There’s only one book which all of Westminster is talking about. Traditionally, the post of Chief Whip has been filled by various men in grey suits, the very embodiment of discretion and anonymity. But today Simon Hart has begun serialising his tell-all diaries. From 2022 to 2024, he served as Rishi’s enforcer, desperately trying to keep the Tory party together as it tore itself apart. Talk about a thankless task…
There is plenty to digest in the first extract in today’s Times. There’s the tale of a hapless backbencher calling Hart to stump up £500 for a prostitute. There’s the story of Suella’s sacking on a voice call in No. 10. And there’s Alister Jack’s sage advice on beautiful Chinese honey traps: ‘If you think you are punching above your weight, ask yourself why.’ But the story that has got Tories clucking is Hart’s account of the 6 February 2023 Tory reshuffle.
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