London Playbook: Pint-sized politics — Tory
leadership ceasefire — Brexit wars revisited
BY ALEX
WICKHAM
June 3,
2022 8:00 am
POLITICO
London Playbook
By ALEX
WICKHAM
JUST A
QUICK NOTE … from me as today is my final Playbook before I head off. Thanks so
much for reading over the past couple of years, and thanks very much to the
SpAds, spinners, MPs, peers, ministers, wonks, producers, Lobby colleagues and
readers who’ve helped me and the team every night — we genuinely couldn’t write
this email or make it anything like as useful as it is without your tips and
steers. I’m off on holiday and attempting a digital detox for a few weeks (good
thing June is set to be a quiet one), but please keep reading as my brilliant
POLITICO colleagues take over during the summer. I know I am looking forward to
waking up to their Playbooks and seeing who will jump into the hot seat of one
of the best jobs in the business next. If you think that could be you, it’s not
too late to apply here — the deadline is the end of next week. See you on the
other side.
WESTMINSTER
INSIDER
NI SPECIAL:
POLITICO Westminster Insider’s Ailbhe Rea this week takes listeners on her
year-long journey covering the British government’s contentious efforts to find
peace and reconciliation within Northern Ireland’s war-torn past. She travels
back to her homeland to hear emotive testimony of families of some of those
murdered during The Troubles, and their anger at Westminster proposals for an
effective amnesty for those responsible. She hears, too, from Conservative MPs
— and former soldiers — like Johnny Mercer and Mark Francois, who say pursuing
elderly ex-servicemen for alleged crimes from many decades past is vindictive
and wrong. And she speaks to Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis, who last
week published fresh legislation he claims will finally bring some closure to
one of the darkest chapters of modern British and Irish history.
It’s a
brilliant podcast from Ailbhe … and Playbook would highly recommend giving it a
listen at some point over your long weekend.
DRIVING THE
DAY
PINT-SIZED
POLITICS: Huge news to kick off the Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday as the
government formally unveils its plan to restore Crown symbol pint glasses and
allow businesses to sell products in pounds and ounces. This was of course
heavily trailed last weekend but luckily enough we get the full details today.
The
government tells us: “As long ago as 1698, British pint glasses intended for
measuring and serving beer were marked with a Crown stamp as a declaration that
the glass, when filled to the brim or to a line measure, accurately measured a
pint of beer. The Crown stamp gave customers confidence that they were not
being sold a short measure of beer. But the symbol was replaced by the EU-wide
‘CE’ marking’ in 2006 in order to conform with EU rules in the UK.”
And on
imperial measurements: We’re actually only getting a consultation to begin
with, which will run for 12 weeks and look at “how to implement a change to the
law on weights and measures, so that shoppers and business have greater choice
over the way they buy and sell products.”
What might
the change be? We’re told: “The consultation will help the government consider,
for example, allowing vegetables to be sold in pounds only, or in pounds with a
less prominent metric equivalent, should businesses wish to do so.”
What about
complaints from businesses … that adding on imperial measurements will add to
costs at a time of already rising prices? The government claims: “There is no
intention to require businesses to change their existing practices and so this
will not place greater costs on businesses.”
Business
Minister Paul Scully makes the case: “While we think of our fruit and veg by
the pound, the legacy of EU rules means we legally have to sell them by the
kilo. Our consultation today will help shops to serve customers in the way
their customers want.”
FRIDAY
SCHEDULE: There will be a Service of Thanksgiving for the queen’s reign at St
Paul’s Cathedral, kicking off at 9.15 a.m. The queen was obviously supposed to
attend but sadly cannot after experiencing some “discomfort” during Thursday’s
proceedings. The Beeb has more.
SATURDAY
SCHEDULE: The queen and the royals are due to attend the Derby at Epsom Downs,
before a “Platinum Party at the Palace.” The royal press release says: “The
celebration will see famous faces from the world of entertainment brought
together to perform for a night of musical tributes to celebrate the Jubilee.
22,000 people will attend the event including 10,000 allocated in a public
ballot and 5,000 tickets for key workers.” Kirsty Young and Roman Kemp are
hosting on BBC One.
**Know
first and save time with POLITICO Pro. Get prime and customized access to
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you. Learn more here.**
TODAY IN
WESTMINSTER
PARLIAMENT:
Not sitting.
TORY
LEADERSHIP CEASEFIRE: Single market rejoiner Tobias Ellwood called for a
ceasefire in the Tory leadership wrangling out of respect for the queen over
the Jubilee Weekend, but said his colleagues should pick it up again on
Tuesday. Henry Zeffman has his quotes in the Times.
What
happens next week? Some MPs are planning to send letters of no confidence in
Boris Johnson to 1922 committee Chair Graham Brady on Monday, the Guardian’s
Aubrey Allegretti reports. However, in what could be a crucial development,
Allegretti says rebel plotters are now planning to withdraw letters because
they think Johnson would win the vote on his future. They’re now saying MPs
should hold off triggering the vote until after the by-elections on June 23.
Surely the rebels haven’t marched us all up the hill for a second time, only
for it to all fizzle out once again?
Others are
still grumbling … including the Grassroots Conservatives organization, which
says Johnson should quit, the Telegraph’s Dominic Penna reports.
BREXIT WARS
REVISITED: Ellwood delighted No. 10 by calling for the U.K. to rejoin the
single market this week, allowing Johnson allies to warn that a leadership
contest would reopen the Leave-Remain divide. Fellow hopeful Tom Tugendhat
pointedly tweeted last night: “Tobias is wrong. The Single Market puts the EU
in charge: — EU rules — open borders — no new trade deals.” He added: “We need
a deal British people control not foreign laws with no say. Let’s plan for the
future and stop looking back. This decision is made.” Safe to say he’s running
then.
HONITON
HORROR SHOW: The Mirror’s Ben Glaze has a strong piece from Honiton, the Lib
Dem-facing by-election the Tories are staring down later this month. Glaze
found that voters are deserting the Conservatives. Betting shop manager Julie
Garland said: “I voted Tory before but I’m not voting Tory on June 23. I will
read up on the others to see what they have got to offer.” And nursery
assistant Naomi Bowman added: “Me and my mum have always voted Conservative but
the way he has been lately we have changed our opinions — mainly because of the
parties. And I was completely disgusted about Neil Parish watching pornography
— it was outrageous. I think I will vote Lib Dem.”
WHITEHALL
REFORM: Former Minister Francis Maude is being lined up to lead a review of how
the civil service operates, the FT’s Seb Payne and George Parker report. “One
well-placed Whitehall figure said some government ministers were pushing for
the review to examine the potential for external political appointees to lead
ministries instead of veteran civil servants.”
BEER FEAR:
The Times‘ Henry Zeffman has details of the Durham Police questionnaires sent
to Labour leader Keir Starmer and co. — apparently they are “comprehensive” and
include multiple questions about a non-league football shirt.
NHS
SHOCKER: Gynaecology waiting lists have soared to half a million patients
because doctors are routinely dismissing women’s health problems, the
Guardian’s Hannah Devlin reports.
WAITROSE
WOMAN NEWS: After much chat about the mythical female Tory swing voter this
week, the FT’s Seb Payne has a column on how Johnson can “win back Waitrose
woman.” The answer? Cut taxes, conserve institutions, improve the public sector,
level up and carry out a reshuffle.
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