Another day - remembering back to the leadership election of 2019. @DavidGauke told us why the Conservatives went for the by then unstoppable Boris Johnson
Brexit party chair Richard Tice told us how ABB - Anyone but Boris had changed post those disastrous (for the Conservatives) European elections - and "did for the Brexit party"
.@OwenPaterson claimed credit for Johnson's win for the ERG
as an aside one issue during the campaign was the leak of then UK Ambassador to the US's cables about Trump. Johnson's lukewarm reaction triggered Darroch's resignation - to his bafflement according to @SimonMcDonaldUK
so what of the reaction of his adversaries? @StephenGethins of the SNP told us about the impact of Johnson in Scotland
.@thatginamiller told us about her view of how Johnson might govern - and how she got him wrong
and @CarolineFlint made clear that she thought Labour made a big mistake underestimating Johnson
and the EU Commission's Jim Cloos made clear that Johnson's reputation from his Brussels days still lingered on in EU memories
In two weeks time Boris Johnson will be replaced as Prime Minister.. but he has been a critical political figure of the past decade so over the next fortnight I am going to dip into @UKandEU#Brexitwitnessarchive to paint a picture of him
Lets start with early Johnson. Former Eurocrat Jonathan Faull told us why there might have been a presumption that Johnson would understand Europe and the EU
But of course, his journalism in Brussels was about identifying comedy examples of EU red tape - it was on such a hunt that @OwenPaterson first encountered him and gives insight into his journalistic technique
we look at the idea of a net zero test which lots of people have recommended (see @CommonsEAC@theCCCuk - and indeed IfG). They can prompt reconsideration of policy - and help achieve policy coherence
But past experience suggests that mandatory tests get gamed; civil servants and ministers work out how to get round them; the need for equality assessments didn't stop Windrush. So useful - but not sufficient
I was going to write an open letter to @ChrisMasonBBC to congratulate him on his appointment.. but why write when you can tweet - so here goes.
well done Chris. This is an important big job. The BBC News is still the major news source for many of our fellow citizens. So its a job that needs doing well. Some thoughts.
First as @puzzlesthewill has said, its a big job. But its not the only job. The BBC has a lot of really good expert editors. Many stories would benefit if they led reporting the substance and the political take came later.
The PM's latest move must be an absolute nightmare for people who have to make the new moves work inside government.
Good that the PM has managed to bring back someone who knows him well as head of comms. Saves time building a relationship. His big challenge will be changing the defensive and misleading lines that No.10 have relied on - and got them into difficulty
In a strong position to stand up to the PM... to lose one (etc....) But the more intriguing moves are those of Barclay and Griffith. The Griffith moves has precedents - PM's brother headed the Cameron PU as a minister.
The Treasury will be pleased their energy compensation package avoided anything that might be consolidated into tax/benefits long-term - like a VAT cut or a UC increase. The Chancellor is worried about long-term public finance risks (rightly)
They have made a bet through their loan on long-term energy prices.. may or may not come back to bite them.
In its favour: its a lump sum. So it does not subsidise marginal consumption. And if you use energy to heat your sauna/swimming pool/mansion will be a lower proportion of your bill than in your poky flat/draughty 2-bed
Exhibit A - Operation Red Meat - throw out eye-catching policy announcements to "rally the backbenches". Policies should address real problems based on proper analysis, assembly of evidence and be well through through.
Policies are designed to change things. They cost public or private attention at a minimum, but more often divert resources - money, people, time. They need to be thought through and justified.