Happy April Fools’ Day one and all. As it is now after 12, Mr S has been hopefully scouring the headlines for confirmation that the smorgasbord of April 1st price rises are not actually happening. But, alas, they are indeed real – with Steerpike’s colleague Michael Simmons providing a cheery round-up here. As P.G Wodehouse once remarked: ‘It is never difficult to distinguish between with a Scotsman with a grievance and a ray of sunshine.’
Still, some levity has at least been found in Westminster. For today, two of SW1’s big beasts have faced off against each other with competing jokes for April Fools. First, Health Secretary Wes Streeting declared that he was making a cameo appearance in Coronation Street. Then, Reform leader Nigel Farage announced he was getting his first tattoo. In a clip released on X, the yellow-troused Brexiteer held up his arm emblazoned with the words ‘Vote Reform!’
Sadly, both announcements are indeed false.
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