Day: November 12, 2025
Prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko said that the decision to suspend German Galushchenko had been taken at an emergency government session
Ukrainian justice minister German Galushchenko has been suspended amid an alleged corruption scandal in the country’s energy sector, uncovered by the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, or SAPO.
AFP reported that the authorities alleged that Galushchenko was involved in a $100m corruption scheme orchestrated by Timur Mindich, an ally of president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and personally benefited from the plot.
Starmer’s allies are saying getting rid of the PM would be would be a ‘reckless’ and ‘dangerous’ move
Good morning. All governments are collections of people who don’t always agree, and don’t always get on, but who largely keep their disagreements in private. But sometimes the disputes get quite serious, and sometimes they become public. The Guardian is today leading on a report by Pippa Crerar, the political editor, who has discovered that Keir Starmer’s most senior aides are so worried that he could face an imminent leadership challenge that they have started briefing against potential rivals.
Starmer’s allies are saying that getting rid of the PM would be would be a “reckless” and “dangerous” move that could destabilise the markets, and they seem to be particularly worried about the threat from Wes Streeting, the health secretary.
Streeting denied plotting to oust Keir Starmer. Asked if he was planning a leadership challenge, he replied:
No, and I think whoever’s been briefing this has been watching too much Celebrity Traitors, and this is just about the worst attack on a faithful I’ve seen since Joe Marler was kicked out and banished in the final.
He said that he would not challenge Starmer after the budget. Asked if he would rule out demanding Starmer’s resignation after the budget, he replied:
Yes, and nor did I shoot JFK. I don’t know where Lord Lucan is, had nothing to do with Shergar, and I do think that the US did manage to do the moon landings. I don’t think they were fake.
He claimed the Downing Street briefing against him was “totally self-defeating”. He said:
It’s totally self defeating briefing, not least because it’s not true and I don’t understand how anyone thinks it’s helpful to the prime minister either …
I do think that, you know, going out and calling your Labour MPs ‘feral’ is not very helpful. I do think that trying to kneecap one of your own team when they are out, not just making the case for the government, but actually delivering the change that we promised, I think that is also self-defeating and self-destructive behaviour.
He said the No 10 briefing showed that Lucy Powell was right when she called for a change of culture in the Labour deputy leadership contest.
When Lucy Powell stood to be deputy leader of the Labour Party and said there needed to be a culture change in how we lead and how the party is managed, I think she has been vindicated.
