June 11th 2023
Just as we are trying to get on with life in the UK as we have had two weeks of continuous fine weather with temperatures hitting 24c plus (Yes, that’s right 24c+). The climate change lobby has been out preaching doom and disaster whilst a prominent political commentator told them not to worry, it’s called summer. We have one every two or three years.
As we were absorbing this outbreak of common-sense Nadine Dorries a prominent Boris Johnson supporter resigned from parliament triggering an immediate by-election. She held the seat mid Bedfordshire with a majority of 24,664, which is now regarded as marginal and open to falling to the LibDems in a by-election, especially if Labour agree to a pact with the LibDems. She was regarded as a bit of a rebel in the Conservative party having described David Cameron and George Osborne as two arrogant posh boys.
Nadine was a constant critic of Rishi Sunak, “Three years of a progressive Tory government being washed down the drain “being among the milder criticisms.
This was trumped hours later by the resignation of Boris Johnson, which stunned the nation (except the ones who were outside enjoying the climate change/summer) who greeted the news with a yawn and another beer.
This will mean a by-election in his constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip which he held with a majority of 5,034. This is widely forecast to fall to Labour.
The trigger for the resignations was the findings of the parliamentary privileges committee which ruled that he had knowingly misled parliament. The honours committee had also rejected eight proposals for honours on the customary resignation honours list. (Including Nadine Dorries).
“The committee has reached a judgment that the former prime minister misled the House of Commons in a way that was not simply inadvertent, but either reckless or deliberate. And it has determined that this breach of the rules was sufficiently significant to merit a suspension of more than 10 sitting days which, if agreed to by the House, would trigger the provisions of the Recall of MPs Act “.
Source. Institute for Government 9th June 2023.
The committee comprised a majority of Conservative MPs and was chaired by Harriet Harman Labour, an ultra-left-wing MP. She is regarded as having an opinion of Johnson that is coloured by hatred.
In its revolutionary judgement, the committee delivered the surprising opinion that MPs must tell the truth to Parliament, something that Johnson apparently had difficulty with.
Boris pre-empted any action by resigning, in an attempt to control the agenda. He is obviously after Rishi Sunak and this resignation was followed by a further resignation and rumours of more to come.
Far from it being Johnson now deciding to retire from politics and rake in millions from the lecture circuit, some regard this as the first move in Boris planning revenge on Sunak for him allegedly knifing Johnson to gain the leadership of the Conservative party. Johnson is rumoured to be engineering his adoption as the candidate for Henley (his old seat before he became mayor of London). From there he can cause havoc to the Conservatives and Rishi Sunak.
What it does mean is that the core of anti-Sunak MPs will now increase their determination to make life difficult for him. It also shows that Sunak comes across more like a bank manager of CFO of a major company rather than the leader of a G7 country. I have commented before that his political skills are lacking, and he would need to improve his support team if he was going to stand a chance in the role. Unfortunately, this doesn’t appear to be the case. He is regularly wrong footed when political decisions need making.
Just to show that England is not alone in political surprises, the ex-leader of the Scottish Nationalist Party was arrested today after voluntarily attending a police station. After seven hours of questioning, she was released without charge. Scottish Police stated that a file had been forwarded to the Crown Prosecution Service and the Procurator Fiscal.
This leaves her replacement as First Minister, Hamza Yassin, in a sticky position. He is appearing as a weak politician, with a history of failure. This can only further erode the support for both the SNP and the independence movement. Further details emerged about the ferries scandal, another costly project that the SNP have yet to implement successfully. As a result, there is a restricted service to the Inner Hebrides in June and July, causing damage to the tourist trade and the comfort of the residents.
The political situation in both England and Scotland is getting murkier by the day, with plot and counter plot.
All that is missing is a Manchurian candidate.
