Some intriguing moves taking place in local politics while Westminster waits for the next developments in the Rickety Coup. The Tories have found a new partner in crime…
Over at Worcestershire County Council the Reform Party’s minority administration has been booted out of power this morning after 12 months because Tory councillors formed a rival coalition with the Greens, LibDems and independents. A rainbow coalition no one was expecting…
Green councillor Matt Jenkins will now lead the council after attempts by Reform’s Alan Amos to stay in control failed. Is this a CCHQ-sanctioned move…
UPDATE: Tories say: “The Conservative Group Leader did not make our opposition clear to his fellow Worcestershire councillors and has been suspended pending investigation.”
A good stunt from the Tories, who this week published their alternative King’s Speech:
The whole package is framed around a £47 billion savings plan. Funded by welfare cuts and civil service reductions…
Read the main policy points below. Nada from Reform…
Continue reading “Tories Publish ‘Alternative King’s Speech’”
The Tories were at an away day while voters went to the polls in Gorton & Denton. Meanwhile their candidate, former police officer Charlotte Cadden, took to social media to thank Tory volunteers just as polling closed yesterday:
“And what a campaign we’ve run! I think it’s fair to say we’ve put the Conservatives back on the map in Gorton & Denton! So much love for Kemi Badenoch on the doorstep! Residents are regularly tuning in to PMQs to watch Kemi force Labour into u-turn after u-turn! We all know she is the only credible leader! Thanks again for all your support!”
The Tories lost their deposit…
Badenoch has released a lengthy statement on the by-election result attacking the three main players there:
“Our country is not broken, but this by-election showed that Labour, Reform and the Greens are trying very hard to break it. Labour trying to buy people off with more and more benefits spending. Reform telling people you can’t be British if you aren’t white. The Greens running a nasty, sectarian campaign while simultaneously wanting to legalise crack-cocaine.
Clearly this election was not about who would be the best MP. But there was only one sensible candidate standing in Gorton and Denton, and it was Charlotte Cadden – a former Deputy Chief Inspector, a mother, a woman who fought for single sex spaces and dignity for women and girls. While the other parties race to the bottom, Charlotte embodies the new Conservative Party.
This result shows Keir Starmer’s premiership is finished. He lost authority a long time ago, a mere hostage at the mercy of a divided Labour Party that cannot decide who to replace him with. He has lost the support of his voters, his MPs and the country. He is in office but not in power. If he had any integrity he would go.”
That candidate got just a bit more than double the votes of Sir Oink-a-Lot…
Guido hears discussions are underway in LOTO about hardening the right wing Tory offer at the Shadow Cabinet level. Another right-wing shakeup could be on the way…
Sources say one candidate under consideration for moving along is Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride. Some influential Tory MPs bemoan Stride’s poor media performance and left-wing positions on tax. His record in government leaves something to be desired as well *cough* Loan Charge *cough*…
Badenoch has been buoyed by the Mandelson scandal this week. Her last shadow reshuffle was in July last year – sources say discussions are underway for another. If Stride – who is not close to Badenoch – leaves Shadow Cabinet he could shack up with the Gavin Barwell’s centrist ‘Prosper’ group. Something LOTO planners will be considering…
Guido members will have seen Tory dissatisfaction coming. A snippet from Guido’s member-exclusive ‘Right Angle’ column from 20 January:
‘One veteran Tory MP joked “that LibDem” won’t keep the Shadow Chancellor brief for long. Another was polite, but lethal: “I like Mel, but Jenrick should have been Shadow Chancellor. Mel’s got a 61-vote majority. Will he even contest the seat again? There should have been a more dynamic person in”.’
UPDATE: A source close to Kemi said: “There’s no truth to this whatsoever.” Bookmark it…
Kemi Badenoch has offered Labour MPs to meet with Tory whips to discuss a vote of no confidence in Keir Starmer. Worth a try…
Kemi Badenoch is delivering a ‘landmark’ press conference as Starmer faces questions over why he appointed Mandelson as ambassador. Push what’s falling…
Paula Barker, Liverpool Wavertree MP backing Andy Burnham, told Times Radio there wouldn’t be trouble from the markets under Burnham:
“The markets will have to fall in line.”