Which hunters?
An unconvincing display from Johnsonian loyalists
The Privileges Committee was back, and this time it was personal. Two weeks after the blockbuster debate on Boris Johnson, we were watching a new episode, with MPs debating a report into the behaviour of some of his supporters.
Those accused of being naughty were spread along the Conservative benches, along with a few supporters. Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg lounged at the far end, his transformation into stereotype Dickens villain almost complete. Michael Fabricant sat behind the government front bench, his tousled and miraculously youthful hair giving the impression of a schoolboy accused of scrumping apples. Brendan Clarke-Smith, who had boycotted the last debate in order to watch the cricket, had turned up this time, presumably because the third Ashes test was already over. There was no sign, sadly, of Nadine Dorries, who is in a quantum state of uncertainty as an MP, having announced her resignation but not actually resigned.
Bonus content: I chatted to Rafael Behr’s podcast about life as a political journalist, and why sketchwriting is more fun.