With Harriet Harman’s kangaroo court Privileges Committee soon set to adjudicate on Boris Johnson’s future, new polling suggests the threat of a by-election would be far from fatal for the former Prime Minister. A constituency poll of voters, in Uxbridge and South Ruislip alone, from Lord Ashcroft shows Boris would be home and dry, raking in a stonking 50% of the vote. Labour’s black mould candidate crashes and burns on 33%, whilst Guido’s favourite tofu fan, Blaise Baquiche, clocks in 6%. If the kangaroo court does jump to a by-election, Boris’s opponents would need one hell of a bounce to stand any chance…

This isn’t the only good news for Boris from the poll. Voters in Uxbridge were also asked their opinion of his record as Prime Minister: just 29% had a negative opinion with 41% saying he was “good” or “great”. By a net margin of 13%, voters also have a positive perception of his record as a constituency MP. Bring on the by-election…

As civil servants make plans to join the picket lines, one Whitehall wonk, Blaise Baquiche of DEFRA is taking his anti-government activity to another level. The environmental wonk is standing as a Liberal Democrat against the party he’s meant to be serving impartially. And the seat he’s been selected for… Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

Blaise has been working in DEFRA for almost two years, so the Brexit-hating blobster was supposed to be implementing Boris’s agenda – and now he’s seeking election to fight it. The Remainer activist has been specifically tasked with leading comms on the Government’s post-Brexit agricultural policy. It’s no surprise that Blaise counts himself as a member of the tofu-eating wokerati…

Section 4.4.19 of the Civil Service management code states:

“Civil servants are disqualified from election to Parliament… and from election to the European Parliament (European Parliamentary Elections Act 1978). They must therefore resign from the Civil Service before standing for election in accordance with paragraphs 4.4.20 and 4.4.21.”

Whilst some civil servants are granted permission to campaign politically, all have to stand down before nomination papers go in. Guido trusts the resignation letter won’t get caught up in the mail strikes.

UPDATE: DEFRA has been in touch to say Blaise has resigned, though they’re not saying when. This doesn’t come as a surprise, Guido understands he’s still serving out his notice…