Uk politics

Dear Tory MPs and donors, I’ve avoided writing about the substance of Brexit and the negotiations since the anniversary last year but a few of you have been in touch recently asking ‘what do you think?’ so… Vote Leave said during the referendum that: 1) promising to use the Article 50 process would be stupid and the UK should maintain the possibility of making real preparations to leave while NOT triggering Article 50 2) triggering Article 50 quickly without discussions with our EU friends and without a plan ‘would be like putting a gun in your mouth and pulling the trigger’.

There are few sights more pitiful than Labour 'moderates' – I prefer to call them what they are: Corbyn-enablers – plating up meagre scraps as a feast of optimism for the party's future. Last week, it was the routing of Momentum – and Unite-backed candidates for the Lewisham East by-election. That didn't last long. Now, it's Ken Livingstone, allowed to resign rather than risk possible expulsion. In its 'all out war' on anti-Semitism, Labour sued for peace on the enemy's terms without firing a single shot.  Expelling Livingstone would not have undone the bias and abuse the party has inflicted on British Jews.

Earlier this week, I wrote about David Lewis, a Labour member who was allowed to stand for election as a constituency women’s officer on the basis that he identifies as a woman under some circumstances. That report seems to have drawn some attention, not least from Labour HQ. David Lewis was told on Tuesday night that he has been suspended from the party and cannot therefore stand for election as Basingstoke CLP women’s officer. I’ll try to unravel the implications of that in a moment, but first I want to say something about David Lewis and the general debate around this case. As is usual with debates around gender, a lot of people have strong feelings about this case, and have expressed them bluntly.

Jacob Rees'Mogg's appearance on the new Conservative Home Moggcast has caused a stir in Westminster. In the broadcast, the arch-eurosceptic – and chair of the European Research Group - questions Theresa May's commitment to Brexit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1339&v=Px_F-i3Hd88 'I fear we’re getting to the point where you wonder whether the Government really wants to leave at all.' Although the comments are unlikely to go down well in Downing Street, there is one aspect of the Moggster's comments that will ease concern in No 10. On the recurring topic of an early election, Rees-Mogg says such talk is dangerous – and something that should be avoided: 'The national polling level is very encouraging.