Mrs Crackenthorpe's Diary
2 min read
I hope you had a fabulous festive season and feel as revived and ready as I for a fresh term of parliamentary tattle, scandal, intrigue and scuttlebutt. I am delighted to disclose that less than a fortnight into the new term, this is already occurring in abundance…
First things first, Mrs C must make clear she has nothing but support and admiration for aspiring Tory MPs, especially when they come from the top tier of Westminster’s very own Lobby. Therefore, I am devastated to report that rumours circulating in Tory circles of a prominent editor planning to stand in the next election are not in fact true – for now. The journo in question told Mrs C they have “absolutely no intention at all of going into politics” and have “no idea where on earth” the rumours have come from. Mrs C will wait patiently until 2023 to see if that stays the case.
Speaking of working-class heroes, Mrs C was intrigued to learn that one of Westminster’s finest showed up to the first PMQs of the year in a gorgeous pair of Louboutins. Paired with an elegant dress and string of pearls, Angela Rayner was rather more Imelda Marcos than Rosa Luxemburg.
Mrs C’s heart is breaking for her friends at the Home Office who are stuck on struggle street in the search for a new director of comms. The £110,000 role demands “a thought leader and source of expertise and innovation,” whatever that means, but Mrs C hears there are “few, maybe even no” candidates stepping up. A po-faced spokesman insists: “It is right the role is advertised widely before the application process closes at the end of this month.” Deary me.
The House is always ahead of the game when it comes to identifying politicians to watch. In our recent Conservative Party edition, our hacks pointed to one Steve Baker as an MP to keep a close eye on. Mrs C hears a high-profile potential Tory leadership contender shares our view. The Cabinet member in question has supposedly been cosying up to the lockdown sceptic as their party’s leader continues to plummet in the polls.
MrsCrackenthorpe@protonmail.com
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