London Playbook PM: The room where it happens

Good afternoon. This is Andrew McDonald.
JUST ANNOUNCED: Catherine, the princess of Wales, has completed her chemotherapy treatment and is focused on staying “cancer free,” she announced in a statement this evening.
— The Tory contenders are facing probing questions from MPs.
— Then in the same Westminster committee room … Rachel Reeves is about to face Labour MPs worried about the winter fuel cuts.
— The deadline has just passed for nominations to select committee chairmanships. 
— Dominic Cummings has more opinions.
**A message from SSE: Want to turbocharge investment in cleaner, homegrown energy? As political parties gather for conferences, now is the time for pace and policy to accelerate the energy transition. At SSE, we’re already investing £20bn in mission-critical energy infrastructure. But we’re ready to work with Government to unleash billions more. Discover more.**
THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS: Eyes in Westminster are focused on parliament’s committee corridor this evening. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to face Labour MPs worried about the cut to winter fuel allowances in the next hour — that’s if Tory MPs grilling their leadership contenders in the same room wrap up on time.
Reeves runs the gauntlet: Reeves will address Labour MPs in just over an hour, at the usual weekly meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party. It’s set to kick-off at 6.15 p.m. 
And it’s a big moment since … MPs will be given the first chance to vote on the cut tomorrow, which is making lots of newbie and oldie MPs alike very nervous. That vote is set to take place around 2 p.m. tomorrow.
The rebellion grows: Five more Labour MPs have signed Neil Duncan-Jordan’s early day motion in opposition to the cut since the weekend, bringing the total up to 17. 
Also not happy: Unite boss Sharon Graham, who is at the TUC conference in Brighton, is continuing to slam the change — which she told the Today program amounts to “pick pocketing” pensioners. 
But they should not expect … any concessions from Reeves this evening. No 10 shot down suggestions of any policy softeners incoming — and told journalists this afternoon it has “no plans” to mitigate the policy. The PM’s spokesperson added that there had been no discussion at cabinet, which took place this morning, of softening the impact of the policy. 
Whoops: Those suggestions of a possible softener actually came from … a government minister. No 10 clarified that Home Office Minister Diana Johnson misspoke when she told BBC Breakfast this morning that the Treasury was looking at ways of mitigating the impact of all this, potentially through a social tariff for energy bills.
Instead: The government is focused on trying to drive the take-up of pension credit among those eligible, and was touting a 115 percent increase in those claiming for it since July 29. But the problem is, around a million Brits who are thought to be eligible don’t currently receive the benefit — hence the big push on awareness.
And therefore … Playbook PM hears that some MPs loyal to Starmer are making, and plan to make, the point that a big row and rebellion on this issue isn’t particularly helpful right now — and that it’s contributing to pensioners assuming they aren’t eligible for pension credit, even if they are, because of all the hullabaloo. One Labour figure, supportive of the cut, said they hoped to see Reeves urge restive Labour MPs to spend more time trying to get their constituents signed up to pension credit rather than complaining about the cut. 
MEANWHILE IN TORY LAND: No more than a handful of hacks joined Playbook PM outside the room for the latest Tory action in parliament. Those waiting were cheered by a brief visit on the corridor from Lib Dem MP Steve Darling and guide dog Jennie.
Unlike last time: The candidates are all there together, facing a grilling at the same time. They’re being asked questions and given the chance to respond — and tear lumps out of each other if they fancy — one by one. It should finish up by about 6.15 p.m.
In pod we trust: After some milling around and small talk between the candidates — Cleverly and Tugendhat discussed their favorite podcasts for a little while — the candidates wandered in together, Tugendhat first, followed by Badenoch … Followed by Jenrick … Followed by Stride … With Cleverly at the rear. Tables were banged, obvs
Earlier in the day: Members of Jenrick’s team were spotted by a mole handing out personalized letters to MPs’ offices this morning while Westminster was still stirring … and Tugendhat brought the (short-lived) former Scottish Tory leader Jackson Carlaw into Westminster for a coffee and low-res endorsement video. Tugendhat was also able to boast the endorsement of Matthew Elliott — the former Vote Leave CEO — who penned this piece for ConHome earlier today.
TRYING FOR A MIL-BURN: Health Secretary Wes Streeting argued that the government was just seeking the “best available advice” when he invited former health secretary — and private healthcare investor — Alan Milburn to meetings without him having any official role. He was responding to a UQ from his shadow Victoria Atkins, who’s also written to Cabinet Secretary Simon Case. “Unlike our predecessors, this is a government that can’t get enough of experts,” Streeting said.
GEN SEC BATTLE: After Playbook revealed the timetable on Friday, the Guardian’s Eleni Courea hears that a new Labour general secretary — the ultimate powerful insider role — will be appointed within a fortnight — and that the speedy timetable is a deliberate bid to use Starmer’s moment of maximum power to install a loyal ally. Hollie Ridley and John Lehal are seen as the main two challengers.
THE SELECTED: The nominations deadline for the select committee chairmanships has just closed ahead of Wednesday’s ballot. The full list of those nominated is set to be shortly updated here.
Last minute-campaigning: A few committee hopefuls still seeking the numbers handed out leaflets in Portcullis House this morning … while Barry Gardiner, in his bid for the environmental affairs committee, relied on this video instead. Instant classic.
MORE FROM THE TUC CONFERENCE: TUC chief Paul Nowak’s grabbiest line from his keynote speech in Brighton was an attack on Reform’s Nigel Farage (“a public school educated, private equity-loving,-NHS privatizing, Putin-apologist fraud”). LabourList wrote it up here.
Also at the TUC: Union delegates narrowly passed a motion this afternoon that calls for Labour to shelve its ban on new drilling licenses in the North Sea — to protect oil and gas workers. Nobody tell Ed Miliband.
BUSINESS OF THE GOVERNMENT: As expected, Transport Minister Simon Lightwood will shortly lay out the government’s new plans for reduced cost bus franchising in the Commons … and Starmer launched a new anti-knife crime coalition this morning with the actor Idris Elba.
BREAKING NEWS: Dominic Cummings thinks Starmer is shit. More accurately, the former No. 10 aide-turned blogger reckons the PM resembles Boris Johnson back in 2021 — he doesn’t understand why he won … he’s “machine-gunning” his electoral coalition … and is letting the Treasury run rings around him. On the other hand, Cummings actually seems to say that he rates Starmer’s own Dom-style figure Morgan McSweeney. All that and more in the latest update on Cummings’ Substack to his latest post — which has now surpassed the 26,000 word mark. That’s almost half a London Playbook!
MIDDLE EAST UPDATE: At least 16 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on military sites in Syria, according to the Syrian state-run news agency  Sana. The U.K. based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put death toll higher at 25 including five civilians. Israel has not commented on the strikes but long said it won’t allow Iran to expand its influence in Syria. The Times has more.
ACROSS THE POND: My Stateside colleagues report on how former President Donald Trump is framing the forthcoming ABC News debate with Vice President Kamala Harris as “rigged,” accusing the network of being biased against him and providing questions to Harris in advance without evidence. Harris’ campaign is meanwhile running an ad featuring former Trump officials warning what a second term led by the Republican nominee would mean for the U.S.
ON THE CONTINENT: Former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said Europe requires an extra €800 billion a year to tackle low productivity and poor growth. In a landmark report, he said this “existential challenge” also requires Europe to take drastic measures on defense spending. My colleague Giovanna Faggionato has further information.
IN CHINA: President Xi Jinping told Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez he wants the two nations to strengthen ties and jointly promote development in high tech industries including artificial intelligence and new energy. It comes as part of Sánchez’s four day tour to China to boost ties despite the EU’s trade disputes with Beijing — writeup via Bloomberg.
**A message from SSE: Party conference season is underway and the transition to a cleaner power system represents an historic opportunity for the UK. Not only will clean power be the platform on which we decarbonise our economy, but it will also unlock investment in new infrastructure, reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels, and create thousands of good jobs in communities across the country. But with the clock ticking, we urgently need to pick up the pace. SSE is already investing over £20bn in mission-critical energy infrastructure, but with the right policies in place, is ready to unleash billions more to accelerate renewables, transform our networks and build the flexible power needed to back-up the system when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining. Actions, not ambitions will secure Britain’s energy future. SSE. We Power Change. Find out more.**
LEADING THE NEWS BULLETINS: Channel 5 News (5 p.m.) focuses on the Lampard inquiry which examines why so many mental health patients died in Essex … BBC News at Six looks ahead to the government’s early release scheme for prisoners … Channel 4 News (7 p.m.) examines opposition to the winter fuel payments move.
Tom Swarbrick at Drive (LBC, until 6 p.m.): ASLEF General Secretary Mick Whelan (5.05 p.m.) … Prison Officers’ Association National Chair Mark Fairhurst (5.35 p.m.).
Drive with John Pienaar (Times Radio, until 7 p.m.): Georgia’s Leader of the Opposition Tina Bokuchava.
News Hour (Sky News, 5 p.m.): Unaffiliated peer Ros Altmann (5.30 p.m.) … Youth Endowment Fund Executive Director Jon Yates (5.45 p.m.).
Tonight With Andrew Marr (LBC, 6 p.m.): Suspended Labour MP Richard Burgon … TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak … Ros Altmann.
Dewbs & Co (GB News, 6 p.m.): Former Reform UK Deputy Leader Ben Habib.
GBN Tonight (GB News, 7 p.m.): Former Tory MP Michael Brown.
Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge (Sky News, 7 p.m.): Tory peer Tony Sewell … Unite the Union General Secretary Sharon Graham … Lib Dem Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper … former Tory MP Steve Baker.
BBC Newscast (Podcast, drops at 7.30 p.m.): West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin.
Cross Question with Simon Marks (LBC, 8 p.m.): Shadow Transport Minister Alec Shelbrooke … Lib Dem MP Layla Moran … former Equality and Human Rights Commission Chair Trevor Phillips … Spiked Online’s Ella Whelan.
Patrick Christys Tonight (GB News, 9 p.m.): Former Tory MP Jake Berry.
Newsnight (BBC 2, 10.30 p.m.): Former Tory MP Conor Burns … former Scottish Labour Leader Kezia Dugdale.
REVIEWING THE PAPERS TONIGHT: Times Radio (10.30 p.m.): Broadcaster Carolyn Quinn and the Sun’s Martina Bet … Sky News (10.30 p.m. and 11.30 p.m.): The Sun’s Ryan Sabey and PoliticsJOE’s Ava-Santina Evans.
WINTER FUEL: Commons to vote on Labour’s cuts to winter fuel payments.
UNION OF UNIONS: Keir Starmer is expected to address the TUC conference.
PRISONS: The government’s early release scheme for prisoners begins.
TORY LEADERSHIP: MPs vote to whittle contenders down to four.
DIPLOMACY: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet Foreign Secretary David Lammy in London.
STATS: ONS earnings, employment and labor market data, which could calculate next year’s state pension, released in the morning.
LORDS: Labour grandee Harriet Harman and former NFU chief Minette Batters to be introduced.
IN AMERICA: Donald Trump and Kamala Harris face off on the debate stage for the first time.
CONGRATS TO: Pollyanna, daughter of the lobby’s Christopher Hope, who danced last night on Channel 4 as it wound down its coverage of the Paralympics. Hope tweeted a video of it here.
ON THIS DAY IN POLITICS: Chairman Mao Zedong died at the age of 82 on this day in 1976.
WRITING PLAYBOOK TOMORROW MORNING: Stefan Boscia.
IN MEMORIAM: David Knowles, a journalist at the Telegraph and presenter of its Ukraine: The Latest podcast, has died aged 32. The Telegraph has a tribute here to a “talented journalist and a much-loved friend and a colleague.” There’s more from Defense Editor Danielle Sheridan here.
THANKS TO: My editor Matt Honeycombe-Foster, reporter Noah Keate and the POLITICO production team for making it look nice.
SUBSCRIBE to the POLITICO newsletter family: Brussels Playbook | London Playbook | London Playbook PM | Playbook Paris | EU Election Playbook | Berlin Playbook | Global Playbook | POLITICO Confidential | Sunday Crunch | EU Influence | London Influence | Digital Bridge | China Watcher | Berlin Bulletin | D.C. Playbook | D.C. Influence | All our POLITICO Pro policy morning newsletters