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Good morning. Labour leader is leading a government session this today after losing his deputy prime minister, his ambassador to the US, and his top strategist all within less than a 14 days.

The Commons begins a month-long recess this evening, which will provide some relief. With lawmakers away from Parliament, they are less likely to engage in dissident activity.

But before they head off, MPs will spend three hours in a discussion on Peter Mandelson, which is expected to focus on whether Starmer was right to select him initially and whether he has been fully candid about what he knew regarding emails to Jeffrey Epstein when he defended the ambassador last week.

And there is more bad news for the leader this today. A survey of party supporters shows:

• Only 25% of them believe Labour is moving in the correct path.
• Merely 26% of them have a positive opinion of Starmer, against 59% who view him unfavourably.
• Lucy Powell, who was sacked by the Prime Minister as leader of the Commons, has a significant advantage over Bridget Phillipson, in the race to be second-in-command. Phillipson is viewed as the pro-leader candidate, while her opponent is seen as the option for members who want to express some dissent.

Surveys are potentially fallible, internal party surveys are particularly difficult, and in some respects the views of supporters are not highly significant at the moment.

The chances of a contest anytime soon still look very slight, and even if Powell were to win the deputy leadership, the post carries almost no official authority within Labour.

Nevertheless, the polling appears good.

The Day’s Schedule

• Morning: Keir Starmer chairs cabinet.
• Today: Starmer meets relatives of people killed at Hillsborough to mark the publication of the new legislation.
• Morning: Kemi Badenoch is on a visit in the capital.
• 11.30am: David Lammy takes questions in the Parliament.
• 11.55am: Sarah Jones gives a speech to the Police Superintendents’ Association.
• Midday: Downing Street holds a press conference.
• Afternoon: Wes Streeting visits the emergency services.
• After 12.30pm: Lawmakers begin a three-hour emergency debate on the selection and circumstances leading to the dismissal of the former envoy to the US.

Survey results can be unreliable, particularly when sampling a limited group such as party members.

For those wanting to reach out, online platforms or comment sections remain the primary methods of getting in touch during certain hours.

Individuals are asked to highlight mistakes, including minor typos, as every mistake is too small to correct.