It was no surprise, then, to see the Chancellor visibly emotional in the Commons chamber. Whatever one thinks of Rachel Reeves’ politics, it was an uncomfortable and unpleasant sight. No one should take satisfaction in someone’s obvious distress. Politics is brutal. It can take a very real toll on individuals and their families. Some of the criticism levelled at the Chancellor has been harsh and, at times, cruel.
I see this too often, particularly in the treatment of some of my own female colleagues – where social media has become a sewer of personal abuse and targeted harassment. We all must do better. Let us fight over ideas and principles, not personalities and private pain.
The Prime Minister has been visibly rattled by the week’s events – not just this failed bill, but U-turns on vital issues like the grooming gang inquiry. One year into office, this Government is failing. It is failing to get a grip on the economy. Failing to deliver functioning public services. Failing to address the immigration crisis. And crucially – failing Northern Ireland.
The economic disruption of the Windsor Framework continues to mount. This week, the FSB published research showing just how damaging the arrangements are for our internal market and the disruption it is having on local businesses. And at Stormont’s Economy Committee, local car dealerships confirmed that motorists in Northern Ireland will face reduced choice because of the framework’s red tape. Some seek to portray it as a consequence of Brexit, but they are wrong to do so. It is a consequence of the arrangements demanded by SF, SDLP and Alliance to separate us from the rest of the UK, and the Brexit freedoms they enjoy.
