Thursday 2nd November, 2017

Today’s UK headlines, summarised and analysed.

Good morning

Brief overview: Defence Secretary Michael Fallon resigned last night amid allegations of sleazy behaviour. The resignation now potentially sets a bench mark for which other Cabinet ministers will be compared against for firing when further allegations come to light.Commons passed a bill that means the government must publish a secret document showing the potential impact of Brexit on the economy.

Outside of the headlines: 100 years ago the Balfour Declaration was issued. Nigel Farage has claimed that the ‘Jewish lobby’ has too much power in the USA. The CIA released more details of the content found on Osama Bin Laden’s laptop. Of the many bizarre things listed, my favourite is Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.

Poll of the day:

The Daily Mail

Owned by: Daily Mail and General Trust, owned by Jonathan Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere

Editor: Paul Dacre

Political leaning: Right / far right

Daily circulation: circa 1,490,000 (10 million views per month from personal computer and 20 million from mobiles)

Brexit stance: Pro-Brexit

Today’s leading headline: Commons sex furore: the first scalp

The Daily Mail leads with Michael Fallon’s resignation last night, amid further possible allegations of sexual misconduct. The ex-Defence Secretary quit last night after an allegation emerged that he had repeatedly put his hand on the knee of a female journalist repeatedly in the past. The paper goes on to say that the Prime Minister could see more allegations against Fallon come to light in the coming days.

Afterthought: It’s fairly obvious to most observers that Michael Fallon has done far more than just put a hand on a journalist’s knee at a dinner. As always rumours are plentiful, but inside sources described Fallon as a charming man until he has a drink, likening it to a Jekyll and Hyde scenario.

Reportedly May summoned Fallon to her office, and asked him to guarantee no more of this stories would emerge. When he could not guarantee this would be the case, she asked him to leave.