Inside Politics: Boris Johnson disappears during floods disaster

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Anyone lost a cruise liner? A mysterious ghost ship has washed up on the rocks off Ireland’s south-west coast, blown in from the Atlantic by Storm Dennis. Our prime minister Boris Johnson has not been seen in public since Storm Dennis hit the British Isles, doing one of his mysterious, semi-regular disappearing acts. If he does wash back up on the shores of Westminster today, he faces questions on flooding, the budget, his savaged immigration plan – and whether or not he’s a racist. I’m Adam Forrest, and welcome to The Independent’s daily Inside Politics briefing.

Inside the bubble

Our political editor Andrew Woodcock on what to look out for at Westminster today:

Jeremy Corbyn will visit a community in south Wales left flooded by Storm Dennis and criticise Boris Johnson’s failure to meet victims himself. Tony Blair will make a speech in London to mark the 120th anniversary of the party’s foundation, warning that it needs a “top to toe” renewal to stand any chance of winning power again. And No 10 will host a reception for the science community later to mark a new visa scheme helping talented scientists settle in the UK.

Daily briefing

PRITI, PRITI, PRITI BAD: The home secretary had a terrible Wednesday and it looks like Thursday is going to be worse. It may even remove that smirk from her natural resting face. Priti Patel appears to have had a huge bust-up with the Home Office’s permanent secretary Sir Philip Rutnam. According to The Times, Sir Philip has complained about Patel’s behaviour to cabinet secretary Sir Mark Sedwill after officials accused her of bullying and stoking an “atmosphere of fear” at the department. It follows a series of disastrous interviews to push the government’s plan to block low-skilled migrants – allowing Labour to call Patel “clearly clueless”. She claimed eight million “economically inactive” adults could fill any job shortages. But official figures show the vast majority of these people were students, disabled, long-term sick or retired, with only 33,000 deemed “discouraged workers”. Patel also managed to admit her own parents could have been turned away from Britain under the new rules, and claimed Boris Johnson was “not a racist” so many times it became surreal.

NOWHERE MAN, PLEASE LISTEN: Johnson’s wellies remain at the back of the cupboard, despite growing anger over his unwillingness to visit flood-hit parts of the country or call an emergency Cobra meeting. The PM’s spokesperson said he was “receiving regular updates” from his rural retreat in Chevening, while ministers announced a new £500 “financial hardship payment” for those affected. Half a grand did not impress Shropshire man Vic Haddock. He burst out laughing when Sky News told him about the £500 for his drenched, uninsured home. He looked into the camera and said: “I’m a staunch supporter of Boris Johnson ... I’ve supported him, come on Boris – come and support me.” With a month’s worth of rain set to hit Wales and north-west England in the next 24 hours, Jeremy Corbyn knows the crisis is not over. Ahead of his visit to south Wales today, the Labour leader said “nowhere-to-be-seen Boris Johnson is showing his true colours by his absence.” He also claimed the Tory leader didn’t care about people if he wasn’t out “campaigning for votes”.

TAKE ME TO THE RIVER: Tony Blair thinks Labour should care a little more about campaigning for votes. The three-time election winner is aware his advice is “not particularly welcome” – but he’s offering it anyway. The earnest Christian believer will make a speech today claiming “nothing less than born again, head-to-toe renewal will do” for Labour as the party selects its next leader. Keir Starmer could be ready to offer former leader Ed Miliband a rebirth in the shadow cabinet if he wins the contest. Unnamed allies told The Telegraph Ed could be given the shadow chancellor role, with one praising him as a “giant on strategy”. Blair might not be too happy at how well Starmer is keeping the lefties onside. Laura Parker, Momentum’s former national co-ordinator (and previously Corbyn’s political secretary), has backed him to become a “great party leader” with “unifying” powers. The purity wars are far from over yet, however. Deputy leadership candidate Dawn Butler told The Independent that any Labour MPs threatening to quit if Rebecca-Long Bailey wins should be forced to hold immediate by-elections.

ANATOMY OF A RESHUFFLE: Remember that crazy reshuffle last week? Some of those kicked out the cabinet are having a hard time figuring it out it. Julian Smith has written a piece for The Spectator dissecting his removal as Northern Ireland secretary. He rejected speculation the PM felt blindsided that the Stormont powersharing deal included pledges to probe legacy issues related to the Troubles. Smith said a prime minister “does not sign off a key government deal without reading it first”. Hmmm. Not sure about that Julian. He also revealed his suspicions were raised about a possible sacking when “my protection apologised about the swap to a Skoda because the main car was in the garage”. Having also got the boot last week, former attorney general Geoffrey Cox is suddenly a noble defender of truth, liberty and justice again. He told The Brief the government should not “clip wings” of judges and should protect them from attacks.

OH CAROLINE NO: Green MP Caroline Lucas is under investigation over the small matter of £150. The parliamentary authorities are probing whether she broke the Code of Conduct rules by offering a “personal guided tour” of the Commons for the sum during an election fundraising drive last year. “I do not believe I have done anything wrong,” she said. Elsewhere, a tiny, cheeky act of political corruption is set to go unpunished. One unnamed Welsh MP – a white dude – told the Evening Standard he managed to get into a BRIT Award after giving his name as Sajid Javid, having made a good guess the former chancellor would be in no mood to party. I wouldn’t try it again, Mr Unnamed Welshman. The Saj will be back on the scene before you know it.

On the record

“The prime minister is not racist … it’s a very sloppy generalisation to start putting around terms of that nature.”

Priti Patel defends Johnson after rapper Dave called him “a real racist”.

From the Twitterati

“Priti Patel said “there’s no such thing as dabbling in drugs, these are serious offences”. Last summer, 7 out of 11 Tory leadership hopefuls, including Boris Johnson, admitted they dabbled in drugs. Why is it one rule for Cabinet members and another for my constituents?”

Labour MP David Lammy questions Patel’s strange drug claim...

“Clearly she’s never had the opportunity to meet her colleague Michael Gove?”

...while leftist pundit Ash Sarkar makes the point about one dabbler in particular.

Essential reading

Sadiq Khan, The Independent: The government may not see the merits of immigration – but London does

Sean O’Grady, The Independent: Why a Brexit trade deal will be so difficult for Boris Johnson to strike

Stephen Bush, New Statesman: In parliament, Boris Johnson has a man problem

Gail Collins, The New York Times: Michael Bloomberg’s debate downer

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