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Westminster Diary Westminster Diary
(31 minutes later)
Welcome to our round-up of snippets from the corridors of power.Welcome to our round-up of snippets from the corridors of power.
PICKLES SEES THE LIGHT ON EXPENSESPICKLES SEES THE LIGHT ON EXPENSES
"I think it was worse than a Horlicks. It was like, it was like a car crash in slow motion, and which you're just trying to steer away and the worse, the worse, the more I tried to steer away the worse it was.""I think it was worse than a Horlicks. It was like, it was like a car crash in slow motion, and which you're just trying to steer away and the worse, the worse, the more I tried to steer away the worse it was."
Eric Pickles is not exaggerating. The Tory chairman's recent appearance on Question Time really was that bad. He forgot the golden rule of TV politics as he tried to defend his second home allowance to mounting audience hostility - when in a hole stop digging.Eric Pickles is not exaggerating. The Tory chairman's recent appearance on Question Time really was that bad. He forgot the golden rule of TV politics as he tried to defend his second home allowance to mounting audience hostility - when in a hole stop digging.
Pickles in a pickle on Question TimePickles in a pickle on Question Time
It wasn't all bad though. The experience has made him think again about the whole issue of expenses, he tells Andrew Neil in an interview to be broadcast over the weekend.It wasn't all bad though. The experience has made him think again about the whole issue of expenses, he tells Andrew Neil in an interview to be broadcast over the weekend.
"I used to think that actually all we needed to do was to increase the transparency and to increase the auditing. I don't think that at all. I think we need a completely different system. I am embarrassed," he tells Neil."I used to think that actually all we needed to do was to increase the transparency and to increase the auditing. I don't think that at all. I think we need a completely different system. I am embarrassed," he tells Neil.
"I cannot justify Members of Parliament claiming flat screen televisions, buying beds, buying three-piece suites, buying cookers, buying microwaves. And the fact is, I have never done that and would never dream of doing that - as we say up north, 'I buy me own bed' - doesn't in any way make me less guilty. It's the fact I can, and I think we need to have a much more clearer system, which removes all discretion.""I cannot justify Members of Parliament claiming flat screen televisions, buying beds, buying three-piece suites, buying cookers, buying microwaves. And the fact is, I have never done that and would never dream of doing that - as we say up north, 'I buy me own bed' - doesn't in any way make me less guilty. It's the fact I can, and I think we need to have a much more clearer system, which removes all discretion."
Echoing his boss, David Cameron, Mr Pickles says an inquiry into expenses is "pointless". What is needed, he says, is action now to sort the mess out. You can watch the full interview on the BBC News Channel's Straight Talk on Saturday at 0130, 0430 and 2230 and on Sunday at 0130, 1530 and 2230.Echoing his boss, David Cameron, Mr Pickles says an inquiry into expenses is "pointless". What is needed, he says, is action now to sort the mess out. You can watch the full interview on the BBC News Channel's Straight Talk on Saturday at 0130, 0430 and 2230 and on Sunday at 0130, 1530 and 2230.
FAIR COP?FAIR COP?
Brian Paddick has managed to get himself on the list for a possible seat in the House of Lords, our spies at Lib Dem HQ tell us. But the former cop may have to do some serious bridge-building if he wants to stand a chance of securing a seat on the famous red benches. Some in the party are still smarting from the demolition job he did on them in the Mail on Sunday after his failed London mayoral bid, which he described as a "farce". Brian Paddick has managed to get himself on the list for a possible seat in the House of Lords, our spies at Lib Dem HQ tell us. But the former cop may have to do some serious bridge-building if he wants to stand a chance of securing a seat on the famous red benches. Some in the party are still smarting from what they see as the demolition job he did on them in the Mail on Sunday after his failed London mayoral bid, which he described as a "farce".
FRINGE BENEFITS New Clegg, old CleggFRINGE BENEFITS New Clegg, old Clegg
Nick Clegg's media handlers breathed a sigh of relief when the Lib Dem leader returned from paternity leave sporting a new, close-crop haircut. Unlike his old, floppy-fringed barnet, which made him look a bit like Four Weddings era Hugh Grant, it will not matter if the Liberal Democrat leader runs his fingers through his hair seconds before appearing on live television - a habit he has been unable to break, apparently.Nick Clegg's media handlers breathed a sigh of relief when the Lib Dem leader returned from paternity leave sporting a new, close-crop haircut. Unlike his old, floppy-fringed barnet, which made him look a bit like Four Weddings era Hugh Grant, it will not matter if the Liberal Democrat leader runs his fingers through his hair seconds before appearing on live television - a habit he has been unable to break, apparently.
MOBILE GROANSMOBILE GROANS
Amusing scenes a couple of weeks ago on a Home Affairs Select Committee fact-finding trip. The MPs were travelling together in a minibus when, one after another, their mobile phones began to ring. The caller was a Mail on Sunday reporter following up a recent disobliging story the paper had run about the committee chairman Keith Vaz. As their colleagues looked on, and to rising titters, MP after MP refused to play ball.Amusing scenes a couple of weeks ago on a Home Affairs Select Committee fact-finding trip. The MPs were travelling together in a minibus when, one after another, their mobile phones began to ring. The caller was a Mail on Sunday reporter following up a recent disobliging story the paper had run about the committee chairman Keith Vaz. As their colleagues looked on, and to rising titters, MP after MP refused to play ball.
Martin Salter had to turn the PM downMartin Salter had to turn the PM down
This sort of thing is becoming a bit of a habit. During Gordon Brown's most recent reshuffle, they were in another minibus, this time in India. Phones began to ring. A couple of Labour committee members were approached about junior posts in government - with Labour MP Martin Salter winning ironic applause for his "no, Gordon, mate, I don't want to be a whip, it's just not me..."This sort of thing is becoming a bit of a habit. During Gordon Brown's most recent reshuffle, they were in another minibus, this time in India. Phones began to ring. A couple of Labour committee members were approached about junior posts in government - with Labour MP Martin Salter winning ironic applause for his "no, Gordon, mate, I don't want to be a whip, it's just not me..."
Then the mobile of Tory Patrick Mercer (who did carry out a security review for ministers during Gordon Brown's "Government of all the Talents" phase) began to ring. And for a few minutes he managed to maintain the pretence that he was negotiating with the PM. Then there were groans as the penny dropped. Then - to general hilarity - the driver's mobile went off. Those long parliamentary fact-finding trips must just fly by.Then the mobile of Tory Patrick Mercer (who did carry out a security review for ministers during Gordon Brown's "Government of all the Talents" phase) began to ring. And for a few minutes he managed to maintain the pretence that he was negotiating with the PM. Then there were groans as the penny dropped. Then - to general hilarity - the driver's mobile went off. Those long parliamentary fact-finding trips must just fly by.
WORKING TIME TRIALSWORKING TIME TRIALS
We were not the only ones to spot the irony of all-night talks in Brussels on limiting working hours. But how did the British contingent, who for the most part want to keep the UK opt-out of the 48-hour maximum working week, get on when faced with a bit of overtime themselves? Conservative employment spokesman Phillip Bushill-Matthews lasted until 4am before deciding the discussions were just going round in "endless circles" and heading off to bed. The bleary-eyed UK government team stuck it out until the bitter end - but officials then mistakenly issued a press release claiming victory. Unfortunately, as they were quickly forced to concede, it is not quite as simple as that. As always in Europe, there will be more talks. And more working time directive busting all night sittings no doubt...We were not the only ones to spot the irony of all-night talks in Brussels on limiting working hours. But how did the British contingent, who for the most part want to keep the UK opt-out of the 48-hour maximum working week, get on when faced with a bit of overtime themselves? Conservative employment spokesman Phillip Bushill-Matthews lasted until 4am before deciding the discussions were just going round in "endless circles" and heading off to bed. The bleary-eyed UK government team stuck it out until the bitter end - but officials then mistakenly issued a press release claiming victory. Unfortunately, as they were quickly forced to concede, it is not quite as simple as that. As always in Europe, there will be more talks. And more working time directive busting all night sittings no doubt...
SEARCHING QUESTIONSSEARCHING QUESTIONS
And finally, some Google fun. The all-powerful search engine now ranks search terms as you are typing them, offering a fascinating into the mind of the average net user. Or something. Anyway, the PM will be pleased to see that "Gordon Brown saves the world", on 643,000 results, does better than "Gordon Brown estate agents" (310,000) and "Gordon Brown glass eye" (223,000). "David Cameron Christmas card" scores highly, as does "David Cameron wife" (623,000). As for Nick Clegg, the most searched-for term, apart from generic contact and biographical information, appears to be "Nick Clegg 30 women" (101,000). You can't win them all...And finally, some Google fun. The all-powerful search engine now ranks search terms as you are typing them, offering a fascinating into the mind of the average net user. Or something. Anyway, the PM will be pleased to see that "Gordon Brown saves the world", on 643,000 results, does better than "Gordon Brown estate agents" (310,000) and "Gordon Brown glass eye" (223,000). "David Cameron Christmas card" scores highly, as does "David Cameron wife" (623,000). As for Nick Clegg, the most searched-for term, apart from generic contact and biographical information, appears to be "Nick Clegg 30 women" (101,000). You can't win them all...
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