NEW: Prime Minister Boris Johnson tells the 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs “On a clear road I crashed the car into a ditch” over the Paterson affair.
— Kitty Donaldson (@kitty_donaldson) November 17, 2021
Whether Boris can get himself, and his party, out of the ditch remains to be seen!
The Home Secretary and her French counterpart have spoken of their determination to prevent 100% of migrant crossings - at a virtual meeting this evening. pic.twitter.com/mENyVBOflN
— Simon Jones (@SimonJonesNews) November 15, 2021
Patel and the Home Office have promised mountains, yet they have performed molehills.
1 It is in the interests of the French to get these people out of France (no amount of shouting or bribes will incentivise the French to keep them).
2 UK Border Force has given up trying to repatriate them once they land, and is wilfully disobeying (to the point of insolence) instructions from Patel.
3 Ambulance chasing lawyers are taking advantage of the situation, and are ensuring that these people remain in the country for years (to the detriment of our safety).
Therefore the UK will continue to suffer a daily invasion of economic migrants, who have paid large sums of money to organised criminal gangs, until we actually send them back en masse on daily flights. This will require a root and branch overhaul of Border Force, and the repeal of the Human Rights Act.
In a move to stave off Labour stealing the high ground of the reform of what politicians can/cannot do/earn outside parliament, Boris issued his own proposals minutes before Keir was about to unveil his yesterday.
So far so good.
However, Boris wants his proposals voted on today.
Again, so far so good.
BUT
1 The wording is woolly, especially when phrases such as "within reasonable limits" are used.
2 The time limit for reporting back (31 January) ensures that this will rumble on.
3 Many Tory MPs are wondering if they will be banned from having a secondary income.
It is just conceivable that Boris has outflanked himself.
1 The expected Russian invasion of the Ukraine
2 The terrorist bomb in Liverpool.
3 The Belarus crisis.
4 The apparent deteriorating health of the monarch.
As COP blame game gets underway, fascinating from @KarlMathiesen: “according to green groups, diplomats, observers and allies, the EU in Glasgow has appeared ineffective, constrained and at times looked inept”https://t.co/JMOal9iIEU
— Alex Wickham (@alexwickham) November 12, 2021
The media, having got bored with covid and COP, have come up with a new way to torment Boris and the government in the shape of Sir Geoffrey Cox.
There is currently wall to wall Cox coverage, analysing his every move and action since the year dot.
Unsurprisingly, this is currently doing immense damage to the Tories. As to whether it makes a real impact in two years time, when the election is likely to be held, remains to be seen.
Cox is unlikely to be bothered if he is ousted as an MP, at which point the media will go after other politicians. However, the media need to have a care that they do not misstep with their allegations. Sir Geoffrey was Attorney General, and is a highly experienced QC; he will not let "missteps" go unchallenged!
