Published: | Updated:
Does Kemi Badenoch have a spy in the No 10 bunker?
Tory MPs were surprised last week when the Tory leader used all six of her questions at Prime Minister’s Questions to challenge Sir Keir Starmer over the long-delayed Defence Investment Plan.
Many complained she missed an opportunity to probe Starmer about Belfast as the city was ablaze in a second night of rioting after a horrific stabbing.
But less than 24 hours after PMQs last week, John Healey unexpectedly resigned as Defence Secretary.
Had Badenoch been tipped off that Healey was on the brink? If so, it seems to fit a pattern.
Last September, under pressure from Badenoch at PMQs, Starmer said he had ‘full confidence’ in Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. But the disgraced peer was sacked the next day. Then in February, Badenoch focused on Mandelson for all six questions at PMQs for two weeks running. Four days after the second PMQs, Morgan McSweeney, who had supported the appointment, quit as No 10 chief of staff. The next day Keir’s communications chief Tim Allan quit over the same controversy.
My Whitehall mole says: ‘Kemi’s either got an informer or she’s got lucky four times.’
Tory MPs were surprised last week when the Tory leader used all six of her questions at Prime Minister’s Questions to challenge Keir Starmer over the long-delayed Defence Investment Plan
New Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis is the only MP whose skull contains shrapnel, acquired fighting in the Afghanistan war in 2007 in Helmand Province. Thankfully there’s not much metal left in his head now. He says: ‘Just small bits. I can go through scanners OK.’
Surely, Starmer’s Cabinet warfare will be child’s play for this hardy former soldier.
Royal coffers will be boosted by Eric Clapton and Janet Jackson concerts at the Sandringham estate in August. VIP tickets for Layla rocker Clapton, including a guided tour of Sandringham House, a picnic hamper packed with local produce and exclusive use of the gardens, will set you back £670. Glamping in a luxury tent is another £720. No extra cost for sightings of new resident Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
The reshuffle triggered by John Healey’s resignation saw Dame Angela Eagle return to home affairs. Her first stint at the Home Office ended in 2002, when Tony Blair reportedly sacked her by mistake. Her second ended last autumn when she was demoted to environment minister. Dame Angela is now security minister in charge of MI5. Meanwhile, it’s lift-off at last for Calvin Bailey, now a defence minister after spending two years sucking up to officials. The former RAF officer was such a notorious sycophant he became known as ‘Calvin Climb’. Perhaps not a man we can look to for much independence of mind.
New Green MP Hannah Spencer was spotted in the Commons apparently wearing an £1,800 Gucci blouse. Called out online, she was quick to say it was a charity shop find. Perhaps she was eager to avoid being tarred with the same brush as Starmer, shamed for accepting £32,000 of designer clothes and glasses from Labour donor Lord Alli.
Footie fan Keir Starmer wants the World Cup to have a feelgood factor in Britain. Encouraging people to go out to watch the football, he said: ‘A pavement pint in the sunshine discussing the agony of penalties and soaking up the atmosphere is what pubs are all about.’ But, predictably, it seems he hasn’t done his homework. For there will be no sunshine when England play their first matches across the Atlantic, kicking off at 9pm or 10pm. Wakey, wakey, Keir.
此内容由惯性聚合(RSS阅读器)自动聚合整理，仅供阅读参考。 原文来自 — 版权归原作者所有。