This week in Westminster the rumour mill has been going into overdrive albeit without many facts to go on. With the Autumn Statement coming up, there is frenzied speculation about what will be included. The days of strategic leaks are over, as even Tory MPs use their precious PMQs to try and find out more. Following in the foot-steps of Alistair Darling our new Chancellor is attempting to take the politics out of the Treasury. Hammond has made overtures that suggest he would open the door to more public borrowing and offering a helping hand to low income households who, it has been said, Osborne didn’t understand. However, the Government remains tight lipped so we’ll only find out real details on the day.
Talking of tight-lipped, the Government’s lack of communication leaves journalists so thirsty for news that they splashed on a leaked memo regarding Government plans for Brexit. As ever, all was not what it seemed and the memo, written by Deloitte, was no more than a pitch for business. The up side is that we now know why the Government is not divulging information regarding Brexit; it would ruin our negotiating position… apparently.
The Deloitte confusion only added to the growing sense of pandemonium that President-elect Trump is helping to foster. With Brexit on the horizon Mr Trump might be good for the UK, as he told the PM in their phone call that his Scottish mother was an enormous fan of the Queen, but the first question to answer is who will manage the ‘special relationship’? Arran Banks took this opportunity to further wind up the Tories with his announcement that Mr Trump’s team will be consulting Nigel Farage before speaking to the Prime Minister. Fortunately, sanity prevailed and the President-elect’s team dismissed this - ‘there’s only one leader of the UK, and Nigel’s not that leader’. This is something that Nigel was reminded of when Mrs May didn’t rule out ennobling him – as leader she has that power.
Labour clearly did not want to be outdone on chaos when the Shadow Justice Secretary, Richard Burgon, tabled an Urgent Question this week demanding that the Government support protest action by the Prison Officers Association. Lord Chancellor Liz Truss adamantly refused, condemning the action, and securing a high court injunction against the ‘illegal’ protests. The Government stance will upset Corbyn’s Labour Party who support unions regardless of merit or militancy. But backbench Tory MPs are raising their own concerns, as Richard Drax tabled an Adjournment Debate on the issue, and news anchors questioned whether the Lord Chancellor is up to the job. It’s clear the Government won’t be able to lock this issue up anytime soon.
Speaking of locked-up, UKIP are accused of spending public cash in UKIP target seats in the 2015 General Election. This included Nigel’s own failed attempt (maybe he’ll be eighth time lucky next time) in Thanet. Poor Nigel now feels victimised as no MEP has been investigated more times than him. UKIP may now have to pay back the cash. But it’s OK, the news that Britain may be making EU contributions for years to come I’m sure will cheer him right up. Perhaps this money would have been better spent in UKIP HQ on their own gold doors.