British politics feels like a prank gone wrong. Boris Johnson wanted to be like Churchill, but he’s now more like the young attention-seeking tearaway Mizzy — constantly pushing the boundaries to shock, enrage and stay in the limelight.
Many of us are dismayed at the political soap-opera engulfing government once again while the country feels as broken as the lifts at Brixton Tube station. I think it was right for Rishi Sunak to finally push back at Johnson — a bit like Scrappy Doo yapping at Big Dog — but evidence of a backbone.
But there must be a sea-change in how our politicians conduct themselves, and if there’s one good thing to emerge out of this wreckage it’s the Privileges Committee.
The magnificent seven consist of four Tories, two Labour and one SNP MP, and led by the formidable Harriet Harman they have worked hard, stayed focused and withstood abuse, shamefully whipped up by Johnson and his allies.
Many of you may accuse me of bias as Harman is my former boss (I do think she’s done a great job btw) but Conservative grandee Sir Bernard Jenkin is a figure I’ve often clashed with on shows like Question Time over the Government’s record and Brexit. We’re hardly besties but I take my hat off to his calm, forensic inquisition of Johnson when he gave evidence to the Committee.
Select Committee hearings can often be a frustrating series of missed open goals from politicians who are either grandstanding or not well briefed — not this one. Every member had done their homework and kept questions business-like, within scope and to the point.
The committee is a creature of Parliament, not the Government, and the fact that it has done a serious job has reminded us that what is said in the chamber is significant and has consequences. That’s really important. Parliament has always seen heated debates — particularly at PMQs — where truth is often spun to suit a narrative, but in recent years we’ve reached a new low which collided with the Johnson era.
We’ve seen increasingly irrational behaviour at the despatch box, fabrication, and blatant lies — all of which has been aided by a weak Speaker and protected by an arcane, ridiculous rule which forbids any member from calling another a liar. So as Brent Central MP Dawn Butler found out, you could be thrown out of the chamber for calling the PM a liar but they could carry on and face no sanction. Until now.
I hope and believe all this will change behaviour. The privileges committee has restored much-needed integrity in British politics and sent a powerful signal to all our parliamentarians that what you say on the record in the House does matter, and you can’t get away with porkies. Regardless of how much you love Peppa Pig.
I can’t get enough of Sarah Jessica Parker
Fans of Sex And The City are blessed of late. Not only are we thrilled at the return of its rather right-on but impeccably styled sequel And Just Like That, which will feature (scream) the stroppy return of Kim Cattrall, who played Samantha Jones, but we now learn that Sarah Jessica Parker (Carrie Bradshaw) is to hit the West End next year (more screaming).
I adore SJP. She was iconic on the small screen as Carrie.
It will be fascinating to see how she performs in the moment of a live theatre performance. She will star alongside husband Matthew Broderick in the play Plaza Suite.
Many TV actors have gone on to shine on the stage like Jodie Comer in Prima Facie. But to be honest, it won’t matter. She has such a loyal fan base of menopausal women and gay men; it will feel like a massive hen night out — but for a second wedding.
