Hard hat? Check. Oversized high-vis jacket? Check. Daft stunt in hardcore heavy machinery? Check, check, check. With a crash and a bang and a no small wallop, Boris Johnson rolled into the West Midlands yesterday to outline his ‘new deal’ plans for the economy. Finally, a chance to blow away some of those coronavirus cobwebs … Read more
You’d have thought a royal baby had been announced, such were the throaty gargles of pleasure which went up in the Commons. Sir Desmond Swayne even parped a rejoiceful: ‘Hallelujah!’ All around the chamber, cherry red noses twitched with delight. Some members grinned like Euromillions winners, while others exchanged satisfied winks as if to say … Read more
People seem weary of Dominic Raab. Too uncaring, they shudder. Too robotic. Something about those deep set eyes which just leaves them cold. It is true that his remarks yesterday criticising Black Lives Matter supporters for taking the knee were remarkably charmless. So too was his Tory leadership campaign last year. Watching his speeches I … Read more
Teeth flashing, eyebrows arched stiffly like two bows stretched at full twang, in a hot and humid House of Commons Labour’s Sarah Champion was not happy. She was unleashing a torrent of anger over the Prime Minister’s decision to merge the Department for International Development (Dfid) with the Foreign Office. It was ‘incredulous’ that the … Read more
Teeth flashing, eyebrows arched stiffly like two bows stretched at full twang, in a hot and humid House of Commons Labour’s Sarah Champion was not happy. She was unleashing a torrent of anger over the Prime Minister’s decision to merge the Department for International Development (Dfid) with the Foreign Office. It was ‘incredulous’ that the … Read more
Who was this cheery chap arriving in the Commons with a nod and a wink and a cheery ‘wot ho’? Why, it was Robert Jenrick, Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government. Or the current minister, at any rate. His cheeks were flushed peony pink, his brow a frown-free zone. As he waited for departmental … Read more
Colourful outfits, jazzy production values and a telegenic anchor who, despite technical difficulties, never let her Colgate smile drop once. Despite the serious nature of the Global Vaccine Summit, there was a welcome hint of Eurovision about proceedings. Welcome because the virtual conference, which aimed to raise $7.4billion for global vaccines over the next five … Read more
HENRY DEEDES: Unless it turns out Dominic Cummings breakfasts on marinated puppy dogs’ tails, he seems to have survived By Henry Deedes for the Daily Mail Published: 07:35 BST, 29 May 2020 | Updated: 08:29 BST, 29 May 2020 Pull out the Pimm’s, fire up the barbecues. Boris Johnson is getting the summer started. Well, … Read more
Hair skew-whiff, a homely fireplace as backdrop and matey, first-name terms only. The Prime Minister appeared before a chosen collection of Westminster’s most self-regarding bobbies yesterday trying to appear as relaxed possible. It was clear, though, that events of recent days had knocked him off-kilter. His jowls were walrussy, the bags under his eyes bulging … Read more
A double bill of Westminster drama yesterday. Statements from both Dominic Cummings and Boris Johnson. Contrition in short supply from both players. Were it a play we could have called it No Regrets: A Tragedy in Two Parts. For Act One we were treated to Dominic Cummings’ statement on his recent lockdown controversy. News that … Read more