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Eleni Courea

@ecourea.bsky.social

25K followers 820 following 100 posts

Political correspondent for the Guardian Get in touch — [email protected] or [email protected]

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Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · 3d

There is an organised group of residents - the Royal Mint Court Residents' Association - that has been very vocally against the project from the start and has led opposition to it in submissions to the local planning inquiry. I do recognise this doesn't apply to all residents

Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · 3d

EXC: China threatened to retaliate against the UK govt if ministers targeted parts of its state under foreign influence rules

Chinese officials warned the FCDO the move would have negative consequences for relations after we reported it was being considered

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

China threatened to retaliate against UK over foreign influence rules

Exclusive: Chinese officials warned that targeting its security apparatus would have negative consequences for relations

www.theguardian.com

Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · 4d

My read on the 7-year-long Chinese embassy saga at Royal Mint Court

— How Chinese officials sought to overturn the council's refusal behind the scenes before ministers intervened

— Residents are preparing to seek a judicial review if the government approves it

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Starmer on horns of dilemma over China’s seven-year mega-embassy saga

Decision time is coming after Labour called in the planning application for a new building in east London

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Eleni Courea

Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 8d

EXCL: Rachel Reeves is set to lift the two-child benefit limit in the budget with officials exploring options of a new tapered system.

The Treasury is exploring if it might instead be limited to three or four children – or whether there could be a tapered rate.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Rachel Reeves to lift two-child benefit cap in November’s budget

Exclusive: Officials exploring options to change rule that affected 1.7 million children in Great Britain last year UK politics live – latest updates

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Eleni Courea

Andy Gibson (@AndyGibsonTV) / InformingBritain.com @informingbritain.com · 16d

"OUTRAGE AS FARAGE THREATENS MASS DEPORTATION OF LEGAL IMMIGRANTS"
Full Story: t.ly/IBk_I
@ecourea.bsky.social for @theguardian.com

#NigelFarage faces condemnation after threatening thousands of #LegalImmigrants with #deportation.

#TheGuardian
#TomorrowsPapersToday
#IBPAPERS

Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · 28d

Migration minister Mike Tapp shudders as Peter Mandelson's emails to Epstein are read out to him on BBC Breakfast

He says they are "disturbing" but that we should consider Mandelson's statement expressing regret

He says the PM retains confidence in him "as far as I know"

Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · Sep 5

Shabana Mahmood's promotion to home secretary is at the centre of this reshuffle

Read my profile of her from this summer👇

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Shabana Mahmood: justice secretary and rising star of the Labour party

Described as a pragmatic politician with an instinct for the times, Mahmood is thought of by some as a future Labour leader

www.theguardian.com

Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · Aug 1

How a shrug from Donald Trump moved the UK's position on Palestine:

— Trump comments on Monday gave Starmer the green light
— Policy inc. conditions on Israel drafted largely by Jonathan Powell
— Senior govt figures privately say all roads lead to recognition

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

From silence to statehood: how Trump’s indifference moved the UK on Palestine

Under pressure on domestic and international stage to act on Gaza, a shrug from the president allowed Starmer to make pledge

www.theguardian.com

Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · Jul 25

EXC: Keir Starmer is under intense pressure from his most senior cabinet ministers to move faster on recognising Palestine

Angela Rayner and Yvette Cooper are understood to be among ministers who believe the UK should take the lead on Palestinian statehood

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Cabinet ministers and third of MPs call on Starmer to recognise state of Palestine

More than 220 MPs sign letter to prime minister and foreign secretary calling for British recognition of statehood

www.theguardian.com

Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · Jul 14

Back in action from today after three gorgeous weeks in Puglia and Sicily

Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · Jun 16

EXC: China is considering lifting the sanctions it imposed on UK parliamentarians in 2021 in the latest sign of warming relations between London and Beijing

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

China considers lifting sanctions on UK parliamentarians as relations warm

Exclusive: Restrictions to be reviewed as embassy official says ‘UK-China relations are showing a positive momentum’

www.theguardian.com

Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · Jun 12

He sent it anyway while driving to Stalybridge with his wife. Lutnick rang him straight away and said: "Johnny, I got your message. I don't know what it means"

The signal was so bad Reynolds was missing every 5th word and was worried he would accidentally agree to sell the NHS

Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · Jun 12

Great anecdote from trade sec Jonathan Reynolds over lunch with lobby journalists

His first WhatsApp message to US commerce sec Howard Lutnick was drafted through a cross-Whitehall process and the result was "something no human being would send or be able to understand"

Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · Jun 11

UK and Gibraltar close to post-Brexit agreement on border with Spain

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

UK and Gibraltar close to post-Brexit agreement on border with Spain

David Lammy and territory’s chief minister to meet with EU and Spain to get Eurostar-style arrangement over the line

www.theguardian.com

Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · Jun 10

EXC: UK officials are hopeful the US will begin implementing the deal to reduce tariffs this week

The aim is to secure a proclamation from Donald Trump in the coming days. Officials expect tariffs on cars to be reduced first, before steel/aluminium

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

British officials hopeful that US will start lifting car tariffs this week

Exclusive: Trade secretary to meet US counterpart with aim of implementing first parts of deal in coming days

www.theguardian.com

Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · Jun 7

EXC w/ @kiranstacey.bsky.social: Plans to regulate artificial intelligence have been delayed by at least a year

Ministers are planning a bumper bill in the next king's speech to regulate the technology and its use of copyrighted material

www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

UK ministers delay AI regulation amid plans for more ‘comprehensive’ bill

Law expected to include safety and copyright issues but delay likely to raise concerns about ongoing lack of regulation

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Eleni Courea

Pippa Crerar @pippacrerar.bsky.social · Jun 5

Worth rereading this excellent profile of Zia Yusuf from @ecourea.bsky.social last year 👇

www.theguardian.com/politics/art...

Reform’s new chair Zia Yusuf: a man intent on making Nigel Farage PM

Former leftwing student defends leader’s Southport comments and insists party stands for British values

www.theguardian.com

Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · Jun 5

The profile is here:

www.theguardian.com/politics/art...

Reform’s new chair Zia Yusuf: a man intent on making Nigel Farage PM

Former leftwing student defends leader’s Southport comments and insists party stands for British values

www.theguardian.com

Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · Jun 5

I spoke to BBC Profile a few weeks ago about my conversation with Zia Yusuf before I wrote the first newspaper profile of him:

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Profile - Zia Yusuf - BBC Sounds

The millionaire businessman turned chairman of the Reform UK party.

Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · Jun 4

EXC: Ministers have offered a series of last-minute concessions on copyright protections in an effort to avoid a fifth defeat in the House of Lords today

The data bill faces the prospect of being shelved if the impasse isn't broken

www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Ministers offer concessions on AI and copyright to avoid fifth Lords defeat

Exclusive: Data bill faces being shelved amid standoff over plans to allow AI firms to use copyrighted content

www.theguardian.com

Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · May 31

The only way to trigger a leadership contest is if 20% of the PLP back a challenger candidate. Labour MPs might be grumbling about some of the govt's decisions but there's no chance of that happening for the foreseeable future

Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · May 31

I think that's the point — Labour MPs didn't manage to oust Corbyn as leader!

Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · May 31

Labour’s poll ratings have plummeted — so is Starmer’s future in question?

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Labour’s poll ratings have plummeted – so is Starmer’s future in question?

Dissatisfaction among MPs has created a febrile mood, with ambitious cabinet ministers assessing their options

www.theguardian.com

Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · May 25

EXC: Five Labour MPs have travelled to Taiwan for meetings with government officials for the first time since Labour came to power

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

Delegation of Labour MPs arrives in Taiwan in first visit since UK election

Trip by five Labour MPs designed to build UK-Taiwan ties as Beijing steps up military capability

www.theguardian.com

Eleni Courea @ecourea.bsky.social · May 23

Scoop by @pippacrerar.bsky.social

Labour’s child poverty strategy has been delayed until at least the autumn

Concerns at the top of govt that the cost of key proposals outweighs the political benefit

Thousands more children will fall into poverty as a result

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

No 10 delays child poverty strategy with tens of thousands more facing hardship

Exclusive: Flagship policy put back until at least autumn amid fears cost of scrapping two-child limit will outweigh political benefit

www.theguardian.com