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Jun 6 • 9 tweets • 6 min read
With Boris Johnson’s face on the public’s dartboard, Tory MPs are right to fear the game is up

My latest ahead of the #ConfidenceVote
inews.co.uk/opinion/tory-m…
The PM's allies say 180 votes is all he needs. But that's a darts maximum that won't impress these guys

Having once laughed at his japes and jokes, key numbers of his 2019 voters have had enough.
We’ve gone from “The Thick Of It” to “The Sick Of It”.

inews.co.uk/opinion/tory-m…
"Big Dog needs to go to the farm"...how the plot unfolded this weekend, by @HugoGye @RichardVaughan1

inews.co.uk/news/politics/…
.@BWallaceMP @trussliz @Jeremy_Hunt @PennyMordaunt are Tory members' current favourites (which is obvs not the same as being Tory MPs' favourites).
But here's a selection of pieces I've written on each in recent months:

docs.cdn.yougov.com/kl6i0gpr2q/Int…
1. @Jeremy_Hunt

- Cabinet experience in 2 big jobs
- Critical of Johnson on NHS staffing, overseas aid cuts, social care
inews.co.uk/news/politics/…
2. @trussliz

- Cabinet experience as Foreign Sec and DIT Sec
- Loyal to Johnson
- A shrink-the-state Conservative
inews.co.uk/news/politics/…
3. @BWallaceMP

- Cabinet experience in key Defence Sec post
- Loyal to Johnson, having been early ally
- Winner of turf wars with FCO and Home Office

inews.co.uk/opinion/ben-wa…
4. @PennyMordaunt

- Cabinet experience as ex Defence Secretary
- Loyal to PM but with clear concerns
- The only original Brexiteer among party members' top 4 favourites

inews.co.uk/opinion/penny-…

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More from @paulwaugh

Paul Waugh Profile picture
Jun 6
Loud banging of desks for @BorisJohnson as he arrives for crunch 1922 Cttee meeting
If it had been tepidly quiet, critics cdve called it a.. Pretty Shitty Bang-Bang

I'm here all week.
Outside the room @SteveBakerHW "This is a very, very sad day."
Says of Johnson "He should go" cos "culture of compliance" on the law not met in No10
Read 11 tweets
Paul Waugh Profile picture
Jun 6
Sir Roger Gale tells @BBCr4today 1922 Cttee rules "can be changed".
As one MP told me recently, the line that @BorisJohnson
can't be challenged again for 1 yr after winning a confidence vote is "false comfort" + the rules can be changed "in an afternoon"

inews.co.uk/opinion/boris-…
The "men in Gray suits" are confident they'll get well over the 54 letters they need.
But the Tory party's sugar rush of regicide often masks deeper problems. Just what do its MPs stand for?
Lower or higher taxes and spending than Labour?
Thatcherism or One Nation Toryism?
And ahead of the actual confidence vote itself, blackmail and other threats to MPs may well fuel further rebellion in a secret ballot.
Latest exclusive from @RichardVaughan1 + @HugoGye

inews.co.uk/news/politics/…
Read 6 tweets
Paul Waugh Profile picture
May 28
.@Keir_Starmer + @RachelReevesMP are expected to ditch plans to increase income tax for those earning more than £80k/yr.

My piece in @theipaper Weekend:

inews.co.uk/opinion/labour…
The move would mark a big break - not just with Labour's 2019 manifesto under @jeremycorbyn
but @Keir_Starmer's own leadership pledges too.

keirstarmer.com/plans/10-pledg…
But Starmer believes Labour's policy at the next election cannot be bound by its previous manifesto and that the economic situation has changed significantly.
(one eg: the promise to reverse Corporation Tax cuts has actually been adopted by @RishiSunak)
Read 9 tweets
Paul Waugh Profile picture
May 28
Former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland warns @BorisJohnson would have to 'reflect' on his leadership if there are heavy defeats in the Tiverton + Wakefield by-elections next month.
"Changes will have to be made."

inews.co.uk/news/politics/…
Catch the full @RobertBuckland interview with me on @BBCRadio4's WeekInWestminster just after 11am.
Also on the prog:
🥳@CatherineWest1 on partygate

🧑‍💻@AlexGAThomas on the PM's ministerial code changes

🚄@FrancesOGrady @chrisloder on rail strikes/cost of living
Plus the brilliantly erudite @davidtorrance and @KateWilliamsme on the Platinum Jubilee and Parliament
Read 5 tweets
Paul Waugh Profile picture
May 28
It's not only @BorisJohnson who makes misleading statements to the Commons.
@RishiSunak's new £15bn energy package is a reminder that the Chancellor has been economical with the truth too.

Here's a 🧵on why.

inews.co.uk/opinion/labour…
When Sunak unveiled his first plan in February he trumpeted it as an “Energy Bills Rebate”, worth £9bn.
Both claims were misleading.

“Chancellor Rishi Sunak announces £9.1 billion Energy Bills Rebate to support families” said the Treasury press release.

gov.uk/government/new…
But the only rebate was £150 off council tax bills. The £200 off energy bills was NOT a rebate. It was a grant followed by a levy to claw it back at £40/yr over 5yrs.
This @bbcquestiontime audience let minister Greg Hands know what they thought
Read 11 tweets
Paul Waugh Profile picture
May 25
Laughing at the cleaners.
Laughing at the security guards.
Laughing at the little people.

The most damning Sue Gray finding was the rotten culture of No.10 entitlement laid bare by Partygate:

inews.co.uk/opinion/unlike…
In his statement, @BorisJohnson clearly aware this was the most toxic finding.
Starts saying this is 1st he's heard of it.
Says "I’ve apologised to them today from this despatch box."
Realises that's not good enough, says he'll apologise in person + get those responsible to too
Perhaps what should worry @BorisJohnson most was the lack of Tory MPs ready to defend him solidly today.
Chamber emptied quite quickly after he started.
Just 13 Tory MPs spoke - of which 3 were critical of him, just 7 avidly pro, 3 neutral
Read 8 tweets

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