Free market thinks tanks are often subject to Twitterati attacks over the fact they protect the privacy of their donors, and leftie comedian Dom Joly proved exactly why on LBC’s Cross Questions last night. People like Joly would “100%” enjoy harassing them…
Responding to Joly’s interrogation, Matthew Lesh, Director of Communications at the Institute of Economic Affairs, explained:
“If we published a list of our supporters they would… be attacked, including… by people like yourself who disagree with us.”
'The implication of asking about where our funding comes from is that you think that I'm doing someone else's bidding.'
— LBC (@LBC) September 20, 2023
'That's exactly what I'm saying.'
Comedian @domjoly interrogates Institute of Economic Affairs' @matthewlesh over the funding of his think tank. pic.twitter.com/C5P4tOWWzi
If they were public, you can guarantee the likes of Extinction Rebellion and co would show up immediately…
Humza Yousaf seems to be getting desperate in his attempts to put ground between himself and Sturgeon. At the Edinburgh Fringe, Iain Dale asked the First Minister what differentiated him from his predecessor. As someone so vociferous in his opposition to the ‘continuity candidate’ label, you would think Humza could come up with a major policy divergence or shift in strategy. Apparently not. The main point of difference Humza could muster was “being a father”…
The First Minister continued:
“For me, how will I differentiate myself? Look, I’m different to Nicola. There’s lots of things we share in common, but, you know, what drives me is not just being the First Minister, but being a father of two girls and I try to look at how I can improve their lives and the lives of actually all of our future generations”.
As Andrea Leadsom found out, making political capital out of parenthood can be unwise in the most favourable circumstances. It goes without saying, Nicola Sturgeon’s personal history doesn’t help Humza’s case.
The government’s small boats week is continuing into Tuesday, as this morning Alex Chalk was asked about Lee Anderson’s tempestuous comments. The Deputy Tory Chairman told the Express yesterday that “If they [illegal migrants] don’t like barges then they should f*ck off back to France.” You can always trust Lee to tell it like it is…
Chalk rowed in behind Lee’s comments on LBC:
“Lee Anderson expresses the righteous indignation of the British people. Yeah, he does it in salty terms, and that’s his style but his indignation is well placed… There is a lot of sense, in my respectful view, in what Lee said”
That’ll rock the boat with the usual suspects.
China hawk Iain Duncan Smith has warned that the Communist Party used hidden tracking devices in government cars to follow the Prime Minister’s movements, before the cars were stripped and the devices were quietly removed. Speaking to Nick Ferrari on LBC, IDS revealed:
“It was never absolutely confirmed, of course they wouldn’t do for security reasons, but I’m pretty reliably told that they had to strip out the cars to find the devices based in the little SIMs, and they were capable and were tracking the cars and the car journeys. They have capability to be able to throw the switch, as it were, on batteries et cetera, as and when they wish.”
Last month the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) of MPs published a report claiming China has “successfully penetrated every sector of the UK’s economy“, and the government has “no strategy” to stop it. Even if the government makes a U-turn on this soon, it looks like China will know about it before anyone else…
Rishi Sunak was on LBC this morning, facing questions from listeners, and he took the opportunity to make an underhand dig at Nadine Dorries. After being asked about Nadine, her as yet unforthcoming resignation, and whether she was failing to represent her constituents, the Prime Minister said:
“I think people deserve to have an MP that represents them, wherever they are… at the moment people aren’t being properly represented.”
This claim came just minutes after Rishi publicly slapped down one of his own constituents…
LBC have announced The Sun’s Natasha Clark will be the station’s new Political Editor, after a gruelling four-month search to replace Theo Usherwood who stood down in April. Guido first reported Clark’s name was on the shortlist last month. Now she’s signed on the dotted line and will start broadcasting in September.
This morning Clark said:
“After six incredible years at The Sun, I am thrilled to be joining LBC at such an exciting time, ahead of one of the most high stakes elections in years. I can’t wait to start working with LBC and Global’s fantastic presenters and reporters – bringing our listeners and readers the stories and analysis that really matter to them.”
Congratulations…
