Welcome to our regular round-up of gossip from the corridors of power.
Welcome to our round-up of gossip from the corridors of power.
TAKING THE PRINTS Jacqui Smith is the target of an anti-ID card stunt The home secretary's fingerprints are missing. Possibly. A supporter of the NO2ID campaign has "liberated" a water glass thought to have Jacqui Smith's prints on them from an event where she was speaking. The group has been trying to get hold of the home secretary's fingerprints for a while - this is the third attempt apparently - and have offered £1,000 reward, to be paid to the finder's favourite charity. But how will they know they have the genuine article? "We are extremely optimistic that we will get at least one of Jacqui Smith's dabs on the record," says NO2ID's Phil Booth. He also pledged to return the glass to The Social Market Foundation from whence it came. But what do NO2ID intend to do with the home secretary's prints? "Watch this space," says Mr Booth mysteriously. The Home Office declined to comment. LOCAL HERO
TAKING THE PRINTS Jacqui Smith is the target of an anti-ID card stunt The home secretary's fingerprints are missing. Possibly. A supporter of the NO2ID campaign has "liberated" a water glass thought to have Jacqui Smith's prints on them from an event where she was speaking. The group has been trying to get hold of the home secretary's fingerprints for a while - this is the third attempt apparently - and have offered £1,000 reward, to be paid to the finder's favourite charity. But how will they know they have the genuine article? "We are extremely optimistic that we will get at least one of Jacqui Smith's dabs on the record," says NO2ID's Phil Booth. He also pledged to return the glass to The Social Market Foundation from whence it came. But what do NO2ID intend to do with the home secretary's prints? "Watch this space," says Mr Booth mysteriously. The Home Office declined to comment. LOCAL HERO
The size of the Brown bounce in Glenrothes may have taken some at Westminster by surprise but the clues were there. The Liberal Democrats even had to remove pictures of Mr Brown from their by-election leaflets after voters complained that they were being too nasty to the PM - who is, lest we forget, a local boy.
The size of the Brown bounce in Glenrothes may have taken some at Westminster by surprise but the clues were there. The Liberal Democrats even had to remove pictures of Mr Brown from their by-election leaflets after voters complained that they were being too nasty to the PM - who is, lest we forget, a local boy.
OH, BEEHIVE
OH, BEEHIVE
Beekeepers descended on Westminster this week
Beekeepers descended on Westminster this week
Given the history of bonfire night there were some anxious glances between the Parliamentary doorkeepers when a smell of smoke drifted through Central Lobby on Wednesday (the 5th of November). But this wasn't the whiff of the ghost of Guy Fawkes, or some more modern gunpowder plot. Hundreds of beekeepers were lobbying their MPs. They'd brought the little machines that create smoke when they're checking the hives, and wore their white hoods and overalls. Hundreds of them together sent out a powerful smoky smell. But one MP Greg Barker was less worried by the smoke than the sight of the massed overalls. At first glance he thought the men in white coats had finally arrived.
Given the history of bonfire night there were some anxious glances between the Parliamentary doorkeepers when a smell of smoke drifted through Central Lobby on Wednesday (the 5th of November). But this wasn't the whiff of the ghost of Guy Fawkes, or some more modern gunpowder plot. Hundreds of beekeepers were lobbying their MPs. They'd brought the little machines that create smoke when they're checking the hives, and wore their white hoods and overalls. Hundreds of them together sent out a powerful smoky smell. But one MP Greg Barker was less worried by the smoke than the sight of the massed overalls. At first glance he thought the men in white coats had finally arrived.
CLAPPING MANDY
CLAPPING MANDY
Surely Lord Mandelson would not arrange his own ovation?
Surely Lord Mandelson would not arrange his own ovation?
The scenes of joy that greeted Lord Mandelson as he entered the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform for the first time, in his current incarnation, may not have been entirely spontaneous, Tory MP Tory MP Charles Walker has had the temerity to suggest. The Broxbourne MP takes a very dim view of "clapping in" - the traditional way civil servants ingratiate themselves with their new political masters - claiming it is all "engineered with the media". What's wrong with a quiet drink with officials, asked Mr Walker in the Commons. It was left to Tony Wright to defend Lord Mandelson, pointing that - whatever else you say about him - he was always respected by his officials. And the Labour MP solemnly vowed to "never criticise a Conservative minister who is gently applauded by his civil servants as a matter of courtesy when he enters office, or when he leaves, when there might be more occasion for applause."
The scenes of joy that greeted Lord Mandelson as he entered the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform for the first time, in his current incarnation, may not have been entirely spontaneous, Tory MP Tory MP Charles Walker has had the temerity to suggest. The Broxbourne MP takes a very dim view of "clapping in" - the traditional way civil servants ingratiate themselves with their new political masters - claiming it is all "engineered with the media". What's wrong with a quiet drink with officials, asked Mr Walker in the Commons. It was left to Tony Wright to defend Lord Mandelson, pointing that - whatever else you say about him - he was always respected by his officials. And the Labour MP solemnly vowed to "never criticise a Conservative minister who is gently applauded by his civil servants as a matter of courtesy when he enters office, or when he leaves, when there might be more occasion for applause."
EVERYONE WANTS TO BE OBAMA'S FRIEND
EVERYONE WANTS TO BE OBAMA'S FRIEND
Question Time
Question Time
CAGEY CASEY Louise Casey could not resist referring to the incident that made her famous Remember Louise Casey, the tough-talking "respect czar" who hit the headlines a few years ago when she told an audience of senior police officers "doing things sober is no way to get things done" and suggested some ministers might perform better if they "turn up in the morning pissed"? Well, she is back - but this time she is not taking any chances. She managed to squeeze in a couple of cheeky references to the infamous incident in her first speech as the government's new neighbourhood crime and justice adviser, but sensibly waited until afterwards to enjoy a glass or two of host Ipsos Mori chairman Ben Page's wine.
CAGEY CASEY Louise Casey could not resist referring to the incident that made her famous Remember Louise Casey, the tough-talking "respect czar" who hit the headlines a few years ago when she told an audience of senior police officers "doing things sober is no way to get things done" and suggested some ministers might perform better if they "turn up in the morning pissed"? Well, she is back - but this time she is not taking any chances. She managed to squeeze in a couple of cheeky references to the infamous incident in her first speech as the government's new neighbourhood crime and justice adviser, but sensibly waited until afterwards to enjoy a glass or two of host Ipsos Mori chairman Ben Page's wine.
SEEING RED TAPE
SEEING RED TAPE
News that Defra is issuing detailed instructions to cat and dog owners on how to be nice to their pets sent some BBC News website readers into apoplexies of "nanny state" induced rage. "We need to stop wasting money on these useless things and put our taxes to more practical use," commented one. They may like to know that the new code of practice will not lead to any "change in the emission of greenhouse gases or have any other impact on the environment or sustainable development". Neither will it impact on race relations or gender equality. But it may lead to a small increase in the administrative burden on pet shop owners. How do we know? It says so in the "specific impact test" government departments are now obliged to fill in for every piece of new legislation....
News that Defra is issuing detailed instructions to cat and dog owners on how to be nice to their pets sent some BBC News website readers into apoplexies of "nanny state" induced rage. "We need to stop wasting money on these useless things and put our taxes to more practical use," commented one. They may like to know that the new code of practice will not lead to any "change in the emission of greenhouse gases or have any other impact on the environment or sustainable development". Neither will it impact on race relations or gender equality. But it may lead to a small increase in the administrative burden on pet shop owners. How do we know? It says so in the "specific impact test" government departments are now obliged to fill in for every piece of new legislation....
If you have seen or heard anything that would make a good diary item - from Westminster or the wider world of politics - drop us a line using the form below.
If you have seen or heard anything that would make a good diary item - from Westminster or the wider world of politics - drop us a line using the form below.
