Jon Craig
@joncraig
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Chief Political Correspondent, Sky News. Reporting politics at Westminster since January 1982. Asian Voice Journalist of the Year 2019.
Joined March 2008
I’m told Intelligence & Security Committee, after humiliating Boris Johnson & his choice for chairman Chris Grayling by electing Julian Lewis instead, will meet again tomorrow & is expected to agree to publish long-suppressed report on Russian meddling in UK politics next week.
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Tory dirty tricks row! I’m told some MPs are being threatened with de-selection by their associations if they don’t vote for Boris Johnson in leadership contest!.
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Yes, really! John Prescott’s coffin & his family arrive at his funeral at Hull Minster in … two Jags!
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Keir Starmer & Ian Blackford plotting call to Speaker for emergency Commons debate tomorrow (under Standing Order 24, in the jargon) after Govt refused to allow debate on Labour no-confidence motion. Blackford tells Sky News if Starmer doesn’t demand it, he will.
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Tory “big beasts” appear to be boycotting next week’s party conference. Rishi Sunak, David Davis, Sajid Javid & Mel Stride all confirm they’re not going.
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Very senior MP tells me the word from the Cabinet corridor in the HoC is that the PM will resign tonight, Andrea Leadsom is poised to resign to launch a leadership bid, others may also resign & David Lidington will take over as acting PM. Unconfirmed!.
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And at PMQs on May 20 last year, Boris Johnson said: “We will want to see our fantastic frontline workers paid properly. That is, I think, the best way forward. I want to see our NHS staff paid properly, our NHS supported.”.
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Senior Tory MP claims Cleverly team blundered by lending votes to Jenrick. If true, spectacular own goal.
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Senior Tory MP, who is voting against the tier system in tomorrow’s Commons vote, tells me some Conservative MPs threatening to rebel have been promised a ministerial job if they support the Government in the vote.
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Senior Labour figure who knew Sir David Amess “pretty well” gets in touch to propose that Opposition parties should give Tories “a free run” & not stand in Southend West by-election.
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A senior female MP emerges giggling from PM’s talk to Tory MPs & tells me: “Talk about charming the birds out of the trees. They went in there going ‘Grrr’ & after 20 minutes he’s got them eating out of his hands!”.
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Why was Tory criticism of PM in Commons so muted & his reception at ‘22 so positive? I’m told 80 of party’s most vulnerable MPs were taken to an away-day in East Midlands. How convenient!.
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At a Downing St news conference on May 15 last year, Matt Hancock said: “When it comes to how we reward people for their efforts in this crisis, what I can tell you is that as the Health Secretary I will be making sure that we fight to have that fair reward.”.
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I suspect Boris Johnson will also quit as an MP after he’s no longer PM. Why would he stay on back benches? By quitting as MP he’d hope to avoid further scrutiny, Privileges Ctte probe, etc.
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BoJo ally Sir James Duddridge phones me & tells me he’s spoken to Boris Johnson & he’s “up for it” & told him: “I’m going to do it, Dudders!” Says ex-PM is returning to UK from Caribbean holiday.
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I had company for my 10 o’clock live in Downing St this evening.
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Tory Brexiteer MP tells me “the plates are moving against her tonight” & claims “significant number” of Cabinet ministers going to see PM in morning to tell her to go. Also says she’ll be called to appear at ‘22 in evening & will be “mauled”. Claims “she won’t be PM by Monday”.
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@Number10cat Larry sunbathing in a very dangerous place in Downing St during PM’s meeting with police chiefs.
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I’m told that the Govt Chief Whip, Mark Spencer, is telling MPs a potential general election date is Tuesday 10 December, with MPs swearing in before Christmas, followed by a recess & then a Queen’s Speech early in the New Year.
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Gosh! A cake to celebrate my 40th by-election for Sky News, presented after the Mid Beds result by winning Labour candidate Alistair Strathern & Shadow Cabinet’s Peter Kyle, who ran Labour campaign. Thanks to producer Izzy & Sky colleagues for such a lovely gesture!
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Corbyn backers tell me plotters can't agree because can't find candidate who opposed Iraq war. Claim they need that with Chilcot next week.
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On July 5 last year, Mr Hancock told Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Sky News: “We absolutely want to reward NHS staff for what they’ve done.” And on The Andrew Marr Show on same day, he said: “I want to see people properly rewarded - absolutely.”.
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Liz Truss will accompany Charles & Camilla on UK tour next week: Edinburgh Monday, Tuesday Belfast & Wales Friday “to support king” at “significant moment of national mourning”, No. 10 says.
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Embattled Dominic Raab denies he has resigned as he leaves 10 Downing St after a 45-minute meeting (crisis talks?) with PM, almost certainly. Hands in pockets. Looks thoroughly miserable.
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Very disappointed to learn reports that Ken Livingstone has or had a pet newt called Adolf, which I referred to y’day on TV & online, may not be correct. Am now told original source of this claim was satirical website “The Daily Mash”. Shame!.
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More breaking news: Senior source at Mid Beds tells me “whispers” inside the count are that Labour may have won by 3-4,000.”.
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Senior Labour MP & close ally of Keir Starmer tells me Labour MPs are now speculating that Govt’s “light” programme of legislation, only 20 or so Bills including many carried over, suggests Rishi Sunak is plotting early general election in May next year. Oo er!.
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A decade ago today Mrs Craig, the glamorous Caroline, & I were married at Chelsea Old Town Hall. Ten glorious years!
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How to keep up with the rapidly growing list of MPs, mostly Conservatives, quitting: the Sky News spreadsheet!
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Oo er! Top Tory with impeccable connections & close links to 10 Downing St has told parliamentary colleagues that if 10 Conservative MPs defect to Reform UK Rishi Sunak will call a general election!.
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Congrats to Dame Joanna Lumley: only person who’s kissed me live on TV, on the day in 2009 when Gordon Brown was defeated in Commons vote on Gurkhas settling in UK.
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As he leaves the New Conservatives group meeting in the Commons, attended by 20 MPs, Sky News asks Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson: “Lee, may we have a word, please?” His reply: “I’ll give you two!”.
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Boris Johnson has returned his Metropolitan Police questionnaire about allegations he attended lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street, No. 10 spokesperson confirms to Sky News.
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By-election in Wellingborough after 13.2% of electorate vote for recall petition to remove Peter Bone after he was suspended for bullying & exposing himself. Tory majority over 18,500.
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Am I alone in recalling, listening to Grant Shapps talking about his beloved A66 while facing questions about Dominic Cummings’ trip/trips to Durham, that the road passes through County Durham not far from Barnard Castle?.
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Confirmed: Tory chief whip Simon Hart will move writ tomorrow for Blackpool South by-election, meaning poll on May 2, same day as local elections. So by-election circus moves from Rochdale to Blackpool. From Gracie Fields to George Formby!.
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I’m hearing Tory MPs on 3-line whip on Fri 22 & 29 Oct. Is that to kill Barry Gardiner’s Stop Fire & Rehire Bill, despite Boris Johnson & other ministers saying using fire & rehire as negotiating tactic is “completely unacceptable”?
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Senior Tory MP who’s just voted tells me the queue stretches from Westminster Hall right back to Portcullis House. “It’s madness,” he tells me. “Absolute madness!”.
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On number of MPs backing Boris Johnson leadership bid, a bullish Sir James Duddridge tells me: “We have a firm 67.” Asked if Johnson is going to reach 100 nominations, he says: “100%. Yes.”.
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As the song goes… “It was 20 years ago today…” that I joined Sky News as a Pol Corr, on Feb 3, 2003. Here’s me back then! 1st story: Tony Blair & Robin Cook proposed 6 - or was it 7? - options for Lords reform & MPs rejected them all. So, from a PM & peers to a PM & Piers!
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Significantly, I’m hearing that Labour have gained the new Trinity ward in Wandsworth from the Tories. Not confirmed, though. Sadiq Khan has arrived at the count, suggesting Labour getting more confident.
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Breaking news from Mid Beds! LibDems predicting Labour victory. “Our surge in ‘blue’ villages has helped Labour get over the line. We’ve doubled our vote share from 12% to low to mid 20s.” Respectable turnout of 44%.
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Early Xmas present from Mrs Craig (from HoC shop) modelled in The Speaker (on Bercow’s last day) as Sky News political team enjoy a few drinks for the last time until after Dec 12
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Am told new chief whip Wendy Morton has pulled the 7pm motion to put Thatcherite diehard Sir Christopher Chope on Privileges Ctte. Tories fear he’ll now take revenge on private members’ bills on Friday!.
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@FraserNelson No, Fraser. This was a pool interview & these were questions other broadcasters wanted asking.
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Breaking news! It’s not yet 11pm & yet a source close to George Galloway’s Rochdale campaign has told Sky News: “We’ve won - comfortably.” Looks like we could be in for a repeat of Galloway’s 2012 Bradford West by-election triumph.
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At the start of a long night at Wandsworth Town Hall. Everyone here is claiming it’s too close to call! Nail biter!
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Dominic Cummings’ new explanation for his Durham & Barnard Castle trip last year raises more questions than it answers. Not convincing. Security reasons? Really? So it wasn’t COVID or his eyesight? The MPs on the committee should have probed this further.
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Sajid Javid’s bombshell statement is Geoffrey Howe in 1990 all over again! Calling on others to abandon Boris Johnson. Explosive!.
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Latest prediction I’m hearing at Mid Beds count is Labour win by about 1,000, not the much bigger 3-4,000 I was told earlier. Still a remarkable victory if correct given Nadine Dorries’ majority in 2019 was 24,664.
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Breaking news: Chuka Umunna has failed to turn up for the declaration in Westminster, where he came 2nd against Tory Nickie Aiken in Cities of London & Westminster.
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Local councillor tells me at Mid Beds count that Labour appear to be ahead of Tories in Aspley & Woburn ward, formerly a Conservative stronghold. Hmmm.
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Former Commons Leader Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg tells me that unlike many Tory MPs he supports Sir Lindsay Hoyle’s ruling selecting Labour & govt amendments. Says Speaker is reflecting “the will of the House”. Says John Bercow would have made same ruling reflecting will of the House.
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Michael Gove’s Levelling Up dept tell Sky News that at 9.30pm over 43,000 people had applied to house Ukrainian refugees under Mr Gove’s Homes for Ukraine scheme, up from 20,000 at 6.30pm.
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DUP MP tells me there may be no deal with Tories until weekend & is predicting Queen Speech won't be until Monday 26 June, put back a week.
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It was 40 years ago today, on 16 August 1979, that I walked into the Evening Gazette, Middlesbrough, on my 1st day as a Thomson Regional Newspapers graduate trainee. Yes, 40 years!.
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Conspiracy? Or cock-up? Seems odd that TV cameras switched on at end of Labour MPs' speeches at fire briefing, just as Tory speeches began!.
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The adorable Larry is always fascinated by my iPad case when he comes to say hello as we’re doing a 10pm live in Downing St.
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Look who came to say hello during 10pm Downing St live. Fascinated by microphone bag.
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Is the Tory vote in Wakefield collapsing? Activists from smaller parties report big lead for Labour over Conservatives in votes counted so far.
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Member of New Conservatives claims 20 MPs - 12 in room & 8 on Zoom - meeting after Braverman sacking, says: “It’s fair to say the group was far from pleased.” None present following Andrea Jenkyns lead & writing to Sir Graham Brady demanding leadership contest, however.
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I’m reliably informed there are plans for the Commons to sit, if necessary, next Wednesday, 30 December, to debate & vote on Brexit deal/no deal, provisionally for one day, with a COVID statement during the day, but possibly for two days if required.
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Speculation here at Uxbridge & South Ruislip count, with recount underway, that Tories have won by about 400 votes, about 15,900 to about 15,500.
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Delighted and honoured to be voted Journalist of the Year by readers of Asian Voice in Political & Public Life Awards, presented by John Bercow.
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Last time @georgegalloway won a by-election, in Bradford West in 2012, Labour whips wouldn’t give him an office, so he set up his own in Portcullis House, where Sky News took this photo.
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Nicola S succeeds with potentially disastrous photo-op, balancing on narrow beam. Love to see other leaders do it! http://t.co/wyqvfu2H7y.
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Holiday snap! Mrs Craig at Rhossili Bay on the Gower Peninsula this week.
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I suspected last week that Len McCluskey didn’t write the New Statesman “hit list” attack on Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour MP critics. Thought author must be Andrew Murray, Len’s chief of staff & part-time consultant to Corbyn. Just had that confirmed by top union source.
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Jeremy Corbyn tells PLP 35,000 people have joined Labour Party since Thursday's general election. Says party is now "government in waiting".
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Man’s best friend. Wilbur, my border terrier, loyally watching me on the PM’s return to work.
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Casual attire for Rishi Sunak as he arrives at Manchester Piccadilly ahead of tonight’s TV debate with Sir Keir Starmer. Carrying his own luggage too!
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Spoke to a defiant Jeremy Corbyn. Says he will "definitely" be on ballot paper & described David Cameron's end-of-PMQs attack as "Flashman!".
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Tory MPs claim Starmer & Labour chief whip Sir Alan Campbell threatened during behind the scenes talks to attempt to remove Sir Lindsay Hoyle as Speaker if he didn’t select Labour amendment. Now Hoyle is facing Tory fury.
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Call to arms! Jacob Rees-Mogg has summoned members of the European Research Group of Brexiteer Tory MPs to a meeting in Committee Room 14 at 6pm tonight ahead of the PM's two meetings of her Brexit "war cabinet" tomorrow & Thursday.
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Same very senior MP tells me Cabinet plotters are determined to keep Boris Johnson off the ballot paper of two candidates offered to the Tory membership. Talk of offering the members one man & one woman candidate.
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Female Tory minister backs Diane Abbott’s protest at not being called by Speaker in PMQs: “You’ve got two men (Sunak & Starmer) arguing about racism & mysogyny against a black woman & he doesn’t call her - it’s disgraceful. He should have calked her.”.
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Tory rebel Antoinette Sandbach says she’ll vote for Sir Oliver Letwin’s amendment & says the current deal is worse than that negotiated by Theresa May. Says she’ll also vote for Peter Kyle/Phil Wilson amendment calling for “confirmatory referendum” if it’s put to a vote.
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Some Labour MPs believe Corbyn clinging on to respond to Chilcot next week, apologise on behalf of Lab & call for Blair war crimes trial.
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Here’s an interesting one: Brexit “hard man” Steve Baker tipped to become Minister of State at Northern Ireland Office.
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Theresa May & a handful of Tory MPs appear to have abstained on Illegal Migration Bill 2nd reading. Other abstentions included Caroline Nokes & Chris Skidmore. But Tory critics who allied for changes, including Simon Hoare, Stephen Hammond & Sir Bob Neill, voted for the Bill.
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Here we go! Welcome to Rochdale Leisure Centre for the climax to a controversial & chaotic by-election. Stay up late. Don’t go to bed. Watch Sky News!
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Arlene Foster & Nigel Dodds have just walked slowly & deliberately across Central Lobby & headed into Govt Chief Whip’s office. “Ah, you’re going to see the Chief Whip,” I said. They laughed. Crucial meeting!.
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Truss supporter Steve Baker emerges from the room & tells reporters in corridor: “The main thing is there’s hardly anybody in there, only about 30 MPs. They’ve all made up their minds already & all the questions are from supporters of the rival candidates.”.
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A Hartlepool borough councillor tells me the word from an observer on the floor at the by-election count here is: “Labour is getting slaughtered. Jill (Mortimer) is going to walk it.”
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Tory high command expecting party’s election mastermind Isaac Levido to reveal his private polling when he addresses 1922 Committee at special election meeting at 6.15. Senior MPs very sceptical about Lord Frost’s gloomy poll in today’s Daily Telegraph.
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1922 Committee exec (18 MPs) meeting Rishi Sunak at 6.30 (pushed back from 6pm) ahead of ‘22 reception in terrace pavilion. “It’s a scheduled meeting - nothing exciting,” says one exec member. “There’s no agenda,” says another. Really? Anderson? Budget? Speaker? Election date?.
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Arrived at Sky News summer party & was immediately drawn by cartoonist Rick Coleman. Hmm!
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Tory MPs predicting George Eustice & Simon Hart out. Patel & Sunak stay. MPs also claiming Carrie Johnson wants Liz Truss gone. (See @SamCoatesSky climate change story today.) Mordaunt possibly replacing Dowden. All this is the Tea Room gossip, I’m told.
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