Fighting like cats and dogs

BREAKING: The ONS has just announced that Britain’s GDP was flat in July. It grew 0.5 percent in the three months to July.
Good Wednesday morning. This is Stefan Boscia.
THAT WAS A LOT: Donald Trump and Kamala Harris slugged it out this morning in a presidential debate that will be remembered for the former president’s inability to control his anger or stay on message. Harris undoubtedly gained the most from the contest as Trump walked into a series of traps designed to remind voters of the chaos that surrounded his last presidency. Snap polling for CNN immediately afterward had 63 percent of viewers believing Harris won the debate, and my POLITICO colleagues over in D.C. drew exactly the same conclusion. There’s everything to play for with less than two months to go until polling day.
Setting traps: Harris flipped the script in Philadelphia and managed to goad the ex-president into a number of angry, off-message rants with personal attacks that got under his skin. After a sharp and concise start by Trump, and a nervous first 15 minutes for Harris, the ex-president became rattled when Harris hit him with an attack perfectly calibrated to throw him off his game. 
Excuse me? During a question about immigration, Harris began to talk about how Trump’s campaign rallies were weird, and how “people leave early out of exhaustion and boredom.” This clever attack completely unraveled Trump when he should have been on the front foot on his signature issue. Instead of talking about Joe Biden’s sketchy record on border security Trump leapt into a long and rambling rant about the size of his rallies, before then pivoting to talk about how immigrants are … eating cats and dogs. Watch the moment here.
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Far too online: For quick context, this claim has taken hold in online MAGA circles after an unfounded claim about Haitian immigrants eating pets in Ohio. The claim was fact-checked by the moderators during the debate as being not true. Here is a BBC explainer for more.
You’ve gotta laugh: Harris’ response to this, and many other of Trump’s wild claims, was simply to laugh at him as she tried to belittle her opponent throughout the 90+ minute debate. She managed to get Trump away from structured answers that attacked her and Biden’s record and instead turned it into a schoolyard slanging match. One Republican strategist told my POLITICO colleague Anthony Adragna during the debate that “there are zero Republicans cheering this performance on … he is not talking about their policies nor any mention of her flip flops.” Oh dear. (More reactions from Republicans here.)
Brass necks all round: Harris paired this with attempts to paint herself as the change candidate — despite having been the actual vice president for the past four years. She told the American public time and again that the country must not “go back” to the drama-filled days of a Trump White House. Trump hit on a similar change message at times, most effectively during the closing remarks as he questioned why Harris had not done the things she’s promising now over the past three-and-a-half years.
Sounds familiar: Worth noting that one of Harris’ key messages appeared to be borrowed from Keir Starmer’s successful campaign. She said on at least four occasions that America needs to “turn the page” on Trump — a slogan we all heard ad nauseam during the U.K. election campaign. Looks like all those meetings between Labour election guru Morgan McSweeney and Harris’ campaign team really cut through.
Some actual policy stuff: The most significant policy news lines for a U.K. audience were around the Russo-Ukraine war, with Trump refusing to say he wanted Ukraine to win. He also sounded off about Europe’s contributions to NATO as he called for the Continent to carry more of the load for its own national security. Harris, meanwhile, maintained her support for NATO and Ukraine, while hinting she would carry on Biden’s growing trade war with China.
The key quote: Trump was asked whether he wanted Kyiv to win the war against Russia. His answer: “I want the war to stop. I want to save lives.” Asked again whether it was in the best interests of the U.S. for Ukraine to win, Trump said it was in the country’s interest “to get this war finished” and added his oft-repeated claim that Vladimir Putin would never have invaded Ukraine if he was in the White House.
The response: Putin is “a dictator who would eat you for lunch,” Harris responded. “Our NATO allies are so thankful that you are no longer president and that we understand the importance of the greatest military alliance the world has ever known, which is NATO,” the vice president said. If it wasn’t for the Biden administration’s assistance to Ukraine, “Putin would be sitting in Kyiv with his eyes on the rest of Europe, starting with Poland.”
For more: Read a full summary of the debate from my POLITICO U.S. colleagues here. 
BACK IN BLIGHTY: Keir Starmer will try to move on from the winter fuel allowance row with his own backbenches today, after getting through Tuesday’s vote on the spending cut relatively unscathed. However, he will have to defend against one last barrage of pre-recess attacks at PMQs as the Tories try to take advantage of disquiet on Labour’s benches. The PM is bound to also face questions on whether he and Joe Biden are about to let Ukraine use Western long-range weapons to strike inside Russia — a story now rocketing up the news agenda.
Dirty dozen: Tuesday’s rebellion against the government’s decision to means test the winter fuel allowance (stripping it from all but the poorest pensioners) largely fizzled out, despite 53 Labour MPs abstaining and one voting against the government. Labour aides were quick to brief out that all but 12 of the MPs who abstained were given permission to miss the vote. 
Not all as it seems: However, the Guardian’s Peter Walker and Pippa Crerar report this is slightly misleading. They write that angry Labour MPs who were refusing to vote with the government were told to make themselves busy elsewhere and find a reason to miss the vote. Playbook can confirm that at least one of the Labour MPs who signed an Early Day Motion attacking the policy was granted leave to go MIA.
Read all about it: Nevertheless, it was still the largest rebellion of Starmer’s premiership so far and is attracting criticism from left-wing Labour MPs, the unions and the Tories who all say it will result in pensioners turning off their heating in the depths of winter. It is also still dominating the news agenda, with the vote splashing the i, Indy, Express and Guardian this morning. It also makes the front of the Mirror, Telegraph and FT.
Back on the streets: The early release of hundreds of prisoners on Tuesday also dominates the papers, with pictures of freed convicts spraying bubbly outside prisons featuring widely. The Mail’s front goes big on denouncing the early prisoner release and the winter fuel allowance cut as it asks: “Who voted for this?” Labour-supporting newspaper the Sun splashes on the picture of a dancing ex-prisoner from Tuesday, with the headline “Do the hokey chokey!” Great work all round. 
Is it a trap? Rishi Sunak will certainly go big on winter fuel allowance at PMQs and may be tempted to go after Starmer on the prisoner release scheme. There is plenty of ammunition for Sunak as more than one-third of convicts let out early (to free up prison space) were convicted of violent crimes (h/t BBC). However, this line of inquiry would give Starmer room to blame the parlous state of Britain’s prisons on the Tories. Much for Sunak’s interim LOTO to ponder.
CASTING A SHADOW: Starmer will probably also face questions on whether Britain is about to allow Ukraine to use U.K.-made Storm Shadow missiles to strike inside Russia. After long resisting calls to allow more extensive use of long-range missiles, the U.K. and U.S. may give the nod to Volodymyr Zelenskyy in just a matter of days, according to the Sun’s Harry Cole. He writes that the decision could come after the PM meets Joe Biden (who in reality will make the final decision) in the White House on Friday. The Telegraph’s splash also suggests a decision could be made this week.
Hold your horses: Playbook’s Dan Bloom also hears the U.K. and U.S. are coming close to making a call, but reckons a decision is more likely to be weeks away. The Times’ Larisa Brown, Catherine Philp and Steven Swinford have the same, reporting that Washington is now less concerned about potential nuclear retaliation by Russia. They say any decision could happen during the U.N. General Assembly later this month.
Sounds inevitable: When asked about the issue last night, Biden said he was “working that out now” in comments which will only inflame speculation. A senior Biden administration official told my D.C. POLITICO colleagues that the president had not yet made his mind up on the issue.
Heading east: All this will be the key focus of talks between Zelenskyy, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken as the trio meet in Kyiv today. The Ukrainian president is expected to put heavy pressure on the pair to lift the ban, government officials tell Dan. Blinken on Tuesday said “one of the purposes of the trip we will be taking together is to hear directly from the Ukrainian leadership including … President Zelenskyy about exactly how the Ukrainians see their needs in this moment.”
A new double act: Playbook hears Blinken and Lammy will front yet another press conference in Kyiv this afternoon. No word yet on exact timings.
Get David on the blower: Speaking of British-made weapons, POLITICO U.S. got the scoop that Blinken tried to get Lammy to reconsider Britain’s partial arms sales ban to Israel. Two U.S. officials say Blinken tried to get the U.K. government to change its mind in a call with Lammy before the Sept. 2 announcement.
WHAT STARMER WANTS TO TALK ABOUT: The government will introduce its renters’ rights bill today, which will outlaw no-fault evictions and ban landlords from hiking rent more than once a year. The bill will also give tenants the right to request pet ownership in rented properties, create a new ombudsman to resolve tenant-landlord disputes and launch a “digital private rented sector database” to provide information on tenants, landlords and councils. The Indy’s Archie Mitchell has a write-up.
Same same, but different: The legislation is largely a repeat of the original Conservatives’ bill written by Michael Gove, which never made it through the last parliament. However,  a government official told Playbook that Labour’s plans go further than Gove’s by giving tenants more powers to challenge rent increases, outlawing bidding wars between tenants and letting agents and creating a “a one-year period of protection at the beginning of a tenancy, during which landlords cannot evict to move in or sell the property.”
Doing the rounds: Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook is up on the broadcast morning round to promote the policy, which will include Sky at 7.15 a.m. and LBC at 7.50 a.m.
WHAT LABOUR ALSO WANTS TO TALK ABOUT … Is Amazon Web Services’ decision to invest £8 billion in the U.K. over the next five years. Rachel Reeves is taking credit for the newly announced investment into British data centers, with the Treasury claiming she “secured” the cash at a meeting last week. The chancellor will give a speech at University Technical College in Silverstone today to mark the announcement.
It’s really bad, guys: Reeves will confront critics who say Labour’s doom-mongering about the economy has been contradicted by this year’s strong GDP figures. The chancellor will say “two quarters of positive economic growth does not make up for 14 years of stagnation under the previous government.” Reeves will add: “This £8 billion investment marks the start of the economic revival and shows Britain is a place to do business.”
LISTEN UP! All this and more will be discussed on the latest edition of “Politics and Jack at Sam’s,” which should be dropping in your podcast feeds at around 7.30 a.m. this morning. In case you missed the memo, POLITICO’s very own Jack Blanchard and Sky News’ Sam Coates have taken their podcast daily and will be talking you through the day ahead in politics every weekday morning. News, analysis, insider intel, real-life cat fights … it’s all there. Check it out.
MUSICAL CHAIRS: Ballots for select committee chairs close at 4 p.m, so set your alarms to cast your votes, as the minute Big Ben strikes 4 the counting begins. While the aim is to announce the victors in parliament today, Commons officials say there’s a chance it will spill over into Thursday morning.
Who’s who: While eight races have already been decided, many candidates will be waiting with crossed fingers when Hoyle takes the stage. These are Labour’s Tan Dhesi and Derek Twigg for defense … Labour’s Helen Hayes, Sharon Hodgson and Marie Tidball for education … Labour’s Bill Esterson and Melanie Onn for energy security and net zero … Labour’s Barry Gardiner and Toby Perkins for environmental audit … Conservative Karen Bradley and David Mundell for home affairs … Labour’s Shaun Davies and Florence Eshalomi for housing, communities, and local government … Labour’s Sarah Champion and Alice Macdonald for international development …
And breathe: Labour’s Andy Slaughter and Mike Tapp for justice … Labour’s Stella Creasy, Cat Smith and Gareth Snell for procedure … Conservatives Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, David Davis and John Glen for public accounts … Conservatives Simon Hoare and Bernard Jenkin for public administration and constitutional affairs … Labour’s Dawn Butler and Chi Onwurah for science, innovation and technology … Conservatives Alberto Costa and Jeremy Wright for standards … Labour’s Ruth Cadbury, Fabian Hamilton and Grahame Morris for transport … Labour’s Kate Osborne and Sarah Owen for women and equalities … Labour’s Debbie Abrahams and Neil Coyle for work and pensions. Raised eyebrows … may be seen if the newbie MPs standing get elected, after significant backlash from their seasoned colleagues. But this is Westminster, surely the due process will be respected and grudges won’t be held either way … right?
PORT TALBOT UPDATE: Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will deliver a post-PMQs statement on the future of Tata’s Port Talbot steelworks. He is expected to announce better redundancy terms for the thousands of workers set to lose their jobs as a part of Tata’s plans to convert to electric arc furnaces. 
More to come: All this is separate to a grim looming announcement from British Steel in Scunthorpe. My colleague Dan Bloom hears government officials have been in intense talks with the firm. An update could come next week amid fears  that the closure of its blast furnaces — which unions hoped would stay open until a replacement was built — will be brought forward.
FINAL 4: The Tory leadership field is down to four candidates, who will now spend the next few weeks carefully crafting their campaign message for the so-called beauty pageant at the Tory Party Conference. The Times’ Steven Swinford reports that senior Tories will tell all four that they must avoid damaging blue-on-blue psychodrama as the race now really heats up.
WARNING SIGNS: Former Justice Secretary Alex Chalk warned then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak about the need for an early prisoner release scheme in a June 20 meeting, according to ITV’s Anushka Asthana in her upcoming book. Chalk reportedly said that without one they should “get down on their knees and pray.”
IN THE REEDS: Steve Reed embarked on a charm offensive of water industry investors on Tuesday in a bid to attract more private capital into the much maligned sector. The environment secretary’s efforts garnered praise from a surprising source — his Tory predecessor George Eustice, who said on LinkedIn that the meeting was a “welcome step.”
ARE WE ACTUALLY MATES? The i’s Arj Singh and Will Hazell have a piece out on the aloofness with which Starmer treats union bosses. They report that Starmer barely said a word to GMB General Secretary Gary Smith after the pair bumped into each other at parliament — despite the union being one of the PM’s biggest backers. “People talk about unions pulling the strings of the Prime Minister, they can’t even get in to see him,” a senior union figure told the pair.
LICENSE PLEASE: My POLITICO colleagues Abby Wallace and Andrew McDonald have a piece out today on the U.K.’s efforts to back away from the cash cow that has been the North Sea oil fields. They report on the growing backlash from the unions, the energy industry and the SNP to Ed Miliband’s ban on new oil drilling licenses.
COUGH UP: EU and U.S. citizens will have to fork out £10 for permits to enter the U.K. from next year, the FT’s Philip Georgiadis and Anna Gross report. The new system will be roughly modeled on the U.S. ESTA scheme.
FEELING TECHY: Minister for AI and Digital Government Feryal Clark is arriving in Brazil for the G20 Digital Economy Ministerial Meeting to meet global allies to talk digital inclusion and AI. More from my tech reporter colleagues (for POLITICO Pro subscribers). 
SW1 EVENTS: The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors hosts a drop-in on housing and planning reform from 10 a.m. in their Parliament Square offices (invite open to all MPs and peers) …  Chatham House hosts a debate with the three candidates for Commonwealth secretary-general from 1.30 p.m. (invite only) … The Middle East Association hosts its annual reception for U.K. and Arab ambassadors at 6.30 p.m. (invite only) … the anti-NIMBY Labour Infrastructure Forum hosts its launch event from 6.30 p.m. (invites needed).  
REPORTS OUT TODAY: More than half of the 354,000 jobs created by the U.K.’s financial and related professional services industry from 2012 to 2022 were based outside London, according to the TheCityUK.
HOUSE OF COMMONS: Sits from 11.30 a.m. with Wales Questions before Prime Minister’s Questions at midday … followed by a general debate on building safety and resilience. Labour MP Rupa Huq has the adjournment debate on support for democracy in Bangladesh.
WESTMINSTER HALL: Debates from 9.30 a.m. on topics including planning policy for Traveler sites (led by Shadow Business and Trade Secretary Kevin Hollinrake) … depopulation in rural areas (Labour’s Torcuil Crichton) … and financial fraud and economic crime (Labour’s Luke Charters).
HOUSE OF LORDS: Sits from 3 p.m. with the introduction of former Labour MP Kevan Jones and former Conservative MP Chris Grayling … followed by oral questions on the Bread and Flour Regulations 1998, HIV care and dynamic ticket pricing … the committee stage of the Arbitration Bill … the committee stage of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Bill … a motion to annul the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024, followed by motions to regret. 
WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE: Countries bordering Germany have criticized Berlin’s move to temporarily tighten border controls, with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk calling the decision “unacceptable” and a  “de facto suspension of the Schengen Agreement on a large scale.” Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner chimed in too, saying “One of our most important freedoms is being jeopardized to send a political signal.” Read more on POLITICO. 
GAZA LATEST: The death toll for an Israeli strike in the Gaza humanitarian safe zone al-Mawasi has climbed to 19, according to the BBC. One witness called the attack “incredibly intense … you can’t imagine the devastation.”
Blinken speaks: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has criticized Israel following the death of Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, an American pro-Palestinian activist shot dead in the West Bank, telling a press conference in London “No one — no one — should be shot and killed for attending a protest,” adding “Israeli security forces need to make some fundamental changes in the way they operate in the West Bank.” AP has a write-up.
**A message from SSE: The race is on for green growth, net zero and energy security. With the clock ticking, now is the time to turbocharge investment in homegrown energy, accelerate renewables and rewire Britain. At SSE, we’re already investing over £20bn in mission-critical energy infrastructure. We’re building the world’s largest offshore wind farm. We’re transforming our networks to connect homes and businesses to a greener grid. We’re pioneering low-carbon technologies such as hydrogen and carbon capture to reduce emissions from the flexible power needed to back up the system when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining. But, we want to invest a whole lot more. Billions more. Because actions, not ambitions, will secure our energy future and help Britain become a clean energy superpower. SSE. We power change. Find out more.**
Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook broadcast round: Times Radio (7.05 a.m.) … Sky News (7.15 a.m.) … BBC Breakfast (7.30 a.m.) … LBC (7.50 a.m.) … 5 Live (8.05 a.m.) … GMB (8.30 a.m.). 
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott: BBC Breakfast (6.50 a.m.) … Times Radio (7.35 a.m.) … LBC News (8.50 a.m.) … GB News (9.05 a.m.) … Talk (9.20 a.m.). 
Also on BBC Breakfast: Labour MP Taiwo Owatemi (7.15 a.m.). 
Also on Nick Ferrari at Breakfast: National Residential Landlords Association Chief Executive Ben Beadle (8.05 a.m.). 
Also on GB News Breakfast: Tory leadership candidate James Cleverly (8.05 a.m.). 
Also on Times Radio Breakfast: Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Merezhko (7.15 a.m.) … Former United States Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker (8.15 a.m.) … James Cleverly (8.35 a.m.). 
Also on Sky News Breakfast: Fuel Poverty Action Co-Founder Ruth London (7.45 a.m.) … James Cleverly (8.15 a.m.) … Ukrainian MP Andrii Osadchuk (8.30 a.m.). 
5Live MP Panel with Chris Warburton (10 a.m.): Labour MP Jeevun Sandher … Shadow Equalities Minister Mims Davies … SNP MP Kirsty Blackman.Politics Live (BBC Two 11.15 p.m.): Labour Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin … Shadow Transport Secretary Helen Whately … Lib Dem MP Joshua Reynolds … Paymaster General Nick Thomas-Symonds … Shadow Energy Minister Andrew Bowie … the Sun’s Noa Hoffman.
POLITICO UK: Harris won the debate — and it wasn’t close.
Daily Express: United we stand in winter fuel fight. 
Daily Mail: Who voted for all this?  
Daily Mirror: Hand in your phones.
The Sun: Do the hokey chokey!
Daily Star: Mr and Mrs Smithy.
Financial Times: Apple ordered by EU court to pay €13bn in Irish back tax.
i: Starmer and Reeves to push ahead with cuts after facing down rebel MPs.
Metro: Huge toll on me, by cleared TV Kyle.
The Daily Telegraph: President poised to lift Ukraine missile ban.
The Guardian: PM faces calls to aid poorest as winter fuel cut approved.
The Independent: Starmer faces down rebels to force cuts in winter fuel cash.
The Times: Kyiv to get go-ahead to strike deep into Russia.
WESTMINSTER WEATHER: Like politics, the weather will keep you on your toes with sun, cloud, and showers. High 19C, low 6C — which is too cold. 
SPOTTED … Enjoying sparkling wine and mini smoked salmon tarts at Lancaster House at a reception for the Foreign Office’s heads of mission conference: Prime Minister Keir Starmer … U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken … Foreign Secretary David Lammy … Development Minister Anneliese Dodds … Europe and North America Minister Stephen Doughty … No. 10 director of comms Matthew Doyle and foreign policy adviser Donjeta Miftari  … FCDO SpAd Will Heilpern … FCDO Permanent Under-Secretary Philip Barton, political director Christian Turner and EU director Olaf Henricson-Bell … British Ambassador to the U.S. Karen Pierce … Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations Barbara Woodward … U.K. Ambassador to the Association of South East Asian Nations Sarah Tiffin … U.K. Ambassador to Ireland Paul Johnston … Irish Ambassador to U.K. Martin Fraser … U.K. Ambassador to the EU Lindsay Croisdale-Appleby … U.K. Ambassador to Italy Ed Llewelyn … U.K. Ambassador to China Caroline Wilson … U.K. Ambassador to France Menna Rawlings … U.K. Ambassador to Turkey Jill Morris … Senior FCDO spinners Sam Bond, Philippa Russell, Josh Mines and Olivia Coles … Evening Standard’s Political Editor Nic Cecil … FT’s Whitehall Editor Lucy Fisher … Hacks Ellen Milligan, Jill Lawless, William James and Deborah Haynes. 
Also spotted: Sipping Iain Duncan Smith-branded beers at the CSJ 20th anniversary party, hosted by IDS … Shadow Climate Change Secretary Claire Coutinho … Shadow Paymaster General John Glen … Shadow Security Minister Tom Tugendhat … Policing Minister Diana Johnson … Conservative MPs Patrick Spencer, John Glen, Nick Timothy, Danny Kruger and Robert Jenrick … Labour MPs Kim Leadbeater and Carolyn Harris … Former Conservative MP Owen Paterson … Centre for Social Justice CEO Andy Cook and Co-Founder Tim Montgomerie … Former Downing Street director of comms Andy Coulson … Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Eleanor Lyons … Children’s Commissioner Rachel De Souza … BBC Political Editor Chris Mason … Spectator Editor Fraser Nelson … GB News’ Political Editor Chris Hope … Daily Express’ Political Editor Sam Lister … TLS Editor Martin Ivens … Hacks Szu Ping Chan, Andrew Pierce, Camilla Tominey, Cathy Newman, Harriet Sergeant, Iain Watson, Miranda Green, Poppy Coburn, Rachel Cunliffe, James Heale and Liam Halligan.
Also spotted … at the Taxpayers’ Alliance 20th birthday dinner at the Institute of Directors: Shadow Science Secretary Andrew Griffith … Tory MP Richard Fuller … Conservative peer and entrepreneur Jon Moynihan … Former Conservative MPs Jake Berry, Miriam Cates, Ranil Jayawardena, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Lee Rowley … TPA Founder Matthew Elliott and wife Sarah … CCHQ’s Danielle Boxall … CPS’ Robert Colvile … Popular Conservatives’ Mark Littlewood … Guido Founder Paul Staines … Total Politics CEO Mark Wallace … Former No. 10 SpAd Sheridan Westlake … Free Speech Union Founder Toby Young … The Spectator’s Kate Andrews … Sunday Telegraph Editor Allister Heath … Broadcaster Julia Hartley-Brewer. 
Also spotted … allowing the glory of a pint to facilitate happy cross-party socialization (until the topic of smoking bans came up) at the British Pub and Beer Association’s bash to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the pint: Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy … Democracy and Local Growth Minister Alex Norris … Shadow Business Secretary Kevin Hollinrake … Shadow Paymaster General John Glen … Shadow Veterans Minister Andrew Bowie … Labour MPs Charlotte Nichols, John Whitby, Lee Barron, Christian Wakeford and Richard Quigley … Conservative MPs Greg Smith, Ashley Fox and Peter Fortune … Labour Together’s Charles White … the Spectator’s Katy Balls. 
NEW GIG: Leeds City Council head Tom Riordan is departing the north to join DHSC as second permanent secretary. 
SETTING THE BAR: Speaking about Paul Marshall’s £100 million acquisition of the Spectator, Old Queen Street Media Chief Executive Freddie Sayers tells the FT he wants his magazine’s political coverage to ultimately rival some website called *checks notes* POLITICO. Our top tip is to sleep really weird hours. It helps with the puns.
FAREWELL TO ARMS: The Horniman Museum in south London is returning another tranche of ancient artifacts to the Aboriginal community in Australia at a ceremony this afternoon. Items including boomerangs, a stone ax and a knife and sheath will be handed over to the Warumungu community, with U.K. and Australian government officials present. POLITICO wrote last year about the geopolitics of repatriating ancient treasures — it’s well worth your time if you have a few minutes.
ESSENTIAL VIEWING: “X Trillion,” a new feature-length documentary about an all-women crew who sail 3,000 grueling miles across the Pacific to investigate the world’s densest accumulation of ocean plastic, is screening tonight at Hackney Picturehouse, with a Q&A to follow. Check it out.
THAT’S FETCH: Former Prime Minister David Cameron was spotted at the launch of makeup brand Trinny London’s new flagship store, owned by Trinny Woodall of Trinny and Susannah fame. What is his perfect shade?
WRITING PLAYBOOK PM: Andrew McDonald.
WRITING PLAYBOOK THURSDAY MORNING: Dan Bloom.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: Norwich South MP Clive Lewis …  Tory peer and ex-SpAd Mark Schreiber … Tory peer James Sassoon … Former North East Derbyshire MP Lee Rowley … former Broxbourne MP Charles Walker … Former SNP MP Anum Qaisar  …  BBC Editorial Executive Jess Brammar … Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad … Labour staffer Andrew Mitchell.
PLAYBOOK COULDN’T HAPPEN WITHOUT: My editors Zoya Sheftalovich and Jack Blanchard, diary reporter Bethany Dawson and producer Catherine Bouris.
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