Since Guido’s exclusive, monarchists have been tripping over themselves to defend Her Majesty. As Robert Jenrick declared on the BBC this morning, he proudly hangs a picture of the Queen in his office. Jenrick isn’t the only patriotic parliamentarian to show their love for Liz today, though. Other members of Her Majesty’s government have also taken to Twitter to declare their loyalty to the crown… 

Andrea Jenkyns told her followers that she is “sick of this woke nonsense”, and posted a photo of her home shrine to Queen Elizabeth with the hashtag “GodSaveTheQueen”.

Oxford Uni removing picture of our Queen! Sick of this woke nonsense. A picture of Her Majesty is proudly displayed in my home. #GodSaveTheQueen pic.twitter.com/Lz303h4Afj

— Andrea Jenkyns MP 🇬🇧 (@andreajenkyns) June 9, 2021

Not to be outdone, Joy Morrissey told her followers that she’s “ordered another portrait of the Queen” for her office, and that she plans to send one to Oxford’s Magdalen College. Guido’s sure they’ll be delighted. 

Just ordered another portrait of the Queen to hang in my office - our longest serving Sovereign & Head of State.

Probably 🤔send one to Oxford’s Magdalen College as well since they seemed to have misplaced a copy… Hope it really brightens up their common room. #GodSaveTheQueen pic.twitter.com/0HUHwOpMDr

— Joy Morrissey MP (@joymorrissey) June 9, 2021

Andrea Leadsome, who told Politics Live that the students who voted to take the portrait down were “utterly pathetic”, also showed off her photo:

I love the photo of the Queen that I keep in my office. If Oxford students don’t want theirs, please may I have it? #GodSaveTheQueen https://t.co/Xgr3T53N55 pic.twitter.com/nhhrJgg5ED

— Andrea Leadsom MP (@andrealeadsom) June 9, 2021

Andrew Rosindell has a picture of Her Majesty in his office. Rumour has it that for the 2012 Jubilee he bought thousands of portraits of the Queen and sent them to friends and colleagues all over the world. You can never have too much of a good thing… 

Guido’s exclusive yesterday afternoon – that Oxford students at Magdalen College have voted to remove a portrait of the Queen over her “colonial” links – is leading a number of front pages this morning, following Gavin Williamson’s statement last night. The Mail and the Express are especially keen…

This morning Robert Jenrick told BBC Breakfast viewers that the decision was disrespecting the Queen “out of ignorance”, and that he’s proud to have a portrait of the Queen on his wall in his departmental office.

“We’re very fortunate to have the Queen and I wouldn’t want anyone to disrespect her out ignorance in this way”

Thankfully it wasn’t Naga Munchetty conducting the interview…

If co-conspirators thought King’s College apologising for mourning the death of Prince Philip was wrong, look away now: Guido can reveal an Oxford college has agreed to remove a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II because she “represents recent colonial history”. Down with the Queen! Up with middle-class university intellectuals…

A committee of students from Magdalen’s Middle Common Room agreed by a substantial majority to take the portrait of Queen Elizabeth down from their wall, and to explore replacing the portrait with “art by or of other influential and inspirational people”. Any future depictions of the Queen or Royal Family will now be subject to a committee vote. Stalin would be proud…

The committee meeting minutes, passed to Guido, reveal the statements made by students were anonymized, although the motion was moved by Matthew Katzman. One student claimed that “patriotism and colonialism are not really separable”. Another claimed the move was not about “cancelling” the Queen, saying the committee was not capable of doing so: “This is about our communal space and making people feel welcome.”

Royalist opponents of the take-down warned:

“… it is worth considering the reputational damage that this motion would have if passed, not only for our common room and College, but for Oxford students more generally. In an era where debates on no-platforming and cancel culture rage strong, effectively ‘cancelling’ the Queen and brandishing her a symbol of colonialism – so often used as a synonym for racism – sends a dire message that is sure to enrage. Moreover, it is culturally insensitive for a common room so heavily comprised of international students to seek to remove a national symbol from a British institution. The cultural heritage of all nations has the right to be respected, and a common room that does not do so cannot claim to be inclusive.”

Ultimately it was agreed that “for some students depictions of the monarch and the British monarchy represent recent colonial history” and that the portrait should come down. The student group will now explore whether the painting can be auctioned. Presumably Queen’s College’s days are numbered…

UPDATE: Gavin Williamson responds:

“Oxford University students removing a picture of the Queen is simply absurd. She is the Head of State and a symbol of what is best about the United Kingdom. During her long reign she has worked tirelessly to promote British values of tolerance, inclusivity and respect around the world.”

Former House of Lords SpAd and Taxpayers’ Alliance wonk James Price has won a shock victory in the Oxford Union presidential election, Guido understands. Price left Oxford in 2013, and threw his hat in the ring for the prestigious position for a laugh after ‘Re Open Nominations’ won the election for the first time in the Union’s history. His campaign was supported by old Oxonians Daniel Hannan, Matt Ridley and James Delingpole…

Price won election for Hilary Term 2021 with 431 first preference votes compared to runner up Jeremy Bararia’s 375 first preferences. The original result announcement was delayed after it was discovered over 500 illegitimate votes had been cast for a candidate from seven, mostly-overseas, IP addresses…

James ran on a lighthearted platform, saying:

“Lockdown has got to me.

Someone convinced me that it would be funny to put my hat in the ring. Despite not having been a student for 7 years and having, you know, a job.

…

The Price is Right.”

James also assisted with the famous Madeleine Grant 2012 campaign slogan “I don’t hack, I just have a great rack.” 

Grant was fined £120 for “bringing the Union into disrepute”…

UPDATE: Guido can reveal that once transfer votes were accounted for, Price won by 15 votes.

Some rare positive news has emerged from Oxford University this afternoon, whose researchers have discovered the first drug proven to reduce Coronavirus deaths. If it had been used from the start of the pandemic, it could have saved approximately 5,000 British lives…

The steroid, dexamethasone, costs merely £5 per patient, “So essentially it costs £35 to save a life.”

The Oxford University trial of around 2,000 hospital patients saw patients on ventilators death rate cut from 40% to 28%; and for patients needing oxygen a fall in the risk of death from 25% to 20%. Good news…

Guido is sceptical of the claim made by her friends that Theresa May in private has a naughty sense of humour. The same was said of Gordon Brown…

Speaking at the Oxford Union recently , she did show a funnier side with a gag that almost flew over the heads of students.

At the speech, in honour of Benazir Bhutto, May also spoke of the former Pakistani PM’s experience of different standards for women in politics