A couple of quiet SpAd moves have gone on amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, with Guido revealing this morning that Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has scooped up ITN’s Angus Walker after 20 years with the broadcaster.
Signing off from @itvnews tonight after best part of 20 years with ITN. Had a great run: Political Correspondent, UK Editor and China Correspondent have been amazing jobs. Will miss such amazing, talented colleagues. New exciting role awaits, watch this space.
— Angus Walker (@anguswalkertalk) March 31, 2020
After No. 10 scooped Hugh Bennett from Jacob Rees-Mogg’s office, Guido also learns Rees-Mogg is bringing Fred de Fossard – formerly of PRU and currently at Public First – on board as his replacement. Jacob wasn’t the first SpAd job Fred went for however; back in February, @PoliticalPics snapped newly-appointed Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis leaving No. 10 with a CV in his arms.
There’s aren’t many Westminster wonks who were event coordinators at Pong Cheese Ltd…
Keep up to date with Guido’s rolling SpAd list here…
The UK’s lockdown must be getting to Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis, who elected to answer the submitted question “You are a hot daddy” this morning in an Instagram Q&A, where followers ask questions and the Secretary of State chooses which ones to answer. The post was quietly deleted after almost half an hour. Cabin fever getting to Cabinet ministers already?
Avoiding Theresa May’s mistakes…
Brandon Lewis insists there’s “still time” to get a Brexit deal through Parliament in order to avoid holding EU elections. Even if Theresa May invented a time machine there’s no way she’s getting a deal through in the next three weeks…
Following the suspension of 14 Tory members yesterday over Islamophobic and racist remarks, Tory Chairman Brandon Lewis has written to the party’s most senior activists to “re-affirm my commitment that discrimination, intimidating behaviour or abuse of any kind has absolutely no place in our organisation”. The letter has gone to everyone at the most senior level of the voluntary party – Regional Chairmen, Area Chairmen, Association Chairman and Conservative Group Leaders. Swift action from the Tories…
Guido has obtained a copy of the email sent directly to the 14 Tory members who have been suspended today by Conservative Party Chairman Brandon Lewis’s office to for posting Islamophobic or racist comments online.
The suspended members are informed in no uncertain terms that they “may not participate in any Party events” and are “not entitled to represent the Conservative Party in any way” or “attend or participate in any events carried out in the name of the Party”. Summary justice undoubtedly, the Tories nevertheless showing Labour how to deal swiftly and unequivocally with racism…
