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Mel Stride’s picture perfect ‘no deal preparations’

With only one day to go until the vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal, the government has been doing its best to convince wavering MPs that supporting it is the only way to avoid the catastrophic consequences of no-deal Brexit.

Which may explain why the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Mel Stride, was snapped today carrying these scary notes on a piece of paper (conveniently sticking out of his folder) as he left a meeting in 10 Downing Street:

But if Mr Steerpike could offer a word of advice to the government: if you’re looking to ‘inadvertently’ show MPs how bad no deal would be, don’t steal your tactics from the comedy TV show The Thick of It. Viewers of the show may remember that fixer Malcolm Tucker arranges for the note ‘quiet bat people’ to be snapped by the press to highlight the incompetence of the government.

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Steerpike
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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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