Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Smith: New Skoda gave me a hint job was on line
Former NI Secretary’s telltale signs he’d be axed
JULIAN Smith says he suspected his time in Northern Ireland was at an end after his close protection car was swapped for a Skoda.
The respected former Secretary of State was replaced by Brandon Lewis in Boris Johnson’s latest cabinet reshuffle.
But despite losing his ministerial role, former Conservative Party whip said he had a “weirdly good week” in an article he wrote for The Spectator.
He was name Minister of the Year at the magazine’s 2019 Parliamentarian Awards just three weeks ago.
Mr Smith wrote: “A doctor will tell you heart attacks may appear to come out of the blue but if you look carefully, you can spot the tell-tale signs.
“The same is true of my prospects at last week’s cabinet reshuffle. Things seemed positive enough on Monday. I attended an event in London to celebrate the first same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.
“Westminster Hall was packed with many of those who had pushed social changes through last year, such as Lord
Hayward and [Labour MP] Conor Mcginn, together with new MPS such as Colum Eastwood, the charismatic, debonair SDLP leader.
“But my suspicions were raised by Tuesday: my close protection apologised about the swap to a Skoda because the main car was in the garage; I received a fumbled brief about what would happen ‘should things go badly’ for me in the reshuffle; and finally, I could no longer reach the team on the normal phone due to ‘battery problems’.
“News from my private office confirmed that indeed miracles would be required to turn this patient’s prospects around.
“After a few side glances one private secretary told me that he had got wind via the civil service ‘net’ that I should be in for 8am on Thursday.
“Loyally, he suggested there was nothing suspicious but a call for early presence on execution day can only mean one thing.” To the dismay of many, including the “debonair” Mr Eastwood, Mr Smith was axed after a fry-up in the Commons tea room but said he knew it was coming after the Times “reported my expected fate” on Wednesday night.
He added: “Demise from government is meant to hit you like a lorry but I have had a weirdly good week.
“The combination of attempting to hold the Conservative party together for two years as chief whip during its biggest crisis ever, then being Northern Ireland Secretary during the end game of Brexit has been a massive privilege but knackering.”
He said he is grateful for the opportunity to serve the UK and Northern Ireland, whose “warmth and passion” he will miss.
Now he plans to get fitter following a chance encounter with “personable as always” Jeremy Corbyn at a north London gym.
IN THE SPECTATOR