This has been a week of high drama and political upheaval, but one which ultimately has set us on a better path. I know not everyone will agree with me, but throughout Wednesday it became apparent that Boris Johnson could no longer form a Government as Ministers both resigned and other MPs made it clear they would not serve in Government positions.
That afternoon we had the Liaison Committee in Parliament, which is where the Chairs of the Select Committee get to grill the Prime Minister. Despite the early speculation as to whether Boris Johnson would actually turn up, it went ahead as scheduled. Although I am not sure the answers he gave were entirely as he planned.
There were wide ranging questions, on Ukraine, on the cost of living and ultimately on standards in public life. I listened again to suggestions from Boris Johnson that somehow alcohol is to blame for sexual harassment and bullying at Westminster. I could not let that pass, and left him in no doubt it is not alcohol that causes men to be predators, and his late conversion to sobriety was just another “story”. In all it was a sorry performance, and a great pity he could not bring himself to emulate Minister Mike Freer, who did his duty in front of my Select Committee, answered all the questions honestly, and then resigned. Fortunately by Thursday morning he had recognised the writing was on the wall and we saw a formal resignation statement in Downing Street. We can now move on and elect a new Party Leader and therefore Prime Minister.
In happier news we are celebrating the opening of the Romsey Flood Alleviation Project this weekend and it is the Beggars Fair. We are forecast a mini heatwave, hopefully not of the sort we have had in Westminster, but one we can all enjoy.
