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The advice has been published. You can read it here. Quite why it has been published on a government website when it is advice to the Prime Minister (instructing Peters & Peters, a reputable firm well-known to lawyers practising in the field of fraud and other financial shenanigans) is unclear. The advice is long and learned, with many references to Erskine May and others. But it is curious because it is based on one fundamentally flawed understanding and one (possibly…

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We are now moving into that period of the year when all the focus in domestic politics will be on the agendas at the autumn party conferences. These are important because they are the one big opportunity each year when members can seek to influence the leadership on the big issues of the day. The polling from Survation featured above is clearly trying to set the agenda for what will be the dominant issue at the Labour conference. As can…

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According to the Daily Mail, the Cabinet Office has commissioned some “devastating” legal advice from Lord Pannick QC that will stop the Commons’ Standards and Privileges Committee from investigating Boris Johnson over whether he misled the Commons over parties at No. 10. This advice is apparently going to be published later today. According to the report, enforcing standards and investigating those who may have broken them will catch Ministers who “accidentally” mislead the House and this will impede the proper…

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Over the next months and years I have no doubt that there will be a lot of studies on why Boris Johnson had to step down from being Prime Minister. Here was someone who proved himself to be electorally very successful. This was first seen in him taking the London mayoralty away from Labour in 2008 and then in his stunning victory in the 2019 general election. Yet at the end of the day he concluded, rightly I believe, that…

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With all looking set for a handover next week a big question remains and that is what is Boris Johnson going to do when he is no longer Prime Minister. One betting markets that is relevant here is whether there will be a by-election in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency before the general election. The chances as rated by punters of this taking place are now down to about 40% when they were much higher. He could course remain…

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All eyes will be on the polls This time next week the new PM will have been in office for two days and have handled, well or badly, the first PMQs. At times like this the voting polls take on new importance and the question will be whether the gap behind LAB can be closed or even wiped out. I have been betting on a September poll lead in at least one poll during the month and am less certain…

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One of the most positive things that will be said about Johnson is the manner of his exit. He read how opinion was moving and his announcement was absolutely right. It was him taking the initiative. If he is to have a future of some sort then he will be helped by the timing and what he said in his exit announcement. Those calling for him to stay have got it wrong when it comes to public opinion as seen…

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