Dave has survived a sledging from Aggers and Boycott on Test Match Special at Lords. Listen here:
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"i've got a bad shoulder from playing tennis" – Dave on TMS with poshboys Keane.
— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) July 19, 2013
Aggers: "What d'you think of [PM's] technique?"
Boycott: "Doing well, he's trying to save us"
Aggers: "No, cricket. Don't get all political"— Alex Wickham (@alexwickham) July 19, 2013
PM tells @bbctms at Cabinet yday he asked for #ashes score. "A piece of paper arrived + ppl thought it was announcement of the Royal baby."
— Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) July 19, 2013
David Cameron: 'My new friend Vladimir Putin.'
— Ned Simons (@nedsimons) July 19, 2013
For anyone who missed it, here's @26hrCricketNet's pic of @David_Cameron bowling (dodgy shoulder and all) https://t.co/MN82toZvmG
— Craig Woodhouse (@craigawoodhouse) July 19, 2013
Dave: "I should have quit while I was ahead."
— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) July 19, 2013
Enjoy the afternoon off, Prime Minister.
Audio via Speccie.
Wearing those sunglasses again. Tune in to Radio 5 Live Sports Extra at 1pm to see if Dave can avoid getting caught out on Test Match Special.
H/T @telepolitics
The spinmeisters were out in force yesterday trashing Dave’s Lobbying Bill. While it is obviously a case of well-they-would-say-that-wouldn’t-they, there is a pretty big hole in the Bill. Guido isn’t sure how Cameron can be claiming to clean up lobbying when his Bill, according to the Association of Professional Political Consultants, only covers 1% of lobbyists. Firstly, lobbyists won’t have to disclose clients if they limit meetings to SpAds and civil servants. Unless they meet minsters or permanent secretaries, they can keep their clients secret. Secondly, if you are an in-house lobbyist or your company is not a lobbying firm first and foremost, as are many of those who actually lobby ministers in person, you are exempt. Which means a huge amount of the type of lobbying that needs most scrutiny has been let off entirely.
If a lobbyist only meets a SpAd or permanent secretary, their clients can be kept secret. If an in-house lobbyist meets a minister, their clients can be kept secret. APPC surveyed 998 meetings between lobbyists and ministers, finding only two that would be covered by this Bill. These aren’t loopholes, they are chasms…
With good news for the Home Office expected tomorrow in the shape of crime figures, the PM has decided to get in on the action. The day after a Tory backbencher tells their leader that “self-promoters” in the Cabinet should be “firmly put back in their box”, Guido understands that Dave will be joining the Home Secretary to bask in her reflected glory. A Whitehall source accuses Cameron of “deliberately hijacking” the day, though Home Office sources insist that they are “totally cool” with the planned joint visit tomorrow. Lets hope the TM and the PM remember to smile…
Despite it being widely reported last week and over the weekend, Downing Street sources now say there will not be a reshuffle before the summer break. The idea of creating a new batch of disgruntled ex-ministers and letting them stew over a long hot summer did seem a little odd, yet their new claim that “it was never going to happen” should be taken with a lot of salt; especially given the imminent were being openly discussed by Tory staffers as late as last night at the PM’s media drinks party. That faint sound you can hear is Claire Perry gently sobbing…
With Cabinet moved to Thursday and the reshuffle expected to be complete by then, Dave was in full chillax mode last night enjoying a pint with his troops on the Commons terrace. With today being dominated by the NHS it would seem silly to distract from putting pressure on Burnham by beginning movements tonight. Most Tory sources are expecting calls to be made late Wednesday with the announcement made Thursday morning. Probably on Twitter like last time. Not long to wait now, Claire…
