Last night the Guardian published what must be the most damning revelation of Rishi’s premiership yet: he has private healthcare. How the government recovers from this after tomato-gate is anyone’s guess…
Almost half of the story is dedicated to the manufactured outrage of activists and campaign groups, with the co-chair of “Keep Our NHS Public” quoted as saying “It should be no surprise that Rishi Sunak has private medical care arrangements; this will be the norm for many of the rich and powerful…”, and Dr Ellen Welch of the Doctors’ Association UK claiming “If NHS general practice continues to be neglected and private practice becomes the norm, it is the least well-off who will suffer.” Suffering by reducing pressure on NHS services, apparently…
Well, if private healthcare is the norm for the “rich and powerful”, Keep Our NHS Public must be furious at appearing in the Guardian. Here are the benefits of working at GNM (Guardian News & Media):
What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander…
BREAKING: Keir Starmer unveils major restructuring of Labour Party machine including new HQ to help get party on war-footing ahead of next general election and capitalise on Tory woes.
— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) October 11, 2022
He told staff this morning: “This is not time for complacency or caution”.
Well, he wasn’t on Guido’s runners and riders list. Daily Mail deputy political editor John Stevens has announced he’s the new Mirror political editor, replacing Pippa Crerar who is shortly to depart for The Guardian. He starts this Autumn.
Some news...
— John Stevens (@johnestevens) July 13, 2022
I'm thrilled to announce I've been appointed Political Editor of the Daily Mirror, following in the footsteps of the legend @PippaCrerar
I cannot wait to join the Mirror's brilliant Westminster team this autumn, working with @MirrorAlison and @JBeattieMirror
Congratulations John, though Guido might give doing a Mail deputy pol ed runners and riders a miss…
The Mirror’s Political Editor job is a much-prized title for any high-flying, ambitious and – most importantly – pro-Labour political hacks. Now Pippa’s moved aside in favour of The Guardian – a paper in need of a regular SW1 scoop-getter – Guido’s turned his attention to who might be next in line for the star prize. Runners and riders currently within the Mirror family are highlighted in red…
Job news! I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be rejoining The Guardian as Political Editor this summer, taking over from the inestimable @GuardianHeather. Very excited about working with the brilliant politics team to hold politicians and power to account. https://t.co/qUyDZ4BmMc
— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) May 10, 2022
Commiserations to Ben Riley-Smith…
During PMQs The Mirror’s Pippa Crerar dropped a deliberately-timed new photo of an event we already knew about – the No. 10 Christmas Zoom Quiz. Previously the Lobby went mental over a screenshot of Stuart Glassborow (the PM’s Deputy PPS) wearing a bit of tinsel – it failed to meet the Metropolitan Police’s threshold for investigation; the new photo shows an open bottle of £12 Prosecco. We’re now told this makes it meet the threshold for investigation.
Given Gray has fully investigated this event, she’ll have known about the booze, the police will therefore have been told about the open bottle, if not already have the photo among their collection of 300 – they didn’t change their mind. The Lobby had a meltdown over the Guardian garden gathering picture that featured the PM and Carrie drinking red wine. That, despite the existence of booze and many more people, didn’t meet the threshold. A last attempt to get another Tory MP over the no confidence letter line ahead of recess…