It is rare that losing a day at Lord’s for a Test match is welcome. I had expected to be watching England play Ireland with my wife and two of my children on the Thursday before last. Instead, much to my delight, Boris Johnson asked me to become Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council, so I had my first cabinet meeting, my first outing at the Despatch Box and first Privy Council meeting. Anselm, my fourth child, went to the cricket in my place so was equally pleased.
The joy in joining the government is, naturally, in part personal but mainly because we will now leave the European Union on 31 October. Something that would not have happened with any other possible prime minister. I have immediately gone ‘native’ as I am deeply impressed by the civil service. My new private secretary had a full briefing ready for me at 11.30 at night and was on parade at seven the next morning with a full team to continue the preparations for my first appearance as Leader of the House. I had previously thought only corporate bankers worked such hours.
Most interest in my appointments seems to have focused on my list of banned words. Not quite the famous ‘Index’ of banned books but a few specimens of bureaucratese that I particularly dislike. My apologies to those who wrote in to note that ‘going forward’ was not on the list — it is an otiose phrase that will be included in any future editions. Generally, my aim is to be polite to my constituents, who after all employ me — to address them correctly and be clear. Also I dislike the Oxford comma but that is mere prejudice.
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