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Henry Zeffman

@hzeffman.bsky.social
74K followers 142 following 114 posts

BBC Chief Political Correspondent Instagram: @hzeffmanbbc

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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
NEW Downing Street issues fresh statement on Man City case in an attempt to clarify Andy Burnham's comments to Chris Mason yesterday
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Burnham promises huge change - now to find out how he will deliver it My speech analysis www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Burnham promises huge change - now to find out how he will deliver it
The next prime minister promised nothing less than the biggest change in British politics in 40 years in his first speech as Labour leader.
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Hi Anthony, a friend sent me this and it's really appreciated. Thank you
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Keir Starmer's official spokesperson: "The World Cup might not be ours but the Falkland Islands definitely are” Asked who the PM would be supporting in the final, the spokesperson said: “The PM wishes both teams well for the final, especially Spain.”
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
EXCLUSIVE KEIR STARMER’S FIRST INTERVIEW SINCE RESIGNING *Inside “intensely personal” decision to quit *Impossible for new PM to spend less time on foreign policy *I saved the Labour Party *I was joking when I mocked Andy Burnham, in fact I like him www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Starmer: Burnham will have to spend as much time on foreign affairs as me
In an untypically candid interview, the outgoing PM tells the BBC it was "really tough" to accept his political career was over.
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Alex Partridge @alexpartridge87.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Panorama's investigation into David Sullivan is out: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Billionaire West Ham co-owner David Sullivan accused of preying on women for sex
Women say David Sullivan told them they needed to have sex with him to feature in his newspapers.
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
EXCLUSIVE Sir Keir Starmer will not seek to block Andy Burnham from becoming the Labour candidate in Makerfield, the BBC understands. An ally of Keir Starmer said: “Keir is focused on bringing the party together so it can tackle the issues facing working families.”
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
BREAKING Labour MP Catherine West says that if cabinet has not removed Keir Starmer by Monday she’ll challenge him for the leadership. She tells Radio 4's PM she already has 10 backers and is confident she’d get more www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1...
bbc.co.uk
Election results 2026 live: Challenge Starmer by Monday or I will, Labour MP tells cabinet ministers
In a BBC interview, Catherine West says she has 10 MPs prepared to back her and is
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
After appointment of Harriet Harman as the PM's adviser on women and girls, Gordon Brown has just arrived in Downing Street
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Olly Robbins's position is that the Foreign Office was put under pressure to expedite Mandelson's case, but giving him clearance was the right call. No 10's position is the exact opposite: there was not undue pressure, but Robbins nevertheless made the wrong call at the end of the vetting process
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Alex Partridge @alexpartridge87.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
The King got heckled in Clitheroe this morning, about Andrew and Epstein. Files release fallout all over the place in Britain
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
Just to be clear, the point here is simply: knowing Pond was Brown emphasises how high-level the exchange which found its way to Epstein was
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
Not mad at all Duncan - bang on bsky.app/profile/hzef...
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
NEW: Who was John Pond? This August 2009 email exchange which was forwarded to Jeffrey Epstein included Mandelson, the PM's PPS Jeremy Heywood, the minister/adviser Shriti Vadera and... John Pond. Two sources have told the BBC that John Pond was in fact Gordon Brown, then the PM
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
This is not merely a big moment for Kemi Badenoch and for Robert Jenrick – though it is, of course, both of those things. This is a massive moment for the future of the British right. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Henry Zeffman: Jenrick sacking is huge moment for future of British right
It was Kemi Badenoch's belief that Robert Jenrick was about to make the ultimate leap to the right which has plunged the Conservative Party into turmoil.
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
BREAKING Kemi Badenoch has sacked Robert Jenrick from the shadow cabinet, removed the whip and suspended his party membership. She says she was "presented with clear, irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect" to Reform
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
EXCL: The government is to announce new powers making it easier to mobilise tens of thousands of former armed forces personnel to prepare for war. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
New rules make it easier to call up reservists for war
Reservists will remain on call for an extra decade, with a lower threshold for being called up.
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
NEW Shabana Mahmood announces not only that Craig Guildford, the chief constable of West Midlands Police, no longer has her confidence after a "devastating" independent review, but also that the government will reintroduce the power for home secretaries to sack chief constables
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
EXCL: Kemi Badenoch has questioned whether businesses can afford the current minimum wage and suggested that it should not increase further www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Minimum wage should not go any higher, suggests Badenoch
Badenoch claimed Labour had tipped the balance too far against workers and in favour of welfare.
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
I try to post whenever I have something that I think is worth posting!
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
What to read into Keir Starmer's comments about Brexit this week? Well, not that much. My analysis: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Henry Zeffman: Less than meets the eye to Starmer's words on Brexit
This week, the PM was trying to set the scene for what is to come on the UK-EU relationship, sources say.
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
15 months in, Labour MPs are still craving a compelling story from Keir Starmer. Read my analysis for BBC News here www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Labour MPs still crave a compelling story from Starmer
Frustration is growing about the PM's ability to define the government's message - and sell it to the public.
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Breaking: Hadush Kebatu has been deported to Ethiopia. He left the UK on a flight last night. Shabana Mahmood: “I have pulled every lever to deport Mr Kebatu and remove him off British soil. I am pleased to confirm this vile child sex offender has been deported."
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Victoria Derbyshire @vicderbyshire.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
#Newscast 🎧- new allegations about Prince Andrew; and which party has the best plan to bring down your energy bills? With Henry Zeffman, Simon Jack and me www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
bbc.co.uk
Newscast - New Prince Andrew Allegations - BBC Sounds
New accusations claim that Andrew sought to investigate Virginia Guiffre.
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
Angela Rayner has helped Keir Starmer defuse left-wing discontent. What if she were replaced as deputy leader by someone whose express mandate was to represent left-wing discontent? www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0...
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
Rayner's political future under threat after stamp duty admission — my analysis www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Angela Rayner's political future under threat after stamp duty admission
The deputy prime minister has referred herself for an ethics probe by the PM's adviser.
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
Why Starmer wants No 10 rejig after a year in power -- my analysis www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Why Keir Starmer wants No 10 rejig after a year in power
The PM's revamp aims to build clearer structures and bolster economic expertise ahead of the Budget.
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
EXCL: Kemi Badenoch is reshuffling her shadow cabinet today. And she has persuaded James Cleverly, defeated leadership candidate and former Foreign and Home Secretary, to make a frontbench comeback
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
STARMER'S STORMY YEAR A new BBC Radio 4 programme by me and ace producer Leela Padmanabhan, available NOW From winter fuel to welfare, tax to Trump - I've been speaking to insiders from the PM down to uncover the real story of the past 12 months www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
bbc.co.uk
Starmer's Stormy Year - BBC Sounds
The inside story of Keir Starmer's turbulent first year as Labour prime minister.
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
How did Keir Starmer's first year in government end like this? Find out why through new interviews with: - Keir Starmer - Pat McFadden - Richard Hermer - Louise Haigh - Simon Case - Josh Simons - Sharon Graham - Jake Sullivan and many others www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
bbc.co.uk
Starmer's Stormy Year - BBC Sounds
The inside story of Keir Starmer's turbulent first year as Labour prime minister.
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
Why are you both following me then?
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
STARMER'S STORMY YEAR A new BBC Radio 4 programme by me and ace producer Leela Padmanabhan, available NOW From winter fuel to welfare, tax to Trump - I've been speaking to insiders from the PM down to uncover the real story of the past 12 months www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
bbc.co.uk
Starmer's Stormy Year - BBC Sounds
The inside story of Keir Starmer's turbulent first year as Labour prime minister.
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
NB: The interview was conducted before recent controversy over what legal advice Hermer might have given the government about the Israel-Iran conflict. But it helps to illuminate the approach being taken by the government's chief legal adviser.
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
EXCL: International law is at the heart of Sir Keir Starmer's government and its approach to foreign policy, the attorney general Richard Hermer has said. In his first broadcast interview, he said the government was "determined to lead on international law issues” www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
International law 'at heart' of Starmer's foreign policy, says attorney general
Lord Richard Hermer said that the government was determined to "lead on international law issues" globally.
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
New: President Zelensky of Ukraine is visiting the UK today for talks with Keir Starmer
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
Not sure if I'm missing something, but only 45 MPs didn't vote
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
Assisted dying passes by 314 votes to 291 Or, if you prefer, British politics’s favourite ratio: 52-48
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
Unfollow me then?
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
I've been looking at all these questions and more for a BBC Radio 4 documentary: 'Starmer's Stormy Year' It airs two weeks today on Monday June 30, and will be available on BBC Sounds too www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - Starmer's Stormy Year
The inside story of Keir Starmer's turbulent first year as Labour prime minister.
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
Why was Keir Starmer's honeymoon so short lived? Were Labour prepared for government? Has the prime minister found a new purpose on the world stage? Does Labour's strategy need to change to deal with fragmented multi-party politics?
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
I can’t remember the last time a Conservative MP mentioned the Lib Dems to me. It’s just not what is worrying them, I guess because — as you say — they already lost scores of seats to them. The debate within the party is now how they avoid losing their remaining voters to Reform
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AladdinNoons @aladdinnoons.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
Great piece on Tory woes "You go from having a whole department of thousands of civil servants filling your red box with briefings to working out how to respond to the government in the House of Commons all by yourself," says one shadow minister, sitting alone at a table in parliament. 🥺 😂😂😂
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
Chris co-wrote the piece with me, which includes a lot of criticism of Badenoch. Please read 👍
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
The Conservative Party faces serious problems — is its leader one of them? My BBC InDepth piece on the despondency among Tory MPs www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
The UK Conservatives face problems - is their leader one of them?
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has made missteps that are a ‘total disaster’ for the party, claim insiders
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
Is it a sign of strength from a pragmatic government willing to listen to criticism and act fast in response? Or a sign of weakness from an ideologically unmoored government which does not know what it believes? My analysis of Keir Starmer's winter fuel u-turn www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Starmer's winter fuel U-turn seeks to calm Labour nerves
Grumblings from MPs were exacerbated by local election results, as campaigners reported unhappiness from voters.
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
Is it a sign of strength from a pragmatic government willing to listen to criticism and act fast in response? Or a sign of weakness from an ideologically unmoored government which does not know what it believes? My analysis of Keir Starmer's winter fuel u-turn www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Starmer's winter fuel U-turn seeks to calm Labour nerves
Grumblings from MPs were exacerbated by local election results, as campaigners reported unhappiness from voters.
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
Follows reporting from others including @jessicaelgot.bsky.social
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
NEW: Senior government figures are discussing whether to reverse the controversial winter fuel policy within weeks. Any announcement could coincide with the spending review next month although the talks are fluid and have not yet reached a conclusion www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Ministers consider easing winter fuel payment cuts
Options under discussion include changing eligibility, or restoring the payments to all pensioners.
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
Can Keir Starmer become our first truly post-Brexit prime minister? My analysis for BBC News Starmer banks on public being over Brexit www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Keir Starmer banks on public being over Brexit
For the UK-EU deal to succeed the PM needs it to seem as insignificant and uncontroversial as possible.
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Henry Zeffman @hzeffman.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
In the sense that UKIP actually still exists
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