Is the Government’s Hong Kong migration policy sustainable?
Ministers may be right in assuming that nothing like the full complement of those entitled to settle do so. But what if they’re wrong?
Meanwhile, with local elections less than a fortnight away, the Conservatives have a nine point poll lead
Wallpaper, Dyson, the Saudis, Cummings – and the largest blue polling advantage for the best part of a year.
Cummings claims Johnson tried to halt the “chatty rat” inquiry – because it would cause him “serious problems” with Symonds
He denies being the source of leaks about it and Dyson; is silent on the Saudi-related leak about Newcastle United.
Arthur and George and Dominic
A moral from Julian Barnes’ novel applies to the tale of leaked texts: things are seldom as simple as they’re claimed to be.
Dowden, a David for our times, sees off the footballing Goliath. By whispering “boo!” At which the giant bursts into tears.
The Culture Secretary deserves a gold-plated edition of the Bluffers’ Guide to Politics, and must feel this morning like the proverbial dog with two cocks.
Stratton’s departure as Press Secretary. Vote Leave is blamed – and hits back.
“It was not about the lobby,” says a friend of Vote Leave. “It was about getting a message out to voters beyond the M25.”
Johnson and Mercer – a political relationship that went wrong. The mystery is why either risked relying on the other.
The Prime Minister was never going to take the Northern Ireland bull by the horns. And Mercer was never going to be satisfied with anything less.
A letter from Screwtape to the Chairman of a Big Six football club
[Editor’s warning: as the author of the famous originals pointed out, “there is wishful thinking in Hell as well as on Earth”.]
In their pocket?
The proposed football superleague is remote from the political action, but more voters will be chewing it over today than they will the Greensill affair.
The suicide of Rose Paterson, and what her husband, Owen Paterson, is doing to prevent more self-killings
“How on earth didn’t I notice?” he said – and that question is near the heart of the charity that he and his family have set up, the Rose Paterson Trust.
Lobbying: a modest proposal. Let’s register any time anyone meets a Minister or MP – anywhere, anyhow.
P.S: It’s early days in the Greensill affair. But the people we elect don’t always seem to be in charge.
Loyalist alienation
Political leadership is needed in Belfast no less than in London – in some respects, even more so.
Cameron and Greensill. We also blame the Sue Gray-ification of British politics.
For us, the key question is: what was Greensill himself doing as an adviser to the Coalition in the first place?
After the Duke
In looking to the monarchy’s future, we follow in his footsteps. He was its original moderniser in our times.
We interrupt our usual morning editorial to make a public service announcement
The risk of dying as a consequence of having received the AstraZeneca anti-Covid vaccine is minimal.