The Defence Secretary made the remark in his first Commons outing in his new role.
The former Labour MP’s defection, and the later split within that party, has not yet found in a parallel in our own turbulent times.
Plus: The decline of books. Morgan sees off the cult of Mogg. Why I won’t fly RyanAir. And: As I reach a significant birthday, I mull writing my autobiography…
They already elect their chairmen and there will be fewer trips abroad – at least when the Commons is sitting. That means more scrutiny of what Ministers are up to.
In the 1970s, Conservatives who recognised the danger of Trotskyism helped to defend moderate left-wing MPs. Could the feat be repeated?
There were 26 critical questions from Conservative backbenchers on the Government’s EU referendum leaflet yesterday and 5 supportive ones.
Twenty five Tory MPs joined Labour and the SNP in opposing liberalisation, and provided the Government’s margin of defeat.
Narrowly missing out on the ’22 Defence Committee Chairmanship has failed to dampen his spirits.
His victory challenges the conventional view that he can’t operate like a conventional politician.
(Could there be a connection with his EU referendum bill?)
Despite the amendment attempt, and Labour attempts to talk the Bill out, the 2017 referendum is still on track.
By bringing forward the date of the referendum, we would ensure that all the parties (including UKIP) would have to “put up or shut up”.