Campbell Nukes Corbyn

Alistair Campbell, the former No 10 director of communications under Tony Blair, has said he no longer wishes to be a Labour member, warning that Jeremy Corbyn is poised to lose the next election against Boris Johnson and destroy the party “as a political force capable of winning power”.

In a letter to Corbyn, quoted by the Guardian, he said:

“The culture you have helped to create has made the party one that I feel no longer truly represents my values, or the hopes I have for Britain.

I see no strategy in place that remotely meets the electoral or policy challenges ahead. On the contrary, in so far as I ascertain a strategy at all, it is one that looks more designed to lose. I fear the country may already have decided that it does not intend to make you prime minister.”

This is designed to push Labour to realise that it must ditch Corbyn for its sake, and the sake of the country. All very well and good. However, as long as the infection known as Momentum holds sway Corbyn will not be moved.

Is Boris Trying To Emulate Prince Hal?

I know you all, and will awhile uphold
The unyoked humour of your idleness.
Yet herein will I imitate the sun,
Who doth permit the base contagious clouds
To smother up his beauty from the world,
That when he please again to be himself,
Being wanted, he may be more wondered at
By breaking through the foul and ugly mists
Of vapours that did seem to strangle him.
If all the year were playing holidays,
To sport would be as tedious as to work;
But when they seldom come, they wished-for come,
And nothing pleaseth but rare accidents.
So, when this loose behaviour I throw off
And pay the debt I never promisèd,
By how much better than my word I am,
By so much shall I falsify men’s hopes;
And like bright metal on a sullen ground,
My reformation, glitt’ring o’er my fault,
Shall show more goodly and attract more eyes
Than that which hath no foil to set it off.
I’ll so offend to make offence a skill,
Redeeming time when men think least I will.

Anti Leak Directive Leaked

NEW Dominic Cummings' 'one strike and you're out' ban on Cabinet leaks is leaked to Daily Telegraph https://t.co/ToDtYKycNo via @Telegraph

— Christopher Hope📝 (@christopherhope) July 28, 2019

On Holiday Until 3 September

The Commons is in recess. It returns on Tuesday 3 September. pic.twitter.com/z9xfkDhZFo

— PARLY (@PARLYapp) July 25, 2019

The Dawn of The New Golden Age?

 

Let us see what happens when the rains come!

Has Boris Inhaled His Own Legend?

"My biggest single worry perhaps about Boris Johnson is that he seems to me to be a politician who's inhaled his own legend before he's created it" - political historian Lord Hennessy on the UK's Prime Minister-to-be, Boris Johnson#newsnight pic.twitter.com/53ICG5WN1F

— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) July 23, 2019

It is for sure that Boris, in many quarters, is starting from a very low expectation base.

Whilst he can talk the talk, let us see if he can also walk the walk!

Corbyn To Propose Motion of No Confidence After Brexit

NEW: Jeremy Corbyn says he will put forward motion of no confidence in Boris Johnson's government... but "at a time of our choosing... it'll be an interesting surprise for all of you."

— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) July 23, 2019

Hunt on The Brink

EXCLUSIVE

Jeremy Hunt's Cabinet future on brink after he told Boris Johnson he will not accept demotion from foreign sec

He made clear he's only willing to accept 3 jobs - his current role, chancellor or DPM

Johnson has offered him defence secretary

Hunt has turned it down

— Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) July 23, 2019

Boris's Kingdom of Dust

As Boris waits in the wings on the cusp of being crowned king of the Tories and PM, his enemies are waiting to pounce, indeed one (Duncan) tried a pounce yesterday but was rebuffed by The Speaker who pointed out it was for the opposition to call for votes of no confidence, not MPs in the same party!

Thus Boris's enemies are not facing him on the benches opposite, but will be sitting behind him.

Where does this leave Boris and the country?

We will face a general election before October, as his own party will conspire to bring him down.

David Gauke Joins The LibDems

David Gauke tells The Times:

‘It [no deal] is a position that would play into the hands of Lib Dems. I don’t think we should underestimate Jo Swinson

‘She’s capable, she’s a very good communicator

‘I think she will be energetic and a passionate advocate for her party’s views’

— Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) July 22, 2019

Rats Abandon Ship

Exclusive:

The ministerial resignations are about to begin

I’m told a minister is resigning *today* at 10am ahead of Boris Johnson Premiership...

— Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) July 22, 2019

In order to avoid being fired, a swath of minister will resign before Boris is crowned king of the Tories. 

Then off to oblivion for them!

Boris's honeymoon period ends before it begins.

Boris Looking For Protection

Exc: Tory MPs on 1922 looking. At changing the rules to protect new PM from a vote of no confidence as Tory leader under Tory rules for a year
- Currently there isn’t any protection for a new PM
- Allies of BJ want greater protection
- 1922 exec looking at it https://t.co/1VvQ3mlYFu

— Sam Coates Sky (@SamCoatesSky) July 19, 2019

Tories Queuing Up To Help Hammond Move Out

Amusing amount of Tories offering to help Philip Hammond move out given reports he wants to resign before Boris enters No10 . It really is end of days stuff

— steve hawkes (@steve_hawkes) July 18, 2019

He won't be missed!

Shock, Horror, Probe - Guardian Reads Book Published 13 Years Ago!

Boris Wins 12 Days Early

Boris Johnson Has Already Won The UK PM Election With 12 Days Remaining To Vote https://t.co/lTl2NR7g7P #honkhonk pic.twitter.com/3zIyX3aUsE

— The Daily Lafayette (@DailyLafayette) July 12, 2019

IF the polls are accurate, and it's a big IF, then Boris has won.

Westminster's Bullying Culture

As per the report into bullying and harassment of MP's parliamentary staff by Gemma White QC:

"Some staff of Members of Parliament are subject to an unacceptable risk of bullying and harassment, including sexual harassment, at work. Most Members of Parliament treat their staff with dignity and respect but the problem of bullying and harassment is sufficiently widespread to require an urgent collective response."

“I just want to say that during my over-30-years’ association with the Houses of Parliament I did not encounter anything remotely like bullying and harassment on anyone’s part and have been very surprised to know it has happened.The MP I worked for I found extremely efficient, clever and a good employer in every way.”

#CableGate - Kim Resigns, Boris Blamed and May Seeks To Poison The Well

Well it was all go yesterday Kim Darroch resigned and the media (as is their style) decided it was all Boris's fault.

Well whilst he didn't exactly give fulsome backing to Darroch, Darroch's position was untenable given that Trump had banned him from all future functions. My advice to the media is that whilst it is clear most of you loath Boris, you really ought to try grasp the fact that the enemy in this particular case is not Boris but the person who leaked the cables.

In the meantime, never one to miss an opportunity to poison the well it seems that Theresa May is seeking to appoint Darroch's successor!

#CableGate - Prime Suspects

In no particular order:

1 Trump

2 Darroch

3 May

4 Putin

John Major Threatens To Take Boris To Court

Breaking:

John Major announces he will seek a judicial review if Boris Johnson prorogues Parliament to force through a no deal Brexit

‘The PM will be bypassing Parliament. That is simply unacceptable’

A former PM threatening to take the frontrunner to be next PM to court...

— Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) July 10, 2019

The land of hypotheticals knows no bounds!

Trump Severs Diplomatic Relations With Britain - #CableGate

In a busy couple of Tweets, responding to #CableGate, President Trump lambasted Theresa May and her handling of Brexit and then for good measure severed diplomatic relations with Britain....and it was only Monday!

I have been very critical about the way the U.K. and Prime Minister Theresa May handled Brexit. What a mess she and her representatives have created. I told her how it should be done, but she decided to go another way. I do not know the Ambassador, but he is not liked or well....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 8, 2019

....thought of within the U.S. We will no longer deal with him. The good news for the wonderful United Kingdom is that they will soon have a new Prime Minister. While I thoroughly enjoyed the magnificent State Visit last month, it was the Queen who I was most impressed with!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 8, 2019

I wonder what the rest of the week holds for us?

Wrt #CableGate the government is now looking at a hostile foreign power as being the cause of the leak, maybe so, or maybe look to the the list of other suspects I compiled yesterday (including Trump himself)!

The media is now asking how a future Prime Minister should handle Trump. The answer is simple, apply the Disraeli technique he used with royalty, namely applying flattery with a trowel. It works for Kim Jong-un, it most certainly should work for Boris! 

The Ambassador's Cables - #CableGate

Sir Kim Darroch's secret cables to the Foreign Office, giving his views of the Trump administration, have been leaked en masse to a tabloid.

The contents of the cables are perfectly acceptable, as ambassadors are meant to report their views and opinions. However, what is not acceptable is the fact that these secret communications have leaked.

The questions are as follows:

1 Who leaked them?

2 Why are they leaked now?

3 What game is being played here?

The theories:

1 Trump leaked in order to remove Durroch and replace him with Farage.

2 A supporter of Farage in the FO leaked them, for the reason above.

3 Number 10 leaked them, in order to conduct a scorched earth policy and wreck any chances of the USA helping Britain with a fast track no deal Brexit trade agreement.

4 A foreign agency leaked them, just for fun.

5 Boris or an associate leaked them, in order to pave the way for Farage to be ambassador and seal an deal with the Brexit Party.

Anyone have any other theories?

The Intelligence Men Blocked Boris

Boris Johnson: PM tried to restrict ex-minister's access to intelligence https://t.co/LwPJZ18scs

— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) July 5, 2019

Another example of the control freakery of the current occupant of No 10!

Tally-ho!

The Boris Effect Boosts Tories

BREAKING: Labour down to 18%, record low in poll

CON 24%(+2)
BREX 23%(+1)
LDEM 20%(+1)
LAB 18%(-2)
GRN 9%(-1)

📉Lowest ever rating with @YouGov back to 2002

📉Only time as low as 18% was IpsosMORI in May’09

📉57% of Lab ‘17 voters back other partieshttps://t.co/DdJkLH2g8b pic.twitter.com/WJrZaHwXXv

— Matt Chorley (@MattChorley) July 3, 2019

MPs Really Can Be Thick!

MP falsely claims that the government has given alcohol companies £4.1bn in “tax handouts” since 2013. She’s referring to tax freezes on alcohol duty, which is paid by consumers. pic.twitter.com/dE1mVmFqUz

— Christopher Snowdon (@cjsnowdon) July 2, 2019

Boris To Cut Cabinet by Half?

Tuesday’s TELEGRAPH: Johnson plans to cut Cabinet by half #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/4QU29WpuFD

— Helen Miller (@MsHelicat) July 1, 2019

I wonder how true this is?