Michael Settle

At 49.4% to 49.4% Trump and Biden have Georgia on their minds.

So, minister Ross resigns after Cummings didn’t. So much for the Downing St presser being a glorious victory for No 10. Johnson will now be on tenterhooks, hoping the Scot’s departure doesn’t start a ministerial avalanche.

Giving your aide his own Downing St press conference will only confirm to some that Cummings has a Svengali-like influence on the PM. Talk of high risk strategies. What could possibly go wrong?

Key question for PM over Cummingsgate is: did he know his aide had driven 250 miles to Durham. Air could be turning blue in Downing St. Will the usual double down political strategy work in midst of pandemic? Will PM be forced to do this afternoon’s No 10 presser?

First the Greens, then Corbynite Labour gently suggested it, this week Jacinda Ardern put it forward, followed by Nicola Sturgeon. As businesses are urged to be flexible as we machete our way through the coronavirus jungle, could a four-day week be the answer? Long weekends!

If the Tories are seeking to attack Starmer's integrity, it's a back-handed compliment as, after PMQs yesterday, Labour knows he's getting to them

UK Govt considering tunnel between Scotland and N Ire; cf The Herald front page Feb 10.

2/2 But DR's role is unpaid, so will have to continue his life on sidelines ie as football linesman. Expecting there to be another paid appointment at Dover House; step forward Andrew Bowie?

1/2 Just shows you what sharing wee dram of hard stuff with PM can result in. Douglas Ross has been promoted to Scotland Office Minister. He joined Boris in downing whisky when PM visited his Moray constituency during election.

Mother of all constitutional ding-dongs lies ahead as Sturgeon shouts louder for indyref2 but Johnson says she can go whistle. As the Minister for the Union, there is no way he wants to become the Minister who lost the Union.

From a predicted 68 majority to one of 28 in two weeks. I think this is what Alec Ferguson called squeaky bum time. Boris can only hope he doesn’t mess up tomorrow or Jezza could be sizing up the No 10 curtains. Friday morning’s looking like a nail biter.

Wow. Parliament is still sitting. Bercow, if he’s around, can walk down Commons corridor, and sit in his big chair. While PM is in his New York hotel room. Could this story get any more dramatic? Resignation? #Prorogation

I can only hope a senior minister has had a quiet word with Kwasi Kwarteng over his comments about the alleged bias of the judiciary. The turbulence of Brexit is bad enough without a minister of the Crown helping to shake the foundations of the constitution.

Rudd’s resignation always looked on the cards; her conscience finally caught up with her. Those Boris “bumps in the road” are beginning to look like ginormous craters.

If Gordy is right - EU will withdraw Oct 31 deadline next week(can they, it’s a legal agreement?) - then it could put Bozza in invidious position; or he could simply turn round and say to the Eurocrats: “Sorry, mes amis, we’re leaving on that date anyway.”

New Scot Off Minister Robin Walker’s father, Peter, was also MP for Worcester. When there was outcry English MP was made Welsh Sec , he quipped: “On a clear day I can see Wales!” Walker Jnr will need a pretty tall ladder to see Scotland from Worcester. Penny for Ruth’s thoughts.

The polarisation of British politics is complete.