London Playbook PM: Feel the churn

What's driving the day in Westminster. Politics and policymaking in the UK capital.

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What’s driving the day in London.

By EMILIO CASALICCHIO

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Good afternoon.

— The ministerial churn continues, with Rishi Sunak conducting a mini reshuffle.

— Grant Shapps takes defense, Claire Coutinho takes net zero and some bloke no one’s heard of takes children’s minister.

— Dozens of schools have been ordered not to open buildings due to a risk of collapse — right before kids go back for a new term.

— The Nadine Dorries book about people being unfair to Boris Johnson has been held up due to legal wrangling.

STRONG AND STABLE LATEST: Grant Shapps is onto his fifth government job in 12 months, while Claire Coutinho is now the sixth energy secretary since the 2019 election. It’s the kind of day that makes a Playbook writer recoil in horror imagining what “chaos with Ed Miliband” would have been like and praising the lord.

We’re going through (small) changes: As expected, the reshuffle this morning turned out to be a limited affair, with Shapps taking defense, Coutinho replacing him at the net zero department and backbencher David Johnston (nope, me neither — no doubt he’ll be PM soon) replacing her as children’s minister.

Back up a bit: It was a little before 8.30 a.m. when letters between Ben Wallace and Rishi Sunak were published, announcing the former’s resignation as defense secretary.

Of course … Wallace left with a final warning to the cash-concious PM about not returning to a time when “defense was viewed as a discretionary spend by government and savings were achieved by hollowing out.” He added: “I genuinely believe that over the next decade the world will get more insecure and more unstable. We both share the belief that now is the time to invest.” Sunak’s response is here. LBC has put together a few of Wallace’s “memorable moments” on the station, for big Ben fans.

Cheese and crackers for Wallace: There was much praise for Wallace in Westminster after his departure, since he appears to be one of the few respected people in politics. Giving a personal view, defense committee Chair Tobias Ellwood told Playbook PM Wallace had been “a rock of stability for defense, ensuring Britain exhibits leadership and poise as Europe once again confronts state aggression.” He praised Wallace for securing increases to the defense budget. Boris Johnson sent warm words too, as did numerous others.

Less unanimous: The response to Shapps replacing Wallace in the defense job was a little more mixed. Few were surprised that Sunak had given one of his most unswerving ministers a big job, but while some said he’ll thrive in the beat, others suggested he’ll be little more than a nodding dog to the PM.

In the positive corner: Ellwood said Shapps was “competent and capable” and “understands the Whitehall machine.” He noted that the department’s “formidable” civil servants and defense chiefs will get him up to speed in no time. One former aide who has worked with Shapps said his appointment “fits with Rishi’s cautious approach,” adding to Playbook PM: “Grant is a seasoned performer and a competent minister — he doesn’t drop the ball.”

In the less positive corner: As well as the obvious criticism from Labour (although this one was rather a deep cut, causing much mirth among some civil servants) there are some on the Conservative side who aren’t too impressed either.

For example: Playbook PM hears some brand Shapps a “seatwarmer” who moves around from job to job but doesn’t achieve all that much. He’s also gained the nickname “wiki lite” for “his light-touch wikipedia editing past,” according to one Westminster wag. Shapps has denied the Wikipedia editing charge, although he fessed up to the whole “business name” thing.

More examples: One minister told Playbook PM Sunak “seems to want a PR man in there with no knowledge, experience or indeed interest as far as I am aware. He will be enthusiastic about it all I’m sure. But trying to fix it? Lets see.” The verdict a former minister gave Christian Calgie at the Express was even worse.

Also needing to be convinced: Former general staff boss Richard Dannatt told Sky News Shapps “knows very little about defense, and it’s a complex portfolio. It will take him quite some time to get up to speed.” While former war man and defense committee member Mark Francois told GB News Shapps would face “a steep learning curve.”

From Shapps himself: The Cabinet minister said on Twitter he was “honored” to get the job and pledged to continue supporting Ukraine “in their fight against Putin’s barbaric invasion.”

The good news for Shapps is … he gets to stroll around the streets with important-looking soldiers now (see here) and will no doubt get to ride in some bad ass war planes — quite the thrill for an amateur pilot. One person who’s worked with him quipped: “The well-known transport enthusiast might just have met his match with this lot of civil servants.” More from my colleague Esther Webber here.

ONTO COUTINHO: From a 2019 backbencher to the Cabinet in 1350 days (h/t Calgie,) Coutinho is quite the rising star. The former investment banker and book-themed supper club founder was Sunak’s first special adviser when he became chief secretary to the Treasury — some think to keep an eye on then-Chancellor Sajid Javid. But she’d been a SpAd since the Theresa May era, so quite the survivor. She worked with Julian Smith when he was chief whip, so might also know where a few bodies are buried. Her first frontbench job was as a junior DWP minister before moving to education.

One fun fact: She once appeared on cooking show The Taste hosted by TV chefs Anthony Bourdain and Nigella Lawson.

Good repuation: “Claire is very smart and understated,” Sonia Khan, a former SpAd who worked with Coutinho in the Treasury, told Playbook PM. “She’s also calm and good under pressure. I’ve never seen her shout or raise her voice which was useful in her brief at HMT” — a brief that included endless wrangling between departments. Khan added that Coutinho is super close to Sunak, adding: “She’s not one to be ignored or overlooked. She’ll be pivotal in providing advice to him ahead of the next general election.”

Not so good repuation: “I had a few interactions with her in government and all of them were dismal,” said another former SpAd. “She never gave the impression she understood politics. This is just a case of sucking up and getting a nice job. She never did anything that screamed talent.” Ooh er.

To be expected: Coutinho’s Labour shadow Ed Miliband said “reshuffling of the deckchairs will not deliver the proper energy policy Britain needs,” while Labour aides argued the change shows the Tories have realized their attacks on the net zero agenda weren’t working.

From Coutinho herself: She tweeted that she was “delighted” to get the job. See more here.

Now read this: My POLITICO colleague Charlie Cooper has a thoughtful read on what the change from Shapps to Coutinho means for the government’s green agenda. Check it out here.

OH, PLAYBOOK ALMOST FORGOT: Liverpool season-ticket holder and now Children’s Minister David Johnston knows a thing or two about kids’ education, to be fair, having been handed an OBE for his past service as boss of the Social Mobility Foundation. Playbook PM hears Andrea Leadsom — who is big into early years and child development — is a bit put out at not getting the job.

Homework: The IFS has set out three of the challenges facing Johnston in this new blog.

MORE FUN TO COME: A bigger reshuffle is still expected in the autumn, and we might even get the long-awaited Labour reshuffle next week. Downing Street published a few photos of what a reshuffle looks like, in case LOTO needs tips: people smiling and laughing.

**Reach beyond the headlines with Power Play, POLITICO’s brand-new global podcast bringing you compelling discussions with international power players, hosted by award-winning broadcaster Anne McElvoy. Episodes of the must-listen podcast will drop this September - click here to be notified.**

LEARNING THE HARD WAY: Labour went for the government over news dozens of schools have been ordered to shut on the eve of the summer break ending over fears buildings could collapse. “This is an absolutely staggering display of Tory incompetence as they start a fresh term by failing our children again,” said Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. “Ministers have been content to let this chaos continue for far too long.”

What it’s all about: More than 100 school buildings made with “reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete” — a material prone to collapse without extra structural measures — have been contacted at the 11th hour. The Department for Education told them not to open such buildings “without mitigations in place.” An NAO report from June warned about the risk of RAAC buildings.

But but but: Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said new evidence had emerged about RAAC. “We must take a cautious approach because that is the right thing to do for both pupils and staff,” she said.

LOCAL POLITICS LATEST: Labour suspended its local branch in the seemingly cursed seat of Leicester East (past and present occupants Keith Vaz and Claudia Webbe). The group is facing allegations of rule-breaking. More in the Guardian.

WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT: Policing Minister Chris Philp has done an interview with Channel 4 News to promote new government rules to make it easier to root out rogue police officers. Here’s the trail clip. There are also clips from Radio 4’s Today this morning, BBC Breakfast, GB News, GMB, Talk TV and Times Radio. Gives an idea of how mind-bending it must be to repeat the same lines over and over to different cameras in the space of an hour.

NOT LOST IN TRANSLATION: Lots of love on political Twitter for this de Volkskrant writeup branding Grant Shapps a “ministerie hopper.”

IN SOUTH AFRICA: At least 73 people, including seven children, have died in a multistorey building fire in Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city. Emergency services said a further 43 people were injured in the blaze — the Guardian has more.

IN NORTH KOREA: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a rehearsal for the invasion and occupation of South Korea as his armed forces test-fired two missiles in a “simulated nuclear attack,” which came as the U.S. and South Korea concluded a fortnight of annual military drills — via the Times.

LUKASHENKO SPEAKS: Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said demands by Poland and the Baltic states — Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia — for Belarus to expel all Russian Wagner Group mercenaries from its territory are “unreasonable and stupid.” My colleague Claudia Chiappa has a write-up.

IN UKRAINE: Russian forces invading Ukraine have been pushed back, with Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar highlighting new “successes,” in Novodanylivka and Novoprokopivka, two villages in the Zaporizhzhia region — the Independent has further details.

IN CHINA: Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to skip a summit of G20 leaders in New Delhi next week, with Indian officials telling Reuters Premier Li Qiang — the second-highest ranking official— is expected to represent China at the meeting on September 9 and 10.

LEADING THE NEWS BULLETINS: BBC News at Six leads on schools being told to close buildings over aerated concrete panels … Channel 4 News (7 p.m.) focuses on the Johannesburg fire.

BBC PM (Radio 4, 5 p.m.): Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.

Drive with John Pienaar (Times Radio, 5 p.m.): The Times’ Rachel Sylvester and POLITICO’s Rosa Prince (both after 7 p.m.).

News Hour (Sky News, 5 p.m.): Former Defense Secretary Malcolm Rifkind (5.30 p.m.) … Former Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Peter Fahy (5.45 p.m.) … POLITICO’s Anne McElvoy and former No. 10 speechwriter Asa Bennett (both 6.30 p.m.).

The News Agents (Podcast, drops at 5 p.m.): Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Farage (GB News, 7 p.m.): Former Tory MP Gerald Howarth.

Jeremy Kyle Live (TalkTV, 7 p.m.): Tory peer James Arbuthnot.

First Edition (TalkTV, 10 p.m.): Tory MPs Jake Berry and Alec Shelbrooke.

REVIEWING THE PAPERS TONIGHT: TalkTV (10 p.m.): Historian Tessa Dunlop and the Sun’s Ryan Sabey … Times Radio (10.30 p.m.): Pollster Joe Twyman and the Telegraph’s Annabel Denham … Sky News (10.30 p.m. and 11.30 p.m.): The Express’ Carole Malone and the Courier’s David Clegg.

OFF THE RAILS: The consultation on ticket office closures … closes.

CRIME WEEK: The government will be talking about preventing offenders contacting their victims, and tagging domestic abuse offenders.

SAVING THE PLANET: New cash will be announced for research projects to find net zero solutions.

PACKED LUNCH OR PARL LUNCH: It’s recess just one more time. Make the most of a quieter Westminster with a stroll around to check out the menus. The recess opening hours are 7.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Despatch Box … 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (3.15 p.m. on Fridays) at the Terrace Cafeteria … 8 a.m. to 3.15 p.m. (with no hot food) at the Debate … and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Jubilee Café.

Speaking of lunch: Brand new tables and chairs were being put out in Portcullis House this afternoon, which should mean more seating during lunch when parliament starts again next week. The scaffolding from the leaking roof is still up, though.

COMING (LATER) ATTRACTIONS: Harper Collins has pushed back the publication date for the Nadine Dorries love book about Boris Johnson. The publisher said it was due to the amount of material she’s collected and the need to legal all her claims. So instead of being in time for conference on September 28, the book should now emerge on November 9. Turns out working out how she ended up without a peerage is taking some time. The BBC has a writeup.

NOW HIRING: Labour this morning sent out media approvals for its upcoming annual conference … and managed to attach a job description and application pack for the “conference print assistant” role it’s hiring for in the email to journalists. It’s possible members of the press are thinking about a new (boring/therapeutic — delete as appropriate) job collating and mailing out public messages from Keir Starmer and co.

ALSO NOW HIRING: The Institute for Government is hiring an events officer — applications close on September 8.

LEGAL PAGES: Former Conservative MP Antoinette Sandbach is threatening to sue Cambridge Uni over claims from a historian that she descended from merchants who enslaved his ancestors. The Guardian has the writeup.

WHAT I’VE BEEN READING: The Jen Williams long read in the FT about one state school’s 12-month struggle with the cost of living crisis is well worth a read.

ON THIS DAY IN POLITICS: On August 31 1827, Frederick John Robinson (a.k.a. the Viscount Goderich) became prime minister after getting into politics via nepotism. He was the second shortest-serving prime minister of all time (144 days) until Liz Truss resigned from Downing Street, after which he became the third.

WRITING PLAYBOOK TOMORROW MORNING: Eleni Courea — give her a gossip call.

THANKS TO: My editor Rosa Prince, Playbook reporter Noah Keate and the POLITICO production team for making it look nice.

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