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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
John Crace

Happy holidays, but the Tories know they could soon be on permanent vacation

Rishi Sunak in the Commons for PMQs on 19 July 2023
Rishi Sunak: even the Speaker urged him to answer some questions. Photograph: Jessica Taylor/PA

The demob happiness was contagious on the Tory benches. Almost every MP can’t wait to get away for the six-week recess. To take their misery, their sense of futility, to some foreign beach where they can hide from the 40C heat. They should be careful what they wish for. Come the next election many will find they are relieved of making it to Westminster for good.

But just for today – make that just for half an hour – the Conservatives were prepared to put their existential futility on hold and try to live in the moment. To count their blessings while they still had them. Many Tory women seemed to have come as Barbie tribute acts. Certainly there was a greater profusion of pink on show than usual.

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