Welcome to our round-up of snippets from the corridors of power.
Welcome to our round-up of snippets from the corridors of power.
BERET OF HOPE Sarah Brown's headgear was in the news this week
BERET OF HOPE Sarah Brown's headgear was in the news this week
Is it time for Sarah Brown to throw away that modest but very fetching purple beret she was pictured wearing this week at the State Opening of Parliament (apparently snip at £7 from New Look)? All we know is that the prime minister has already bought Sarah's Christmas present (he revealed this nugget to Simon Mayo on 5 Live this week). And that he started his Christmas shopping a couple of weeks ago when the Cabinet were in Leeds, which as any any self-respecting fashionista knows is home to some very exclusive shops these days. So was the PM going wild in the aisles at Harvey Nichols in the city's fashionable Victoria Quarter? Was he heck, as they say in Yorkshire. He was pushing a trolley round Asda. Still, George do a very nice brooch hat for £3.95 we are told. After all, there is a credit crunch on.
Is it time for Sarah Brown to throw away that modest but very fetching purple beret she was pictured wearing this week at the State Opening of Parliament (apparently a snip at £7 from New Look)? All we know is that the prime minister has already bought Sarah's Christmas present (he revealed this nugget to Simon Mayo on 5 Live this week). And that he started his Christmas shopping a couple of weeks ago when the Cabinet were in Leeds, which as any any self-respecting fashionista knows is home to some very exclusive shops these days. So was the PM going wild in the aisles at Harvey Nichols in the city's fashionable Victoria Quarter? Was he heck, as they say in Yorkshire. He was pushing a trolley round Asda. Still, George do a very nice brooch hat for £3.95 we are told. After all, there is a credit crunch on.
A CHILL WIND BLOWS THROUGH THE COMMONS Harriet Harman wraps up warm
A CHILL WIND BLOWS THROUGH THE COMMONS Harriet Harman wraps up warm
While we are on the subject of fashion, is it getting a bit chilly in the Commons these days? Or are we witnessing a very subtle form of one upmanship? First of all Commons leader Harriet Harman appears at the despatch box on Thursday for business questions in a very cosy-looking cerise jacket.
While we are on the subject of fashion, is it getting a bit chilly in the Commons these days? Or are we witnessing a very subtle form of one upmanship? First of all Commons leader Harriet Harman appears at the despatch box on Thursday for business questions in a very cosy-looking cerise jacket.
Then Patricia Hewitt takes the whole thing up a notch by sporting what appears to be a large blue overcoat as she stood up to say her piece on the Damian Green affair.But Patricia Hewitt wraps up warmer
Then Patricia Hewitt takes the whole thing up a notch by sporting what appears to be a large blue overcoat as she stood up to say her piece on the Damian Green affair.But Patricia Hewitt wraps up warmer
The former health secretary even had her collar turned up for extra dramatic effect. What next - woollen mittens? Cossack-style fur hats? Or are the two Labour women trying to send a subtle signal to the Commons authorities to fix the famously unreliable heating in the Palace of Westminster, or at least turn it up a bit?
The former health secretary even had her collar turned up for extra dramatic effect. What next - woollen mittens? Cossack-style fur hats? Or are the two Labour women trying to send a subtle signal to the Commons authorities to fix the famously unreliable heating in the Palace of Westminster, or at least turn it up a bit?
LABOUR MP TAKEN HOSTAGE
LABOUR MP TAKEN HOSTAGE
After a week in which the Damian Green affair has revived memories of King Charles I and his musketmen storming into the Chamber of the Commons to seize six MPs who'd defied him, there was another reminder of the days when relations between Parliament and the Sovereign were rather rockier. The Queen opens Parliament
After a week in which the Damian Green affair has revived memories of King Charles I and his musketmen storming into the Chamber of the Commons to seize six MPs who'd defied him, there was another reminder of the days when relations between Parliament and the Sovereign were rather rockier. The Queen opens Parliament
As Her Majesty entered the Palace of Westminster, the home of Parliament, to deliver the Queen's Speech on Wednesday, she could be secure in the knowledge that MPs and peers would not lay hands upon the Royal Person, because one of their own was being held hostage back at Buck House. Step forward Labour whip and Watford MP Claire Ward, who spent the State Opening ceremonial in the custody of the Lord Chamberlain. She wasn't duct-taped to a chair or anything, in fact she was plied with coffee, Dutchy Original biscuits and later G & T.
As Her Majesty entered the Palace of Westminster, the home of Parliament, to deliver the Queen's Speech on Wednesday, she could be secure in the knowledge that MPs and peers would not lay hands upon the Royal Person, because one of their own was being held hostage back at Buck House. Step forward Labour whip and Watford MP Claire Ward, who spent the State Opening ceremonial in the custody of the Lord Chamberlain. She wasn't duct-taped to a chair or anything, in fact she was plied with coffee, Dutchy Original biscuits and later G & T.
Apparently this has been going on since at least the reign of Henry VIII, although the victuals have probably improved since then. By tradition the hostage is the MP who holds the office of Vice Chamberlain of the Royal Household, a job which, for reasons lost in the mists of time, is held by the number three figure in the government whips' office.
Apparently this has been going on since at least the reign of Henry VIII, although the victuals have probably improved since then. By tradition the hostage is the MP who holds the office of Vice Chamberlain of the Royal Household, a job which, for reasons lost in the mists of time, is held by the number three figure in the government whips' office.
Ms Ward's just taken over the job. And the main advice she was given was not to do a runner. But she rather enjoyed it - although, conscious that the whole State Opening procession could not begin until she was safely in royal custody, she had to arrive at the Palace by 10.30am. Armed only with her six-foot long white staff of office (in fact two staffs, joined in the middle by a silver thread) she then attended the Queen as, on her safe return, Her Majesty reviewed the troops who had accompanied her en route to Westminster.
Ms Ward's just taken over the job. And the main advice she was given was not to do a runner. But she rather enjoyed it - although, conscious that the whole State Opening procession could not begin until she was safely in royal custody, she had to arrive at the Palace by 10.30am. Armed only with her six-foot long white staff of office (in fact two staffs, joined in the middle by a silver thread) she then attended the Queen as, on her safe return, Her Majesty reviewed the troops who had accompanied her en route to Westminster.
After all that, whipping Labour backbenchers must seem pretty mundane.
After all that, whipping Labour backbenchers must seem pretty mundane.
STRAW CALLED TO THE BAR
STRAW CALLED TO THE BAR
We all know Jacqui Smith enjoys a kebab, but not, it seems, the pints of lager that normally come before it. The home secretary was unable to name the price of a pint of beer in the Commons this week, as she was being quizzed on the government's latest binge drinking crackdown. Luckily, Jack Straw, who was sat behind her, came to the rescue. "It's £2.75", said the Justice Secretary with the sort of confidence that only comes with years of experience in these matters. Well, we have news for Mr Straw, it might be £2.75 in your Blackburn constituency but the last time we checked - and we are nothing if not assiduous in our research - it was quite a bit more than that in the pubs and bars of Westminster...
We all know Jacqui Smith enjoys a kebab, but not, it seems, the pints of lager that normally come before it. The home secretary was unable to name the price of a pint of beer in the Commons this week, as she was being quizzed on the government's latest binge drinking crackdown. Luckily, Jack Straw, who was sat behind her, came to the rescue. "It's £2.75", said the Justice Secretary with the sort of confidence that only comes with years of experience in these matters. Well, we have news for Mr Straw, it might be £2.75 in your Blackburn constituency but the last time we checked - and we are nothing if not assiduous in our research - it was quite a bit more than that in the pubs and bars of Westminster...
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.
