Hostilities continue
Commons hostilities look set to continue next week, when fortune has awarded the Education Secretary Michael Gove departmental questions on Monday.
He can expect a further duffing-up from Labour's Vernon Coaker, who says he has identified more errors in the list of school rebuilding projects which have been axed. There was more fun at Business Questions this morning, when Shadow Leader of the House Rosie Winterton enjoyed herself by revealing that one of the projects listed for cancellation had, in fact, already been completed, and had been visited by David Cameron. Cue gales of near hysterical mirth from the Labour benches.
The hunting of the Gove will continue for some time, I suspect, not least because the sight of a key Cameroon minister having to self flagellate at the dispatch box, is doing wonders for the shadow Education Secretary Ed Balls' leadership campaign. On Wednesday evening, Mr Gove had to offer no less than 13 apologies to MPs in a 25 minute long statement. They won't, I suspect, be his last. Tory MPs say this is the sort of thing that happens when you're a "big picture man" and the storm may have little long-term effect - but it does provide a salutary warning of the consequences of getting a cuts announcement wrong. Others will have taken note. A white paper on NHS reform is due soon - I wonder if fellow leadership contender and shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham will be able to make as much of that as Mr Balls has made of Mr Gove's announcement?
Also next week, Monday and Tuesday and Thursday's main business will be detailed consideration of the Finance Bill - the measure that puts the detailed tax changes from the Budget into effect. Westminster's abuzz with rumours that Labour MPs will force another late night sitting. New MPs are already learning the tricks of the trade about keeping hydrated and having a good supply of chocolate to hand to maintain blood sugar levels.
And with the two Clegg constitutional reform bills on the AV referendum and fixed term parliaments still to come before the House rises for the holidays, it's going to be a long, hot July....
I'm Mark D'Arcy and I'll be writing about what goes on in the chambers and committee rooms at Westminster.
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