Wednesday 15th May 2013

Tantric Treasury

Ed Balls was in punchy form in the Commons this afternoon as he laid into the Conservatives' lack of action to stimulate growth in the Queen’s Speech and the ongoing row over the EU.

Amid accusations of a “complete shambles”, Balls seized on reports from ConservativeHome’s Paul Goodman and Louise Mensch (“whose one political achievement in the last 3 years was to make Corby Labour again”, he added with glee) that George Osborne was the brains behind the Tory strategy. And it got a bit personal.

“The Prime Minister is the front man, but the tactical genius, the brains behind the Europe strategy is the Chancellor of the Exchequer. We all remember when the PM said his Europe speech was a tantric approach to policymaking. I have to say from this side of the House it looks more like sadomasochism, Mr Deputy Speaker, although we all know the Chancellor likes a bit of that – ‘if it’s not hurting, it’s not working’ has been his motto for a long time.”

Osborne wasn’t to be outdone, however, as he looked at today’s bad news for the French economy to mock the Labour leadership’s closeness to Francois Hollande.

“We don’t hear much more these days about Labour’s French connection, do we? We still have Liberté, and égalité, but not much fraternité – though fraternity has never been a great topic for the Miliband family.”

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Wednesday 15th May 2013

The heir to Blair? Maybe

Michael Gove has had a busy morning.

After giving a clip to the cameras as he left his home this morning (making a literal U-turn when he walked the wrong way out of the door), he seemed unwilling to drop another bombshell after the weekend.

“What about Europe?,” asked the reporter.

“It’s where it’s always been”

When he made it to the Education Select Committee, he made a bold announcement followed by possible the swiftest U-turn in Coalition history.

"If you think I’m the heir to Blair or a disciple of David Blunkett, then I plead guilty to both – well, I’d plead guilty to being a disciple of David Blunkett, heir to Blair, no no.”

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Wednesday 15th May 2013

Profound and relaxed

Amidst the euro-turmoil David Cameron described himself as being profoundly relaxed. Dot thinks she might have found his secret.

 

In the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher

Dalai Lama

 

Now who could that be?

 

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Tuesday 14th May 2013

Cambo Chained

There was some good news for government-backbench relations today. Well, sort of.

In Cambo Chained Philip Cowley and the team at the University of Nottingham discovered the number of rebellions from Lib Dem and Tory backbenchers fell from 239 (44% of divisions) in the first session of this Parliament to a mere 61 (27% of total divisions) in 2012-13.

Unfortunately for weary whips, that’s where the good news ended. This is still due to be the most rebellious parliament since detailed records began in 1945.

Philip Hollobone, who proudly attended the launch of the paper today, led the list of rebels, having voted against the Government 129 times since 2010. Trailing the “Jamie Fox of the Conservative Parliamentary Party” were David Nuttall with 88 rebellions, Philip Davies with 85, Peter Bone with 68, and Christopher Chope with 59.

Of the 2010 intake of Conservative MPs that have not yet held a government post, 85% have now taken part in at least one rebellion. Cowley said the fresh batch had “put any rebel from the ’92 intake to shame”.

On the yellow benches, Mike Hancock and Andrew George led the way with 44 rebellions each, with all of Hancock’s rebellions happening in the 2010-12 session.

The report can be read in full here.  

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Monday 13th May 2013

Won't someone think of the negotiations?!

Cam's travails with the sceptics are eerily reminiscent of Ed's tortuous positioning around strikes. 

Remember how the Labour leader kept repeating that action was "wrong while negotiations are still on-going" with employers?

Now it's Cameron saying an EU referendum would be "wrong while negotiations are still on-going" with Brussels.

Here's Ed again:

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