He is right to suspect value placed on the Union by some senior figures in this government. The Prime Minister must lead by example.
In a very 2020 twist, the President has Covid-19. With just a month until the vote, does he have time to fight it off – or the GOP to replace him?
It is almost inevitable that any ‘blue-sky’ session is going to produce ideas that are impractical, embarrassing, or both – but not that they get into the papers.
Like the May Government, an electoral coalition built around an existential question is propping up a badly ailing political vehicle.
His speech contained many sensible initiatives – but ministers should not be led astray by illusory shortcuts.
The move, which aims to increase parliamentary scrutiny of the Government, is also signed by Labour and DUP representatives.
He has a good eye for political openings, and Labour’s woes might have created a space for an avowedly left-wing, pro-UK figure.
With a second lockdown looming, Sturgeon appears keen on a harmonised approach. This is welcome, but ministers should not drop their guard.
The post-war system of international law is constantly evolving – it is inevitable, and justified, for government attitudes and approaches to evolve in turn.
Both the Prime Minister and his predecessor have failed to challenge the green-tinted vision of the treaty offered up by Dublin and its outriders.
It spotlights both the challenges involved in operating an independent trade policy and the limited political rewards of doing so.
Also: Defence of Westminster’s national role sparks devocrat fury; Salmond inquiry puts Sturgeon’s husband in the spotlight; and more.
The Home Office are clearly trying to counter the drip-feed of toxic stories, but the ultimate solution is not in their hands.
Unfortunately it looks as if the Party has returned to the ‘feast and famine’ approach to staffing, which prevents the long-term development of expertise.
The Nationalists’ campaign has been so successful that leading pro-UK campaigners shy away from saying ‘Britain’. That isn’t sustainable.