Downing Street is punting all questions relating to the ludicrous investigation into the Labour Together smear scandal over to the Cabinet Office. Speaking at the Lobby briefing of political hacks this afternoon, the Number 10 spokesman refused to reveal which individuals are leading the ‘fact-finding mission’, when that ‘mission’ is expected to conclude, why the Cabinet Office is investigating the issue in the first place (given the central figure is a Cabinet Office minister), and even whether Josh Simons has recused himself from the probe. All these questions produced a near-identical response: “The Cabinet Office has more details”…
Except the Cabinet Office is also keeping shtum, even when asked to provide a few more of those “details” which Number 10 suggested it would provide. It’s a “fact-finding mission“, and… that’s it. Total cover-up…
Speaking to Sky News off the back of Rachel Reeves’ Air Passenger Duty hike, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“Labour is dependent on those Red Wall seats, and yet every move she makes poisons economic growth and damages the UK’s recovery… it’s the Chancellor who stumbles from policy misstep to policy misstep… I think her policy decisions are incredibly stupid.”