Thread by @paulwaugh

In case you missed it.
Exclusive: @Keir_Starmer's shadow ministers have let rip at @SadiqKhan's cannabis review.

Leaked WhatsApps:
📱"This is going to go down like a bucket of cold sick in my bit of the suburbs just now…"
📱 "Open goal for Priti..."

inews.co.uk/opinion/labour…

This piece has certainly prompted quite a reaction.
I'm told some of the MPs involved have quit the WhatsApp group in disgust that their messages were leaked to @theipaper.

The piece includes the polling on cannabis that is dividing Labour MPs.
Here's one from @YouGov:

Last year by 52% to 32% Britons said they'd support legalisation of the drug - a view held by almost all age groups, with only 65+ yr olds largely against

But there's this from @RedfieldWilton from January:

38% opposes such a change, 35% say they would support the legalisation of cannabis for recreational use.

redfieldandwiltonstrategies.com/british-public…

Today @chriscurtis94 of @OpiniumResearch (in exlnt thread on Lab polling) finds just 6% are passionate about cannabis law reform.

That can be read 2 ways
1) Labour has nothing to lose on the issue cos the public don't care
2) Labour would look out of touch w/ public priorities

And some Lab insiders have seen other, as yet unreleased, polling showing rough 50-50 split on cannabis legalisation, though most opinion is soft on it.

Tho those with hardest view are in favour. Crucially, insiders say polling finds no evidence reform wd be vote loser for Lab

“Polling shows cannabis will hv absolutely no impact whatsoever on how people vote. They’re more concerned about making sure they get their fair share + the country is getting poorer + life getting harder...But the party relies on focus groups rather than polling + data science."

Worth pointing out too that this isn't necessarily a left-right issue - because some shadow ministers who are in favour of drug law reform are hardly Corbyn supporters.

inews.co.uk/opinion/labour…

Anyway, my column is just one part of @theipaper Weekend's politics coverage. Excellent scoops, analysis, opinion and long reads from our team.

Excellent value just £1.30 from your newsagent or go online: inews.co.uk/subscribe
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There's also this long read from @ChaplainChloe, me, @RichardVaughan1 @singharj on Keir Starmer's position post-Beergate/local elections.

Some say "there was a process, not a panic"
Others critical of handling of the whole affair.

inews.co.uk/news/politics/…

“I am strongly of the view that the whole thing is fucking nonsense. But as soon as the police said they were investigating, it would have been impossible for him – and us – not to say what he said," one Lab politician tells us re #Beergate

They added Starmer has substantial evidence to prove work continued late into the night on the evening in question.
Evidence “not only shoots the fox, it stamps on it and turns it into a shawl around Richard Holden’s neck”. [Holden is the Tory MP who got cops to probe Beergate']

.@janemerrick23 @singharj on Tory disquiet on cost of living.

One minister says Tory grassroots not against windfall tax "but would be unimpressed if we did another U-turn. It adds weight to the idea we have no plan, [just] focused on immediate headlines"
inews.co.uk/news/politics/…

All that, plus opinion pieces from the superb @missdianemorgan (aka Liz from Motherland/Philomena Cunk), @CharleneWhite + @OwainWynEvans.
Buy a copy today folks!