Good Monday morning. This is Rosa Prince — I’ll be writing Tuesday’s Playbook too.

DRIVING THE DAY

HAPPY MONDAY: It’s business day for Rishi Sunak, who is about to kick off his morning with a LinkedIn Live Q&A before hosting the first in what he plans as a series of “Business Connect” forums, with 200 CEOs. After that, he’ll meet new Scotland First Minister Humza Yousaf in the Commons for the first time since the latter’s election, then it’s back to Downing Street for the Great British Entrepreneur Awards. And all the while, he’ll be keeping a watchful ear out for news of the evacuation of British nationals from Sudan, which could happen at any time. 

Making connections: Sunak seems genuinely pumped to be taking part in the Q&A with one of his “personal favorite” social media platforms in this vid introducing the LinkedIn Q&A. You can put your burning questions to the PM here. The event starts at 8.30 a.m.

Business Connect: Let’s hope the PM remains cheery as he heads on for his first Business Connect, a conference involving a series of events with what Downing Street describes as some of the country’s biggest industry leaders and investors. He’ll be joined by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch for the launch of what No. 10 says is “a new platform for businesses to engage with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s pro-growth, pro-enterprise government, as part of efforts to deliver on the people’s priorities to grow the economy. “

The backdrop: For both sides, the event is an opportunity to haul the relationship between business and government out of the deep freeze, after a difficult few years in which Brexit, COVID, and the hostile (for very different reasons) regimes of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss left many CEOs wondering if Labour might be a better bet. As Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves continue to love-bomb the country’s biggest firms, the Tories seem to have finally woken up to the idea that they can’t take them for granted. The FT has more. 

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Lest we forget: The summit comes as the business group CBI fights for its life over complaints of rape and sexual assault suffered by staff, which prompted an exodus of members. New Director-General Rain Newton-Smith starts work this week, with the board expected to publish the conclusions of the investigation by lawyers at Fox Williams into the allegations in the next few days.

New group: Playbook was told by a person involved in the setup that a new group hoping to step into the gap while the CBI steps away from most of its functions to deal with the crisis, provisionally called BizUK, has identified strong demand. “We hope to be up and running within two months, with the formal launch taking place after the summer,” they said.

Sunak says: Back to today’s events. In words briefed out overnight about the Business Connect event, Sunak said: “Business Connect provides the next fantastic opportunity to demonstrate how we are growing the economy. We are bringing together some of the U.K.’s biggest companies and investors for meaningful dialogue — and I’m a prime minister passionate about working with business to unlock opportunity and progress.”

Slapdash: One business insider complained to Playbook, however, that the attempt to engage was “a bit slapdash,” with invitations sent out only on Friday — not ideal when, they said, the average CEO’s diary is set in stone months ahead of time. “The initiative is a good one, but how they’re going about it is another thing. it’s very last minute,” they said.

Too late? The insider said Sunak and his team were behind the curve when it came to courting the business vote compared to Labour. “Rachel Reeves and Jonathan Reynolds are going all out and agreeing to speak at anything you can think of — they’re going to the opening of an envelopment. The message is: You can trust us. Some of them are very impressive; Reeves, Reynolds, Wes Streeting — they know how to talk to business.”

Minds remain open: After Johnson infamously suggested doing something unmentionable at 7 a.m. to business, the insider added: “Most businesses read the polls like everyone does. The fact is, they like Rishi, they think he’s competent and a guy they can do business with. They are broadly agnostic as to who should form the next government. With Boris, there was an intense skepticism of his ability to understand what business actually needs. Rishi is someone who’s worked in business and understands what they need in terms of a stable framework.” 

BIG IN BELGIUM: Also part of business day, Grant Shapps is taking a dozen CEOs to Belgium for the nine-nation North Sea Summit in Ostend. In a speech at 6.30 p.m. local time (5.30 p.m. in the U.K.), he will announce the world’s largest interconnector cable between Britain and the Netherlands called LionLink, which will deliver 1.8 gigawatts of energy — enough to power more homes than in Greater Manchester and Birmingham combined.

Take that, Vlad: Shapps will argue agreements such as LionLink will reduce Europe’s reliance on Russian oil, saying: “After a year in which our countries stood firm against Putin’s aggression in Ukraine, these agreements show we will never again be held hostage on energy supplies either. Instead, we will work together to accelerate the energy transition.”

Rishi (and friends) write: Ahead of the summit, Sunak and other leaders co-wrote an op-ed for POLITICO in which they say: “Together, we will combine and coordinate our ambitions for deploying offshore wind and developing an offshore electricity grid, putting Europe on the path toward a green economy fueled by offshore green power plants.”

MEET THE LEADER: Sunak will greet Scotland’s Yousaf in parliament for what will no doubt be a welcome break for the first minister after all his difficulties in Holyrood, what with people being arrested and the accountants quitting and all that. It’s their first tête-à-tête since Yousaf’s victory, and after his foray into SWI, he’ll head on to meet London Mayor Sadiq Khan, as well as ambassadors including those from Germany and Ukraine.

Watching brief: Could Yousaf’s predecessor Nicola Sturgeon be arrested in the coming days as part of the ongoing police investigation into missing SNP funds?

DOM WHO? With so much going on, Dominic Raab’s angry resignation from the government on Friday seems ages ago. But there are a few loose ends to tie up, with many in the party still concerned about the relationship between the civil service and ministers, and suggestions — hotly denied — that the former have a secret agenda to disrupt the plans of the latter.

Charm offensive: After the Sunday Telegraph suggested some Tory MPs were complaining that Sunak saw them as “canon fodder” in the wake of Raab’s departure, Sunak used the weekend to schmooze some of his backbenchers. On the invite list to Chequers yesterday were Andrea Leadsom, a red trousered Paul Bristow, chinos-clad Brendan Clarke-Smith and jeans-wearing Ben Bradley. Always a problematic outfit choice, clearly, but is Rishi in blue suede shoes or slippers?

That’ll do it: After Francis Maude’s call in the Observer for a more political civil service, former Theresa May adviser Nick Timothy, who knows a thing or two about robust leadership, has a suggestion that may delight — or infuriate — Whitehall. He writes in the Telegraph that: “the Civil Service should be reduced in size by half, pay should be doubled, and ministers should be able to appoint the officials who do the work for which they are accountable.”

Coming for you: Interviewed in the i, Lib Dem Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper confirms Raab’s Esher and Walton seat is top of her party’s 80-seat target list. The Lib Dems are challenging the former DPM to act on rules he once advocated for by pledging to hold a by-election if his Surrey constituents demand one. The Guardian says, as a backbencher in 2013, Raab pioneered plans for badly behaved MPs to face a referendum by their constituents.

Top of the in-tray: The Mirror says Raab’s replacement, Alex Chalk, must press ahead with his predecessor’s plan to force defendants in murder cases to attend court.

SCARED IN SUDAN

SHELTER IN PLACE: British nationals stranded in Sudan are still being told to shelter in place, as the Foreign Office figures out a safe means to evacuate them. Yesterday’s successful extraction of around 30 diplomats and their families angered some who accuse the government of “abandoning” them, the Telegraph reports. The FCDO says the diplomats were recovered first because they were under direct risk of attack, and will now be working from their new base in Cyprus to draw up plans for a bigger evacuation. Sky’s Sam Coates is among those who paint a vivid picture of the day’s events. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will deliver a statement in the Commons this afternoon.

Tough one: No one should be in any doubt about the scale of the challenge. With food and water running out and many nationals without electricity, one Foreign Office official told Playbook they were “very aware” that time was of the essence. But the situation on the ground remains highly volatile, with no immediate likelihood of agreeing a formal ceasefire, and the airport no longer functioning.  

Get in touch: The FCDO is urging all Brits in Sudan to register using this form, so they can identify how many need to be assisted, and where they currently are. 

Not easy. The official said diplomats had been distressed at leaving Sudanese staff behind — and urged those still stranded to wait to be contacted. “This is not a straightforward scenario,” they said. “We know there are very upset families, but we need to ensure we can get them out safely. The French were shot at as they evacuated their staff yesterday — it is a very volatile situation. The deteriorating picture in terms of food and water is also being taken into consideration.”

The escape: The Mail hears that British nationals are likely to be driven to Egypt or Red Sea ports and transported to the Saudi port of Jeddah. But both involve drives of up to 12 hours, and there are fears of hostage-taking. 

Diplomatic angle: Sunak spoke to Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah el-Sisi last night, following the latest in a series of COBRA meetings that have been held in recent days. Talks have also taken place with diplomats from other countries with stranded nationals, including the U.S., France and Ireland. As the U.N. point nation for Sudan, the Foreign Office official confirmed it may well be the U.K. leading negotiations with the warring Sudanese factions to agree some form of cessation of fighting to assist the safe passage of foreign nationals. 

Luck of the Irish: The Irish government has announced the imminent evacuation of more than 140 of its citizens. 

Warning: The Telegraph’s leader has a sense of foreboding, making a comparison with the bungled Afghanistan evacuation: “When the dust settles, we do not want to be yet again asking why other countries appear to have done better by their nationals trapped in a war zone than we have done by ours.”

What’s it all about? If you’re after an explainer on what exactly is behind the violence in Sudan, Nesrine Malik had this excellent long read in the Guardian at the weekend.

OH, DIANE

PREJUDICED, NOT RACIST? Diane Abbott will today join her friend and ally Jeremy Corbyn on the backbenches after being suspended by Labour over the letter she wrote to the Observer claiming Jewish, Irish, Roma and Traveller people experience prejudice but not racism in the same way black people do. Her 36-year career as a Labour MP now hangs in the balance as an investigation begins into her conduct. The Guardian’s write-up is here.

All over for Abbott? The Times suggests Abbott’s swift apology may be a mitigating factor, although her explanation — that an early draft was sent and published in error — was greeted with derision in the Twittersphere. If she doesn’t have the whip restored, Abbott will be unable to stand as a Labour candidate at the next election. There was plenty of head-in-hands-holding in Labour circles following the episode, although also some satisfaction at Starmer’s swift action in suspending the whip. One Labour insider told Playbook: “We mean it when we say zero tolerance,” adding pointedly: “Even the left aren’t defending her.”

Sound of silence: Indeed, there was a deafening silence in defense of Abbott, with the Corbynite Jewish Voice for Labour and Momentum just about the only major groups to come out for her, and no Labour MPs objecting to her suspension. Even Jon Lansman, Momentum’s founder, described her comments as “disgraceful.”

Long overdue: Some Labour figures had considered suspending the whip from Abbott over her public comments even before her letter to the Obs, two people tell my colleague Dan Bloom. A frontbencher told him: “This was a long time coming and the situation is becoming unmanageable.” They voiced doubt over whether her apology would be enough to restore the whip.

Damning: Tomiwa Owolade, who wrote the original article Abbott was responding to in her Observer letter, has this thoughtfully damning analysis in the New Statesman, in which he argues the Hackney MP profoundly misunderstands the nature of racism. He makes the searing point that Abbott’s suggestion that Jews can not experience racism in the same way as black people because they are not as powerless itself plays on antisemitic tropes about Jewish people controlling politics and finance.

Wot he said: As former Labour deputy Tom Watson points out, you gotta feel for the Observer crew who must be kicking themselves at missing a story on their own letters page that went on to feature on the front of virtually all today’s papers.  

WHAT LABOUR WANTS TO TALK ABOUT: Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Pat McFadden is out on the morning broadcast round to discuss price rises and inflation. He’ll say inflation is forecast to be higher in the U.K. than in any other G7 country.

STILL CRIME WEEK SOMEWHERE: It’s Monday so it must be a Labour crime campaign visit. Starmer is teaming up with Yvette Cooper for a round table on violence against women and girls with experts and activists. Starmer will do a pool clip “some time after 1100.”

**It’s next week! On May 4 at 1:30 p.m., POLITICO Live organizes a virtual event “Is Europe on the right path to prevent medicines shortages?” . Our healthcare reporter Helen Collis will be joined by MEP Kateřina Konečná (GUE/NGL, Czech Republic); Adrian van den Hoven from Medicines for Europe; Darija Kuruc Poje from the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists and Prof. Gilles Vassal, from the European Society for Paediatric Oncology to discuss to what extent the proposals in the Pharmaceutical legislation will help or fail to overcome medicines shortages in Europe. Register now!**

COURT NEWS

DAY IN COURT: The Court of Appeal today begins what is listed as a four-day hearing into the case brought by a coalition of charities, trade unions and asylum seekers including Detention Action and Care4Calais over the government’s Rwanda immigration scheme. They are seeking to overturn a High Court ruling that deemed the government’s asylum policy fair and legal; if the Home Office is successful in arguing against the appeal, flights could take off for Rwanda as soon as this summer. You can watch the Court of Appeal live stream here.

REBEL REBEL: The case comes as the Telegraph reports that Tory rebels led by Tim Loughton will meet today to discuss whether to push for more concessions over child migrants ahead of the return of the Illegal Migration Bill to the Commons tomorrow. They are said to be seeking a proposed 24-hour time limit on detention for unaccompanied minors be put in law rather than guidance. Loughton’s group of around 15 MPs also wants a ban on removals of under-18s, and no deportation without welfare checks. 

Exceptional circumstances: A Home Office spokesman told the Telegraph the bill would be amended so under-18s would “only be exercised in very limited circumstances, such as for the purposes of family reunion or removing someone to their safe home country.” They added: “A further amendment will address concerns about the detention of unaccompanied children by making clear that an unaccompanied child can only be detained in exceptional circumstances, with specific time limits, as set out in regulations.”

Modern slavery: A separate rebellion led by former Tory leaders Theresa May and Iain Duncan Smith over the bill’s weakening of modern slavery protections is also expected, the Telegraph says. 

Suella v the Church: The i reports that the bishop of Durham, Paul Butler, has vowed to lead the campaign against the bill in the House of Lords. He told the paper: “I believe we can and must do better than this.”

TODAY IN WESTMINSTER

DID YOU GET IT? The big debrief begins today into Sunday’s mega national emergency alert, in which tens of millions of the nation’s mobile phones issued a simultaneous howl at the moon at 3 p.m. All except those on the Three network, which stayed obstinately mute. Playbook ace reporter Noah Keate, who was among those with a dumb phone (geddit), has rounded up Westminster’s reaction. 

Alert, alert: Labour’s Angela Eagle received her alert a minute early … the Lib Dems’ Helen Morgan didn’t receive an alert … Labour’s Chris Elmore received his alert a minute late … Health Minister Maria Caulfield’s local church delayed its blessing of the bells for the alert … the SNP’s Angus MacNeil accepted it worked … Labour’s Ian Mearns didn’t receive the alert but did see Newcastle’s sporting success … Tory MP Michael Fabricant declared the alert an anticlimax … Labour’s Anna McMorrin received the alert in three languages … Plaid Cymru’s Hywel Williams criticized the Welsh translation … Tory Chairman Greg Hands, aboard the 211 bus, promoted a rather different “national alert” … Labour’s Stella Creasy said the alert stopped her dozing off … and Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg had his “unnecessary and intrusive alert” switched off.

Weary sigh: A Cabinet Office spokesman said the test had gone as it was supposed to, so potential glitches could be identified and finessed to ensure problems don’t arise when a real emergency hits. “This is why we have a test,” they sighed wearily.

Bleedin’ autocorrect: The spokesperson confirmed the Welsh version of the alert misspelled the words “eraill yn ddiogel,” meaning “others are  safe,” as eraill yn Vogel,” meaning “others in a rather delicious form of New Zealand sliced bread.” 

ON THE CHEAP: A new Brexit row has broken out between the U.K. and EU over Britain’s application to rejoin the multi-billion Horizon science and technology funding program. My POLITICO colleague Cristina Gallardo reports that the U.K. is seeking a cut-price entry fee — to general lip-curling from Euro-land. One senior diplomat representing a powerful EU country tells Cristina: “[Britain] really need to make up their mind. What we don’t accept is any kind of rebate for the United Kingdom, this Margaret Thatcher-style thinking of ‘we want our money back.’”

GET BRITAIN BOOMING: The Mail splashes on its new campaign to “scrap the tourist tax” with a letter to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt from leading business, retail and tourism bosses, who argue getting rid of 20 percent VAT for overseas visitors would more than be repaid from the boost in tourist bucks.

WHAT’S YOUR EMERGENCY: Ambulance crews in England spend 1.8 million hours per year — equal to 75,000 days — dealing with patients with mental health issues, NHS figures obtained by Labour’s Rosena Allin-Khan found. The Guardian reports the number of 999 calls ambulance services receive involving mental health services is also increasing every year.

SIR HUMPHREY RULES: Britain’s policy on China is worse than an episode of “Yes, Minister,” former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith has declared. Writing in the Express, Duncan Smith said the U.K. government’s position stems from a desire not to upset China, with Britain failing to prevent China’s mistreatment of Uyghur people in Xinjiang and the persecution of democracy campaigners in Hong Kong. He added China poses a systemic threat to the U.K. “and the rest of the free world.”

SCHOOL MEALS CONUNDRUM: Former Tory minister Steve Brine warned schools face a growing gap between the cost of providing free school meals and government funding — the Mirror has a curtain raiser ahead of his Westminster Hall debate tomorrow.

BORIS SPEAKS (AGAIN): Boris Johnson is in conversation with broadcaster Tania Bryer as part of the Alan Howard / JW3 Speaker Series in JW3’s Howard Hall in north London at 7 p.m.

HOUSE OF COMMONS: Sits from 2.30 p.m. with work and pensions questions … and then the main business is the second reading of the Non-Domestic Rating Bill and a consideration of the Lords’ message on the Public Order Bill. Labour’s Alison McGovern has the adjournment debate on mental health support in the Wirral.

WESTMINSTER HALL: Debates an e-petition from 4.30 p.m. relating to the impact of the U.K.’s exit from the European Union (led by the SNP’s Martyn Day).

On committee corridor: Academics give evidence to the Scottish affairs committee about defense in Scotland (3 p.m.) … The leveling-up, housing and communities committee hears from Leveling-Up Minister Rachel Maclean about reforms to national planning policy (4 p.m.) … Department for Transport Permanent Secretary Bernadette Kelly gives evidence to the public accounts committee about HS2 Euston (4 p.m.) … and the national security strategy (joint committee) hears from cyber experts on Ransomware (4.15 p.m.).

HOUSE OF LORDS: Sits from 2.30 p.m. with oral questions on changes to the license of water companies, improving research into the causes and treatment of brain tumors and support for individuals with a Special Education Need in finding employment as adults … and then the main business is the Shark Fins Bill at committee stage, the third reading of the Energy Bill and the eleventh day at committee stage of the Leveling-Up and Regeneration Bill.

BEYOND THE M25

LETTER OF EXPULSION: The Express reports on an open letter signed by around 80 parliamentarians from 30 countries, calling on France’s Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna to expel China’s Ambassador to France Lu Shaye for suggesting former Soviet countries did not have “actual status in international law.” U.K. signatories include Tory MP Henry Smith, Labour’s Chris Bryant, the SNP’s Stewart McDonald and Green Party peer Natalie Bennett.

IN POOR HEALTH: Wales does not have a functioning NHS, with people lacking faith in it, BMA Cymru Wales Council Chair Iona Collins said. The BBC reports Collins said people suffering from chest pain “don’t even know” if an ambulance will come.

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MEDIA ROUND

Development Minister Andrew Mitchell broadcast round: Sky News (7.50 a.m.) … Today program (8.10 a.m.) … BBC Breakfast (8.30 a.m.).

Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Pat McFadden broadcast round: GMB (6.45 a.m.) … Today program (7.10 a.m.) … BBC Breakfast (7.30 a.m.) … Times Radio (7.50 a.m.) … Sky News (8.05 a.m.) … LBC News (8.50 a.m.) … GB News (9.05 a.m.).

Also on Times Radio Breakfast: SNP Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy Neil Gray (7.05 a.m.) … Tory peer Daniel Finkelstein (8:05 a.m.) … Green Party Deputy Leader Zack Polanski (8.35 a.m.).

Also on Kay Burley: Non-affiliated peer John Mann (7.20 a.m.) … Chatham House Associate Fellow Rosalind Marsden (8.30 a.m.).

Also on GB News Breakfast: Former Tony Blair adviser John McTernan (6 a.m. and 7 a.m.)

Nick Ferrari at Breakfast: Former Labour Party communications adviser Scarlett MccGwire (7.05 a.m.) … Labour Against Antisemitism Spokesperson Fiona Sharpe (7.10 a.m.).

TalkTV Breakfast: Former NATO and Navy commander Chris Parry (7.05 a.m.) … Defense committee Chair Tobias Ellwood (8.05 a.m.) … Former Brexit Secretary David Davis (8.32 a.m.) … Former Dominic Raab SpAd Nick de Bois (9.05 a.m.).

Politics Live (BBC Two 12.15 p.m.): Tory MP Laura Farris … Labour’s Shadow Commons Leader Thangam Debbonaire … the Observer’s Sonia Sodha … Academic Matthew Goodwin.

TODAY’S FRONT PAGES

(Click on the publication’s name to see its front page):

POLITICO UK: Britain wants special Brexit discount to rejoin EU science projects.

Daily Express: Daring SAS mission plucks Britons to safety.

Daily Mail: Time to scrap the tourist tax.

Daily Mirror: Rod — Give nurses a rise now.

Daily Star: Coronation heat!

Financial Times: U.S. urges South Korea not to fill China shortfalls if Beijing bans Micron chips.

i: Abbott loses Labour whip over ‘offensive’ race comments.

Metro: Escape from Khartoum.

The Daily Telegraph: U.K. citizens ‘abandoned’ amid feeble response to Sudan crisis.

The Guardian: Armed forces evacuate UK embassy staff from Sudan

The Independent: MPs — Cut funding of apprenticeships for City high-flyers.

The Times: Corbyn ally sparks new Labour row over racism.

LONDON CALLING

WESTMINSTER WEATHER: Heavy rain with a gentle breeze. Highs of 12C.

WELL DONE: Numerous politicos braved typical U.K. weather to run the London Marathon for worthy causes — Chancellor Jeremy Hunt raised more than £30,000 for the Royal Surrey Charity, running in five hours, 23 minutes … Minister for London Paul Scully admitted training “hasn’t gone as well as it might” but ran the marathon in four hours and 16 minutes, raising funds for Maggie’s Centres … Tory MP Alun Cairns completed his 11th London marathon in three hours, 34 minutes, raising funds for Barnardo’s … Tory MP James Duddridge dressed as St. George to support the RNLI, taking five hours, 34 minutes … Tory peer James Bethell ran in aid of maternity services at St. Mary’s Hospital in London, taking four hours, 36 minutes … Labour’s Cat Smith said “everything hurts and I have blisters on both feet” after six hours and 16 minutes, having run in support of St. John’s Hospice in Lancashire … Labour’s Dan Jarvis completed the marathon in three hours and 39 minutes for Cancer Research U.K. …

And breathe … the SNP’s David Linden declared “job done” as he ran in five hours, 55 minutes for local charity Geezabreak … the Telegraph’s Christopher Hope ran in four hours, 35 minutes in aid of World Hope International U.K. … Bloomberg’s Alex Morales (who very helpfully sent through all the timings) ran the marathon in three hours and 39 minutes for Alzheimer’s Society … GB News’ Olivia Utley completed the marathon in three hours and 27 minutes for Macmillan Cancer Support … Sky News’ Sophie Morris completed the marathon in four hours, 22 minutes for Pulmonary Hypertension Association U.K. … LBC’s Henry Riley (three hours and 37 minutes), Lucy Bacon (four hours and 52 minutes) and Johnny Jenkins (three hours and 32 minutes) all ran for Global’s Make Some Noise … Lawyer Shola Mos-Shogbamimu completed her run in aid of Prostate Cancer U.K. … Tory MP Edward Timpson (four hours and 28 minutes), Tory peer Graham Evans (five hours and five minutes), Tory MP Rehman Chishti and the Times’ Richard Fletcher also ran. A huge congratulations to all — Playbook is pleased for all their sakes parliament doesn’t sit until 2.30 p.m.

MINI ME: The latest extracts in the Times of Anthony Seldon and Raymond Newell’s entertaining new book on Boris Johnson’s time in No. 10 covers his relationship with Donald Trump, and includes a fantastic anecdote about the president’s first visit to No. 10: “We’ve got the world by the balls, Boris: what can we do?” he is said to have declared. 

Liar, liar: A second extract suggests Cabinet Secretary Simon Case asked a friend in exasperation: “I don’t know what more I can do to stand up to a prime minister who lies.” On its front, the paper suggests the claim could see Case called before the privileges committee investigating whether Johnson knowingly misled parliament over parties in No. 10 during COVID restrictions.

STREETS AHEAD: Historian and writer Gareth Streeter — son of retiring Tory MP Gary Streeter — has been picked as the Tories’ candidate in Plymouth Sutton and Devonport.

NEW GIGS: Allan Nixon and Anastasia Bektimirova join the Onward think tank as head of science and technology and senior researcher (science and technology), respectively.

CONGRATS TO: Sky’s Matthew Thompson announced he would be “absent from your screens for a few weeks” after the birth of his child.

MOVING ON: Former Cabinet Office and Nadhim Zahawi SpAd James Lawson is joining AI defense company Helsing. Before becoming a SpAd, Lawson was Microsoft U.K.’s defense chief technology officer.

ERSKINE MAY FANS UNITE: “Sceptical Perspectives on the Changing Constitution of the United Kingdom,” edited by academics Richard Johnson and Yuan Yi Zhu, has been released, including contributions from former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland, former Labour minister Tony McNulty and non-affiliated peer Kate Hoey.

MAKE A NOTE: “Necessary Women: The Untold Story of Parliament’s Working Women” by Mari Takayanagi and Elizabeth Hallam Smith is out on June 22.

DON’T MISS: The concluding episode of “Endgame in Ireland” — a four-part documentary series about the Northern Ireland peace process, originally broadcast in 2001 — is on BBC Four at 11 p.m.

CULTURE FIX: Need some calm before the political storm? A lunchtime music recital is on at the Royal Opera House from 1 p.m.

FELINE GOOD: International development committee Chair Sarah Champion’s “beloved feral cat” turned up for breakfast yesterday, having gone missing for 10 weeks.

BIRTHDAYS: Defense Minister Andrew Murrison … Labour senior adviser Ben Coffman … Former Irish leader Enda Kenny … Lib Dem peer Brian Paddick … Finsbury PR founder and former “People’s Vote” kingpin Roland Rudd … Former Tory MP Jim Paice.

PLAYBOOK COULDN’T HAPPEN WITHOUT: My editor Emma Anderson, reporter Noah Keate and producer Grace Stranger.

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