Phoebaeticus magnus

He saw the whites of the keeper's eyes... And the whites of his outstretched gloves

[Phoebaeticus magnus @phoebaeticus]

@jo3hill @AndrewSabisky It's prob true that within the CDEL stack that ministers/spads will be looking at to pay for DIP, the most discretionary-seeming spend that could be traded off against is DESNZ/DSIT/DBT "growth" stuff. Whether that's the right framing for the decision is another question.

[Phoebaeticus magnus @phoebaeticus]

@maxtempers Yes, *subsidising student loans more* is what advocates of cutting the interest rate are asking for - unless they set out how they'd find money elsewhere in the system. I know you would be willing to bite that bullet, but I bet the MPs questioning her did not!

[Phoebaeticus magnus @phoebaeticus]

@echetus You've never been to the Highlands then?

[Phoebaeticus magnus @phoebaeticus]

@JohnRentoul @theipaper I'm giving myself no.7 - I said "Lake District" assuming that if the answer was "Cumbria" the question would have said "county" not "region"

[Phoebaeticus magnus @phoebaeticus]

@tomhfh @PMarlowe1939 Andy Burnham is a former Chief Secretary to the Treasury! I think he understands some of these things.

[Phoebaeticus magnus @phoebaeticus]

@maxtempers Burnham is so personally popular, and the PLP/membership so ready to coronate him, that he can become PM without making silly promises.

[Phoebaeticus magnus @phoebaeticus]

@mrianleslie Yes, and also, Burnham has shown himself to be a political chameleon willing and able to shift his positions with the prevailing wind. I don't think he'll do the things Sam listed.

[Phoebaeticus magnus @phoebaeticus]

@andrew_lilico It's a joke Andrew, a reference to I'm Alan Partridge

[Phoebaeticus magnus @phoebaeticus]

@JackBMontgomery @BDSixsmith It's the English devolution brief.

[Phoebaeticus magnus @phoebaeticus]

@FootballCliches @CDEccleshare @D_C_W Anyone else noticed snooker commentators have been taking lessons off Glenn Hoddle (or maybe it's vice versa)? A particularly nice example, with a hint of double entendre, on the final brown ball in the seventh frame of Wilson-Allen.

[Phoebaeticus magnus @phoebaeticus]

@alexwickham The previous PPS to the PM does not come out well if, as Cat suggests, no note was taken of the appt decision, let alone anything explaining why PM took the risk on appointing pre-DV. Also calls into question PM's judgement in bringing a relatively unqualified person in as PPS.

[Phoebaeticus magnus @phoebaeticus]

@helen_macnamara @Starcourse @JohnRentoul To clarify though, the reports say CL obtained a summary document, drawing on interviews. If so I don't think you're disagreeing with the approach taken?

[Phoebaeticus magnus @phoebaeticus]

@helen_macnamara @Starcourse @JohnRentoul It's not really a case of "how this works". The circumstances of Parliament compelling the release of such material is unprecedented. (To be clear, I agree the wider implications are profound and concerning and the HA should have been more narrowly worded.)

[Phoebaeticus magnus @phoebaeticus]

@helen_macnamara @Starcourse @JohnRentoul You missed the bit before: "all papers relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment... including but not confined to..."

Agree that HMG could persuade ISC/Parl that the vetting file itself should not be laid before the House, but at the v least CL needed to see it to advise the PM.

[Phoebaeticus magnus @phoebaeticus]

@Starcourse @helen_macnamara @JohnRentoul Precisely. Anyone saying accessing the file was "needless" is ignoring the Humble Address.

[Phoebaeticus magnus @phoebaeticus]

@TypeForVictory Funded DC? Or "notional" DC? Shifting from unfunded to funded would be very costly.

[Phoebaeticus magnus @phoebaeticus]

@andrew_lilico Also, it will take many decades for that measure to actually save any money, as the schemes are PAYG

[Phoebaeticus magnus @phoebaeticus]

@maxtempers Technically was a private member's bill brought by Bob Blackman, which Javid as Housing Sec decided to back.

Someone should compile a list of terrible PMBs, pushed by charities (Shelter in this case), cowardly supported by ministers even when they know it is counterproductive.

[Phoebaeticus magnus @phoebaeticus]

@edwest This would be the case for Teams, but not necessarily for WhatsApp, which is not an official government communication channel.