Lord Tebbit has died.
He’s said to have had extensive involvement in the political career of Margaret Thatcher.
He provided intellectual and moral guidance in tumultuous times.
He survived an IRA attack in 1984 in Brighton during an annual Conservative party conference.
He advised other Conservative leaders.
It’s still a war zone in the Middle East and the subject is unlikely to not come up in the House of Commons. The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy MP (Tottenham/Labour), bravely took questions from either side, ranging from claims to genocide to a repudiation of a direct interventionist tendency. It’s amicable, but there are clear tensions in the House over this issue.
It’s budget day, and accordingly the House is full. It’s also raucous as the leader of the opposition, Rishi Sunak MP (Richmond and Northallerton/Conservatives), gives his response to the Chancellor’s budget. He’s not impressed, and makes it clear in his rousing rhetorical flourishes, joined by members behind him.
The debates continue on the budget from yesterday. There are precious few Conservative MP’s in the Commons. They have their own reasons for it. It may be most Tories don’t care anymore, since their hammering at the polls. It’s unlikely they’re going to put up a sufficient fight in any event. They best be glad it’s not such a punishing budget.