Tuesday
22nd
May 2012
Angus MacNeil, the SNP MP for the hard-to-pronounce constituency of Na h-Eileanan an Iar, asked a very helpful question of the Deputy Prime Minister today. Mr Clegg was taking his usual turn at the despatch box for DPMQs, and as always Lord reform was high on the agenda. Mr MacNeil called the Upper House "a lifeboat for ailing political careers" and asked for a guarantee that the DPM would never take a seat in an unreformed Lords. "I certainly hope my reform proposals will be successful," was Mr Clegg's reply. Not exactly a guarantee. Matters hardly improved when Peter Bone declared the DPM as "very courageous" and "a national hero to the 8% that vote Liberal Democrat".
Tuesday
22nd
May 2012
Well, here's one way to wean yourself off that pesky union funding. Labour are hosting a slap-up political/sporting dinner in July at "a leading London sports venue" with "leading British sports personalities". And Alastair Campbell is leading the online charge to rake in the monies.
How many of the party's rank-and-file will be in attendance might be a bit of a moot point though, given that it's £5,000 for a "standard table", not to mention £12,500 for the "premium" package.
Perhaps that nice Mr Deripaska could get Mandy a few tix?
NB - We should also hope that the sporty theme doesn't fire up any more footy-related tensions between Messrs Dromey and Benn. Then again, perhaps they could take a leaf out Alastair and John's book of friendly "Twitterbanter".
Tuesday
22nd
May 2012
After Cam's LOL-texts, and revelations about her intimacy with Tony Blair, you’d be forgiven for thinking all politicians were desperate to be on first name terms with Rebekah Brooks.
Not so. Alan Johnson revealed at Leveson today that his relationship with the erstwhile media Queen had been “rather spoilt” by his very first meeting with her in 2007.
While running for Labour deputy leader in 2007, Johnson said his team was “very excited” to receive an invitation to meet Brooks and other News International big hitters.
“I walked into this room where there was Rebekah Brooks, Trevor Kavanagh and Les Hinton. I shook her hand and said: ‘Hello Rachel’”
Ah.
“I don’t think that went down very well. Getting the name wrong wasn’t a good start.”
Monday
21st
May 2012
Writing in The Times, George Osborne told of his unbridled joy at watching Chelsea win the Champions League final. The Chancellor, who says he is "proud to be a true blue", maintained it was the “refusal to give up that was brilliant". Dot reckons his front row seat was quite nice too.
Anyhow, the Chancellor is not the only senior MP to have enjoyed Saturday evening. Another MP in a good mood this week is Jack Dromey, Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government, who is known to be a big Chelsea fan.
But will he be still be rejoicing when Labour’s communities and local government team meets up this week?
We only ask because Dromey’s boss is Hillary Benn, who just happens to be a lifelong fan of arch-rival Spurs. Could be awkward…
Sunday
20th
May 2012
Not wanting to be outdone by George Osborne's fraternity with the common man, David Cameron took a break from last night's G8 meeting to follow Chelsea's progress in the Champions League final, although Dot wonders whether the result might have strained the already tricky relationship between the PM and Angela Merkel.
Official pictures show a very happy Cameron and steely-eyed Merkel, but Dot is a big fan of the photo mash-up between the PM's victory celebrations and the White House reaction to the death of Osama bin Laden (very well done @matthewchampion).
