What’s driving the day in London.

By ROSA PRINCE

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Good Monday morning. This is Rosa Prince.

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DRIVING THE DAY

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his counterparts from the United States, Canada, France, Germany and Italy took part in a call to discuss the latest developments in the unfolding crisis in Israel and Gaza. A readout of their conversation stressed the importance of preventing the conflict from spreading. The six leaders reiterated their “support for Israel and its right to defend itself against terrorism and called for adherence to international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians.”

Welcome developments: The group welcomed the release of the first two hostages, Americans Judith and Natalie Raanan on Friday, and the arrival of the first humanitarian convoys into Gaza. They agreed to coordinate efforts to continue to “ensure sustained and safe access to food, water, medical care, and other assistance required to meet humanitarian needs.”

What they didn’t say: The amount of aid which has crossed the border at Rafah so far is a drop in the ocean compared to the level of need in starving, battered Gaza. And around 200 traumatized Israeli hostages remain in the cruel grip of Hamas. 

Worse to come? Reports at the weekend suggested Israel has been persuaded by the U.S. to delay its promised and feared ground invasion of Gaza in response to the Hamas attacks so hostage negotiations can continue. Meanwhile Al Jazeera and others have questioned whether Hezbollah will seek to launch a second front against Israel from Lebanon, a move which risks dragging the U.S. and Iran into the conflict.

Has it come to this? Israeli spokesperson Eylon Levy announced on X that in order to silence doubters and conspiracy theorists, the Israeli government will today screen for foreign journalists “the raw, unedited footage of Hamas’ atrocities in the October 7 Massacre, as captured by its death squads’ body cams.”

Update: All of which suggests MPs could do with a catch-up on the situation from Sunak, who returned from his trip to the region Friday. Downing Street Sunday night said a decision had not yet been made over when and whether the PM would make a statement — there’s space on the order paper for one at 3.30 p.m. if he decides to go ahead.

Where Joe and Rishi go: French President Emmanuel Macron and the Netherland’s Mark Rutte will visit the region this week.

UN WARNS OF GAZA CATASTROPHE: The ongoing blockade of Gaza has pushed the enclave’s 2.3 million people to the brink of starvation, Cindy McCain, executive director of the U.N.’s World Food Program, told my POLITICO colleague Bartosz Brzeziński in an interview. “Right now we’re facing a catastrophe in the area with the inability to feed people and the inability for the people to find anything to eat at all,” she said. “These people are going to starve to death unless we can get in.”

First convoy: The first 20 aid trucks that entered Gaza on Saturday after being blocked near the Egyptian-controlled Rafah border crossing are not enough, McCain said; another 19 entered the territory on Sunday. Before the blockade, about 400 aid trucks brought food and medical supplies into Gaza every day.

THE STREETS OF LONDON: Several papers, including the Times and the Express splashes, feature government disquiet over the Met’s policing of Saturday’s march for the people of Palestine. The force has been criticized for failing to intervene over slogans on placards and used by some speakers, such as “jihad” and “from the river to the sea” which could be interpreted as antisemitic. 

Meet the police: Home Secretary Suella Braverman was already due to meet Met chief Mark Rowley today — she will take the opportunity to tell him there can be “no place for incitement or hatred or violence” on Britain’s streets and that police “must crack down on anyone breaking the law,” the Times reports.

The view from No. 10: A No. 10 insider told Playbook Sunday night: “This is an incredibly difficult situation — but the PM is taking a robust posture. We are aware that Jewish people are scared. It is important the police are robust. Operational decisions on the ground are for them, but they should know they are empowered by us to do that.” 

But but but: Do the police have the powers they need to stop scenes such as those in central London on Saturday (which Playbook witnessed first hand after getting caught up in the crowd while on a trip to, checks notes, the Lego store, and can confirm were pretty unsettling)? 

Maybe not: The Guardian reports that the government was warned in a report Rowley produced in a previous role that current legislation contained gaps amounting to a “gaping chasm” allowing “extremists to operate with impunity.” The paper suggests this explains why the Met did not step in when protesters at a side rally in support of the Hizb ut-Tahrir fundamentalist group called out the word “jihad.” CPS lawyers are said to have sat alongside police monitoring the demonstrations to ensure officers understood the legislation as it stands now.

View from the Home Office: While Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said on the morning round that the protesters had incited “terrorist violence,” Playbook was told by one insider that Braverman is concerned current laws are insufficient to stop such rhetoric.

TUBE TAUNTER: The Sun splashes on what it describes as Transport for London’s “unbelievable” failure to identify a Tube driver who led a chant of “free Palestine” on a Central Line train bearing travelers to the protest. 

SOLIDARITY: Addressing a “solidarity rally” in support of Israel in Trafalgar Square on Sunday afternoon, Communities Secretary Michael Gove said: “The world made a promise 75 years ago: never again. And what did we see a fortnight ago? The biggest, most horrific slaughter of Jewish people since the Holocaust, carried out by terrorists, an act of evil, unparalleled evil and barbarism. We must stand together against it. We must stand for life. We must bring the hostages home.”

IN THE CONSTITUENCY: The conflict in Israel and Gaza has increased tensions in many communities — adding to the pressures on MPs. My POLITICO colleague Esther Webber spoke to a number of them — including Conservative David Simmonds, whose Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner constituency contains a number of Jewish residents, and the SNP’s Alison Thewliss representing Glasgow Central with a significant Muslim population — to learn more. 

LABOUR LAND: Ahead of a visit to Port Talbot this morning, Labour leader Keir Starmer dropped into the South Wales Islamic Centre in Cardiff Sunday evening, where he “repeated our calls for all hostages to be released, more humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, for the water and power to be switched back on, and a renewed focus on the two state solution.” Here’s his post on X.

When in Wales: Starmer is visiting Tata Steel, where he’ll meet management and the three workplace unions, Community, GMB and Unite. He’ll set out Labour’s plans for the steel industry, with a pool clip released during the morning. Ahead of the visit, a Labour spokesperson said: “The U.K. can be a world leader in clean steel and our long term program of investment will safeguard jobs and help us lead the pack, not lag behind our competitors.”

MIGRATION NATION

NO HOTEL, NO RWANDA?: A hundred hotels currently used to house asylum seekers will close their doors, after fewer illegal immigrants than anticipated crossed the Channel and progress was made in tackling the backlog in processing claims, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick will announce Tuesday. The Times’ Matt Dathan got the scoop. He suggests that migrant hotels in key election battleground seats are among those tipped for closure.

All about the boats: The announcement is one of a number due to be made between now and Christmas aimed at stopping the boats — and are part of the government’s response to last week’s twin by-election blows, the paper’s Pol Ed Steven Swinford says in an analysis piece (not online).

Mark your diary: The Mail hears the Home Office has penciled in February 24, 2024 for the date of the first flight to take off under its Rwanda deportation scheme — if the Supreme Court gives the plan the go ahead when it rules on the scheme’s legality in the next few weeks.   

Mea culpa: Talking of which, the Mail on Sunday quoted a Home Office adviser as predicting a 60 percent chance the Rwanda deportation scheme case will be struck down, not a 60 percent chance of success, as Sunday Crunch said. 

And if the odds are right? Should the government lose, then Sunak would be certain to come under huge pressure, not least from Suella Braverman, to include a pledge to pull out of the European Convention on Human Rights in the Tories’ election manifesto.

Not so fast: Doing so would cause a right old rumpus on the other wing of the party. A One Nation Tory Playbook spoke to recently said they could not stand on a manifesto which advocated for withdrawal from the ECHR, and predicted a substantial number of colleagues felt the same way. The election period looks spicier and spicer.

BRENDA FROM BRISTOL SPEAKS: And talking of the election, More in Common has now published polling — mentioned in Sunday Times duo Tim Shipman’s and Caroline Wheeler’s latest — showing voters are keen for a May 2024 general election … and really don’t want to wait until January 2025. Check it out here. 

ICYMI: If life wasn’t tough enough for Sunak following his by-election disappointments, check out my colleagues Emilio Casalicchio’s and Esther Webber’s top scoop about civil service chief Simon Case taking medical leave. 

WHAT NO. 10 REALLY DOESN’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT: The Sun’s scooplet that Sunak’s personal mobile number was published on social media by pranksters who posted audio of the phone ringing and the prime minister’s answerphone. Embarrassing!

GENERATION RENT

GOING RADIO RENTAL: Michael Gove’s flagship Renters (Reform) Bill finally returns to the Commons for second reading this afternoon — much to the fury of the Tory right. After the Sunday Telegraph suggested potential rebels have been encouraged to stay away from the vote, Playbook reckons it’s an 11th-hour pledge to delay a key measure — a ban on no-fault evictions until the courts are sorted out — which is more likely to smooth the bill’s passage.    

The background: Leveling-Up Secretary Gove has long sought to introduce a ban on Section 21 evictions, which allow landlords to turf tenants out without establishing fault, and to do away with fixed-term tenancies. Having been promised by the party since the last election, the proposals are seen by Gove allies as necessary to start building bridges with younger voters struggling with soaring rents. 

The polls: A new poll by Opinium for the Renters Reform Coalition found 72 percent of voters backed the ban on no-fault evictions. In further bad news for the Tories, fewer than half of voters who backed the Conservatives at the last election and are also renters said they would do so again. 

But but but: The ban on Section 21 orders is opposed by some Tory MPs — 68 of whom, a fifth of the parliamentary party — are themselves landlords (along with 19 more from other parties). Given our gummed up legal system, landlords complain it’s already painfully difficult to get tenants out of properties, meaning many would simply sell up if the new measures were introduced, leading to fewer available properties for would-be renters. (Or that’s the argument, anyway.)

Getting heated: Gove’s plans have been branded “unConservative” by rebels, with estimates of how many oppose the measure ranging from 30 to 80. Jacob Rees-Mogg and Marco Longhi were among those who spoke out against the ban on no-fault evictions at the weekend. A third Tory MP said some rude things about Gove’s private life to Playbook, before adding: “He’s just returning to vomit he had to leave under previous PMs — sadly this PM seems to not have the political ability to put Gove out of his misery.” Gulp.

Away from the Tory psychodrama: Renters groups are more concerned about the DLUHC announcement in recent days that the Section 21 measure will not come into force until “we judge sufficient progress has been made to improve the courts.” Understandably, they fear this would kick the can down the road pretty much forever, because, like, when are the courts going to get sorted? Renters Reform Coalition Campaign Manager Tom Darling has a helpful thread on all this. 

On the other hand: Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “We welcome the approach taken by ministers to ensure court improvements are made before Section 21 ends.”   

What happens now: While there may well be some heated interventions during the debate, those on all sides Playbook spoke to Sunday night were not anticipating a major rebellion, with several parliamentary stages to go before we reach the crunch point of the legislation. Guildford MP Angela Richardson made the case the whips will no doubt be repeating to potential rebels on the Westminster Hour Sunday night: “You don’t vote against a bill at second reading.” And even if there is a revolt, Labour broadly backs the reforms. Ergo, expect the bill to pass its second reading and to be carried over into the King’s Speech — and for it to get a thorough beating up in committee stage after that. 

Rallying round: Campaigners will gather outside parliament at 5 p.m. calling on MPs to back the reforms. 

WHAT LABOUR WANTS TO TALK ABOUT: Labour has crunched the numbers and reckons that since the ban on no-fault evictions was announced in April 2019, more than 70,000 households have been ejected from their homes via a Section 21 order. Shadow Leveling-Up Secretary Angela Rayner said: “After four and half years of foot dragging over Tory promises, there can be no more dither and delay in ending no fault evictions.” 

Long term decisions: A Conservative aide said in response: “We are delivering our manifesto pledge to create a fairer private rented sector for tenants and landlords, ending no fault evictions and strengthening landlords’ rights of possession on issues like anti-social behavior — all part of our long term plan for housing.”

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TODAY IN WESTMINSTER

GETTING SHOPPED: Police chiefs have been invited to a 10 Downing Street summit chaired by Home Office Minister Chris Philp to discuss plans to crack down on shoplifting. The gathering — in the No. 10 state dining room — takes place at lunchtime. The Times has more.

ON THE BUSES: Following the Sunday Times’ extraordinary revelations about HS2, Transport Secretary Mark Harper today sets out how the government plans to use the cash saved by scrapping the project. He has the morning round (details below) in which he will say that every part of the Midlands and North of England will benefit, with funding worth £150 million for improved bus services. The £2 bus fare cap is extended to December 31, 2024.

BRITAIN’S NOT WORKING: Ed Balls has a Times article calling for a cross-party approach to tackling regional divides, based on a project with Kings and Harvard Universities called Why Hasn’t UK Regional Policy Worked? which examines why regional divides are so large in the U.K. It has interviews with policymakers including three former prime ministers and six ex-chancellors.

Balls writes: In his Times piece, Balls writes: “It’s rare that Gordon Brown and George Osborne agree when it comes to economic policy, and students of 1990s politics might think the same of Tony Blair and John Major. But when all four concede that widening regional inequality is a startling and collective failure of British politics, it’s time for their successors to take note.”

Save the date: The report is launched Wednesday with panel discussion at King’s including Peter Mandelson and George Osborne, followed by an event at Harvard on November 30.

APPG WATCH: The APPG on environmental, social and governance received hundreds of thousands of pounds from funders including accounting giant KPMG, arms company BAE Systems and pharma multinational Bayer. Between them, the companies paid out billions for a host of regulatory breaches. Green MP Caroline Lucas resigned from the APPG earlier this year after learning about the group’s funders — journalist Peter Geoghegan has the details in his Substack, with the story making the front page of the Times’ business section.

MONEY MATTERS: Tory peer and donor Anthony Bamford and his brother Mark, who are behind the construction manufacturing company JCB, could be hit with a bill for more than £500 million to settle a HMRC investigation into tax payments — the Guardian’s Anna Isaac has the exclusive.

COMPUTER SAYS YES: Britain can use Brexit to become a leader in artificial intelligence, Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz said, adding he was “far more concerned about regulatory friction” in the EU — the Times has a write-up.

Stand firm: Meanwhile, the Mail carries a letter from five “eminent economists” urging Rishi Sunak to “stand firm” under pressure from “big tech” to avoid what they describe as vital regulation.

PAY OFF: Tory MP and GB News presenter Jacob Rees-Mogg took £16,800 in severance pay from his seven weeks as business secretary under Liz Truss last year, despite previously announcing proposals to cut the redundancy pay for departing civil servant, the Mirror’s Mikey Smith reports.

BLUEPRINT FOR 2030 CLEAN POWER: A new report from Public First consultancy, commissioned by RenewableUK and shared exclusively with my POLITICO colleague Charlie Cooper, sets out how a Labour government could achieve a decarbonized power grid by 2030, saying it would be a task comparable to “the major building programs of the post-war era” — but is “not impossible, merely very difficult.”

Need for speed: The report is packed with detail but some of the main takeaways are the sheer pace at which things will have to move if Labour get in. The “central strategic network plan” will need to be done by the end of 2025. Regulatory and planning hurdles for newly planned infrastructure will have to be cleared within two and a half years, so that spades can go into the ground by mid-2028.

AFGHANISTAN REMEMBERED: Chief of the Defense Staff Tony Radakin starts two days of evidence before the Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan at 10 a.m.

SW1 EVENTS: Former Australian Ambassador to the U.S. Joe Hockey addresses the IEA from 6 p.m.

HOUSE OF COMMONS: Sits from 2.30 p.m. with education questions … and then the main business is the second reading of the Renters (Reform) Bill. Tory MP Alexander Stafford has the adjournment debate on environmental, social and governance developments.

WESTMINSTER HALL: Debates from 4.30 p.m. on two e-petitions relating to honesty in politics (led by SNP MP Martyn Day).

On Committee corridor: Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary Alex Chisholm is among those speaking to the Public Accounts Committee about competition in public procurement (4 p.m.) … and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is probed by the Lords’ European Affairs Committee (6.30 p.m.).

HOUSE OF LORDS: Sits from 2.30 p.m. with oral questions on financial support for schools with crumbling concrete, domestic violence and converting empty homes into residential accommodation … and then the main business is the consideration of Commons amendments to the Leveling Up and Regeneration Bill.

**What is Politics at Jack and Sam’s? It’s Westminster’s best-connected journalists discussing the essential political stories and events to expect in the coming week. Tune in and stay ahead.**

BEYOND THE M25

STAY ALERT: More flooding is possible for parts of England until Wednesday due to further rain from Storm Babet, the Environment Agency said. Five severe flood warnings were lifted, though areas along the River Severn are still affected — the BBC has a write-up.

Not drowning but waving: Shadow Environment Secretary Steve Reed is in the flooded Derbyshire town of Retford this morning — he’ll meet local residents and take part in a mini broadcast round — details below — calling for a flood task force to coordinate the response of central government, local authorities, front line and emergency services.

ACROSS THE IRISH SEA: The British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly kicks off a two-day event at the K Club Hotel in Kildare from 9.30 a.m., with Northern Ireland Minister Steve Baker speaking at around 10.30 a.m.

RIGHT TURN: The right-wing Swiss People’s Party increased its share of the vote to 29 percent in Switzerland’s national elections, a 3.4 point jump from the last election in 2019 — more from POLITICO.

I’M ONLY HUMAN: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took a “personal day,” staying away from a conference held by her Brothers of Italy party after ending her relationship with TV presenter Andrea Giambruno, saying “I, too, am human” — the Telegraph has more. Meanwhile, opposition parties in Italy are using the breakup to lambaste the right-wing government for its preoccupation with the traditional family and conservative values, my colleague Hannah Roberts reports.

CARRY ON SPEAKING: The now nine (count ’em) Republicans vying to become speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives face the full GOP conference tonight for a candidate forum nearly three weeks after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted — my Stateside colleagues have more. The Guardian also has a helpful explainer profiling the candidates.

ARGENTINA DECIDES: Argentina’s election looks set to head to a runoff next month after the ruling Peronist coalition appeared to beat expectations to force far-right libertarian radical Javier Milei into second place. Reuters has the details.

MEDIA ROUND

Transport Secretary Mark Harper broadcast round: GB News (6.50 a.m.) … Times Radio (7.05 a.m.) … Sky News (7.15 a.m.) … TalkTV (7.30 a.m.) … LBC (7.50 a.m.) … GMB (8.10 a.m.) … Today program (8.30 a.m.).

Also on the Today program: Public accounts committee Chair Meg Hillier (6.50 a.m.).

Also on GB News Breakfast: Military historian Chris Newton (7.05 a.m. and 9.05 a.m.).

Also on Times Radio Breakfast: Sharone Lifschitz, whose parents are missing in Gaza (8.05 a.m.) … U.K. Special Envoy for Post Holocaust Issues Eric Pickles (8.15 a.m.) … President of the Conference of European Rabbis Pinchas Goldschmidt (9.35 a.m.).

Also on Sky News Breakfast: Spokesperson of the Israeli Embassy in London Orly Goldschmidt (7.30 a.m.) … Lib Dem MP Christine Jardine (8.10 a.m.).

Also on TalkTV Breakfast: Tory MP Tobias Ellwood (8.10 a.m.).

Also on Nick Ferrari at Breakfast: Police Federation of England and Wales National Chair Steve Hartshorn (8.35 a.m.).

LBC News: Shadow Environment Secretary Steve Reed (7.50 a.m.).

LBC: Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting sits in for James O’Brien between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Politics Live (BBC Two 12.15 p.m.): Tory MP Heather Wheeler … Labour MP Clive Lewis … the Mirror’s Alison Phillips … the Telegraph’s Tim Stanley.

TODAY’S FRONT PAGES

POLITICO UK: British MPs fear backlash to Israel-Hamas war in their own backyard.

Daily Express: Suella to quiz Met chief on “jihadi” chants at rally.

Daily Mail: Suella’s fury at Met over “jihad” chants.

Daily Mirror: Brothers forever.

Daily Star: Hair we grow!

Financial Times: U.S. warns of conflict escalation risk as tensions rise across Middle East.

i: Home Office in turmoil over “absurd” Rwanda plan.

Metro: Grit and bear it.

The Daily Telegraph: Braverman challenge to Met over jihad rally chanting.

The Guardian: Pressure intensifies on Israel to negotiate release of Gaza hostages.

The Sun: Unbelievable.

The Times: Braverman takes on Met chief over “jihad” protest.

LONDON CALLING

WESTMINSTER WEATHER: Light rain showers with a gentle breeze. Highs of 16C.

WELCOME: Jon Stone joins POLITICO today as U.K.-EU reporter after working at the Independent. Jon will helm POLITICO’s coverage of U.K.-EU relations and author the weekly Ex Files newsletter. Welcome aboard!

A BRIDGE TOO FAR: Tory MP Jamie Wallis told the BBC he won’t be standing in his “significantly changed” Bridgend constituency at the next election and is “actively” seeking a seat elsewhere “with a sense of humor.”

DON’T MISS: Panorama hears the human stories on both sides of the war between Israel and Hamas on BBC One at 8 p.m.

CLICHÉ ALERT: The meaning behind “the national interest” as a political term is investigated in Radio 4’s Analysis from 8.30 p.m. with contributors including Leveling-Up Secretary Michael Gove, Shadow Leveling-Up Secretary Angela Rayner and former Director of the No. 10 Policy Unit Munira Mirza.

NOAH’S CULTURE FIX: The impact of the border between the U.K. and Ireland on the people living there is explored in a documentary first broadcast in 2019 — When Ireland Was Divided: Border Country — and repeated on BBC Four at 10 p.m.

NOW READ: In her latest Substack, playwright Emma Burnell analyzes the different Tory factions, arguing that a lack of seriousness in the party is also affecting the country.

WRITING PLAYBOOK PM: Emilio Casalicchio.

WRITING PLAYBOOK TUESDAY MORNING: Eleni Courea.

BIRTHDAYS: Devizes MP Danny Kruger … Tory peer Anthony Bamford … Labour researcher Freddie Cook … former Scottish Labour General Secretary James Kelly turns 60.

PLAYBOOK COULDN’T HAPPEN WITHOUT: My editors Jack Lahart and Zoya Sheftalovich, reporter Noah Keate and producer Seb Starcevic.

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