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Ping pong

Theresa May could well become an advocate of Lords reform after Peers sent the EU Withdrawal bill back to the Commons with an amendment attempting to guarantee the rights of existing EU nationals in the UK.

Conservatives are easily outvoted in the Lords in any event but our dear Prime Minister wasn’t helped by several Tory Peers, including some former cabinet ministers, defying her whip. Theresa is clear that when the Germans and the French are ready to guarantee the rights of UK nationals in their countries, she will reciprocate here. But until then, don’t expect some unelected fogies to be capable of persuading TM to soften her position.

Jeremy

Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn remains unsure about his party’s position on Brexit, who his shadow ministers are, if he even has any shadow ministers and whether he needs to sack any of them. It seems the PLP may not willingly forgive Corbyn’s hopelessness on Brexit as he’s even less popular with the “Labour MP” voter group than he is with the “65+ will definitely vote” demographic.

We need to talk about Copeland. The first time a governing party has taken a seat in a by-election since 1982, and the first-time Copeland or its predecessor has been held by a party other than Labour since 1931. It is ironic that Gareth Snell, who judging by some of his less risque tweets is not Corbyn’s biggest fan, is the one who managed to save him by holding Stoke Central.

Theresa and Jeremy’s relationship is not really that of mortal enemies as you may expect for the two people battling over the most powerful job in Britain. It is much more of a cruel dog owner/naive puppy set up. The PM chose to rub her mistreated puppy’s nose in his Copeland shaped accident again on Wednesday when she forced him to watch Trudy Harrison’s swearing in immediately after another tedious PMQs.

Euromania

Tim Farron has been keen to demonstrate the Lib Dem fight back is still going on. For the first time, they have received more dosh than the Labour Party in the Electoral Commission’s quarterly donation register. The shift into top gear Euromania begins to reap financial dividends. Whether Euromania will reap electoral dividends remains to be seen.

Trump and the Budget

Someone not suffering any Euromania whatsoever is President Trump. He appears to be starting a visa war with the EU after Washington suggested not all Europeans should be allowed to travel to the States visa-free. The European Parliament predictably failed to rise above the provocation and has said Americans will now have to apply for visas to travel Europe.

Trump may have some concerns relating to his business interests in the UK as the business rates row rumbles on. The Chancellor could clean up Sajid Javid’s old mess in his first Budget next week.

Although, Hammond may hold off and have a second go at appeasing Mr Trump later in the year. It seems that given the furore on social media Trump’s state visit could now take place around the time of the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget as the President doesn’t want to ‘cause a scene’ with his State Visit. Although Trump is probably just as keen to avoid ‘Trumpkin’ carving season in America, as opposed to their usual pumpkin October fare.