The spirit of May lives on
Theresa May may have left the House of Commons for the last time, but it looks like her legacy will live on through the election.
There already appears to be some mild disease spreading around SW1. Several journalists have already lost their voices because a chronic cough is making the rounds.
It appears that Reform UK leader Richard Tice has also suffered from a Theresa May-style cough, although he thankfully avoided the issue being broadcast live on TV as his set fell apart around him.
Speaking to journalists after his election launch in Westminster, he had to cut the question-and-answer break because his constant coughing left him unable to speak until an aide brought him some much-needed water.
Tory chaos from the start
The day of the election announcement could have gone more smoothly Rishi Sunakwhat with being drenched and drowned out by Steve Bray.
Fortunately, no further operational chaos was broadcast later in the evening, after the Prime Minister dragged journalists to east London for a hastily organized campaign rally.
Journalists still working in Westminster were called to the ExCeL center at 7.15pm and told to be there at 7.50pm. Only one problem: it takes 42 minutes to get there by metro.
Being there in the nick of time didn't make leaving the event any smoother. With only one elevator available to take attendees – journalists, ministers and activists alike – to the exit, a huge crowd was stuck in the small, sweaty hallway.
Some Cabinet ministers even attempted to run down the fire escape Great Escape style, only to be called back up and warned that the route was closed.
Gillian Keegan began openly warning an ExCeL security official that such a move was likely to breach health and safety laws…
Tory dress code
Beachcomber learns from a CCHQ old hand that the much slicker 2019 campaign organization actively warned conservative staffers at headquarters “not to dress like sissies” in case an event ever had to be broadcast from their office.
Among the smuggled fashion items given as examples were red trousers, tweed and Barbour.
Sir Arbuthnot strongly wonders whether this attention to detail has been repeated this year.
Laura will irritate the Trotskyists
Unfortunate timing for Tory rising star and Treasury principal secretary Laura Trott.
Amid a fast-paced election campaign with massive concerns about real austerity and record high taxes, Ms Trott features prominently in the latest edition of high society magazine Tatler, in a profile written by former Boris aide Cleo Watson.
Images show her decked out in a £1,190 jacket, £1,990 skirt, £525 shoes and a £2,800 suit.
She also prides herself on regularly dining at the Wolseley or sipping margaritas at Soho House.
It looks like Rishi may have some competition after the frequent rows over his Prada shoes…