Mandrake

TIM WALKER on Dominic Cummings, the alienation by Boris Johnson of his supporters and LBC’s ousting of Nigel Farage In a sign that Dominic Cummings sees his place at Boris Johnson’s side as assured no matter how much unease about him there is on the Tory backbenches, he has quietly shut down his firm Dynamic […]

TIM WALKER pulls apart the appointment of a new director general at the BBC. Boris Johnson plays tennis in the grounds of the Palace of Westminster in 2015. Photo: PA – Credit: PA Sir Bernard Jenkin, the chairman of the powerful liaison committee set up to scrutinise Boris Johnson, must have breathed a sign of […]

Paul Dacre’s time at the newspaper group may be coming to an end, but record profits reported by his hydroelectricity firm in Scotland will keep a smile on his face, says TIM WALKER. The letter sent to journalists at the Daily Mail informing them of their lockdown working arrangements was signed by the proprietor Lord […]

The prime minister’s editorship at the Spectator did not help convince the Telegraph owners that he should be given the job, reports TIM WALKER. No newspaper campaigned more stridently for Boris Johnson, to lead the nation than the Daily Telegraph. Tellingly, however, its former proprietor Lord Black – and then his successors, Sir David and […]

Rather than criticise Conor Burns for abusing his position while a minister, Boris Johnson sent him a note of thanks. If the country had hoped that Bournemouth West Conservative Association might be up for stopping the rot in public life, it appears it is going to be disappointed. Conor Burns, the constituency’s MP and until […]

TIM WALKER on Philip Hammond’s post-political success, Leave.eu’s billowing debt and the Sunday Times as Michael Gove’s cheerleader. New documents in at Companies House show he has taken back control of Chiswell (Moorgate) Limited, the money-spinning property empire that he put into the hands of trustees during his period as chancellor. Hammond has also become […]

TIM WALKER reports on the Tories’ revenge on peers for their Brexit defeats, and the unlikely bond between Sir Frederick and a former Strictly Come Dancing judge. Former Strictly Come Dancing judge, Len Goodman. Picture: PA – Credit: EMPICS Entertainment It’s undoubtedly convenient for ‘officials’ in Boris Johnson’s government to say that the coronavirus is […]

The arrival of Tory election chief Isaac Levido at Downing Street will mean Dominic Cummings must watch his back, says TIM WALKER. After assuming many of Dominic Cummings’ responsibilities while he was laid low for ten days with the coronavirus, Isaac Levido – the ambitious Australian election strategist who masterminded Boris Johnson’s victory – has […]

With Boris Johnson flouting coronavirus advice to stay at Chequers after his hospital stay, TIM WALKER reveals the prime minister is spoilt for choice for homes to stay in. Although the official government advice makes it clear that ‘essential travel does not include visits to second homes’, Boris Johnson and his lover Carrie Symonds have […]

While Fox News tried to downplay the impact of the coronavirus, Rupert Murdoch is said to have fears about his own health. TIM WALKER reports. Just as Fox News was last month downplaying the threat coronavirus posed to the world, Rupert Murdoch, the station’s owner, discreetly called off a party he’d been planning at his […]

TIM WALKER wonders why some revelations about Boris Johnson’s key adviser Dominic Cummings were dropped by the BBC. Chief Adviser to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings at a news conference inside 10 Downing Street, London, after the latest COBRA meeting to discuss the government’s response to coronavirus crisis. Picture date: Monday March 16, 2020. […]

TIM WALKER learns more about the rise to power of Downing Street’s key adviser, and delves into the accounts of Nigel Farage’s firm. Few people have been more startled by Dominic Cummings’ rise to power than James Beechey. The art historian recalls Cummings making repeated nocturnal visits to his London flat almost 20 years ago […]

Boris Johnson’s key advisers Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain might appear to run a tight ship in Downing Street – but TIM WALKER reveals behind-the-scenes pay is causing tension. Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain have been accused of acting like nightclub doormen in the way they’re protecting Boris Johnson from proper media scrutiny. Behind the […]

TIM WALKER on Vote Leave co-founder Matthew Elliott, the latest BBC embarrassment, and the feud rocking the Daily Telegraph. Have your say Send your letters for publication to The New European by emailing letters@theneweuropean.co.uk and pick up an edition each Thursday for more comment and analysis. Find your nearest stockist here or subscribe to a […]

TIM WALKER on concerns about The Sun’s former managing editor at BBC Radio 4 and Arron Banks’ failed Blue Wave Movement. Paul Lewis, the presenter of BBC’s Money Box, made an interesting observation the other day about his Radio 4 colleague Stig Abell, who presents the station’s Front Row. He pointed out he has another […]

The irony of former prime minister David Cameron banning ‘Brexit’ from a talk on effective campaigning wasn’t lost on a group of volunteers. David Cameron – the Miss Havisham of British politics – made a rare outing last week to address a group of youthful volunteers from Bono’s outfit ONE UK and pose for pictures. […]

Michael Crick to write unauthorised biography of Nigel Farage, Michael Gove’s football freebies and a vote of confidence for John Bercow. Quite possibly because he gets along so famously with media tycoons such as Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay and Rupert Murdoch, Nigel Farage hasn’t until now been troubled unduly by investigative journalists inquiring […]

BBC whistleblower John Sweeney is in no mood to praise Sarah Sands, Boris Johnson’s travel expenses and why Cummings never got his ‘B-day.’ The timing of Sarah Sands’ decision to step down as editor of the Today show is intriguing in one respect at least. It comes as the broadcasting watchdog Ofcom prepares to rule […]

Ousted Tory election guru racks up losses with new business, Dominic Grieve says a new boss is needed for the Conservative Group for Europe and Kate Middleton’s jeweller hopes for a sparkling Brexit. Dominic Grieve failed to retain his Beaconsfield seat in the 2019 general election. Picture: Victoria Jones/PA – Credit: PA Wire/PA Images Once […]

Row over John Bercow’s peerage distracts from honour for controversial tycoon and when will PM own up to how much he cost as foreign secretary? TIM WALKER asks. The leaking of the news that Jeremy Corbyn wants a peerage for John Bercow in the dissolution honours list was convenient for the government. It served as […]

Rich Tory donors buy Cypriot citizenship to retain EU links, Amber Rudd sets up her own company – and why won’t Sir Keir Starmer talk to me? Embarrassingly for Boris Johnson as he sets about getting Brexit “done”, Cyprus has come to have a special allure for some former and current Conservative Party donors precisely […]

Boris Johnson sets up film unit to record the triumphs of Brexit and why a paperback version is still not planned of David Cameron’s memoirs. In a tacit admission that Brexit is all about dreams rather than reality, Boris Johnson is setting up his own film factory to present his ideology to the populace in […]

Former editor’s book and TV show worries Mail executives, Rosie Duffield is in disgrace for winning and Boris Johnson’s fear of ‘Sir’ Iain Duncan Smith. Paul Dacre’s intemperate attack on Geordie Greig ‑ he said his successor as editor of the Daily Mail had been “economic with the actualité” ‑ has led to sense of […]

Fiona Hill withdraws from ITV’s election night coverage, Guardian staff dread Seumas Milne’s return… and why can’t journalists be banned from going into politics? Shunning the limelight since she quit as Theresa May’s joint chief of staff following the 2017 election, Fiona Hill was due to make a high profile comeback as a pundit on […]

TIM WALKER looks at how Labour votes could keep Dominic Raab in his Esher and Walton seat, and how Lib Dem votes could unseat Labour’s Rosie Duffield in Canterbury. With Hugh Grant, Gina Miller, Lord Heseltine and Alastair Campbell, among so many others, hitting the campaign trail, Mandrake decided this was no time to be […]

As Jeremy Corbyn publishes his latest tax return, why won’t Boris Johnson? And what will Paul Dacre do to the i newspaper? DMG Media, whose editor-in-chief is former Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre, has bought the i newspaper. Picture: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images – Credit: Getty Images Mandrake had to give Boris Johnson quite a few […]

Tories secretive about key funders, John Sweeney challenges BBC about why it dropped Arron Banks investigation and more hot air from Charles Moore. After eyebrows were raised when it turned out that the largest single donation the Tories received in the first week of the election campaign had come from Russia with love – £200,000 […]

Theresa May’s old chief of staff is eager to raise his profile as he tries to make a new career in consulting, Dan Hannan promotes The New European and why timing was everything for Sir Michael Fallon Although the government is finding it increasingly hard to find ‘cannon fodder’ for television current affairs programmes, Lord […]

Sarah Vine started row with Hugh Grant; another day, another outrage from Rod Liddle; and why the Telegraph is unlikely to acknowledge Christopher Booker’s groupthink book. Sarah Vine, supposedly Michael Gove’s “better half,” has added her twopenn’orth on the subject of Hugh Grant declining to shake Sajid Javid’s hand at an event to promote Martin […]

White’s club has become the Brextremists’ staff canteen, Highways England’s political messaging and the latest on Sunday Times ‘monkeygate’ scandal. Gina Miller said newspaper columnists should take responsibility for radicalising individuals. Picture: Aaron Chown/PA – Credit: PA Wire/PA Images Brextremists love Mosley’s club It says everything about how elitist and out of touch Boris Johnson’s […]

Sunday Times expected to apologise to Gina Miller for calling her a monkey, richest MP Zac Goldsmith loses money on his investments, and Boris Johnson abandons Carrie Symonds’ diet. Gina Miller was loudly applauded at last week’s Pink News Awards at Church House in Westminster when she asked how Boris Johnson could possibly portray himself […]

Former Daily Mail editor shocks executives with ‘suicide note’ attacking his successor… and Andrew Bridgen’s day out courtesy of Arron Banks. Brextremists may be notorious for being laws unto themselves, but it remains to be seen how much longer Lord Rothermere will be willing to tolerate Paul Dacre on his payroll as his ‘editor-in-chief’ now […]