The journalists had revealed £730,000 of undeclared funding to Simons’s thinktank

Politicians broke away from tradition and discussed Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in Parliament this week - does this signal the end of deference? The number of people living in asylum hotels has dropped, but what's behind this trend? Popular influencer Clavicular is the face of a growing community of looksmaxxers who are taking over the internet. What is looksmaxxing and why is it so popular?    To battle out who can pitch the story that should lead the news, Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer's Whitehall Editor Cat Neilan, and two newcomers; writer, journalist and host of Sky News' Trevor Phillips on Sunday, Sir Trevor Phillips, and award-winning documentary maker and journalist, Benjamin Zand.    Read ‘Clavicular didn't invent ‘looksmaxxing' – gay men have been at it for a long time' on The Observer website HERE.   **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk  Follow us on Social Media:  @ObserverUK on X  @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky    Host: Giles Whittell    Producer: Casey Magloire and Amalie Sortland   Executive Producer: Casey Magloire   To find out more about The Observer:   Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Head to our website observer.co.uk  Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

Feeling vindicated by the Greens’ byelection win, MPs hope to force the home secretary to rethink her plans

Two senior aides to Keir Starmer have resigned. What does this tell us about where his leadership is heading? What do mass layoffs at The Washington Post mean for journalism? And why did Bad Bunny's Super Bowl half-time show irked Donald Trump?    Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer's Whitehall Editor Cat Neilan, producer Casey Magloire and Digital Production Editor Elaine McCallig to battle out who can pitch the story that should lead the news.   Please come and see us at the next The News Meeting Live on Thursday, the 26th of February: https://observer.co.uk/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-8    **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk  Follow us on Social Media:  @ObserverUK on X  @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky    Host: Jasper Corbett   Producer: Amalie Sortland   Executive Producer: Matt Russell   To find out more about The Observer:   Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Head to our website observer.co.uk  Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

Comfortably taking what was long a safe Labour seat, Zack Polanski’s party also crushed the Tories, who suffered their worst byelection defeat yet

What does the reopening of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza mean for the next phase of Donald Trump's ceasefire plan? What backlash might Keir Starmer face from new details surrounding Lord Peter Mandelson's relationship to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein? And what are the effects of new age verification requirements on Pornhub?   Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer reporters Serena Cesareo and Bex Sander, and Whitehall Editor Cat Neilan to battle out who can pitch the story that should lead the news.   Please come and see us at the next The News Meeting Live on Thursday, the 26th of February: https://observer.co.uk/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-8    **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk  Follow us on Social Media:  @ObserverUK on X  @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky    Host: Jasper Corbett   Producer: Amalie Sortland   Executive Producer: Matt Russell   To find out more about The Observer:   Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Head to our website observer.co.uk  Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalist

The government’s new bill is intended to shut down foreign fronts, yet the Electoral Commission says the party's so-called zero-tolerance approach to overseas oligarchs is rubbish

Does Keir Starmer need to rethink the UK's approach to America? What does the Brooklyn Beckham bombshell tell us about the relationship between celebrities and the press? And will China put a man on Mars?    Jeevan Vasagar is joined by The Observer's Jon Ungoed Thomas, Cat Neilan and Andrew Butler, as they each try to pitch the top story of the day.    Buy tickets to the next The News Meeting Live on Thursday, the 29th of January HERE    **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk   

The veteran Labour strategist has been accused by several former staffers of abusive behaviour

Will the world turn against AI? Could the England men's team finally win the World Cup? And who is the mysterious backbencher preparing to challenge Keir Starmer? Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer's consulting editor for comment, Erica Wagner; deputy sports editor, Andrew Butler; and Whitehall editor, Cat Neilan, as they look ahead to the stories set to shape 2026. **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk  Follow us on Social Media:  @ObserverUK on X  @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky    Host: Rebecca Moore   Producer: Casey Magloire and Poppy Bullard   Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore   To find out more about The Observer:   Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Head to our website observer.co.uk  Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists  

As No 10 holds crisis talks over the chief of staff’s resignation, speculation is rife among backbenchers that Starmer may soon follow

Why did Prime Minister Keir Starmer decide to defend himself and the Chancellor over last week's budget? Rightwing activist and regular GB News contributor Lucy White claimed Commons deputy speaker Nusrat Ghani should not be allowed in the house because she was born in Pakistan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked President Isaac Herzog for a pardon in his corruption cases. Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer's Whitehall editor, Cat Neilan, senior researcher, Serena Cesareo, and producer Poppy Bullard, as they battle it out to pitch the top stories of the day.  Find the team's Must Reads: The Observer's Global AI Index: https://observer.co.uk/data/global-ai **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk  Follow us on Social Media:  @ObserverUK on X  @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky  Host: Giles Whittell Producer: Amalie Sortland Executive Producers: Rebecca Moore & Gary Marshall To find out more about The Observer: Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Head to our website observer.co.uk  Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

Will the shooting of two National Guards in Washington DC change US politics forever? Should the UK roll out screening for prostate cancer? Did Chancellor Rachel Reeves miss an opportunity to gear up the economy for growth?   Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer's Cat Neilan, Steve Bloomfield and James Tapper, as they battle it out to pitch the top stories of the day.    Find the teams Must Reads: Less WFH, more Lime, slower buses   **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk  Follow us on Social Media:  @ObserverUK on X  @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky    Host: Rebecca Moore   Producer: Poppy Bullard   Executive Producer: Matt Russell   To find out more about The Observer:   Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Head to our website observer.co.uk  Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists  

After The Observer raised the alarm, a new group aims to address filibustering and how to strip disgraced peers of their titles more quickly

The Home Secretary has announced a raft of tough immigration controls to make the UK a less attractive destination for illegal migrants. The former Prime Minister of Bangladesh was sentenced to death, how is the UK connected to alleged corruption in her regime? And why does President Donald Trump suddenly want to release the Epstein files?   Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer's Cat Neilan, Bex Sander and Serena Cesareo, as they battle it out to pitch the top stories of the day.    Listen to our Londongrad podcast series HERE Get your ticket for the News Meeting Live HERE  **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk    Follow us on Social Media:  @ObserverUK on X  @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky    Host: Rebecca Moore Producer: Amalie Sortland Executive Producer: Katie Gunning   To find out more about The Observer:   Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Head to our website observer.co.uk  Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists

The former prime minister wrote to Keir Starmer to express his doubts about two of key appointments

Donald Trump was asked if he had sympathy for Peter Mandelson - the former UK ambassador to Washington - who was recently sacked for his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Writer: Cat Neilan Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore

The prime minister is struggling to distance himself from Peter Mandelson

What does the recent cabinet reshuffle tell us about the new direction of the Labour party and the government?  

PM’s chief of staff sought advice on behalf of disgraced former Labour peer, senior government sources claim

Is climate politics full of hot air? What’s next for the government’s Prevent scheme? What’s behind falling vaccine rates in some parts of the country? Rebecca Moore is joined by a trio of Observer reporters: Whitehall editor Catherine Neilan, senior audio producer Katie Gunning and senior writer Francisco Garcia.

But a rarely used act could force a way through for legislation that has divided both houses

Why did the case to prosecute rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs fail? Who’s to blame for Rachel Reeve’s terrible week? Should kids be taught to read faster? Giles Whittell is joined by a trio of Observer reporters. Cat Neilan is the Whitehall Editor, Vanessa Thorpe is the Media and Arts reporter and Stephen Armstrong, who has been covering the Diddy trial for the paper. **Join us at the News Meeting Live: LIVE from the Observer Newsroom on Tuesday 29th July - with Charlene White and Kehinde Andrews Follow us on Social Media: @ObserverUK on X @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok @theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky Listen to Stephen’s episode of the Sensemaker about the Diddy Trial here https://tinyurl.com/ysz3s2dy Host: Giles Whittell, deputy editor-in-chief at The Observer Producer: Poppy Bullard Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore To find out more about The Observer: Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Head to our website observer.co.uk Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com

Backbenchers hope to overturn chancellor’s change to scheme that could burden graduates with above-inflation interest rate increases

Chancellor Rachel Reeves this week set out the government’s spending plans for the next three years, committing billions of pounds to some departments, while significantly cutting others. She told MPs they were her “choices” - but are they the right ones?

The party is on defence after decision to block Andy Burnham from standing for Gorton and Denton seat

After years of peacetime under-investment in defence, the UK government is vowing to shake things up. It says civilians can no longer ignore the rising risks.

Keir Starmer will be in Beijing this week to discuss a proposed £1.5bn floating turbine plant in Scotland. What does this mean for UK green energy?

The UK government’s new Strategic Defence Review says it’s time for British citizens to step up. In southern Gaza, the Red Cross says 21 people were “declared dead on arrival” at a field hospital after an incident near an aid distribution centre. And could Ukraine’s Operation Spider’s Web change the face of modern warfare?

The Manchester mayor has been blocked from returning to parliament in a move that could backfire on a weakened prime minister

The much-hyped EU-UK summit has resulted in a deal that the Government says will improve “jobs, bills and borders”. But has Labour been too cautious?

The Manchester mayor’s decision to run in the Gorton and Denton byelection puts Starmer in a dangerous position

Is youth mobility on the cards for Labour’s post-Brexit plan with Europe? Why is it so hard to record incidents of spiking? How will Labour’s immigration plan affect international students and higher education? Giles Whittell is joined by Rebecca Myers, Katie Riley and Cat Neilan, as they battle to pitch the top story of the day.

Andrew Gwynne’s departure from parliament following his suspension over abusive messages could leave a vacancy for the Greater Manchester mayor

Donald Trump has failed to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, how frustrated is he with Russia’s latest round of attacks on Kyiv? Ofcom published its news set of rules tech firms must comply with - or else. And how have the devastating attacks in Kashmir reignited tensions between India and Pakistan? Giles Whittell is joined by Rebecca Moore, Stephen Armstrong and Cat Neilan, as they battle to pitch the top story of the day.

Prime minister calls US tariff threats ‘wrong’ but rejects retaliatory tariffs called for by some EU allies

The United Nations says 15 medics have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, could this mark a turning point in how the West responds to the war? Is Keir Starmer right to suggest Donald Trump’s tariffs spell the end of globalisation? And with trillions wiped off global markets, will the President retreat from his punchy new policy? Giles Whittell is joined by Jasper Corbett, Chloe Hadjimatheou and Cat Neilan, as they battle to pitch the top story of the day.

While Nigel Farage revels in arrival of Robert Jenrick and Nadhim Zahawi, some in his party are concerned the slew of former Conservatives will bring only problems