Everyone thinks Boris will be the next PM and they’re trying to bring him in down in advance. The rise and fall of Rory Stewart and the EU gets some new presidents.
It’s part 7 of the Brexit Journal, and the UK still hasn’t left.
15th and 16th June 2019
Boris is Shy: You Heard it Here First
I’m not terribly interested in the Tory party leadership election, to be honest. Certainly not at this stage. I’m sort of happy that all but one of the candidates appear to back some sort of Brexit. The ‘one’ being Rory Stewart who is obviously a Remainer. I’ll probably pay more attention when we’re down to the last two, but I’ve got to write something about it now as there’s little else going on.
The only thing that the media seems to be interested in (other than Rory) is Boris not turning up to the Channel 4 debate on Sunday[1], and his general lack of interaction with the TV media. It’s said that he’s worried about making a ‘gaffe’ under pressure. This is possible. Most of Boris’ ‘gaffes’ are failed jokes made while he tries to think of an answer, but then he gets too tied up with the joke and looks rather silly. In my humble opinion, and having been on nodding acquaintance with him many years ago, he’s actually very shy. Which explains the bluster. A very Etonian way of getting past the problem.
17th June 2019
Boris Can’t Hide Much Longer
Still the Tory leadership dominates ahead of the second round of voting tomorrow.
Boris didn’t do the ‘lobby’ hustings today[2], and why should he? He’s [spending his time] smooching up to the actual voters which happens to be the Parliamentary Conservative party at the moment. He’s doing ‘private meetings’. Of course, the cynics are out in force. Not only is Boris’ approach said to be to prevent him making public gaffes (probably true) it’s also so he can tell one lot of MPs one thing and say something else to another lot. This latter surmise I very much doubt. Do these cynical commentators think that Tory MPs don’t talk to each other? Yes, the Tories are ridden with factionalism, but not so much that words on the important matter of the next PM aren’t exchanged. Boris could get away with a difference in tone and emphasis, but not contradictory statements.
He is going to have to come out of his box soon though. MPs could become concerned if it seems he’s not actually up to appearing in public facing hostile questions. This may be why he’s said he will do the BBC ‘debate’ tomorrow.
18th June 2019
A Cacophony
Dominic Raab was eliminated in the second round of MPs voting today. No great loss.
Boris was right not to do the Channel 4 debate, if today’s BBC one was anything to go by. With 5 contenders, it was too cacophonous[3]. With 6 it would have been unbearable. But, as I said yesterday, Boris had to be there today to maintain the confidence of his MP supporters. Not that he was much good. Nobody was. Rory Stewart was best when he was asking questions of the others, but not when setting out his own agenda when he was certainly no better than his opponents: who were all terrible at it.
The format didn’t help – pointed questions had been selected rather than discursive ones. Not enough time was given for answers before Emily Maitlis, or sometimes another contender, interrupted. There was too much talking over each other. There were too many questions and Emily’s interventions were skewed against Boris, though some barbs were aimed elsewhere too.
I gave up towards the end when some child asked about the environment and it was clear that the panel would all toe the millenarian climate change line. Why couldn’t at least one of them talked properly about other more important environmental problems that could be solved at a fraction of the costs of ‘climate change’ policies that change nothing? That would be showing leadership.
19th June 2019
The Beeb has Boobed
Rory Stewart was eliminated from the Tory leadership race today, receiving 10 less votes than he got yesterday[4]. I suspect that some of those 10 had been lent to him, probably by the Boris campaign, to see off Raab. Or the rats simply left the sinking ship? I don’t expect that we’ll hear too much from Rory now the media bubble has burst.
One of yesterday’s BBC debate questions, selected to embarrass Boris no doubt, was put by an Iman called Abdullah Patel[5]. It turns out that this guy is an alleged anti-Semite with Corbynite tendencies[6]. The Beeb is all in denial about it, claiming that they didn’t know as his twitter feed was turned off[7]. Another questioner was a dyed-in-the-wool Labour activist stirring up trouble. In short, the BBC made a mess of it by deliberately selecting questioners who were going to be aggressive or very anti-Boris. They were caught out. Abolish the license fee!
The next TV debate, which I understand will be between the final two contenders, is to be on Sky News, hosted by Kay Burley. Surely it can’t be worse than the BBC’s effort?
But who will be in the final? There are two votes planned for tomorrow which should decide it.
20th June 2019
It’s Boris!
Boris and Jeremy Hunt will go forward to the Tory members for the final decision on who is to be the next Prime Minister. Most commentators think that it will be BoJo. Gove was eliminated in the final round of voting, Sajid Javid having been ruled out this morning.
Several commentators – not least Sky’s Beth Rigby who has been banging on about it since the final result was known[8] – speculate that Boris ‘lent’ votes to Hunt to ensure that Gove did not get through[9]. But nobody, not even the Gove camp, thinks that was actually the case. It’s plausible that one or two individual MPs did vote for Hunt, when really they were backing Boris, but that’s not the organised ‘scandal’ that the media want to drum up.
Some of the numbers did look a bit odd – such as Boris’ votes not increasing very much after Sajid dropped out despite several Saj followers declaring for Boris. But Hunt only beat Gove by two votes. This was too close for a genuine attempt to rig the election given how many votes Boris had to play with.
21st June 2019
Tories in Trouble
- Mark Field was filmed physically manhandling a Greenpeace protestor from some banquet or other[10]. It was all a bit unnecessary, over the top and generally a bad look. No harm done, of course, but as eco-protesting is ‘in’, and Field did look a bit unhinged in the video, and Field was suspended as a minister as a result, it can’t help the Tory popularity ratings.
- The good burghers of Brecon and Radnor have petitioned to have their Tory MP thrown out following his expenses fiddling[11]. Although the constituency is ‘leave’, it’s a Tory/LibDem marginal, and is expected to go LibDem again if there’s a byelection. Especially so as a Brexit party candidate will likely split the ‘leave’ vote.
- BoJo was recorded having a row with his girlfriend early this morning. Some nosy neighbour recorded the noise and sent it to the Guardian. PC Plod was also summoned[12]. This really looks like a plot against Boris, but nevertheless, it’s a poor show from someone who wants to be PM. Could Boris be forced to withdraw? Would that put Gove back in the final two?
22nd and 23rd June 2019
Row Gate
Boris’ ‘row’ problem is still in the news, despite the fact that the neighbours were, allegedly, politically motivated and may have been feuding with Boris and Carrie Symonds since he moved into her flat[13]. It is worth noting that she was a victim of Thomas Worboys[14] who was convicted of more crimes on the day the row took place[15]. It may explain why Boris happened to upset her, if she was emotional already after seeing that story in the news.
It’s not helping that Boris has refused, so far, to make any kind of comment. He didn’t respond to Iain Dale’s questions at the ‘official’ hustings yesterday[16]. Boris has also said he’s not doing the Sky debate next week which Kay Burley was supposed to be hosting[17]. I can see why. Kay has been pretty obvious in her dislike for Boris, and he doesn’t have to do it. But it does give ammunition to Hunt’s campaign to be able to label Boris as a coward.
24th June 2019
Bored
I’m getting even more bored with row-gate and the tedious reporting of the Tory leadership campaigns. The bias is obvious in all media outlets. Why don’t they have anything else to say if Boris is so unsuitable for the job?
Still, some Tory MPs are threatening to vote against a Boris Government if ‘no-deal’ is the conclusion of Brexit come 31st October. Ken Clarke was quite open about it over the weekend[18]. ‘Remain’ is in Clarke’s DNA (he would already have been Prime Minister otherwise), I’ve a sneaking suspicion that he fancies himself as PM of a cross-party government should the Tory Government collapse under Boris and be no-confidenced.
Having done little media so far, Boris did do a face-to-face with Laura Kuenssberg[19]. I didn’t see it (As I said, I am bored with the whole thing!). Apparently, she was quite soft with him, perhaps to make up for the BBC debate issues last week[20].
Personally, I don’t think Boris is actually up to being PM[21].
25th June 2019
Garden Gate
‘Row Gate’ became ‘Garden Gate’ today. ‘Someone’ released a photo of Boris and Carrie in a garden at a picnic table. It was probably not a recent photo and has been much mocked as an obvious attempt to suggest that they are just an ordinary happy couple. Boris won’t comment on the photo or its provenance.
Meanwhile Hunt is trying to make much, too much, of Boris not doing a Sky News debate by using a hashtag something like #noShowBoJo. Very witty I’m sure. Boris has actually done another interview today with some radio channel or other[22]. He’s still spouting the same old stuff, although it seems to some that it’s a bit better worked out than it was.
Hunt did an interview with Laura Kuenssberg today[23], and set out some reasonable policies, such as on education and the health service. But his Brexit policy is really no different to Boris’. Brussels has told both of them ‘non’ several times.
Liam Fox has attempted to kill off the idea that ‘no-deal’ could work under GATT article 24, or some such[24]. It won’t change what the two candidates will say, of course. ‘WTO terms’ is still the mantra, although both Boris and Jeremy say it won’t come to that. No, it won’t. The House of Commons won’t let it.
26th June 2019
Estimates and Brexit
At last, some genuine Brexit related news. According to Tom Newton Dunn in tomorrow’s super soar away Sun, there’s plotting afoot in the House of Commons[25].
Dominic Grieve (soon to be deselected surely?) and Margaret Beckett are proposing to amend the annual ‘estimates’ legislation that is coming up soon. The idea is to make sure that the Government (under Boris presumably) can’t do a ‘no-deal’ Brexit without House of commons approval on pain of Government spending being largely stopped. This is yet another attempt to ‘take no-deal off the table’ without any consideration of what the EU might do. It’s unlikely, I know, but if the EU said, on 31st October, ‘Enough is enough. You’re out!’, would that freeze UK Government expenditure?
These people are fools. I think that the amendment might well not pass, just as the last attempt to take over House of Commons business failed[26]. It would set an appalling precedent on what is a supply vote. Many Members of Parliament will know what happens when this sort of thing occurs in the US Congress and won’t want such action becoming a tactic in UK politics
27th June 2019
More Cans Kicked Down the Road
It was the Bournemouth Tory party leadership hustings today. Boris thinks ‘it’s a million to one’ that there will be a no-deal Brexit[27]. Jeremy Hunt, amongst many, says that it’s far more likely than that. But Boris is correct. At 31st October, we’ll either leave with a deal or just won’t leave. Probably ever.
Labour, the well-known neo-Nazi party, continues to deny that it is anti-Semitic after reinstating one of its MPs, Williamson[28] [29], who was suspended for denying that there was much anti-Semitism in the party. If they sacked Williamson, then obviously what Williamson said was not true. So, it does have an anti-Semitism problem. Or something.
Labour is still debating its Brexit policy. Even Diane Abbott, via Twitter, is saying it needs to reconsider its fence-sitting[30]. This follows recent discussions at senior levels in the party where Jeremy Corbyn put off taking any decisions to ‘allow for more discussion with Trade Unions’. Jeremy Corbyn is getting as good at kicking cans further into the long grass as Mrs May.
28th June 2019
Is Jeremy Corbyn Falling Apart?
Theresa May went to Japan for a G20 summit and all she brought back was a picture of her looking very unhappy with Mr Putin[31]. I’m sure that Mr Putin is gutted that the picture is so bad.
There’s a story in tomorrow’s Times that might get some traction. It reports that Civil Servants are concerned about Jeremy Corbyn’s health and his ability to be Prime Minister[32]. Apparently, he’s getting very forgetful, argumentative and can’t control his party. Who would have guessed? Labour deny it all, of course.
Further, it seems that Corbyn is ruled by his closest advisors including John McDonnell, Seumas Milne, and the Trade Union man Len McCluskey. This is said to be why Corbyn is refusing to fully back a second referendum because these folks won’t let him. Well, I know a secret: Jeremy Corbyn’ really doesn’t want a second referendum.
Boris has recorded an interview with Sophy Ridge. It’s to be broadcast on Sunday. ‘If you can survive Sophy Ridge, you can survive anything’ said Boris[33]. Given that politics moves so fast these days, it will probably be stale old news by then: ‘Events, dear boy, events’.
29th and 30th June 2019
No entry for this weekend.
1st July 2019
Lame-Duck Phil
Speaker Bercow has not called any amendments to the ‘estimates’ vote tomorrow[34]. While I’m a little disappointed in that it would have been an interesting debate to watch and would have given a true indication of the strength of the ‘no-deal’ vote as Labour (characteristically) hadn’t decided one way or another. But Bercow was probably right. It would have been an horrific precedent and could have led to a confidence vote in a government headed by a Prime Minister who is resigning soon.
‘Spreadsheet Phil’, the chancellor, has had a pop at both the Tory leadership candidates[35]. He correctly says that there’s not enough cash available for their spending promises – especially the money offered if there’s a ‘no-deal’ Brexit. But Hammond’s days as Chancellor are limited. Neither Boris nor Hunt will have him, and his personal influence is almost nil. Even Mrs May is spending money like water, despite his advice. She wants more money for schools, which might be wise, but she’s screwed the economy for the foreseeable future in her daft ‘climate change’ order last week[36]. All against the Chancellor’s advice[37].
So, farewell then Philip Hammond. No influence, no future. Very sad.
2nd July 2019
Ode to Farage
‘And the winner is…’ said Donald Tusk (almost) announcing the names of those selected to be the next heads of the various EU bureaucracies[38]. Almost all of them are compromises and unknowns in the UK. The exception is Christine Lagarde, formerly of the IMF who is to be head of the European Central Bank. This appointment is highly suspect. She has been an ‘establishment’ finance person for ages and has a dubious track record. An ideal person for the EU, obviously.
The Remainer media have got themselves all worked up about the Brexit party’s protest at today’s first meeting of the new EU parliament[39]. They all turned their backs when ‘Ode to Joy’ was played on the grounds that the EU is not a country and still less is it their country, so why should they be expected to stand for the anthem? I agree in principle with the Brexit party on this, but it would have been more dignified to simply remain seated.
3rd July 2019
What Power Have You Got? How Do We Get Rid of You?
In full, the result of the elections selection process for the top bods in the EU for the next five years.[40]
Commission President: The German Defence Minister, a political friend of Mrs Merkel and arch euro-federalist, Ursula von der Leyen.
European Council President: Son of a former EU Commissioner, the first EU dynast and Prime Minister of Belgium, Charles Michel.
European central Bank President: Convicted fraudster[41], head of the IMF and part of the Troika’s second bailout of Greece and ‘not an economist’, Christine Lagarde.
Of more significance is that there is incredible disquiet about the appointment process, seeing it as a stitch-up. Apparently, the usual carve-up process was not followed[42]. The ‘spitzenkandidaten’[43] system relies on big blocs forming in the EU parliament – the EPP and S&D groups in particular. But those blocs are much smaller than usual following the 2019 elections. So the front runner for the EU Commission President’s job, Frans Timmermans couldn’t get enough support. The EU Council simply selected someone else, who nobody wanted – so much for even a semblance of EU democracy.
4th July 2019
I’m an Ann’s Man
Ann Widdecombe – who I knew well in the early 1980s – has made her maiden speech in the EU Parliament. It was a bit over the top[44].
She compared Brexit to the peasants throwing over their feudal masters, wars of independence and, most controversially, to slave revolts. Of course, this latter point was bound to make the virtue signalling lefties holler and splutter. I’d guess that Ann meant it to. But it was a bit crass. She could have made much more mileage if she’d talked about the US Declaration of Independence, especially as it’s the 4th July today. Even that is not a great analogy of course, but it’s rather more to the point than ‘slave revolts’.
There was only one slave revolt that I can think of that was successful: that was in Haiti. Not an example the UK would want to follow though. It was not a successful no-deal exit from French dominion if one considers the present state of that country.
Speaking of US Independence Day, The Donald has added some cheerful examples of US military might to the annual parade. Tanks. God bless America!
5th July 2019
Remain Alliance Versus Corbyn
This week has seen more discontent at Labour’s Brexit stance bubbling up amongst party members. With Labour coming fourth (behind the Tories, LibDems and the Brexit party) in opinion polls[45], Labour Remainers are strongly pushing for Labour to come out as a ‘remain’ party. Corbyn is moving towards ‘giving the people the final say’, but he’s not clear as to whether this means a second referendum or a general election.
This is against the background of a possible electoral pact between the LibDems, the Greens and Plaid Cymru, and possibly also the SNP (‘Remain Alliance’ is a working title) such that the party most likely to win the seat in a given constituency is supported by the other alliance parties not standing candidates against them. A trial of this is planned for the Brecon and Radnorshire byelection which is due soon[46].
On the other hand, an increasing number of Labour MPs seem likely to support a rehash of ‘May’s Deal’ to get Brexit over the line. These tend to be MPs in northern English constituencies where Brexit is popular.
In 2017 many voters were under the mistaken impression that Labour was a Remain party, hence why Corbyn did much better than expected then. That momentum has now been lost to (mainly) the Liberal-Democrats.
I don’t think Labour can claw it all back again, even if there is a clear policy change. This might even split the remain vote sufficiently to allow the Brexit party and the Tories to win seats, even where the ‘Remain Alliance’ appears strong. What will Corbyn do?
6th and 7th July 2019
Desert Winds
This weekend was a desert for Brexit news. The tumbleweed blows across this journal. The only debates are over the Labour Brexit policy, as I noted yesterday, and Boris and Hunt’s various promises.
As far as the Tory leadership is concerned, the ballot papers are going out and, as many people will return them pretty much straight away, the rest is so much hot air.
I should have mentioned this before, but it seems that around 30 Tory MPs will act to prevent Boris (for they assume that it will be he) from going for a ‘no-deal’ Brexit, even if it takes a no confidence vote to get that result[47]. As well as the usual suspects (Letwin, Grieve) it could include Phillip Hammond and Theresa May![48] Well, they have to find something to do on the back benches. Personally, I don’t think it will come to that[49]. I do expect a tweaked ‘May Deal’ to be offered to the Commons, which may pass it, but more likely not. More delays will follow until someone revokes Article 50.
8th July 2019
United We Stand – Or Not
Dominic Grieve has tabled an amendment to the Northern Ireland legislation currently passing through the Commons[50]. If accepted for debate by the Speaker, and if passed by the House, it will become a legal requirement for the Northern Ireland Secretary to report to the House on a fortnightly basis, the progress made on getting the Northern Ireland Executive up and running again.
At face value, this might encourage ministers and others to get on with sorting out the long-standing problem of governance in the Province. But really, it’s a way of preventing the prorogation of Parliament in the run-up to ‘Brexit Day’ on 31st October[51]. Parliament can’t receive these updates if it is prorogued. Therefore, Parliament cannot be prorogued. It is an anti-Brexit amendment. This could be debated tomorrow. I’ll be surprised if it is passed and I’m not convinced Bercow or whoever is in the chair will even allow it.
The trade unions have decided that they want Labour to resist a ‘Tory Brexit’[52]. I’m not sure this actually means they want to cancel Brexit. I think it’s a compromise: only a ‘Labour Brexit’ would be acceptable to the unions, or some other suitable fudge. Is it a ‘Labour Brexit’ if the Parliamentary Labour Party votes for it, whatever sort of deal is on offer?
9th July 2019
A Grievous Blow to No-Deal?
I admit to being a bit confused. Early today, I’m sure I read that the Deputy Speaker had not called the Grieve amendment[53], to require the Government to report on a fortnightly basis to the House of Commons on progress on forming a new Northern Ireland Executive, presumably on the grounds that it was ‘outside the scope of the bill’, being obviously about Brexit, not devolution. But I learn from the BBC’s Today in Parliament that it was debated and passed by one vote: 294 to 293, I think.
The debate, as far as the amendment was concerned, was blatantly about Brexit, and no pretence was made that it was to help the situation in the Province.
Anyway, this is seen to rule out the prorogation of Parliament in order to allow a no-deal Brexit by default. As I said yesterday, an obviously anti-Boris move.
To be fair, Boris, speaking in a televised debate with Jeremy Hunt, did not completely rule out such a manoeuvre, although Hunt did. But surely it can’t come to a prorogation in any event? It would be a massive political blunder resulting in an immediate no-confidence vote in which the Government would fall. I can’t see even Boris risking this for Brexit. Although it would get no-deal over the line.
Labour have followed the Unions’ Brexit line, and are now a ‘Remain’ party, if the option is a ‘Tory Deal’(?).
10th July 2019
More Legalese
I’m still confused about yesterday’s Grieve amendment. As far as I can gather, the one he actually wanted was not selected. But one (of several) he and others proposed, that does much the same thing in terms of preventing Parliament being prorogued, was passed. It was in some way less strong than the one he wanted.[54] Legal nerds and policy wonks are poring over it. We’ll see if we need to see.
On a related note, John Major – who was once PM and signed us up to the Maastricht treaty without a referendum – said on Radio 4 Today that he will mount a legal challenge if Parliament is prorogued[55].
Another legal question. In the past, if Parliament was prorogued, did that mean that the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords could not sit? Now that that Committee has been abolished and replaced with the Supreme Court, can that body sit if there’s no sitting of Parliament? What practical difference could that make, be it for a hearing about Brexit or anything else?
11th July 2019
Red, Blue and Amber
The news is all Labour’s racism towards Jews. There was a BBC Panorama show last night[56]. The National Socialist Party of Great Britain, formerly known as the Labour Party, has a problem with its attitude to Jews, apparently. This is probably because hate crimes have risen ‘due to Brexit’, and the impact of climate change can’t have helped either.
Nothing of much note on the Tory leadership election either. There’s still argument over Boris’ reaction to the leaking of ambassadorial e-mails and his failure to support our man in Washington[57]. But it’s all over bar the shouting. Most Tory members have made their minds up and have, probably, already voted. Andrew Neil is due to interview both candidates soon. That will liven things up, but too late to make any difference.
Nothing at all on Brexit, unless you count Amber Rudd’s Damascene conversion to the Brexit cause[58]. Cynics are suggesting that she wants Boris to give her a cabinet job. I think she wants to avoid a General Election at all costs. Her seat, Hastings, is very marginal and she’d lose in a ‘snap election’.
12th July 2019
The Andrew Neil Interviews
Today was the day when the BBC broadcast the Andrew Neil interviews with Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt[59]. In many ways this was the toughest test yet for the candidates. Andrew is possibly the most forensic interviewer on television these days.
Both of them suffered at his hands. Probably Boris came off worst. This was for two reasons. Firstly, that Boris’ usual tricks for deflection and diversion (bluster, talking over the interviewer and answering the wrong question) didn’t work on Neil. They’re debating tricks, best used where there’s a live audience and an opponent to debate with. They don’t work well on TV unless used very sparingly, which Boris’ use wasn’t. Secondly, because Boris had more to defend, in particular his habit of saying what first comes into his head and (as a result) not telling the truth by getting it all mixed up.
Hunt was challenged too, but it was more about inconstancies in his policies. This was effective precisely because Hunt has been more specific on detail than Boris: doing so makes inconsistencies more obvious. Boris can smooth over his more easily. Overall, marks out of 10, 5 to Boris, 7 to Hunt.
They say that these interviews could make more difference than originally thought, as fewer Tory members than expected have so far returned their ballot papers, so they may well watch this show before voting. Maybe, but maybe they are simply in the post?
13th and 14th July
The Miller’s Tale (Part 2)[60]
Gina Miller, whose legal action forced the Government to put Article 50 through Parliament and thus put Brexit into law, is going to try it again. This time she says that she will take legal action should Boris, as PM, prorogue Parliament in order to get a ‘no-deal’ Brexit through.
Hilariously, she apparently told Sky’s Niall Paterson on the Sophy Ridge show[61] that she’d got her ‘legal team’, Mishcon de Reya, to write to Boris to tell him that he must give her seven days’ notice if he, Boris, is going to see the Queen to ask for prorogation. And why has she only written to Boris? Why not Jeremy Hunt, or even Jeremy Corbyn? Well you can send letters to anyone, and even from a solicitor it doesn’t mean that they have to do what you say. And I don’t think that it is possible, constitutionally or otherwise, to force anyone to give notice if they are going to see anyone about anything[62]. Especially if it’s the Queen.
I’m not saying that prorogation isn’t actionable, but a PM going to see the Queen certainly isn’t.
Miller is wasting George Soros’ her money here. The
only winners being Mishcon’s who are rubbing their hands with glee on the way
to the bank. I don’t think this work will be pro-bono, do you?
[1] https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-rules-out-cacophonous-channel-4-debate-but-agrees-to-bbc-appearance/
[2] https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/boris-johnson-dodges-tory-leadership-hustings-with-lobby-journalists/
[3] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-tory-debate-highlights-who-won-bbc-video-conservative-leadership-a8964571.html
[4] https://www.forexlive.com/news/!/rory-stewart-eliminated-in-latest-round-of-uk-leadership-vote-20190619
[5] https://order-order.com/2019/06/19/abdullah-bristol-wants-know-panel-agree-words-consequences/
[6] https://order-order.com/people/abdullah-patel/
[7] https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/bbc-hit-back-over-imam-16451423
[8] https://news.sky.com/story/johnsons-ultimate-revenge-on-gove-but-were-there-dirty-tricks-11745978
[9] https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/20/jeremy-hunt-and-boris-johnson-are-final-two-in-tory-leadership-race
[10] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48714864
[11] https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/21/petition-to-recall-convicted-tory-mp-chris-davies-succeeds
[12] https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/boris-johnson/news/104759/police-called-boris-johnsons
[13] https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/9353665/boris-johnson-neighbour-recorded-row-carrie-symonds/
[14] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4987303/John-Worboys-Victim-Carrie-Symonds-story.html
[15] https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jun/20/john-worboys-admits-drugging-four-more-women
[16] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48731774
[17] https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/johnson-turned-down-sky-news-debate-says-presenter_uk_5d0d3856e4b07ae90d9cf713?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvLnVrLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAK4TCLhgaHMJo6eS3FnoNp9M3U3jZZ-zqPxJx6Wn1biEVqU0XEdLdbSah9DuzT4LarBvvzgQWfImjnXGikAZo_H9oxPuoIRVLWIPzJdBksbzUFIkT7GPmciwKPJiTAnwdgh0gx6nNwVJdaFLQbqusaXhrL5QjokRWKgg1I2balxn
[18] https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/news/104782/tory-grandee-ken-clarke-threatens-no
[19] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48752222
[20] See entry for 19th June 2019.
[21] I thought this primarily because he was a terrible Foreign Secretary, which doesn’t bode well for higher office.
[22] LBC https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/nick-ferrari/boris-johnson-refuses-carrie-symonds-picture/
[23] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-48756081/tory-leadership-boris-johnson-on-brexit-and-his-character
[24] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-liam-fox-jeremy-hunt-no-deal-brexit-claims-criticised-a8974831.html
[25] https://www.fxstreet.com/news/brexit-remainer-rebel-mps-to-mount-a-dramatic-bid-to-block-a-no-deal-brexit-next-week-the-sun-201906262258
[26] See entry for 12th June 2019.
[27] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/06/27/eu-need-friends-world-stage-conditions-ripe-boris-pull-brexit/(£)
[28] https://www.thejc.com/comment/analysis/what-exactly-has-labour-mp-chris-williamson-done-to-offend-jews-here-s-a-long-list-1.485890
[29] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-48792550/labour-anti-semitism-row-jeremy-corbyn-on-chris-williamson
[30] https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/i-m-starting-to-worry-about-our-brexit-policy-diane-abbott-tells-jeremy-corbyn-a4177176.html
[31] https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/28/asia/theresa-may-vladimir-putin-g20-gbr-intl/index.html
[32] https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jeremy-corbyn-too-frail-to-be-pm-fears-civil-service-9398m903t
[33] https://news.sky.com/video/survive-sophy-ridge-you-can-survive-anything-11751048
[34] See 26th June 2019
[35] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48833571
[36] https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/law-for-net-zero-emissions-begins-passage-through-parliament
[37] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/theresa-may-spending-climate-change-mental-health-housing-brexit-philip-hammond-a8980706.html
[38] https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/02/world/europe/eu-von-der-leyen-lagarde.html
[39] https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/brexit-party-meps-turn-backs-beethoven-eu-anthem/
[40] https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/02/world/europe/eu-von-der-leyen-lagarde.html
[41] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/christine-lagarde-convicted-imf-head-found-guilty-of-negligence-in-fraud-trial-a7484586.html
[42] https://www.neweurope.eu/article/weber-drops-eu-top-job-bid-as-europes-leaders-abandon-spitzenkandidat-process/
[43] http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2018)630264
[44] https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/04/ann-widdecombe-likens-brexit-to-emancipation-of-slaves
[45] https://news.sky.com/story/labour-falls-into-fourth-place-in-new-opinion-poll-11756313
[46] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-latest-eu-liberal-democrat-brecon-and-radnorshire-plaid-cymru-greens-jane-dodds-a8989301.html
[47] https://news.sky.com/story/philip-hammond-leads-30-tory-mps-in-plot-to-stop-no-deal-brexit-in-october-11757279
[48] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48874144
[49] How wrong can you be?
[50] https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/dominic-grieve-launches-new-bid-to-block-no-deal-brexit-1-6147395
[51] The fear around at the time was that Boris or someone would prorogue Parliament for pretty much the whole of October.
[52] https://labourlist.org/2019/07/labours-two-brexit-scenarios-as-set-out-by-trade-unions/
[53] I did read it. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/09/speaker-dominic-grieve-no-deal-brexit-john-bercow, but this seems to be the ‘main amendment’ that failed. This one required a recall of Parliament to debate progress on NI. Another amendment, requiring the Government of the day to report to Parliament was passed, and is considered to have much the same effect. The reporting of this in the media is as confused as I was. This is probably the best explanation of what happened: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48930417
[54] See note 55
[55] https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1151505/brexit-news-john-major-boris-johnson-william-rees-mogg-jacob-rees-mogg-spt
[56] https://www.channel4.com/news/labour-split-over-anti-semitism-controversy-after-panorama-report
[57] https://metro.co.uk/2019/07/11/senior-tories-attack-boris-johnson-throwing-us-ambassador-bus-10174113/ This was about the leaking of confidential e-mails from the UK’s ambassador in Washington in which the ambassador was less than diplomatic about a certain US President. Boris was not seen to be supportive enough of the ambassador who had to resign and come home. Nobody seems to know who actually leaked the e-mails, but I’d guess it was a certain US President.
[58] https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/9484074/amber-rudd-no-deal-brexit-boris-johnson/
[59] https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/jul/12/andrew-neil-boris-johnson-tory-leadership-boris-johnson-uses-andrew-neil-interview-to-deny-failing-to-support-ambassador-live-news No doubt the full show is on the BBC website somewhere.
[60] See 31st January
[61] https://news.sky.com/video/sophy-ridge-on-sunday-full-show-11763003
[62] Of course there are: stalking, child protection issues and so on. But this is giving notice to a third party who has no business knowing about it.
Sage Vals 