The Londoner: Cummings turns Boris into... Lady Macbeth

Andrew ROBERTS, Churchill’s biographer, says Boris Johnson is having a “Lady Macbeth moment” over Dominic Cummings. He explained his comment, saying: “You’ve waded through so much blood you might as well carry on a bit further because to go back would be disastrous.”

The historian told a Reaction event last night that Johnson, a Churchill obsessive, has “committed himself so deeply that it actually would look worse to change his mind now”.

He also drew a parallel between Keir Starmer and Clement Attlee, who defeated Chuchill at the 1945 general election. Roberts said the Labour leader was “not viciously going for the jugular day in day out”, adding that Starmer recognises that scoring cheap political points “when we’re coming up to the same number of deaths as perhaps the Blitz by the end of it” would not go down well with the public.

He also warned the Prime Minister that on the early evidence Starmer was “going to be a very serious and very formidable foe. Boris knows as an historian that we don’t elect the same party to government five times in a row, at least not since the days of Lord Liverpool.”

Time will tell.

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New TFL commissioner Andy Byford, who used to run the New York subway, is dedicated to public transport. His grandfather drove a bus through the Blitz and he has previously said: “I ride the subway or bus to work everyday. I have never owned a car in my life. Probably never will. I’ve also failed my driving test twice.” Commitment to the cause.

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PRINGLES has just released a limited edition flavour — doner kebab. A victory for Ibrahim Dogus, founder of the British Kebab Awards, one of the best loved fixtures on the Westminster social scene? He thinks so. “It’s great to see companies recognising the growing popularity of our industry.” The Londoner cannot wait to try them. Once you pop...

SW1A

Caroline Noakes tells us that while she was grilling the PM on gender issues at yesterday’s Liaison Committee, her puppy was yanking at her arm. She got Alfie after Johnson sacked her. “Alfie was cross his dinner was delayed by the PM.”

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CHRIS GRAYLING, trustee of the National Portrait Gallery, tells us he loves 18th and 19th century figures of the industrial revolution but the “most striking portrait is of Bill Morris, former trade union chief”. Up the workers.

Kylie in lockdown? We wouldn’t change a thing in

Kylie Minogue confirmed she was “still going” as she looked the part while writing and recording at home. Kylie for lockdown? Our prayers are answered. Outdoors, Aisling Bea enjoyed a trip to Buckingham Palace. “Cycled past my elderly neighbours house just to see if they needed prescriptions picking up,” the comedian said. And Maya Jama discovered a hidden benefit to mask-wearing at a rehearsal, telling followers: “I’ve been care free eating all the garlic in sight.”