{"id":196549,"date":"2023-12-03T15:59:02","date_gmt":"2023-12-03T15:59:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tokenstalk.info\/?p=196549"},"modified":"2023-12-03T15:59:02","modified_gmt":"2023-12-03T15:59:02","slug":"suella-and-priti-get-close-shapps-christmas-card-fcdos-festive-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tokenstalk.info\/politics\/suella-and-priti-get-close-shapps-christmas-card-fcdos-festive-games\/","title":{"rendered":"Suella and Priti get close, Shapps’ Christmas card, FCDO’s festive games"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Suella gets closer to fiercest rival<\/h3>\n

Earlier this week those rascals at the infamous Popb**ch newsletter stole Sir Arbuthnot\u2019s thunder somewhat when getting in there first to reveal former Home Secretary Suella Braverman has had something of an office downgrade.<\/p>\n

After being forced out of her grand ministerial office in the Palace of Westminster following her sacking, she\u2019s now been moved into a pokey little space in the modern surroundings of Portcullis House.<\/p>\n

Her room, in fact, used to be a photocopying space, so MPs can presumably expect an increase in the frequency of her letters.<\/p>\n

What Popbitch overlooked is Ms Braverman\u2019s new office means she is now sharing a floor with none other than her arch-right-wing rival Priti Patel.<\/p>\n

Hopefully their respective MP leadership backers don\u2019t get the two rooms mixed up\u2026<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong> Cameron’s reshuffle panic, MPs’ expenses madness, and GB News fills with hot air<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Grant Shapps\u2019s Christmas well wishes<\/h3>\n

Talking of Commons\u2019 offices, Grant Shapps welcomed assembled hacks for a reception in parliament earlier this week.<\/p>\n

Unlike gatherings held by the now ex-DEFRA secretary Therese Coffey, there was no karaoke on the agenda, but the Defence Secretary did give an upbeat speech with a few jokes.<\/p>\n

Among them, Mr Shapps revealed he\u2019d been sent a Christmas card from the Permanent Secretary of the Home Office, who had clearly spent so much time writing the seasonal greetings he failed to prepare for his committee showdown with Lee Anderson.<\/p>\n

Mr Shapps spoke fondly of his time as Home Secretary – a whole six days – which means he is “the only Home Secretary to leave without a blemish on my record\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cOr, as the permanent secretary said to me in his Christmas card: \u2018Thanks very much for coming in for a week’s work experience\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Steve Baker continues repenting<\/h3>\n

Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker has been on something of a journey since the heated days of Brexit back in 2018-19.<\/p>\n

In October, the “hard man of Brexit” has since expressed regret that the EU referendum didn\u2019t require a \u201csupermajority\u201d of 60 percent in order to pass, saying it would have made negotiations easier and reduced political tensions.<\/p>\n

It also seems Mr Baker has been on a journey regarding his relationship with former Prime Minister Theresa May.<\/p>\n

He arguably played one of the most significant roles in bringing her down, voting against Mrs May\u2019s Brexit deal all three times and acting as a constant critic of her attempts to compromise with the EU.<\/p>\n

Earlier this week guests at a Women\u2019s Network Q&A with Theresa May and former Danish PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt were surprised to see Mr Baker in attendance.<\/p>\n

Given his efforts to force Mrs May out of No. 10, they were equally surprised to hear him ask his own question of the former PM: “How do we get more women into politics?”<\/p>\n