The briefing about turning a Trade Bill vote into one of confidence unnecessarily raises the temperature between Ministers and Conservative MPs.
By accepting that 16 and 17 year olds in Scotland could vote on their future during the Scottish referendum, we undermined the case for not extending the franchise further.
It would be a huge waste to spend huge sums restoring the body of Westminster whilst decanting – probably permanently – its spirit.
“Labour: wrong, wrong, wrong,” May declared at Prime Minister’s Questions.
They will “come into force after the conclusion of the implementation period”, the Prime Minister told the Commons.
Those who turn a blind eye to MPs being labelled mutineers are playing with a fire which will eventually consume them too.
Plus: We’ll never know the truth about the rebels’ motives. If you have fewer MPs, you must also have fewer Ministers. And: doesn’t Steve Baker have a fine head of hair?
The Defence Secretary made the remark in his first Commons outing in his new role.
The guts of this Bill is about converting EU law, as it applies in the UK, into statute law as neatly as possible, creating the minimum of disruption. That is all.
In the best of all worlds, standards would be upheld voluntarily. But in the world we have, we seem to need rules – and sometimes to extend them.
Plus: How many letters has Brady had? The tragedy of the death of Carl Sargeant. And: introducing my new podcast with Jacqui Smith.
Its poll rating is 40 per cent or so, the economy is growing, and an election isn’t due until 2022. A sense of perspective is essential – for all the Government’s weaknesses.
The Foreign Secretary seeks to clarify his remarks.
This means not bullying people into voting for the Government, and not making grown men and women cry.
On what basis would they then be prevented from appearing in pornography? Should they then not be tried as adults and sent to adult prisons? And so on.