To the Lords, where former Commons speaker and Tiller girl Betty Boothroyd leads the ermine robes in a rebellion against David Cameron. The argument is over Tina Stowell, appointed as Leader of the Lords in the recent reshuffle but not given a full seat in Cabinet for the first time, nor the salary to match. (The number of full Cabinet seats is restricted by the Salaries Act 1975.)
There was serious grumbling last week among the éminences grises, who took this as an insult but Cameron’s attempt to assuage them by giving Baroness Stowell an upgrade as soon as possible seems to have done little to stem it.
Now Boothroyd has tabled a debate for this Monday demanding Dave C reconsiders his decision. “The law puts limits on paid Cabinet slots but why not let one of the current millionaires sitting at the table go unpaid,” says one peer, mischievously.
But who? Jeremy Hunt, who made a pretty penny off his Hotcourses websites; Philip Hammond, who has big stakes in healthcare; or perhaps William Hague, with his successful books and public speaking. Will any do the noble thing and stand aside?
