A new paper written by academics Matthew Goodwin and Oliver Heath has revealed that the Conservatives “are now more popular with people on low incomes than high incomes.” While the Labour Party held a lead among low-income voters as recently as 2017, this disappeared in 2019…

In December’s election the Conservatives established a 15-point lead over Labour among people on low incomes, the first time in history the Tories have outpolled the Labour Party in this demographic. The Tories held a 9-point lead among those on high incomes, this lead grew to 15-points among low income voters making them the true people’s party…

Bernard Jenkin has this morning suggested an inquiry into the first phase of Coronavirus response could be vital for learning lessons before a potential second peak in the winter. Speaking to PoliticsLive today, Jenkin suggested a new inquiry could be run by Parliament rather than externally, like the Banking Standards Commission which was chaired by Andrew Tyrie. Jenkin further floated this new high profile inquiry it could be run by the Liaison Committee. Which he just so happens to chair….

1. Sarah Atherton (Con) 👩�💼
2. Nusrat Ghani (Con) 👩�💼
3. Robbie Moore (Con) 👨�💼
4. Liz Saville Roberts (PC) 👩�💼
5. Caroline Ansell (Con) 👩�💼
6. Jessica Morden (Lab) 👩�💻
7. Aaron Bell (Con) 👨�💼
8. Philippa Whitford (SNP) 👩�💻
9. Alberto Costa (Con) 👨�💼
10. Mohammad Yasin (Lab) 👨�💻
11. Rob Butler (Con) 👨�💼
12. John Spellar (Lab) 👨�💼
13. Ruth Edwards (Con) 👩�💼
14. Sammy Wilson (DUP) 👨�💼
15. Stephen Crabb (Con) 👨�💼
16. Janet Daby (Lab) 👩�💻
17. Ian Levy (Con) 👨�💼
18. Emma Lewell-Buck (Lab) 👩�💼
19. Flick Drummond (Con) 👩�💼

👩�💻👨�💻 = Virtual

👨�💼 👩�💼= Physical

Relative drama from the Commons last night as MPs voted to reject a government proposal that would have seen MPs debate serious behaviour breaches on the floor of the house.

The core proposals will see a panel of independent experts consider complaints against MPs, before issuing their recommendations; less serious sanctions would be imposed directly by the panel, however more serious punishments – such as expulsion or suspension – would have to be approved by a vote in the Commons. Finally ending the historic process of MPs adjudicating on their own behaviour…

Jacob Rees-Mogg had tacked on an extra proposal, allowing MPs to debate the most serious cases before a vote. Mogg’s proposals were rejected by 243 to 238.

Parliamentary staffers had spent the day heavily lobbying their bosses to oppose Rees-Mogg’s proposal, over fears that despite the limited rules of any debate – including a ban on naming the alleged victims and discussion of specific details of the case – MPs would, in the words of Meg Hillier MP, use the debate as a “bully pulpit”, using “gossip” and “innuendo” to get around the rules. Fury turned to jubilation among staffers and after the defeat there was “sheer joy” in their Whatsapp groups…

The vote in favour of Chris Bryant’s wrecking amendment cannot technically be chalked down as a Government defeat, nevertheless, the Tory whips tried their hardest to persuade MPs into the voting lobbies with them to support Rees-Mogg’s motion, including a dig-in-the-ribs email setting out how the Chief and Deputy Chief Whip were intending to vote. 45 Tory MPs ended up backing Bryant’s amendment, including Theresa May and serving Minister Penny Mordaunt.

Following his defeat, Rees-Mogg responded via an article in The House Magazine, conceding:

“If this means more complainants will feel confident in the system, then so much the better. Of greatest importance is the fact that the independent panel has been established.”

Magnanimous as ever, Jacob…

In Case You Missed It: Parliament Begins Formal Investigation into Rob Roberts*

*Rob voted against Chris Bryant’s amendment…

Sadiq Khan is planning an extraordinary move out of the iconic “glass testicle” GLA building by Tower Bridge, to a small GLA-owned conference centre called “The Crystal” out in the docklands. The current GLA building currently costs £11.1m a year in rent, meaning the Mayor would be able to boast “a £55 million over five years” if the move goes ahead. In a statement the Mayor said this morning:

“I’m consulting on plans for the GLA to leave the current City Hall building next year and relocate to The Crystal at the Royal Docks in Newham…”

“…In the current financial context, and with the looming black hole in London’s public finances, it would be negligent not to do so.”

Which is interesting because Khan has ballooned his own staffing budget by £30 million in the last five years. Instead of cutting back his own staff to Boris Johnson’s levels, Khan is planning a move forty minutes out of town. Going to desperate lengths just to keep his expensive PR team…

Soon after Boris announced that pubs would be able to open yesterday, MPs turned to thinking what this could mean for Parliament’s watering holes – not least Stranger’s Bar. A source close to the speaker tells Guido that the bar was initially closed by Lindsay Hoyle pre-lockdown in order for Parliament to not look out of touch with the rest of the country. Now restrictions are being lifted multiple MPs are in contact with the speaker’s office to get it back up and running from Monday 6^th July…

MPs concern for Stranger’s to re-open is not unfounded. One MP listed to Guido the number of pubs and bars in Parliament that had been closed down or stripped of their character in recent years, expressing worry that Stranger’s could be next, under the guise of Covid. Another told Guido it would be easy to open the bar al fresco onto the terrace. Guido hears that idea might be a goer…

UPDATE: Guido can now confirm Stranger’s will be reopening on 6 July.