(1) Guido’s ramping. Boris doesn't actually have more declared support than Sunak. I view this as a sign of weakness - not strength; if he had the real names he'd declare them. He's trying to build an inevitability narrative that doesn't yet exist. (2) Boris hasn't declared he will stand yet. He is taking "soundings" and that doesn't just mean MPs who'd support him, it means taking views of those he knows into account. (3) I expect many MPs to mobilise this morning to declare they'd refuse to serve under him or would resign the whip, which may spook the markets.
DYOR.
I'm slightly green on all outcomes and have given up trying to predict the collection of risibles.
British democracy needs a credible right of centre party. The Conservatives have given up on that.
I found Guidos spreadsheet very helpful in the previous contest. Sad to see it just descend into blatant Boris ramping “1922 board”? “CCHQ Vice Chair” (x2)?
It's up to 15 x anonymous backers this morning - if you take them off his total of 52 Boris is already behind Rishi, who's on 41 named backers.
The interesting question that should be asked is (if true) why so many MPs don't want to go on the record with their support.
If I were Penny I’d be running a spoiler campaign, try to get second in MP preferences, with Rishi in first (freezing out Boris) and then magnanimously withdraw so Rishi becomes PM. Get the FCO out of it.
I see the case for Penny, but I do fear she won’t be able to pass the credibility test - there are (rightly and wrongly) two big beasts in Rishi and Johnson and if they are both passed over for someone with largely junior ministerial experience I do think the public will largely write her off, probably unfairly but there you go
I found Guidos spreadsheet very helpful in the previous contest. Sad to see it just descend into blatant Boris ramping “1922 board”? “CCHQ Vice Chair” (x2)?
It's up to 15 x anonymous backers this morning - if you take them off his total of 52 Boris is already behind Rishi, who's on 41 named backers.
The interesting question that should be asked is (if true) why so many MPs don't want to go on the record with their support.
How many MPs publicly declared support at the nominations stage last time? Before the first set of secret voting?
I am not sure there are 300 MPs who want to publicly declare for a particular candidate.
If I was a Labour supporter I would be encouraging Boris to stand. He will destroy any credibility left in the Conservative party...
This is their challenge. Whilst on paper we elect the named candidate on the ballot paper and not the party or a PM, most voters don't accept this - they vote for a PM.
Boris Johnson is the only potential candidate with a political mandate. He is the reason why the Tories won the 2019 election as they did. But he is also a PM who was hounded out of office a few months ago following scandal after scandal with strongly negative approval ratings.
So his mandate of 2019 is tenuous at best here in 2022. But tenuous is at least something that exists. Unlike the "mandate" that Sunak or Mordaunt or Braverman could clam. No candidate is going to unify the party, so the paper majority doesn't exist in practice.
I still think a spring 2023 election is on. Whichever PM we get next - the disgraced last-but-one one or yet another retread replacement - they are going to seriously struggle to maintain parliamentary discipline and actually govern. With massive poll disapproval and an overwhelming sense of fatigue against them.
The key problem with the return of the prodigal son is the nation is dragged further down the sewer as Johnson schemes his way to a GE victory with his sidekick JRM. A sort of political version of Dick Dastardly and Muttley.
In the meantime children are going hungry, and homes are being repossessed. It is beginning to look brutal outside the Westminster bubble. I am normally insulated from recession in my job, but this year has been the worst I have known in 20 years save for the COVID lockdowns, and it has been difficult since before the omnishambles non-budget. Businesses do not want to spend ANY money they can avoid spending. I am losing tenders for less money than I was pricing for, ten years ago.
Johnson may want to return for giggles, but there aren't many serious people smiling at the moment. Maybe the sight of Johnson in a hi Viz coat driving a JCB, or touring the streets of Kyiv every other week in a flak jacket will cheer us up.
That poll can be read more than one way - it's thin gruel either way but suggests Sunak might have better luck at building a slightly different coalition.
R4 Sir David Liddington stressing the importance of a competent and effective government - and as Michael Howard said Johnson has had his chance.
The interviews with the members which followed. Cripes.
Liddington’s pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
I think the other good point he made is that the Conservative membership* should be consulted when they are in Opposition, but when in government it should be MPs only - as they have a mandate from the whole electorate, not just party members. And if the party membership choice meets electoral approval in a subsequent GE all well and good, and if not, perhaps they’ll learn.
*Would apply to Labour too, if they were ever any good at getting rid of duds.
The members clearly believe as a point of fundamental principle that it's their inalienable right to choose the next PM. And that their recent cockup was someone else's fault.
R4 Sir David Liddington stressing the importance of a competent and effective government - and as Michael Howard said Johnson has had his chance.
The interviews with the members which followed. Cripes.
Liddington’s pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
I think the other good point he made is that the Conservative membership* should be consulted when they are in Opposition, but when in government it should be MPs only - as they have a mandate from the whole electorate, not just party members. And if the party membership choice meets electoral approval in a subsequent GE all well and good, and if not, perhaps they’ll learn.
*Would apply to Labour too, if they were ever any good at getting rid of duds.
The members clearly believe as a point of fundamental principle that it's their inalienable right to choose the next PM. And that their recent cockup was someone else's fault.
There is always the World Economic Forum, the ECHR or Gordon Brown to blame. Works for some.
One thing the opinion polls do is put into context all those posts on here from not so long ago saying "if the Cons are doing so badly why isn't it showing up in the polls?"
Not good polling at all. Needs clear water between non-Boris and Boris or he might yet do it.
Of course, we know anyone non Boris will struggle with some voters, since Boris wants to make that so - they don't deserve success after ousting him after all.
(1) Guido’s ramping. Boris doesn't actually have more declared support than Sunak. I view this as a sign of weakness - not strength; if he had the real names he'd declare them. He's trying to build an inevitability narrative that doesn't yet exist. (2) Boris hasn't declared he will stand yet. He is taking "soundings" and that doesn't just mean MPs who'd support him, it means taking views of those he knows into account. (3) I expect many MPs to mobilise this morning to declare they'd refuse to serve under him or would resign the whip, which may spook the markets.
DYOR.
Hes still got 10% of the MPs at least on his side. I think 20-25% is easy enough for him to achieve. Beyond that he struggles, unless the MPs get evidence he's their best hope. Then a lot grit their teeth.
One thing the opinion polls do is put into context all those posts on here from not so long ago saying "if the Cons are doing so badly why isn't it showing up in the polls?"
There is always a delay effect in polling. Might we see the Conservatives recording an infamous LibDem-like asterisk?
What happens if no one can get 100 backers by Monday?
Lord Hague as PM from the Lords.
But if it is Boris Johnson as PM then I foresee a general election, and as Alastair Meeks pointed out to me yesterday there's a route to Starmer as next PM after Truss.
(1) Guido’s ramping. Boris doesn't actually have more declared support than Sunak. I view this as a sign of weakness - not strength; if he had the real names he'd declare them. He's trying to build an inevitability narrative that doesn't yet exist. (2) Boris hasn't declared he will stand yet. He is taking "soundings" and that doesn't just mean MPs who'd support him, it means taking views of those he knows into account. (3) I expect many MPs to mobilise this morning to declare they'd refuse to serve under him or would resign the whip, which may spook the markets.
DYOR.
Hes still got 10% of the MPs at least on his side. I think 20-25% is easy enough for him to achieve. Beyond that he struggles, unless the MPs get evidence he's their best hope. Then a lot grit their teeth.
A lot of Bozo supporters are going to be telling their MPs over the weekend that Bozo is their only choice.
The reality is that Bozo isn't - nothing is going to help those MPs retain their seats at the next election but Bozo is likely to reduce Tory votes further - for everyone who still likes Bozo 2+ people now hate him.
I found Guidos spreadsheet very helpful in the previous contest. Sad to see it just descend into blatant Boris ramping “1922 board”? “CCHQ Vice Chair” (x2)?
It's up to 15 x anonymous backers this morning - if you take them off his total of 52 Boris is already behind Rishi, who's on 41 named backers.
The interesting question that should be asked is (if true) why so many MPs don't want to go on the record with their support.
It looks to me that all the Boris-ultras came out immediately to declare their support and now looks to be slowing considerably. One hopes that is the case at least. Tories need some boring competence until the next general election. If they can demonstrate that they should be able to climb back up towards 30% if swing-back comes back in. If they continue to in-fight then they face an extinction level event.
I found Guidos spreadsheet very helpful in the previous contest. Sad to see it just descend into blatant Boris ramping “1922 board”? “CCHQ Vice Chair” (x2)?
It's up to 15 x anonymous backers this morning - if you take them off his total of 52 Boris is already behind Rishi, who's on 41 named backers.
The interesting question that should be asked is (if true) why so many MPs don't want to go on the record with their support.
Yes, it would be a bizarre time to be coy. Guido is usually not so generous in these spreadsheet things, so as to list the anonymous. It's not evidence if anything if it cannot be, or, evidenced.
Could be right, but no point telling us if it's as unproven as a guess.
At this rate Alba will have more votes than Scons. (Subsamples, yes, we all know, so it's still a matter of poking the spoor with a stick till we see the owner, so to speak.)
The risk for BoZo is that while the nutters and swivel-eyed loons love him, he may even recover in the polls, but the bond markets may still take flight.
If the "conkering (sic) hero" returns and the economy is still buggered that is not the story he wants written
If the various terms for ordure (s**t, s***e, c**p and t***s) were combined into one, that word has the makings of the most prominent word in the cloud.
Liz Truss ignored stark warnings from economists sympathetic to her growth strategy that the mini-budget that ultimately led to her downfall risked triggering a financial markets meltdown, the Guardian has learned….
But days before the start of her premiership, she was told by the economists Gerard Lyons and Julian Jessop that the markets were highly nervous and that she could face a crash if her policy changes were not handled with care.
Jessop said the opportunity to deliver on the growth strategy had now been lost. “Supply-side reforms need a strong, committed prime minister. We have gone back to what we were trying to avoid – a doom loop of tax increases, spending cuts and weak economic growth. A deep recession now starts to look more likely.”
Her failure to listen to these guys - who were very much of her side - means we will now return to a Johnson premiership and the completion of the utter corruption of public life.
I am extremely depressed about the political situation this morning.
Not sure this fits with your idea that Boris won't get the nominations.
If Boris doesn't, then I think Mordaunt would, and it seems likely that Mordaunt would get more voters backing Johnson than Sunak would.
Some head to head polls would be useful, but if Mordaunt beats Sunak head-to-head, and if Boris does too, then one of them will probably be next PM.
You could get 190 MPs supporting Rishi, 90 supporting Boris and 80 supporting Mordaunt.
Rishi is coronated.
He would last about 3 months before the ERG take him down on those numbers. And only 3 because 1 of those is over Christmas.
Yes, I think a 2022 GE is good value provided that The timetable allows. From a bit of cursory research (DYOR) the time from dissolution to GE is 25 working days which if done by end October/early November would make a December GE just about possible.
What happens if no one can get 100 backers by Monday?
Lord Hague as PM from the Lords.
But if it is Boris Johnson as PM then I foresee a general election, and as Alastair Meeks pointed out to me yesterday there's a route to Starmer as next PM after Truss.
Yes, I've got that covered with bets on Starmer at 140/1
The risk for BoZo is that while the nutters and swivel-eyed loons love him, he may even recover in the polls, but the bond markets may still take flight.
If the "conkering (sic) hero" returns and the economy is still buggered that is not the story he wants written
Just hope the ERG run their own candidate and split some of his nominations away.
If the various terms for ordure (s**t, s***e, c**p and t***s) were combined into one, that word has the makings of the most prominent word in the cloud.
Interesting - I assumed t***s was cognate with c***s on that cloud.
Are Truss and Kwarteng going to stand down and cause by-elections?
I just get a strong sense that we are about to get a spate of defections and/or by-elections.
I agree - and that is my answer to @nico679 a little up thread. Nobody will have the support of the parliamentary party. They are too riven and fighting too bitter a war for the soul of the party to unify behind Sunak or Johnson.
Rishi might restore public confidence etc, but unite? Why even say such nonsense? Too many people in the party despise their internal rivals for that .
At this rate Alba will have more votes than Scons. (Subsamples, yes, we all know, so it's still a matter of poking the spoor with a stick till we see the owner, so to speak.)
I’m too busy laughing to care. Subsamples schwubsamples. There is something beautiful about seeing the biggest bully in the school getting their face scrunched into the mud. Childish, but beautiful.
Tories have just changed the rulebook by the looks of it.
Only the proposer and seconder is going to be formally identified - the other 98 are going to be anonymous.
I suspect that adds to Bozo's chances.
Also adds to Sunak's.
It makes a coronation more likely.
If it were all formally identified then if it looked something like Casino's 190/90/80 then there'd be immense pressure on some of the 80 to switch to the 90. If its all anonymous, then that can't happen.
What happens if no one can get 100 backers by Monday?
Lord Hague as PM from the Lords.
But if it is Boris Johnson as PM then I foresee a general election, and as Alastair Meeks pointed out to me yesterday there's a route to Starmer as next PM after Truss.
Yes, I've got that covered with bets on Starmer at 140/1
"But if it is Boris Johnson as PM then I foresee a general election"
This happens before he becomes PM?
How do the mechanics on that work? The party splits?
Rishi might restore public confidence etc, but unite? Why even say such nonsense? Too many people in the party despise their internal rivals for that .
Yes. Wallace is the only unifying figure, with Hunt probably best placed to do it after him.
What happens if no one can get 100 backers by Monday?
Lord Hague as PM from the Lords.
But if it is Boris Johnson as PM then I foresee a general election, and as Alastair Meeks pointed out to me yesterday there's a route to Starmer as next PM after Truss.
Yes, I've got that covered with bets on Starmer at 140/1
"But if it is Boris Johnson as PM then I foresee a general election"
This happens before he becomes PM?
How do the mechanics on that work? The party splits?
Typo on my part, Boris Johnson as leader leads to Starmer as next PM after Truss.
Resignations and defections lead to the Tory majority in the Commons being wiped out, add in the potential 8 by elections from the Boris Johnson's resignation honours list....
I found Guidos spreadsheet very helpful in the previous contest. Sad to see it just descend into blatant Boris ramping “1922 board”? “CCHQ Vice Chair” (x2)?
It's up to 15 x anonymous backers this morning - if you take them off his total of 52 Boris is already behind Rishi, who's on 41 named backers.
The interesting question that should be asked is (if true) why so many MPs don't want to go on the record with their support.
It looks to me that all the Boris-ultras came out immediately to declare their support and now looks to be slowing considerably. One hopes that is the case at least. Tories need some boring competence until the next general election. If they can demonstrate that they should be able to climb back up towards 30% if swing-back comes back in. If they continue to in-fight then they face an extinction level event.
Well, it also slowed because unlike me most of them have not been having bad insomnia.
Not sure this fits with your idea that Boris won't get the nominations.
If Boris doesn't, then I think Mordaunt would, and it seems likely that Mordaunt would get more voters backing Johnson than Sunak would.
Some head to head polls would be useful, but if Mordaunt beats Sunak head-to-head, and if Boris does too, then one of them will probably be next PM.
You could get 190 MPs supporting Rishi, 90 supporting Boris and 80 supporting Mordaunt.
Rishi is coronated.
You could, but how likely is it?
If Boris isn't going to get the nominations then is 5/1 really a lay on the idea that Mordaunt won't either, or will lose to Sunak?
If Mordaunt comes way behind Sunak on the MPs vote then I think she loses the members too.
I agree. Rishi’s weakness with the members is often overplayed. He ended up running Truss a lot closer than people expected.
With the “hindsight” vote and the feeling of panic re the economy (plus another few days of DMs attacks on Penny (they’ve started again) i think he would get it.
Though TBH I suspect Penny would withdraw if in the final 2 with Rishi, if he had measurably more support. She’s relatively easy to buy off with Foreign Secretary or other senior role.
What happens if no one can get 100 backers by Monday?
Lord Hague as PM from the Lords.
But if it is Boris Johnson as PM then I foresee a general election, and as Alastair Meeks pointed out to me yesterday there's a route to Starmer as next PM after Truss.
Yes, I've got that covered with bets on Starmer at 140/1
How does that work? How do you get from Truss, to Boris calling an election, to Starmer, without settling on Boris? Is there a PM on 1st January market?
Are Truss and Kwarteng going to stand down and cause by-elections?
I just get a strong sense that we are about to get a spate of defections and/or by-elections.
I agree - and that is my answer to @nico679 a little up thread. Nobody will have the support of the parliamentary party. They are too riven and fighting too bitter a war for the soul of the party to unify behind Sunak or Johnson.
Yes, that's probably true. Sunak (weirdly) is brandished as a wet one nation Remainer in Leaver clothes (WTF, but hey I don't write the rules) and Boris as a lazy, incompetent, corrupt and vengeful loose cannon who debases the office and will struggle to staff a cabinet, except from the loons.
So Starmer as next PM isn't a bad bet. If one of them does become PM then look to back Starmer next or a 2023 GE.
I found Guidos spreadsheet very helpful in the previous contest. Sad to see it just descend into blatant Boris ramping “1922 board”? “CCHQ Vice Chair” (x2)?
It's up to 15 x anonymous backers this morning - if you take them off his total of 52 Boris is already behind Rishi, who's on 41 named backers.
The interesting question that should be asked is (if true) why so many MPs don't want to go on the record with their support.
It looks to me that all the Boris-ultras came out immediately to declare their support and now looks to be slowing considerably. One hopes that is the case at least. Tories need some boring competence until the next general election. If they can demonstrate that they should be able to climb back up towards 30% if swing-back comes back in. If they continue to in-fight then they face an extinction level event.
Well, it also slowed because unlike me most of them have not been having bad insomnia.
If they impose that drunken criminal on us a second time, I hope they never have a quiet night's sleep again.
“If the Scottish parliament accepts this bill from the government, and removes the protection provided by a medical opinion before gender transitioning takes place, this will inevitably lead to some young Scottish persons being harmed.”
Taking a step back it is amazing that the Cons party is even thinking of twatting itself around the head with a shovel again.
I can't be the only one (an ex-Cons member to boot) who sees Rishi as the only possible alternative for next leader and yet they are cocking about with Penny and you-know-who.
Truly it is a death wish. But also democracy, which is scarier.
Rishi is the Best Case Scenario. For the country as well as the party. He would not find it easy going and I expect the infighting would deny him much of a working majority and we'd get an election next year. But he would steady the ship and hopefully stop the Tories imploding quickly.
But no, Shagger is still being lauded despite being hounded out of office under multiple clouds of still unresolved scandals just months ago.
Braverman "resigned" over accidentally selecting the wrong drop down on her send from email address. Imagine what PM Boris will have to do when we investigate Foreign Secretary Boris's no bodyguards trips to see Lebedev.
Not sure this fits with your idea that Boris won't get the nominations.
If Boris doesn't, then I think Mordaunt would, and it seems likely that Mordaunt would get more voters backing Johnson than Sunak would.
Some head to head polls would be useful, but if Mordaunt beats Sunak head-to-head, and if Boris does too, then one of them will probably be next PM.
You could get 190 MPs supporting Rishi, 90 supporting Boris and 80 supporting Mordaunt.
Rishi is coronated.
He would last about 3 months before the ERG take him down on those numbers. And only 3 because 1 of those is over Christmas.
Yes, I think a 2022 GE is good value provided that The timetable allows. From a bit of cursory research (DYOR) the time from dissolution to GE is 25 working days which if done by end October/early November would make a December GE just about possible.
Why not just post me your money or flush it down the toilet instead?
Second week in a row where the Tories have done better than expected in local by-elections.
The Libdem loss in Fareham was a very local affair. A LibDem Councillor moved over 200 miles away but delayed resigning, apparently causing unnecessary cost. An effective local Tory campaign followed. LibDems would have done the same if position were reversed. Nothing to do with national politics.
Believing that Boris Johnson can repeat a success over a campaign led by Jeremy Corbyn and run by Ian Lavery and Len McCluskey's girlfriend would seem a bit presumptuous.
Braverman "resigned" over accidentally selecting the wrong drop down on her send from email address. Imagine what PM Boris will have to do when we investigate Foreign Secretary Boris's no bodyguards trips to see Lebedev.
Braverman "was resigned" by a PM who wanted her to go.
Comments
The interesting question that should be asked is (if true) why so many MPs don't want to go on the record with their support.
I see the case for Penny, but I do fear she won’t be able to pass the credibility test - there are (rightly and wrongly) two big beasts in Rishi and Johnson and if they are both passed over for someone with largely junior ministerial experience I do think the public will largely write her off, probably unfairly but there you go
I am not sure there are 300 MPs who want to publicly declare for a particular candidate.
In the meantime children are going hungry, and homes are being repossessed. It is beginning to look brutal outside the Westminster bubble. I am normally insulated from recession in my job, but this year has been the worst I have known in 20 years save for the COVID lockdowns, and it has been difficult since before the omnishambles non-budget. Businesses do not want to spend ANY money they can avoid spending. I am losing tenders for less money than I was pricing for, ten years ago.
Johnson may want to return for giggles, but there aren't many serious people smiling at the moment. Maybe the sight of Johnson in a hi Viz coat driving a JCB, or touring the streets of Kyiv every other week in a flak jacket will cheer us up.
SNP 58%
SLab 22%
SLD 7%
Grn 3%
Ref 3%
SCon 3%
oth 3%
And that their recent cockup was someone else's fault.
It never helps.
If Boris doesn't, then I think Mordaunt would, and it seems likely that Mordaunt would get more voters backing Johnson than Sunak would.
Some head to head polls would be useful, but if Mordaunt beats Sunak head-to-head, and if Boris does too, then one of them will probably be next PM.
Of course, we know anyone non Boris will struggle with some voters, since Boris wants to make that so - they don't deserve success after ousting him after all.
You'd think somebody must have made a new conservative party and all the voters had gone over there.
On two occasions I was in Number 10, I saw mice, Larry saw them, and he either ran away or just rolled over.
Killer instincts? Nah, as Chief Mouser, he was as successful as Liz Truss as PM.
Rishi is coronated.
Might we see the Conservatives recording an infamous LibDem-like asterisk?
But if it is Boris Johnson as PM then I foresee a general election, and as Alastair Meeks pointed out to me yesterday there's a route to Starmer as next PM after Truss.
The reality is that Bozo isn't - nothing is going to help those MPs retain their seats at the next election but Bozo is likely to reduce Tory votes further - for everyone who still likes Bozo 2+ people now hate him.
Could be right, but no point telling us if it's as unproven as a guess.
If Boris isn't going to get the nominations then is 5/1 really a lay on the idea that Mordaunt won't either, or will lose to Sunak?
I bet Michael Holding isn't the only one talking sadly about the good ol' days...
Rishi will restore public confidence in our party and market confidence in our economy.
He will unite @conservatives and lead our country with integrity, judgement and competence. #ready4rishi
https://twitter.com/RobertJenrick/status/1583353441434206208
If the "conkering (sic) hero" returns and the economy is still buggered that is not the story he wants written
Only the proposer and seconder is going to be formally identified - the other 98 are going to be anonymous.
I suspect that adds to Bozo's chances.
I am extremely depressed about the political situation this morning.
The scenario that really ought to worry you is a Liberal Party fate.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-63338261
Being patriotic probably doesn't extend to calling an election when your party is on 14% in the polls.
That could be tasty.
Subsamples schwubsamples.
There is something beautiful about seeing the biggest bully in the school getting their face scrunched into the mud.
Childish, but beautiful.
It makes a coronation more likely.
If it were all formally identified then if it looked something like Casino's 190/90/80 then there'd be immense pressure on some of the 80 to switch to the 90. If its all anonymous, then that can't happen.
This happens before he becomes PM?
How do the mechanics on that work? The party splits?
Resignations and defections lead to the Tory majority in the Commons being wiped out, add in the potential 8 by elections from the Boris Johnson's resignation honours list....
Johnson won’t run. Just a hunch. But he won’t.
https://twitter.com/RhonddaBryant/status/1583354774052749312
With the “hindsight” vote and the feeling of panic re the economy (plus another few days of DMs attacks on Penny (they’ve started again) i think he would get it.
Though TBH I suspect Penny would withdraw if in the final 2 with Rishi, if he had measurably more support. She’s relatively easy to buy off with Foreign Secretary or other senior role.
And when did we start adopting that stupid Americanism 'run' rather than 'stand?'
So Starmer as next PM isn't a bad bet. If one of them does become PM then look to back Starmer next or a 2023 GE.
Returning from holiday to not run?
Sunak at least has some credibility with the public having forecast what would happen with Truss .
https://twitter.com/holyroodmandy/status/1583346299062976514
But no, Shagger is still being lauded despite being hounded out of office under multiple clouds of still unresolved scandals just months ago.
Braverman "resigned" over accidentally selecting the wrong drop down on her send from email address. Imagine what PM Boris will have to do when we investigate Foreign Secretary Boris's no bodyguards trips to see Lebedev.
Yesterday they had a helicopter doing live shots of Downing Street during the drama. What was that supposed to help us with?
An effective local Tory campaign followed. LibDems would have done the same if position were reversed. Nothing to do with national politics.
https://twitter.com/ExStrategist/status/1583357326953963520
BoZo will never go if he is PM