It was one of the boldest moves of David Cameron’s premiership and took Nick Clegg, Ed Miliband and even the Government’s own civil servants by surprise.
Officials in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport had to hastily escort representatives of the press regulation lobby group Hacked Off out of the building when they were told that the Prime Minister was ending cross-party negotiations on how to implement the Leveson Report.
When Cameron strode into his press conference to announce this move, the paper with his speech on it was still warm – it had come off the printer just moments before.
Hacked off: David Cameron (left) ended cross-party negotiations on how to implement the Leveson report. But Nick Clegg (right) insisted on coming to remonstrate with him face to face about the decisionCameron had been intending to work on his remarks after calling Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband to tell them that he was terminating the discussions. But Clegg insisted on coming to remonstrate with him face to face about the decision, and they had one of their frankest conversations since the Government was formed.
The result is a vote in the House of Commons tomorrow night on two alternative Leveson proposals where the Prime Minister will probably be defeated by an alternative coalition led by his deputy and the leader of the Opposition.
Despite this, though, the mood in the Cameron circle is buoyant. They believe that whatever happens, they have stopped their opponents from trying to attach Leveson to every piece of legislation that comes along – something that was, according to a Downing Street insider, ‘making Government impossible’.
A senior No 10 source declares: ‘We might go down, but at least we’ll go down fighting.’
Taken aback: Ed Miliband was also surprised at Cameron's gambitThey feel that this calling of Labour and the Liberal Democrats’ bluff is a return to the old Cameron, the one who moved more quickly and decisively than his opponents.
Clegg and Miliband were taken aback by Cameron’s gambit because there had been no indication that it was coming when the three men sat down to discuss the matter after Wednesday’s PMQs.
At the end of the meeting, all the talk had been of finding time for another gathering on Monday. Looking back, though, those present note that Cameron had chaired the meeting in observer mode. In two previous meetings, Cameron had been far more assertive, making clear what he could and could not accept. But this time, he was pretty passive.
The Liberal Democrats are angry at the Prime Minister. One complains: ‘He finishes seeing Nick and then 15 minutes later, he’s out giving a very polished speech. He’s not acting in good faith.’ Another says: ‘I’m not sure not how wise it is from a Tory point of view to continually engineer situations where we and Labour have to work together.’
Certainly, Clegg and Miliband have worked more closely together on this than on any other issue. One close friend of Miliband describes the relationship between the two as ‘very functional’ – a stark contrast to two years ago when the pair seemed to be more interested in hurling insults at each other.
WHAT makes this situation so tense is that both sides believe they are acting on principle while the other is not. One Tory Cabinet Minister complains that Clegg’s position is a result of how bruised he has been by his press coverage.
For their part, Labour accuse Cameron of ‘standing up for the wrong people because he’s weak. He’s got to get the press barons onside because of the trouble he’s having’. Meanwhile, the Tories think Miliband is in hock to Hacked Off.
The Coalition won’t fall apart over tomorrow’s vote, but the dynamics will be changed.
It will be a reminder that the Prime Minister and his deputy are governing together because they have to – not because they want to.
And it will make everyone, including Cameron, wonder what the Liberal Democrats will do if an alternative coalition is possible after the next Election.
Pickles puts TOWIE into the history books Eric Pickles celebrated the fact that TOWIE is filmed in his constituencyWhen today’s Cabinet papers are released under the 30-year rule, historians will have to scuttle away to look up what The Only Way Is Essex is.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Eric Pickles, left, took the opportunity during a discussion on vocational training to celebrate the fact that the reality show is filmed in his constituency.
He pointed out that hairdressers there now offer specialist services inspired by the programme.
He even named them, leaving the Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood looking as if he had swallowed a toad.
Poor Heywood was left with the rather delicate task of working out how to put all this in the minutes.
Theresa May has discovered just how long a week in politics can be. Last Saturday, she delivered a wide-ranging speech setting out her political philosophy. It received a stellar write-up. People began to talk about the Home Secretary as a potential Tory leader.
Then things began to spin out of control. Mrs May’s followers embraced this label too enthusiastically, which infuriated her Cabinet colleagues. Several of them complained to David Cameron about her. Tensions were heightened further by the suspicion of some in No 10 that May’s allies had leaked news of the Government’s U-turn on minimum alcohol pricing to distract attention from the row.
One close ally of Cameron tells me: ‘Theresa used to be given a lot of latitude as a loyal and effective Minister. She was one of the people the PM could trust to get a job done.’ When she objected to an American heading the Met Police ‘that was that’. The ally added: ‘David was adamant he wasn’t going to go against her judgment. But that wouldn’t be so certain now.’
George just wants a simple life More from James Forsyth... JAMES FORSYTH: Softer benefit rules for immigrants? Not while IDS is around 02/06/13 JAMES FORSYTH: Why Cameron told MI5 ‘I know you are not to blame’ 26/05/13 Tories need a leader NOW, Dave... not in a few weeks' time 12/05/13 Even Tories admit Dave needed this 'kick in the ballots' 05/05/13 JAMES FORSYTH: At last, Dave and Ed are telling us they're losers... 27/04/13 Ed had a brutal fall - now he's got to jump off a financial cliff 21/04/13 JAMES FORSYTH: United in grief... the loss that might just save the Tories 14/04/13 JAMES FORSYTH: Labour go to war on welfare - but they'll never win 07/04/13 How does Dave know he's in trouble? Boris wants to help him 31/03/13 VIEW FULL ARCHIVEGeorge Osborne will spend today sitting in his flat above No 10 writing out his Budget speech by hand. For all the Chancellor’s love of modern technology, he still finds it easiest to think with a pen in his hand.
The low-key build up to this week’s Budget is just what Osborne needed. He was determined to avoid the leaks and raised expectations that contributed to last year’s Budget debacle.
I’m told it will be a more distinctly Tory Budget than his previous ones. But the Osborne who stands up in the commons on Wednesday will be a different character from 12 months ago. His enthusiasm for the political game has waned.
One reason he was so keen to bring Australian strategist Lynton Crosby back into the Tory fold was that he wanted to step back from always having to do the politics. As one Minister put it: ‘Lynton’s in a position to execute as well as advise, which eases the pressure on George.’
Osborne believes that the economics will soon begin to make the politics a bit simpler.
James Forsyth is political editor of The Spectator
QUOTES OF THE WEEK Nicole Scherzinger said she would be more successful if she were more 'slutty''May God forgive you for what you've done'Newly elected Pope Francis jokes with the cardinals who had chosen him.'The white smoke over the Falklands was pretty clear.'David Cameron cites the decisively pro-British referendum against the Argentine Pope's belief that the islands should be handed over.'There's not much call for shark wrestlers in Merthyr Tydfil.'Charity worker Paul Marshalisea, sacked after he was spotted saving toddlers from a shark in Australia while on sick leave. 'I sometimes wish I were more slutty. I would probably be a lot more successful.'X Factor judge and former Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger, whose grandfather is a priest, reflects on her showbiz career.'Please refrain from shouting on the phone as you are annoying other passengers.'A train driver makes an announcement to a woman in first class to the delight of other passengers travelling from London Euston to Milton Keynes.'Right Jimbob im here!!!!! someone tell me what number he lives at, or do I have to knock on every door.'Boxer Curtis Woodhouse calls out for the address of a Twitter troll on the site after travelling from Hull to Sheffield to confront him.'You begin to realise that on the great flight of life, you may not be on your final descent, but the landing gear is certainly down.' Columnist Jan Moir, disputes a survey that says women over 50 are happier than ever before.'R P orman ollier'Ricky Gervais tweets an homage to Norman Collier, after the comic, famed for his faulty mic act, died aged 87. 'I doubt that any man would have trouble multiple-tasking at, say, an orgy.'Author Kathy Lette challenges an old stereotype.'Will blow the candles off.'Actor Michael Caine reprises the line from The Italian Job - 'You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off' - for his 80th birthday celebrations.
