Front Bench: Amber Rudd dines dangerously with journalists as talk of the Customs Union threatens another Tory rift

When you’re a minister fighting for your political career you need all the luck you can get. 

Unfortunately there was little in the way of good fortune for Amber Rudd yesterday, as her prospects turned from bad to worse over the duration of a two course lunch. 

Keen to make amends in the wake of the Windrush scandal, the Home Secretary decided to brave a long-standing commitment to dine with an ensemble of parliamentary journalists, during which she hoped to set the record straight. 

But over the course an hour, Ms Rudd, while making her way through a fish tart starter and a lamb entrée, strayed from migrant visas into more dangerous territory: talk of the Customs Union. 

Whilst Downing Street maintains that the Government is united on the position of Britain leaving the Customs Union after Brexit, Ms Rudd twizzled journalistic antennae when she suggested that the issue was far from off the table. 

It was immediately seized upon by some present in the room as evidence that a Cabinet row may be in the offing. Government aides, dotted around the table, winced. 

No sooner had the Home Secretary left the dinner than she was scrabbling to put out the fire spreading across social media, taking to Twitter to clarify that she “should have been clearer “ - of course Britain will be leaving the Customs Union. 

While the volte-face may have been enough to reassure concerned officials at No.10, it will not have gone unnoticed among her Brexit-supporting colleagues, many of whom had until today rallied behind her over the Windrush fiasco. 

The fact that both The Telegraph and The Times carry the story on their front pages today is unlikely to help her cause, either. As Ms Rudd put it at lunch, her only focus right now is “about staying in the game.” 

A Diane Habit 

While Labour may be relishing Ms Rudd’s bad run of late, their own home secretary-in-waiting is still struggling to make it through a public appearance unscathed. 

Last night Diane Abbott continued to ratchet up pressure on Ms Rudd on the BBC’s Question Time, having asked earlier in the day how anyone could have confidence in the Home Secretary when she appeared to unable to “get the basic facts right”. 

Basic facts such as how much a police officer’s annual salary is, for example, or the finer details of a landmark terrorism report, or explaining party policy on military intervention. 

As the debate invariably turned onto Labour’s anti-Semitism crisis, eyebrows were also raised when Ms Abbott referred to the Jewish Charedi community in her community, who she said had experienced terrible abuse due to their distinctive “costumes”. 

Jewish commentators on social media were quick to point out that it was not the wisest choice of words. 

A flying visit 

The date is finally confirmed. Donald Trump will, on the 13 July, touchdown in Britain for a 24 hour visit during which he will finally be granted his wish of meeting the Queen. 

The announcement was let slip by the White House press secretary yesterday afternoon during a press conference for US journalists’ children. It seems they were less forthcoming with questions about the visit. 

Mr Trump will also meet with Theresa May at Chequers, during which she will try to improve relations which have reportedly soured in recent months. 

However, the President will not be afforded a visit to London, amid fears that his trip could be overshadowed by mass protest, not least from his long-term adversary Sadiq Khan. 

Mum’s the word 

She has blindsided Nicola Sturgeon during two elections and helped stem the tide of Scottish nationalism. So motherhood should be a doddle for Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson. 

To the delight of Conservatives everywhere, Ms Davidson last night announced that her and her partner Jen Wilson are expecting, with the baby due in October. 

Ms Davidson will be taking some time off for maternity leave in the coming months, before returning to Holyrood next year to resume battle with the SNP. 

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