PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers

- Sign up to see last 24 hours
Wednesday 22nd May 2013
Some good laughs on Twitter this morning from Dave's new favourite columnist Dan Hodges and Tory backbencher Stewart Jackson.
Their bizarre social networking exchange started off nicely, but their online bromance was short lived as the pair found their inner troll.
@dpjhodges not if you're as sparky as your Mum LOL
— Stewart Jackson MP (@SJacksonMP) May 22, 2013
I'm spending the morning flirting with @sjacksonmp. This is why I love twitter. It brings people together...
— Dan Hodges (@DPJHodges) May 22, 2013
Monday 20th May 2013
Today's debate on the amendment to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill was bound to raise tensions, however Edward Leigh started by assuring the chamber that despite being against same-sex marriage he did not want to be "beastly" to gay people.
The MP worried about political correctness and the "loony left", which will no doubt be a welcome distraction for the Tory leadership who will be tiring of hearing about 'swivel-eyed loons' alleged to exist in Conservative associations.
Edward Leigh says he does not want laws that allow straights to be "horrid" or "beastly" to gay people #samesexmarriage
— Tony Grew (@ayestotheright) May 20, 2013
Sir Gerald Howarth did not share 'red Ed's' relaxed attitude fearing the Bill would be used by the "aggressive homosexual community as a stepping stone". He was equally concerned that the debate was being seen through "a merciless prism of equality".
The twitter saw the comments through a more humorous prism and manged to keep its response largely non-agressive...
Yes, Gerald, same-sex marriage is a stepping stone to something further - visits to Ikea, nights in watching Corrie, stuff like that.
— Nigel Fletcher (@nigelfletcher) May 20, 2013
Smack! Thump! Wap! Doof! Gok! Wan! #aggressivehomosexuals
— Chris Addison (@mrchrisaddison) May 20, 2013
#aggressivehomosexualsThe high point of Gerald Howarth's career?
— Jamie Reed (@jreedmp) May 20, 2013
With #aggressivehomosexuals firmly trending on twitter, Dot can think of a Tory MP whose boxing career means he may know some aggressive homosexuals.
Thursday 16th May 2013
The caprice of the private members’ ballot means James Wharton has been thrust unceremoniously into the media limelight today.
Unfortunately for Wharton, the Evening Standard unearthed a bit of a gem from his local Chronicle newspaper.
Back in 2010, the newly-elected Tory MP for Stockton South wrote to a quango asking that it accelerated a £30,000 grant to a company owned by a friend.
So far, so good. But regrettably his friend’s other company had been part of a furore after police seized a four-foot sandstone penis.
CCHQ must have been relieved that Wharton didn't use his private members' bill to revive the ‘Free Willy’ campaign.
Thursday 16th May 2013
Nigel Farage was trapped in a pub by angry Scottish protestors this afternoon.
The UKIP leader was on a charm offensive north of the border when apparently the charm became too offensive and a mob assembled outside Canons Gait pub in Edinburgh. Eventually Mr Farage was escorted out with a police guard to chants of “scum, scum, scum”.
Well known for his fondness of pints and cigarettes, Mr Farage’s Kafka-esque episode of punishment may well have been compounded by being stuck in a pub… and unable to smoke.
While he may be creating political waves south of the border, it seems that in Scotland the Midas touch has failed, and the mythic king’s ironic legacy inherited.
Farage protest twitter.com/AlanRoden/stat…
— Alan Roden (@AlanRoden) May 16, 2013
Thursday 16th May 2013
It has today emerged that a Tory backbencher will finally get a vote on Europe, however tensions between major figures have been exposed.
9 million People from the UK watch #Eurovision - I shall be one of them even if my wife isn't -:) #planning
— Nick de Bois MP (@nickdebois) May 16, 2013
Despite earlier campaigning to watch Eurovision, it now is understood Mrs de Bois will be abstaining from the event but has made assurances that there are no splits in the coalition.