PARLIAMENTARY recess is always a disconcerting time. We can’t turn on the television and check-up on our MPs and with the “silly season” of news that normally accompanies recess, we’re somewhat out of the loop. Of course, recess is not a holiday – as MPs are always at pains to remind us. They have the opportunity to get out and about in their constituencies, plough through case-work and get organised for the parliamentary session ahead.
Theresa May spent the final week of recess on a charm offensive in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria. May sought to convince her hosts that a post-Brexit Britain could see a “fundamental shift’’ and “new partnership’’ with the continent. Alas, it’s unlikely that her whirlwind visit will be remembered for any political or negotiating savvy.
READ MORE: Nine of Theresa May's most cringeworthy moments as prime minister
The now-viral footage of Theresa May dancing during the trip – in the manner of a new-born giraffe on roller-blades – will endure long beyond the press releases hailing it as a Global Britain success story.
With limbs jutting out from every angle, she twirled and moved – almost – in time with the music. It was a strange sight, not least because the Prime Minister looked uncharacteristically happy. Her good cheer may be short-lived, however. The problems she left behind at the beginning of recess haven’t gone away. Brexit and the unending complications that flow from it will continue to dominate the agenda and deepen the rift within the Conservative party.
Boris Johnson and his clutch of hard Brexiteers will likely have spent the summer recess plotting their next move against the beleaguered prime minister. Tory MP Nadine Dorries kicked things off with a series of tweets on Friday, where she criticised the Prime Minister (for her dancing, among other things) and picked a fight with May’s Chief of Staff, Gavin Barwell.
WATCH: Theresa May's cringeworthy greeting as she meets Prince William
With the news reports of expected food and medicine shortages in the event of a no-deal Brexit still fresh in our minds, the Prime Minister told journalists that such a scenario “wouldn’t be the end of the world.’’ Between that, and the image of Brexit secretary Dominic Raab wiping sweat from his brow as he answered questions about the Government’s negotiating strategy, I, for one, feel reassured.
The Scottish Tories are also getting in on the action. “Friends” of Ruth Davidson have reportedly been talking-up her prospects of becoming Prime Minister. She’d have to take the scenic route, right enough.
First a peerage and a move to London, then a Westminster seat before reaching the dizzying heights of political stardom. That’s providing she isn’t required to answer any tough questions or speak at length on a subject other than Scottish independence before she’s elevated to the highest office in the land, and ultimately found to be lacking.
The Scottish Tories responded to the claims by insisting that Ruth Davidson will be doing her time in Scottish politics until at least 2021, which is awfy good of her, don’t you think?
Labour haven’t sailed through summer recess unscathed either. There have been bitter fights within the party over Jeremy Corbyn’s handling of anti-Semitism and the high-profile resignation of John Woodcock.
This week, long-serving MP Frank Field also resigned the Labour whip and will sit in the House of Commons as an Independent. Questions are being asked about whether this will create a domino-effect of similar resignations, as the party struggles to keep a lid on its internal divisions.
In an interview with Sky News, Labour MP John Mann launched a withering attack on Corbyn’s leadership and suggested that one way to address the anti-Semitism row engulfing the party would be to reassure all Jewish MPs that they will automatically become candidates in the next General Election. “Jeremy, get leading!’’ he urged, in an optimistic bid to invigorate the increasingly stale and bad-tempered Labour leader.
When MPs return on Tuesday, it will be for little more than a week, and then they’re off again for the conference recess, where it is expected that tensions within the main parties will bubble over with potentially dramatic consequences.
As exit day from the EU fast approaches, both the Conservatives and Labour are on the brink of party civil war: there’s little sign that the tumultuous events of 2018 are going to slow down.
Recess may have provided a period of comparative calm for MPs and Ministers, but when they gather together again on the green benches, it’s back to business as usual.
Theresa May has a tough road ahead. She may find herself wishing she’d just stayed in Africa.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel