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| * Paul Waugh |
by Paul Waugh | Politics
The Tory infighting over Europe has reached such a pitch that it’s giving poor old Sir John Major headaches and blinding flashbacks. The Guardian reveals that in a speech tonight at the Oxford Union, the ex-PM will warn of long-term dangers as “some of the Brexit leaders morph into Ukip, and turn to their default position: immigration”.
Major says the dangers are of ‘long term divisions in our society’, though it’s clear he also means there’s a real risk to his party’s community cohesion too. No.10 is acutely aware of the problem of how to heal the Tory party after June 23. And the Sun has a story on plans by David Cameron to use a reshuffle to reunify his party, with Liam Fox tipped as the favourite Brexiteer due a comeback, possibly replacing Grayling as Leader of the House.
Foxy turned down a junior role in 2014 but may be tempted by a return to Cabinet in what Craig Woodhouse says would be a reshuffle pencilled in for June 30. The Sun piece includes one rumour doing the rounds this week among Tory MPs: that Jeremy Hunt could be shunted to Transport. That would clear the way for Boris to take on a big brief, or for Nicky Morgan to move from Education (where again Boris could be installed).
The Tory infighting over Europe has reached such a pitch that it’s giving poor old Sir John Major headaches and blinding flashbacks. The Guardian reveals that in a speech tonight at the Oxford Union, the ex-PM will warn of long-term dangers as “some of the Brexit leaders morph into Ukip, and turn to their default position: immigration”.
Major says the dangers are of ‘long term divisions in our society’, though it’s clear he also means there’s a real risk to his party’s community cohesion too. No.10 is acutely aware of the problem of how to heal the Tory party after June 23. And the Sun has a story on plans by David Cameron to use a reshuffle to reunify his party, with Liam Fox tipped as the favourite Brexiteer due a comeback, possibly replacing Grayling as Leader of the House.
Foxy turned down a junior role in 2014 but may be tempted by a return to Cabinet in what Craig Woodhouse says would be a reshuffle pencilled in for June 30. The Sun piece includes one rumour doing the rounds this week among Tory MPs: that Jeremy Hunt could be shunted to Transport. That would clear the way for Boris to take on a big brief, or for Nicky Morgan to move from Education (where again Boris could be installed).
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| * Former Secretary of State for Defence, Liam Fox: (Credit: via The Waugh Zone). |
One reason Fox is said to be in line for a reward is his ‘measured tone’ so far in the Brexit debate. And he’s long been close to George Osborne. Yet the Vote Leave camp are not very measured in their fury with the Treasury and Mark Carney after the Governor’s warning of Brexit-inspired recession yesterday.
IDS pointed out just how dire the Bank’s forecasts had been. At a breakfast yesterday, he also vented years of frustration with the Treasury, calling it “the worst thing in Britain” and demanding it be broken up. “The average age in the Treasury is 27…They have no collective memory for any agreement or decision that had been taken before they arrived at their desks.”
Christine Lagarde of the IMF is at the Treasury this morning to deliver her regular review of the UK economy. Sometimes at these events, the Chancellor appears alongside her. Will he today? And will either of them be asked about this eye-catching Express headline today: “Meddling EU planning a BAN which could spell the end of sex toys and kinky underwear.”
IDS pointed out just how dire the Bank’s forecasts had been. At a breakfast yesterday, he also vented years of frustration with the Treasury, calling it “the worst thing in Britain” and demanding it be broken up. “The average age in the Treasury is 27…They have no collective memory for any agreement or decision that had been taken before they arrived at their desks.”
Christine Lagarde of the IMF is at the Treasury this morning to deliver her regular review of the UK economy. Sometimes at these events, the Chancellor appears alongside her. Will he today? And will either of them be asked about this eye-catching Express headline today: “Meddling EU planning a BAN which could spell the end of sex toys and kinky underwear.”
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* Paul Waugh is the Executive Editor, Politics, HuffPost UK.
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