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At ten o’clock this morning Boris Johnson was supposed to have been appearing before the Liaison Committee of senior backbench MPs.



Except he cancelled yesterday evening without giving any adequate reason.



His lack of manners towards the MPs is bad enough.



The arrogance is typical.



The disrespect for Parliament is troublesome.



His running from scrutiny is pathetic.



Perhaps Johnson was advised by Dominic Cummings, who was found in contempt of Parliament earlier this year for refusing to appear before a select committee, that this fits with his cynical ploy of trying to pitch voters against the Parliamentary establishment?

(Image: UK PARLIAMENTARY RECORDING UNIT/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/REX)





Johnson has form when it comes to running from scrutiny.



When he became London Mayor he immediately ditched the regular press conferences held by his predecessor Ken Livingstone.



It is worth imagining the outcry if a Labour Prime Minister had misled the Queen, had been found to have unlawfully prorogued Parliament , had failed to appear before the Liaison Committee and had tried to ram through an essential piece of legislation in just three days.



Apologists for Johnson will have only themselves to blame if a future Labour PM uses the precedent he has set to be equally ruthless and disdainful of conventions.

There were a number of questions the Liaison Committee could have asked the new Prime Minister.



The might have asked about the UK’s policy towards Turkey or what measures are being taken to tackle people trafficking.



They might have asked about his public spending plans or the state of the economy.



And they would have asked him about Brexit and how he intends to respond if, as expected, the EU grants an extension today or tomorrow.



(Image: PRU/AFP via Getty Images)



As Buzzfeed was first to report there is a schism within Downing Street on whether to press for an early election or to hold fire to see if they can get the Brexit deal over the line.



In a sign the pro-election faction is winning, the Times reports Downing Street could make a third attempt to trigger an election as early as today if the EU decides to offer a three month extension.



Revoking the Fixed Term Parliament Act - the easiest mechanism for arranging an election - requires a two thirds majority in the Commons.



This could be tricky.



Even if the Labour leadership complies, which is far from certain, Jeremy Corbyn has been warned that scores of his backbenchers may defy the whip.



Labour MPs are understandably wary of a Christmas election when they are behind in the polls and could struggle to get their vote out on a dark, winter night.But the Conservatives should also tread cautiously.



Johnson’s route to an overall majority rests on winning over disillusioned Labour Leave voters.



They could be as reluctant to turn out for the Tories as they could be for Labour.



Today's agenda:



9.30am - Grant Shapps takes Transport Questions in the Commons.



10am - Boris Johnson should be replaced by a tub of lard at the Liaison Committee.



10.30am - Final day of debate on the Queen’s speech.



5pm (approx) - Vote on the Queen’s speech.



What I am reading:



Matthew d’Ancona on Boris Johnson’s date with reality