NEW: Trade minister Anas Sarwar indicates the UK could be prepared to align with EU tariffs on Chinese EVs “The more that the U.K. and the EU work together and act in lockstep, the better it is for both the U.K. and the European Union,” he told @carolinee_hug @StefanieBolzen

EXCL: First interview with No. 10 North chief Caroline Simpson 😬 Indicates there'll be "significant" cuts to civil service staff to boost local areas 💸 Leaves door open to mayors paying rebates 🔴 Why, as an apolitical official, she took a SpAd job 🐈 Cardboard cutout of Larry

EXCL: Inside No10 North, Andy Burnham's "start-up" 🖥️ Ministers hot-desking, keeno staff turning up early to sit in his sight 🚆 50 staff (could rise to 150), many currently in hotels 🏠 It's likely need *another* home before the Manchester Digital Campus is finished in 2032

Two other sources said some NEC officers are moving away from wanting to block Burnham Three further sources acknowledged some shifting but emphasised it may not tip the balance in Burnham's favour By @johnjohnstonmi and me politico.eu/article/uk-labou…

EXCL: Labour officials are now less likely to block Andy Burnham from returning to parliament, a member of the party’s ruling body has suggested Abdi Duale said NEC officers are "reassessing" their old loyalties, e.g. to Keir Starmer, because "this is now terminal for the party"

Two big lines from @9andrewmcdonald in this morning’s Playbook 💥 Catherine West plans to wrap up her leadership challenge by *tomorrow morning* if it doesn’t get 81 MPs 💥 Andy Burnham’s allies say a specific MP is on board with standing down to let him run. There is a plan

NEW: Inside the frenetic govt preparations for the king’s US visit 👑 Congress speech could hit 30 mins 👑 No10's Varun Chandra going, as is Yvette Cooper 👑 Ukraine appears the most obvious issue 👑 Chair of the Royal Visits Committee had to change v late. It was … Olly Robbins