With the prospect of another election - or fresh Brexit vote - surging, it's all hitting the fan. Unless, that is, you read the right-wing press...
Where to begin? The Prime Minister is now threatening a General Election unless rebel Tories vote with her. The government is forcing crucial Brexit votes through with majorities of just three or four – apparently relying on ludicrous flukes like Tim Farron and Vince Cable not turning up.
On Tuesday, Tories were told there’d be an election this summer if they defeated the PM on the Customs Bill. Yes, our own PM was threatening a vote of no confidence. In herself.
Tory Remainer Anna Soubry told the Today programme the threats were “appalling”. And in a speech she said:
“I don’t think that she’s in charge anymore. I’ve no doubt Jacob Rees-Mogg is running our country.”
It’s all hurtling out of control, with the likelihood of another election – or fresh Brexit vote – going through the roof.
Pure chaos, then. Unless, that is, you read the Tory press.
Most papers understandably lead on May surviving one day by the skin of her teeth.
But the Daily Mail chooses to focus on massaged employment statistics:
TODAY: For the second day in a row we scrub all news of the Brexit disasters, Vote Leave’s election fraud and the Trump implosion from our front page. Still, here are some massaged numbers from the government so, y’know, #FearlessInvestigativeReporting… pic.twitter.com/BCTwF0ZZQS
— The DM Reporter (@DMReporter) July 18, 2018
It’s been a particularly vile week for Mail splashes – describing Corbyn as a ‘pygmy’ in contrast to the glorious ‘pomp’ of the Queen and, umm, Trump.
The Daily Express goes big on the story we’ve all been thinking about – the police failing to full investigate a bank card theft (yes, really):
The Sun splashes on assault claims about a trans prisoner. Meanwhile the Daily Star – well it can hardly be considered a newspaper really…
Wonder what the Mail will lead on tomorrow, after three crunch votes today?
Here’s one they can have for free: “Scientists: ‘Sand perfect for burying head in'”…
Josiah Mortimer is Editor of Left Foot Forward. Follow him on Twitter.
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