𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

It’s not every day that you have one of the country’s most prominent politician’s life in your hands. Tuesday this week was one of those days. In fact it was a very special day overall.

Not because Richard Tice, Reform UK’s deputy leader, was just inches away from plunging into the river Thames. But because it happened to be the 10th anniversary of the historic Brexit referendum in which 17.4million Britons voted to leave the European Union. Anyway, back to Tice. Why was Nigel Farage’s right-hand-man so close to danger, I hear you ask?

It was all in the name of Brexit, of course. Reform’s action-man had agreed to pose in front of the Houses of Parliament waving a giant Union Jack to mark the occasion. The only problem was, to get the best shot, our photographer needed him to stand on the Thames Embankment wall.

I was a bit hesitant to ask – for the obvious safety risks – but Tice jumped at the chance with great enthusiasm. Did the fact that he’d just arrived from what he described as a “proper lunch” (code for boozy) have anything to do with his daring confidence? Most definitely. I was a bag of nerves as the 6ft 3in colossus confidently clambered onto the wall with the menacing grey-green water below.

One false step and I would have had the scoop of my life but also a very, very, big problem. He then manoeuvred into position before waving the red-white and blue flag with gusto above his head. As all photographers do, Jonathan Buckmaster – the Express’s legendary veteran snapper, kept asking for more. “Just a few more, please”, “in your left hand”, “now in your right hand, if you don’t mind”. I winced with every extra command. Tice was undaunted, flapping away as if his life depended on it.

By this point a man walked by and shouted a few profanities beginning with the letters F and C at the Brexiteer. Tice, mid-flap, responded: “it’s always nice to see bitter Remoaners”. He was clearly enjoying himself but I needed him down on terra-firma now, especially as the heatwave sun was beating down.

“I’ll just do some video now,” Jonathan exclaims as a now weary-looking Tice poses with his arms spread out wide, perfectly framing the gothic Palace of Westminster behind him. Surely that must be it? Thankfully, it was.

The MP for Boston and Skegness and I then strolled back across Westminster Bridge talking about the big story of the week – Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation.

Just 24 hours earlier, the Prime Minister finally did what many people had been thinking he’d do for months. It was an emotional speech from Sir Keir, who choked-up outside No 10 as he spoke about his wife and children.

Such is the nature of modern politics, no sooner had he quit, my eyes – as were those of many other political journalists – were fixated on Sky News’s helicopter coverage of Andy Burnham’s train heading into London from Manchester.

The ‘King of the North’s’ Westminster comeback has certainly caused a stir. I was in the Commons chamber when he was sworn in as an MP before posing for a big selfie photo with Labour backbenchers.

On Wednesday I briefly bumped into Sir Keir’s likely successor as he walked around Parliament being greeted by fellow MPs. But he was a no-show during PMQs, wisely avoiding an awkward situation for Sir Keir and a Kemi Badenoch who was busy torching most of the Cabinet.

The Tories were in high spirits at their annual Summer fundraising party on Thursday, which was attended by heavyweight donors including Sir James Dyson. Great British Heroes was the theme of the night and Mrs Badenoch stole the show again in a shimmering Boudica dress.

I managed to grab a quick chat with her during dinner, in which she hinted she’ll be nice to Andy Burnham in PMQs, “but only if he’s sensible and does things I like”.

You’ve been warned Andy!