The MP expenses scandal hasn’t gone away Some great headlines for Gordon this morning but, as they say, today’s newspapers become tomorrow’s fish and chip paper. And with the mass of data of every single MP’s expenses claims about somewhere, the leaks, and, of course, our friend the Edinburgh South MP in the News of the World, the Sundays papers could be a lot different. The London G20 might have gone a long way to “saving the world” but those…
What are the chances for Mr Smithson first time out? This afternoon the horse owned by the PB Syndicate, Mr Smithson, has its first race in the 2.55pm at Musselburgh. The name, it will be recalled, was chosen after a vote on the site. I find the whole thing quite strange and am waiting for comments like “Mr Smithson flops first time out” or “Mr Smithson fails again” or even “Mr Smithson shot after going lame”. Though if it does…
Are we underestimating his resilience and cunning? Well we are here. The end of of the G20 and an agreement from which Brown can take a lot of credit and might, just might, provide the basis that gives him just a chance of holding on. Regular PBers will know that I’m not always the PM’s biggest fan but I’ve been struck by Brown’s resolve and determination over the G20. For months he has made this day in London’s docklands his…
Tom Watson MP G20 They’ve made provision for 1,000 – just 50 have turned up? Above is a clip from Tom Watson MP’s blog from the G20 conference centre in East London which raises more questions than it answers. For apparently, according to Watson who for more than half a decade has been a pioneer in this area, provision has been made for many more bloggers than have actually turned up. He writes: “I’m sitting in a vast airport hangar…
Is this the one that is resonating? On the day of protests all over London and the G20 leaders gathering for the big meeting tomorrow it was interesting that Cameron should have used his first line of attack at PMQs to focus on MPs expenses. This is especially the case now that now it’s becoming something of rarity to see Mr. Brown actually being there on a Wednesday – he’s usually got something much more important to do. I’ve been…
What do MPs do to justify all their cash? This morning Ermintrude made a point that is worth its own thread – what is it that MPs do to justify all the cash that they get. Expressing the hope that a realistic appraisal of an MPs role should come out of this mess he wrote: “What bugs me is the frequent suggestion that their jobs are equivalent to other professional like headteachers or GPs. They’re not.” This reminds me of…
Will Jacqui Smith still be Home Secretary on General Election day? YES she will NO she won’t Ladbrokes has Jacqui at evens on being still in the job at the end of the year. James Purnell is the 8/1 second favourite. William Hill Politics make it 4/6 that she’ll be out by the end of the year. I got 6/4 on Smith not making it to the general election last November and I’ve got £10 on at 100/1 that…
Who will put the Gvt out of their misery? If I were a better person, I might feel a little more sympathy for some of our Labour MPs. The last fortnight has damaged, in no particular order, Tony McNulty, anyone related to Jacqui Smith, Harry Cohen, Dawn Butler and some of the other London MPs, Nigel Griffiths and now 5 other MPs who think they might recognise that brunette who was so forgettable that the Rt Hon Member for Edinburgh South…