The Bullingdonian chant of ‘form a square around the Pritster’ sends out a sinister message to those whose lives are being wrecked by bullying
- 21 Nov 2020
It is instructive to read the foreword to the ministerial code. “To fulfil this mission and win back the trust of the British people we must now uphold the very highest standards of propriety, and this code sets it out. Now we must do it. There must be no bullying and no...
It’s time to call for a grown up to restore credibility and competence. Make Brandon Lewis deputy Prime Minister
- 14 Nov 2020
I don’t often give Boris Johnson any credit, but today I doff my cap. Not because he sacked Cain and Cummings, but because of the reason. The full frontal, kick in the bollocks, the cardboard box walk of shame normally reserved for the office sex pest or a sticky finger in th...
Who will be the Modern day Leo Amery? It is inevitable that Boris will go. But when?
- 1 Nov 2020
In 1940, in what has become known as the Norway debate, Tory Grandee Leo Amery rose to his feet and delivered a withering speech which ended with a quote from Oliver Cromwell. ‘You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart I say and let us have done wi...
The Trump illness could plunge America into a constitutional crisis
- 2 Oct 2020
I am not going to write about the political implications of Trump’s illness although they are enormous and looming. I will be concentrating on the legal and constitutional chaos that could paralyse the country. And cheer the enemies of democracy. Let me try and work t...
Priti Patel’s encouragement of curtain twitchers to snitch on their neighbours is neither British nor Conservative. There will be trouble.
- 20 Sep 2020
What strange times we live in. If the Prime Minister decides to hang up his fright wig for a money making wheeze on the lecture circuit, Fleet Street scribbling, snorterinos de luxe and chasing top Tory totty, it won’t be because he has been the most disastrous Conservative le...
Is there no friend he cannot betray no promise he cannot break. Beware Tories this Cuckoo Johnson will Chuck you out of the nest.
- 8 Sep 2020
Is there no friend he cannot betray? Is there no promise he cannot break? Is there no lie he cannot utter? Is there no institution he has no contempt for? Is there no law that he has respect for? The poison of Boris Johnson has no boundaries. He is the incarnation of e...
Trust in the common sense of Dr Hilary on masks and market forces on working from home.
- 29 Aug 2020
I really do not understand why certain issues have become so polarised. Take the row about wearing face coverings. To Des Swain, whom I rather like, it is a ‘monstrous intrusion’. To others it is a gross infringement of their freedoms. To me, in certain circumstances, it is a ...
Margaret Thatcher understood politics, people and backbenchers in a way that Johnson could only dream of. His problem is that he doesn’t
- 24 Aug 2020
It is hard to believe that the general election was only a few months ago. It feels that we are witnessing the slow decay of an era. The gradual decline and fall of an empire riddled with venality, incompetence, cronyism and a whiff of corruption. A government that is limping ...
Who is mad enough to be the PM’s public face? Hasn’t he got one of his own? There lies the problem.
- 30 Jul 2020
So at last Number 10 has made up its mind and decided that they need White House televised press conferences to replace the behind closed doors lobby system. In theory it’s a very good idea to have a CJ Creeg figure wise cracking with the reptiles bringing transparency and the...
Starmer is a clear and present danger to Johnson. He is detoxifying the brand by being the brand. And Johnson with Corbyn are the gifts that keep on giving.
- 22 Jul 2020
One of the most cheering things about lockdown is that I have had the opportunity to watch PMQs. The chemistry and body language between Johnson and Starmer is instructive and couldn’t be more different. Johnson is bluster, prepared one liners, failure to answer any questions,...