meetings during a leadership crisis

When Keir Starmer walked into Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, he did so knowing that Labour had lost 1,500 seats in local elections and dozens of his own MPs, including Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, had called for him to resign. To describe the mood around the table as ‘a little awkward’ would…

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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

Local elections: Are we sleepwalking into the weirdest (and most dangerous) government yet?

On Thursday 7 May, 25,000 candidates will stand in the local elections as potential representatives of Labour, the Conservative Party, Reform, the Greens, or as political independents. This number, in Cleo Watson’s words, is totally unprecedented.

The Independent UK

Voices: This is already the most vicious local election campaign I can remember – and I think I know why

COMMENT: A big win is a prize politicians seem willing to fight for more desperately than ever, and no wonder – I have seen firsthand the damage a ‘midterm’ defeat can do, says Cleo Watson

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: Keir Starmer will survive his Commons grilling

COMMENT: As the prime minister faces MPs over the Mandelson vetting scandal, former Downing Street special adviser Cleo Watson – who helped prepare Boris Johnson for his high-stakes appearances in parliament – says Starmer will live to fight another day

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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