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Margaret Hodge asks Google some searching questions Margaret Hodge asks Google some searching questions
(4 months later)
Critics of parliament complain it is too slow to engage with topical issues. Nonsense. Barely 12 hours after 114 Tory MPs voted to split their party in a futile gesture over Europe, the Commons debated mental health.Critics of parliament complain it is too slow to engage with topical issues. Nonsense. Barely 12 hours after 114 Tory MPs voted to split their party in a futile gesture over Europe, the Commons debated mental health.
No surprise that one of the first MPs to speak was Broxbourne's nice Charles Walker. In a similar debate last year the Tory outed himself as a "practising fruitcake". Not on Europe (though he does happen to be a practising Eurosceptic), but because he suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Under stress the MP needs to do things like switch the light off four times.No surprise that one of the first MPs to speak was Broxbourne's nice Charles Walker. In a similar debate last year the Tory outed himself as a "practising fruitcake". Not on Europe (though he does happen to be a practising Eurosceptic), but because he suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Under stress the MP needs to do things like switch the light off four times.
For many of his Eurosceptic colleagues it is the same with EU referendums: only four will do. Not for Walker. Like most MPs in the debate, he was impassioned and persuasive about society's need to end the cruel stigma of mental illness: no different from cancer, he said.For many of his Eurosceptic colleagues it is the same with EU referendums: only four will do. Not for Walker. Like most MPs in the debate, he was impassioned and persuasive about society's need to end the cruel stigma of mental illness: no different from cancer, he said.
The only unusual thing he did was praise MPs who interrupted his speech. "A fabulous point" (Anne Begg). "A fine point" (Jason McCartney). "An excellent point" (Norman Lamb). When their turn came they did the same. MPs can be quite kind when they think voters are not watching. On Thursday they were all lucky not to be carted off to the Priory for a complete rest.The only unusual thing he did was praise MPs who interrupted his speech. "A fabulous point" (Anne Begg). "A fine point" (Jason McCartney). "An excellent point" (Norman Lamb). When their turn came they did the same. MPs can be quite kind when they think voters are not watching. On Thursday they were all lucky not to be carted off to the Priory for a complete rest.
Hardly anyone mentioned that EU referendum rebellion. Like embarrassed partygoers after an evening of spouse-swapping beside a home counties pool, they pretended it hadn't happened. Commons leader Andrew Lansley, never a man to get his political kit off without his pyjamas close at hand, was gently teased about the revolt. There had been no revolt on the EU bill, he solemnly insisted, because "the government does not have a policy on whether there should be one." Masterful.Hardly anyone mentioned that EU referendum rebellion. Like embarrassed partygoers after an evening of spouse-swapping beside a home counties pool, they pretended it hadn't happened. Commons leader Andrew Lansley, never a man to get his political kit off without his pyjamas close at hand, was gently teased about the revolt. There had been no revolt on the EU bill, he solemnly insisted, because "the government does not have a policy on whether there should be one." Masterful.
In any case the day's Euro-drama was off-camera. It emerged that James Wharton, 29, the youngest Tory MP, has won the annual ballot to introduce a wholesome bit of backbench legislation. Only the previous day the teenage smoothie had warned his party against obsessing about Europe when voters worry more about other problems. Now he was promising to introduce a bill to make a referendum in 2017 as compulsory as a bill can when a) it won't be passed and b) revolting Tories may lose the party the 2015 election. Clearly the horse's head in young Wharton's bed had made its point.In any case the day's Euro-drama was off-camera. It emerged that James Wharton, 29, the youngest Tory MP, has won the annual ballot to introduce a wholesome bit of backbench legislation. Only the previous day the teenage smoothie had warned his party against obsessing about Europe when voters worry more about other problems. Now he was promising to introduce a bill to make a referendum in 2017 as compulsory as a bill can when a) it won't be passed and b) revolting Tories may lose the party the 2015 election. Clearly the horse's head in young Wharton's bed had made its point.
Back in the real world less excitable MPs were trying to get greedy multinational corporations to pay their fair share of tax. The PAC was in session to re-examine Matt Brittin, Google vice-president for sales and operations. At issue, the slippery distinction between British employees "promoting" a sale in London and Irish staff (or computers) actually "selling" it in low-tax Ireland.Back in the real world less excitable MPs were trying to get greedy multinational corporations to pay their fair share of tax. The PAC was in session to re-examine Matt Brittin, Google vice-president for sales and operations. At issue, the slippery distinction between British employees "promoting" a sale in London and Irish staff (or computers) actually "selling" it in low-tax Ireland.
Who says women over 50 are no good on telly? PAC chair Margaret Hodge, is a granny of 68 who gets fiercer by the day. Half the size of ex-Olympic oarsman Brittin (44), but very cross and armed yesterday with a smart new hairdo for her TV session. Why? Because a stream of Google whistleblowers had been in touch to contradict what he told the PAC in November about Google's UK salesmen (clue in the title) not really selling.Who says women over 50 are no good on telly? PAC chair Margaret Hodge, is a granny of 68 who gets fiercer by the day. Half the size of ex-Olympic oarsman Brittin (44), but very cross and armed yesterday with a smart new hairdo for her TV session. Why? Because a stream of Google whistleblowers had been in touch to contradict what he told the PAC in November about Google's UK salesmen (clue in the title) not really selling.
Would he like to retract anything? Basically no. It is all very technical, clearly legal and shouldn't be. Dull? Detail? Nigel Farage would have been out the door heading for his first pint within 10 minutes. But Chairman Marge and her allies kept digging. "This isn't going to go away," warned one MP. "Why don't you call a spade a spade?" said another MP. Steady on, there's VAT due on spades.Would he like to retract anything? Basically no. It is all very technical, clearly legal and shouldn't be. Dull? Detail? Nigel Farage would have been out the door heading for his first pint within 10 minutes. But Chairman Marge and her allies kept digging. "This isn't going to go away," warned one MP. "Why don't you call a spade a spade?" said another MP. Steady on, there's VAT due on spades.
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