The fact that Tory MP Stewart Jackson hasn’t even sold his house will make his battle with IPSA’s expensive legal team, Cherie Blair’s Matrix Chambers, all the more interesting. Especially since he isn’t even considering selling up. Guido is however more amused by Jackson’s claim that house prices were falling in his area, so the value of his property couldn’t possibly have increased by 20% as IPSA claim. Which is somewhat ironic given that Jackson’s wife is none other than Daily Express property hack Sarah O’Grady, known for headlines such as “House prices rocket to a three-year high”, “Biggest house price rises in a year”, “House prices surge for second month in a row” and “House prices on rise again”. And many, many more. Stewart obviously isn’t a reader…

As of 17:20, this is the wording of the very, very broad Tory Queen’s Speech referendum:

“This House respectfully regrets that an EU Referendum Bill was not included in the Gracious Speech.”

Guido hears the Speaker is minded to accept.

Well it could be 1992 all over again. Dave’s attack on Tory “pessimists” this morning is worth nothing, given what has happened since. On Lawson and Portillo’s Brexit conversions, he insisted earlier:

“I think they’re wrong. There are some pro-European pessimists who say, you have to, in Europe, simply sign up to every single thing that anyone in the EU suggests. You sign every treaty, you sign everything – there is no alternative. I think they are completely wrong. The second group of pessimists say there is no prospect of reforming the EU, you simply have to leave. I think they are wrong too.”

Since then another former Chancellor, Norman Lamont, has joined in the fight and a Queen’s Speech pro-referendum amendment has emerged. No surprises to see Boris pop up either. Surely just coincidence that the Mayor of London, speaking at the very same global investment summit as the PM, offers some ankle to the Tory Eurosceptics.

Boris Johnson says PM is right to want to renegotiate UK's deal with EU, and if we don't get what we want we must be willing to walk away.—
Stephanie Flanders (@BBCStephanie) May 09, 2013

Boris says leaving EU would not be fatal for UK but "a shot in the arm" for democracy, though he's still "narrowly" in favour of staying in.—
Tim Ross (@TimRossDT) May 09, 2013

Boris Johnson says if PM cannot get better deal on EU.."We have to be prepared to go our own way."—
norman smith (@BBCNormanS) May 09, 2013

Helpful timing, as ever.

Graphic via @TJ22HATTER

Her first day with the whip reinstated…

UKIP at their highest ever poll rating for YouGov, Tories at their lowest this parliament. 25% of Tory 2010 voters are now backing UKIP. It isn’t as simple as 27+17 beats 38, but food for thought nonetheless…

When Lynton Crosby was hired by Cameron, a grumpy Lord Ashcroft kindly warned the Aussie hardman:

“Finally, I know you understand as much as anyone that it’s never a good thing when the adviser is the story. That being the case, I’m sure you’ll get on with the job and stay out of the limelight. Meanwhile, I’ll be following progress closely and will no doubt have more to say as things unfold.”

Taking to Twitter Lord Ashcroft has been quick to get with the Twitter meme thing, going so far as to recommend a Downfall Parody video:

A different take on the local elections!!
youtube.com/watch?v=d6bDXC…—
Lord Ashcroft (@LordAshcroft) May 08, 2013

It looks like the good Lord’s lunch yesterday with Labour’s attack dogs has paid off. Can it be a coincidence that the limelight is shining on Crosby just hours later? Labour Twitter lines to take are full of digs at the antipodean spinner, for example:

I bet Lynton Crosby is calling together the No 10 media team right now to work up an immigration angle to the Fergie Retires story…—
Michael Dugher (@MichaelDugherMP) May 08, 2013

Dugher, singing for his supper.

Nadine has been reinstated as a Tory MP, six months after having the whip suspended.

She’s back…

A very interesting revelation from Charles Moore at last night’s Speccie event at Cadogan Hall: Maggie wanted Britain to leave the EU after she left office. According to Moore it “became her view… after the Maastricht Treaty in 1992″, but was kept quiet on the advice of her advisers. Judging by the reaction to Lord Lawson’s comments yesterday, you can bet Tory MPs will be taking note…

Four days since UKIP trounced Dave and Lord Lawson has broken ranks to call for Britain to leave the EU:

“The heart of the matter is that the very nature of the European Union, and of this country’s relationship with it, has fundamentally changed after the coming into being of the European monetary union and the creation of the eurozone, of which – quite rightly – we are not a part. That is why, while I voted ‘in’ in 1975, I shall be voting ‘out’ in 2017. Not only do our interests increasingly differ from those of the eurozone members but, while never ‘at the heart of Europe’ (as our political leaders have from time to time foolishly claimed), we are now becoming increasingly marginalised as we are doomed to being consistently outvoted by the eurozone bloc. So the case for exit is clear.”

Cue dividing lines:

Lawson's article flawed, costs of UK withdrawal under estimated, no mention of inward investment + re-negotiation not just about UK opt outs—
margot james (@margotjamesmp) May 07, 2013

Good for Lord Lawson. The EU is a manifestation of the flawed political economy which created this crisis telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews…—
Steve Baker MP (@SteveBakerMP) May 07, 2013

Sun shining, the sky is blue, and yet another person in SW1 has come to the view that Britain must leave the EU. The future will be better!—
Douglas Carswell MP (@DouglasCarswell) May 07, 2013

Heard Lawson make superb speech recently @the_tpa. News today highlights need for in/out EU referendum, that only Tory majority can deliver—
Sajid Javid MP (@sajidjavid) May 07, 2013

Dave might be campaigning for Britain to stay in Europe, but that doesn’t mean the Tories will…

Via @liarpoliticians