New:

Around half of British Council contractors in Afghanistan have been given the green light to come to Britain with their families.

It's a breakthrough - but 12 months since the scheme to help them launched.

A senior Tory MP slams 'lack of urgency'

theguardian.com/politics/2023/… Around half of the contractors still haven't been cleared to come to the UK.

The British Council tells me the risks to their safety are "gravely evident" and workers + their families are "living in increasingly desperate circumstances".

theguardian.com/politics/2023/…

Chief whip Wendy Morton’s position surely looking precarious - several Tory MPs saying she’s gone. Earlier, No 10 issued a flat denial she was leaving her job.

Hugely buoyant “Labour To Win” rally - where Wes Streeting jokes that under the Trade Descriptions Act campaign group “Momentum” should be renamed “Inertia”.

He says “we’re winning in the party, now it’s time to start winning in the country”.

Calls debate subjects win “6-0” Peter Kyle says tribute to the Queen was “Labour at its best” - poignant and respectful.

Belting out the national anthem in front of a huge Union flag and a leader with a knighthood: “When are they going to get the message, Labour is rooted in the mainstream of public sentiment”

Confirmation tonight of what I’d heard for some time - that Charles Walker is being lined up to join privileges committee

He told me at the start of the month he was “willing to do it if there was a shortage of volunteers”.

Well-respected figure will command cross-party support Walker has already announced he is standing down at the next election - and most Tories believe he would do a good job

His name has been in the frame for months but the Johnson government overlooked him and instead tried to recruit Christopher Chope to join the Partygate probe.

Dire economic forecasts for the year ahead, so where is the chancellor?

I'm told Nadhim Zahawi is working remotely with his family while they are on holiday.

Broadcasters have bid for an interview with him but been told he’s not available. Zahawi says: "There is no such thing as a holiday and not working... The privilege and responsibility of public service means that you never get to switch off, that’s why I have had calls and briefings every day and continue to do so."

Truss' plan to cut pay for 5m+ public sector workers outside London would see millions of nurses, police officers and armed forces personnel earn £1,500 a year less, say team Sunak.

They add it would punish voters in the red wall just before an election and be a gift to Labour. Sunak supporters eyeing up a real row here they can use to wound Truss at a crucial moment, as ballots start to drop on Tory members' doormats.

https://twitter.com/Simonhartmp/status/1554412986999218177

Exc: Jacob Rees-Mogg faces cabinet backlash over plans to scrap all carry-over EU Law by 23 June 2026.

theguardian.com/politics/2022/… Brexit Opportunities minister says 2,194 laws will fall away - unless retained or amended.

31 Jan 2030 also being considered as another "significant in the Brexit calendar" for sunset to kick in.

But no extra funding - and civil service facing 91k cut.

theguardian.com/politics/2022/…

Fury mounting over Chope objection.

A minister tells me: "He has been for many year a jurassic embarrassment - tonight he crossed a line. The man should retire. If he comes into the team room, colleagues would want to say two words to him and the second word would be ‘off’." *tea room

I'm told two amendments have been tabled by Tory MPs that could spare Owen Paterson suspension.

First: Andrea Leadsom's would see a new committee chaired by John Whittingdale to look into original probe, potential changes to system to give right to appeal and "natural justice" Leadsom's amendment proposes Whittingdale report his findings by February.

It's designed to avoid it looking like a stitch-up, or that issue is being kicked into the long grass.

I understand the chief whip examining it closely. A source says: "He wants her to do this."

Exc: Tory MPs say government whips have put pressure on people not to rebel in key Commons votes by threatening to withhold Towns' Fund money.

theguardian.com/politics/2021/… Other tactics said to have been used to keep MPs in line include threatening to not sign off critical defence party funds for those in Tory-held marginals.

And warning those who lose out in the boundary review they may not get selected for another seat.

theguardian.com/politics/2021/…

At least one Conservative association has already paused campaigning for the local elections, following the death of Prince Phillip. Suspect more and from other parties will follow. Lib Dems confirm they've suspended campaigning nationally in light of Prince Philip's death.

Exclusive: Ministers will tomorrow discuss a proposal drawn up by the Cabinet Office to introduce vaccine and testing certification, for when international travel is allowed again. If approved at the COVID-O meeting, responsibilities will be divvied up between government departments:

DFT to set up certification infrastructure, Cabinet Office to to lead on formal engagement with other countries and international organisations.

BREAKING: Residents in two parts of Woking, Surrey to be offered COVID tests after two people with no travel links tested positive for the variant discovered in South Africa. Ruth Hutchinson, Director of Public Health for Surrey, said: “This is a precautionary measure - the more cases of the variant we find, the better chance we have at stopping it from spreading further."

This is coming a little late, as I'm trying to stay off Twitter on non-work days...

2020 was rubbish, particularly as someone who loves meeting new people and spending all hours of the day in a pub.

But I did some pieces I'm proud of and wanted to share: My biggest highlight was getting to cover the US election from Washington DC.

Just before polling day, I went to find people whose friends and relatives had died of COVID-19.

I'll never forget their stories or anger at the White House administration.

news.sky.com/story/how-coul…