It can’t be sugar-coated. Last night was seriously damaging for Rishi Sunak.
The Prime Minister suffered a major rebellion on his Rwanda Bill as around 60 Tory backbenchers – including big beasts – defied him by voting to toughen it up.
Two of the party’s deputy chairmen resigned, rather than back the legislation. A ministerial aide also heaped humiliation on Mr Sunak by quitting the frontbench.
They are deeply concerned that unless cross-Channel migrants’ individual grounds for legal appeal are limited and any role for the European courts is excluded, the plan carries a huge risk of failing.
So the billion-dollar question is: What will the rebels do now? They surely grasp that there is no alternative to Mr Sunak’s Bill.
The Prime Minister suffered a major rebellion on his Rwanda Bill as around 60 Tory backbenchers – including big beasts – defied him by voting to toughen it up
Sir Keir Starmer is relishing this in-fighting over small boats. His opposition to any attempt to tackle the problem proves he would rather play political games than stop evil traffickers risking migrants’ lives.
The rebels have had their moment in the sun. If they vote down the PM’s plan when it goes to third reading tonight, it would not only scupper the legislation.
It would inflict enormous damage on a government already facing an uphill battle to win the next election – and confirm to the public that the Tories have a death wish.
Make amends, Fujitsu
Finally, after nearly two decades of shameful obfuscation, Fujitsu has admitted its culpability in the false prosecution of hundreds of postmasters and mistresses.
The Japanese conglomerate should not expect credit for issuing humble apologies and offering compensation over its involvement in the Post Office scandal.
It has had to be dragged kicking and screaming to this point, where it confessed having known for years that the Horizon IT system it supplied had faults, despite swearing the software was perfect.
Finally, after nearly two decades of shameful obfuscation, Fujitsu has admitted its culpability in the false prosecution of hundreds of postmasters and mistresses
When the tech firm’s Europe boss Paul Patterson was hauled before MPs to face the music yesterday it was easy to see why.
Asked why it had failed to come clean on this miscarriage of justice, he could only mutter pathetically: ‘I don’t know.’
Until Fujitsu makes amends, shouldn’t ministers blacklist it from receiving lucrative Government contracts.?
Its behaviour couldn’t be in starker contrast to Lord Arbuthnot, the parliamentarian who pursued justice for the victims with tenacity and vigour. He truly is a hero among villains.
William’s sacred duty
Ever since Henry VIII broke with the Pope in 1531 to create the Church of England, religion and monarchy have been inextricably intertwined.
The sovereign plays a unique role in the nation’s religious life as supreme governor of the church and ‘Defender of the Faith’.
The late Queen was a devout Christian who believed her life-long duty could only be carried out with divine strength. King Charles, too, is spiritual and a churchgoer.
So it’s intriguing that Robert Hardman’s new biography raises the prospect that on becoming king, Prince William could be the first monarch in five centuries to sever official ties with the Church of England.
So it’s intriguing that Robert Hardman’s new biography raises the prospect that on becoming king, Prince William could be the first monarch in five centuries to sever official ties with the Church of England
While greatly respecting the institution, he is ‘not instinctively comfortable in a faith environment’, say sources.
That is hardly unusual. We live in an increasingly secular, multi-faith time. How many men of William’s age attend church regularly – or even see its relevance?
But what does it say about the Church? For years, weak archbishops have seemed to care more about parading their virtue than stemming dwindling congregations.
Of course, we pray it will be many years before William must make a decision. But Christianity remains our official religion, and suffuses our values. Being head of the national church should be his sacred duty.