The tinsel is still hanging on the Christmas tree and Brexit plotting is supposed to be on hold, but senior Conservative politicians have been out in force in recent days as they anticipate a possible New Year leadership race.
Until last week Sajid Javid was having a good year. Appointed Home Secretary after the Windrush scandal, he was widely seen as having handled the issue well.
So far had his star risen that several bookmakers made him favourite to succeed Theresa May, if she is a casualty of Brexit.
But, like many of his predecessors in the Home Office, Mr Javid has discovered why this department has long been seen as a political graveyard.
Until last week Sajid Javid was having a good year. Appointed Home Secretary after the Windrush scandal, he was widely seen as having handled the issue well
Over Christmas, reports began to mount of Iranian migrants taking advantage of the unusually calm seas and mild weather to cross the Channel in small boats and claim asylum in Britain.
On Friday, with the latest reports of boats arriving and numbers growing, pressure mounted. Stung into action late that afternoon, the Home Office released a statement saying that Mr Javid had declared the situation a ‘major incident’ and ‘taken control’ of the response.
But what didn’t become public until Saturday morning, when it appeared on the Mail’s front page, was that Mr Javid was on holiday at the time with his family in South Africa.
This raised more than a few eyebrows in Westminster. How could he be in charge of the crisis from 6,000 miles away, MPs asked.
Allies of other leadership candidates twisted the knife, suggesting the incident raised questions about his judgment.
To compound his misery, it’s not the first time Mr Javid has been abroad at a time of crisis. In March 2016, as Business Secretary, he faced calls to quit for being in Australia when tens of thousands of jobs were at risk at the Port Talbot steelworks.
In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson announced the opening of two new military bases and called for more ‘optimism’ about Britain’s post-Brexit future
By Saturday afternoon, reporters were briefed that Mr Javid would be returning home from South Africa, apparently fearing a similar backlash.
In the Sunday papers, anonymous MPs compared him to Macavity, TS Eliot’s disappearing cat, and a character from Dad’s Army. Reports even suggested that Downing Street would have hauled him back if he had not come voluntarily.
Among allies of Mrs May, there was a degree of satisfaction at what one called a ‘misguided’ decision to put himself centre stage of the crisis.
The Home Secretary has caused dismay at No 10 in recent weeks by pushing for a softer line on immigration and by publicly distancing himself from the Government’s ‘tens of thousands’ migration target.
It’s safe to say many in Downing Street will enjoy his discomfort.
Meanwhile, other contenders for the Tory crown have been brandishing their leadership credentials.
In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson announced the opening of two new military bases and called for more ‘optimism’ about Britain’s post-Brexit future.
Pictured in his office at the Ministry of Defence, in front of a portrait of Winston Churchill and a Union flag, he even offered Mr Javid the support of the military to try and stem the flow of migrants in the Channel.
‘We have not had any requests as yet, but if the Home Office is in need of Armed Forces support then our Navy, Air Force and Army stand ready to assist,’ he said.
Elsewhere, Jeremy Hunt suggested Britain could emulate low-tax Singapore once outside the EU. In an article for The Mail on Sunday, the Foreign Secretary hailed Britain’s assets and dismissed the idea of a second referendum. The article was seen as a pitch to small government Tory MPs from a former Remainer keen to brandish his ‘born again Brexiteer’ credentials.
Also yesterday, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox helpfully evealed in an interview with The Sunday Times that he has flown 290,000 miles to help set up post-Brexit trade deals.
Elsewhere, Jeremy Hunt suggested Britain could emulate low-tax Singapore once outside the EU
And three days before Christmas, Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd – another likely runner – rounded on European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, calling him ‘ghastly’.
Optimists in No 10 still believe the Prime Minister will win the vote on her Brexit deal when it comes back to Parliament in two weeks’ time and the prospect of a second referendum will bring rebel MPs into line.
But by announcing that she will not fight another election, Mrs May has fired the starting gun on the race to succeed her.
And judging by the actions of her potential successors, many of them believe a vacancy could arise in short order.
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/12/31/jack-doyle-ministers-prepare-their-leadership-bids-even-during-the-brexit-break/
Main photo article The tinsel is still hanging on the Christmas tree and Brexit plotting is supposed to be on hold, but senior Conservative politicians have been out in force in recent days as they anticipate a possible New Year leadership race.
Until last week Sajid Javid was having a good year. Appointed Home...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/12/31/00/7970120-0-image-a-21_1546215450617.jpg
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