Daily Politics from the New Statesman Labour Together’s attack on press freedom
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Feb 21, 2026 Rachel Cunliffe, Associate Political Editor at the New Statesman, offers sharp analysis of UK political turmoil. She explains why Labour Together matters and the controversy over a commissioned report into journalists. Short takes cover the delayed local elections, the political U-turn, and Reform UK’s new shadow cabinet and internal tensions.
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Label Sources Carefully And Expect Editor Scrutiny
- Be cautious when describing anonymous sources; excessive accuracy can inadvertently identify them.
- Editors typically trust journalists but require direct evidence when legal or reputational risk rises.
Sensitive Sourcing Led To Editor Trust
- Rachel recounts handling a sensitive story about Number 10's relationship with Brendan Cox and having to involve her editor.
- She withheld source identities because people didn't want their names revealed, showing editorial trust in journalists' sourcing.
Labour Together Is A Factional Power House
- Labour Together functions as a factional campaign vehicle rather than a neutral policy think tank.
- That blurs lines between party operations, think-tank activity, and Downing Street influence.