Labour was toasting a solid set of local election results that marked an advance in the party’s fortunes after more than a decade in opposition.
Unhappily for them, the celebrations were cut short by the announcement Durham Police is investigating whether Keir Starmer broke the Covid lockdown restrictions.
The progress made under him was demonstrated by the gains made in places as diverse as Worthing, Southampton and Cumberland.
Notwithstanding these results, Mr Starmer will also be aware that more needs to be done to win back disaffected voters in the party’s former heartlands.
The only leader guilty of complacency is Boris Johnson who suffered a humiliating night at the ballot box.
The Tories were hammered by Labour in the capital, while the Lib Dems smashed through the Conservatives’ “Blue Wall” in Oxfordshire, South West London and Somerset.
Mr Johnson is an electoral liability for the Conservatives and a national liability every day he stays in office.
HM’s right call
Banning Prince Andrew and Prince Harry from the royal balcony for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations cannot have been an easy decision for the Queen.
But Her Majesty has made the right call. The presence of Prince Andrew in particular would have attracted unnecessary controversy that would have overshadowed a moment of national celebration.
The Queen should take comfort from the fact that even if her family cannot be together, the country will unite in celebration of her 70 years on the throne.
Flower wower
Tony and Marie Newton have raised thousands of pounds for charity by opening their beautiful garden in the West Midlands to the public.
It’s little wonder they have cultivated so many admirers.
