London Influence reporter @POLITICOEurope. Covering lobbying, campaigning, political finance and standards in Westminster. Email: [email protected]
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Joined December 2016
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John Johnston retweeted
EXCL: Farage aide Dan Jukes went on an all-expenses-paid trip to Egypt with pollster JL Partners in December 2025, weeks before the firm released high-impact polls without disclosing that they were financed by Reform.
w/@saschaosullivan
NEW: Burnham has frustrated campaigners and MPs as POLITICO confirms a domestic donations cap won’t be picked up in the elections bill in September.
Our analysis also shows that any cap would dent party finances by tens of millions.
W/@BlewettSam
politico.eu/article/uk-polit…
John Johnston retweeted
EXC: Angela Rayner’s memoir won’t be published this year.
Three months after leaving government, a book about her life was announced for a 2026 release.
As Rayner’s housing secretary again, that’s on hold — with no decision on repaying the £61,500 advance.
My analysis below 👇
John Johnston retweeted
More details about Rayner’s book taking a back seat in @POLITICOEurope’s London Playbook PM newsletter authored by @johnjohnstonmi and @isabel__loubser: politico.eu/newsletter/londo…
John Johnston retweeted
Good spot by @johnjohnstonmi in London Influence
Electoral Commission is now reviewing whether to reduce spending limits in election, having been asked by government.
Set to report back in a year's time
gov.uk/government/publicatio…
John Johnston retweeted
Keir Starmer faces his final PMQs as prime minister this lunchtime.
Nominally, he’s still in charge — but his political authority has gone.
How do you answer questions as the ultimate lame duck?
The denouements of his predecessors offer some inspiration.
My piece below. 👇
John Johnston retweeted
Westminster Insider World Cup Special!⚽️
"It might help his opinion polls in the short term" @josephmdurso on whether @andyburnham might benefit if 🦁🦁🦁 bring it home. Plus @ScarlettMccG @GoldbergRadio @kimleadbeater @BrianLeishmanMP 🏴 @mrJamesGraham open.spotify.com/episode/1ef…
Huge potential here. Get rid of reshuffle announcements and simply force departing ministers to travel via nearby Sackville Street.
I don't think the Government should open a Number 10 office in Manchester, but if they do they should get the address right.
There is a Downing Street in Manchester, off the ring road and a short walk from Manchester Piccadilly. Number 10 is on an industrial estate which could be vacated and rebuilt.
John Johnston retweeted
NEW EP 🎙️ Does being a good mayor make you a good prime minister?
I called up every metro mayor across the country and got the low down from @andy4wm @olivercoppard @KiMcGuinness @ClaireWard4EM & Helen Godwin.
Link below ⬇️
John Johnston retweeted
Scoop: UK and Canada are progressing talks on joining Mark Carney's defence bank and involvement in the GCAP jet program.
Gordon Brown has spoken directly to Carney about the DSRB, with MoD and Treasury in contact with officials
Latest for @POLITICOEurope with @estwebber
John Johnston retweeted
NEW: What's the point of political protest?
How the gay rights movements were a blueprint for modern-day protests
Did all those Extinction Rebellion shutdowns actually achieve anything?
And why No Kings marches in the US have had historic levels of support
@POLITICOEurope
John Johnston retweeted
🚨 NEW story up now on Healey's bombshell resignation...
... Military figures say he was "excluded" from DIP talks
... Sets up nightmare scenario for PM at G7/NATO
... Much harder for Starmer to stand in any contest
@POLITICOEurope @BlewettSam @e_casalicchio @Masonboyowen
John Johnston retweeted
In this week's London Influence, @johnjohnstonmi looks into:
💷 Reform's drop in online ads spending ahead of the Makerfield by-election
📚 Andy Burnham's pivot to libraries
🛀 How campaigners used men in a bath to press for donation caps
Read more 👇
politico.eu/newsletter/polit…
John Johnston retweeted
New: Even if Rupert Lowe insists Restore Britain isn’t a grudge project, it’s shaping up to present quite the threat to Nigel Farage’s ambitions
John Johnston retweeted
Bombshell tale from the top @johnjohnstonmi — nearly 2,000 people were targeted with a phishing email after the suspected hack of a staffer of Labour MP Florence Eshalomi.
It took *three* days for those targeted to be alerted after the initial breach.
politico.eu/article/uk-labou…
NEW: Almost 2,000 people were targeted in a phishing attack after the Parliament email account of an MP's staffer was compromised by hackers.
The attackers even responded to concerned recipients to try and assure them it was safe to open the file.
politico.eu/article/uk-labou…
John Johnston retweeted
Andy Burnham, U.K. Labour's candidate for the pivotal Makerfield by-election on June 18, has been playing it safe with his campaign.
But under the surface, the party is actually running a two-track strategy, @johnjohnstonmi explains.
Read the full story: politico.eu/article/labour-f…
John Johnston retweeted
“It was a mistake to get on that pleasure craft with Bob Geldof” @RachelSJohnson tells me, in a special episode of Westminster Insider to mark 10 years since the Brexit campaign.
Also starring @matthew_elliott @GiselaStuart and Kate Fall. Listen here!
open.spotify.com/episode/3Co…
Incredible stuff here. Cabinet minister has his phone stolen from outside the Home Office, the department responsible for, er, policing.
Classic gear.
