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Sam Freedman Profile picture
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Feb 5 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
Absolutely terrible ideas to have MPs as Chief of Staff and Director of Policy. I don't imagine anyone else will do it.
These are full time 16 hour a day roles. MPs have Parliamentary and constituency duties as well as their political allegiances + interests; and can't work with officials in the same way.
Two possibilities here. A) no one else would do it; b) this is a quid pro quo from the Cabinet to continue support. Barclay is known to be close to Sunak.
The logic - such as it is - would be that Barclay effectively runs things day to day working closely with Sunak and Johnson is a figurehead. If that is the idea it definitely won't work.
The possibility this is a play by "sensible" ministers to get control of No 10 strengthened by seeing which Ministers/MPs are putting out positive tweets. Definitely not the same group that have been running partygate defence.

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More from @Samfr

Sam Freedman Profile picture
Feb 6
It's probably worth a brief thread explaining how this could have happened without anyone breaking any of the rules or doing any cheating. (I.e. why it's really the Govt's fault not the schools).
Last year schools were told to award grades themselves. There was a vast array of options available to set these grades. They could use their own exams, or old ones, or class work. They could allow retakes. It was wide open.
Exam boards were told to quality assure this by sampling evidence from a range of schools. They could use data on whether schools were well above previous years to decide on their sampling. But they couldn't automatically reduce grades if the school could provide evidence.
Read 12 tweets
Sam Freedman Profile picture
Feb 4
The Carrie stuff is interesting because she is heavily involved but can't speak publicly (and is only heavily involved because Johnson has set things up that way - ultimately it's his responsibility).
The absence of any kind of formal role for a PM's spouse means we don't have any mechanisms for talking about the spouse's interests openly whereas e.g. US has a structured First Lady/Gentleman role.
By "Carrie Stuff" I'm referring to the Mail front page and Ashcroft's book etc...
Read 4 tweets
Sam Freedman Profile picture
Feb 4
When you think about it it's actually pretty conscientious to have an official photographer record your crimes. Good to see transparency in action.
The Save Big Dog group can have that one for free. Best if they put into their own words.
Tory MPs definitely putting in letters now. "A cake is one thing but Estrella? Totally unacceptable."
Read 6 tweets
Sam Freedman Profile picture
Feb 4
Sad to see the usual suspects parade this paper (written by people who've always opposed lockdowns). It is definitionally a mess (according to the definition they use we're still in a lockdown). Ignores lags. Systematically excludes studies. Etc...
You don't need to take my word for it sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reactio…
The problem with all these papers is it's pretty much impossible to measure the impact of interventions which looked different in different countries; came in at different times, incl occasions when too late to make a difference, and link in complex ways to voluntary behaviours.
Read 6 tweets
Sam Freedman Profile picture
Feb 3
The only glimmer of light for Johnson's team is that while a big majority are furious about partygate a growing minority buy the "we need to move on to other issues" line.

Unfortunately for No 10 the issues people want to move on to are cost of living and the NHS.
As for "cost of living" today's announcements from Sunak will do relatively little to cushion the blow of 7% inflation; higher interest rates, and higher taxes. Plus benefits caps/freezes biting ever harder.

No real political opportunities there for Boris.
And as for the NHS - waiting lists are at their highest ever levels. And public confidence in recovery has fallen through the floor.
Read 4 tweets
Sam Freedman Profile picture
Feb 1
It's ao stupidly short termist again. Next interview Boris does he'll be asked to repeat the allegation and can't outside Parliament because it's defamation.
Obviously it's also repellent and beneath contempt but that's almost taken as read these days.
"But he's still there isn't he? Teflon Boris." The Monty Python Knight was still technically in the fight. Things aren't going well for the PM.
Read 4 tweets

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