The next generation of Conservative MPs may be no less gifted. But there’s one thing they can’t provide: institutional memory.
The author compares politics to a game of snakes and ladders, but demonstrates that it is actually far harder than that.
In the course of a bizarre two hours before the Liaison Committee, Johnson showed undiminished abilities as a performer.
And: surely Johnson wants to know who authorised the Nowzad instruction. Plus: go on – make it all about Brexit.
He also claims that the Tory whips have threatened backbenchers with the withdrawal of public funds from their constituencies.
With hardly any debate, the Government wants to introduce legislation that will alter our way of life. Not if tens of Tory MPs have their say.
The PM could not use his usual weapon of raillery against his opponents, but was forced to show he takes breaches of the Covid rules as seriously as they do.
Fifty-three Conservatives opposed the tiering plan last December, the largest Covid-related rebellion to date.
Most of the action has been over Covid-related divisions. And most of the dissenters are from older intakes.
Yesterday, he bent the passage of time – by giving the Commons the chance to carry out a Covid reckoning before the inquiry is up and running.
Yesterday’s backbench reaction to his Commons statement suggests that most Tory MPs will back his proposals.
This rebellion had little in common with most others, but the names of many who oppose the Government now show a certain predictability.
Rob Stark meets a bloody end in Game of Thrones. But he won every battle he fought first – and the Greater Manchester Mayor is following his example.