Monday 13th May 2013

Lindsay Hoyle’s big moment

Lindsay Hoyle, Number One Deputy Speaker, is making some changes to the way in which the world learns which MPs have topped the list for private members’ bills. The much-anticipated ballot takes place this Thursday at 9am. “This year, for the first time, I will be calling the names in reverse order, which I hope will create an even greater sense of anticipation, interest and excitement for Members and other interested parties,” Linsday revealed in a slightly breathless email. The innovation does not end there. The top seven names will be tweeted by the House of Commons twitter account @HouseofCommons as the ballot takes place, and the full list of 20 successful MPs is expected to be published on the Parliament website by 9.15am. It’s like our very own version of The Chart Show.

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Monday 13th May 2013

UK TV Gove

You might think that the Conservative's favourite cable TV channel would naturally be Dave, but it appears that Michael Gove is more of a fan of UK TV Gold. It has emerged that the Education Secretary used a poll commissioned by the channel to illustrate a speech on teenager's ignorance of historical events. The revelations have led to a spate of tweets heaping scorn on Mr Gove's polling credentials.

 

85% of UKTV Gold viewers think Free Schools will be better than Grange Hill... #GovePolls

— James Mills (@JamesMills1984) May 13, 2013

 

87% of all twitter users polled thought that @toryeducation is run by independent experts with no links to DfE #govepolls

— Labour Education (@EducationLabour) May 13, 2013

 

8 out of 10 cat owners said their cats preferred the EBacc #govepolls

— John Prescott (@johnprescott) May 13, 2013

 

Newly promoted Shadow Education minister and historian Tristam Hunt has said that "before he rushes to judgment about young people, Michael Gove should make sure he has researched the evidence thoroughly. Otherwise he risks coming across as Mr Sloppy".

The furore follows a speech Mr Gove made on what it means to be an educated person. Which would delight you more, coming home to find the Education Secretary focussing on policy or watching old episodes of The Bill on UK TV Gold?

The Department for Education may well hope that unlike many of the programmes on the channel, the mistake will not be repeated.

 

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Monday 13th May 2013

Save the Eton few!

While the “chumocracy” row over the Eton educated cabinet rages on, down to earth Eric Pickles seems to find his colleagues privileged education rather amusing.

“Don’t look down your nose at someone who has the misfortune to have been educated at Eton and not have all the privileges that life at a comprehensive holds,” he tells the Telegraph "with a chuckle".

“These people need our help and sympathy. They should not be stigmatised.”

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Sunday 12th May 2013

Honk if you're a Conservative

David Cameron’s childhood dream was to be a lorry driver, he revealed to winners of Tesco’s Mum of the Year awards.

While he now steers his way through the corridors of power, hitting the odd patch of black ice, having to take a handbrake U-turn, or accelerating through rough terrain, Mr Cameron says he never had a “burning ambition” to be the Prime Minister as a young lad.

“I have always loved the countryside and I once thought I wanted to be a lorry driver”, he told his audience of mothers at No. 10. With the recent furore over UKIP and calls for an EU referendum, Dot’s sure Mr Cameron is lusting for the open road and a breath of fresh air.

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Saturday 11th May 2013

May the force be with EU...

Chancellor of the Empire…sorry of the Exchequer George Osborne has today hailed the decision to shoot the new Star Wars film in Britain.

Just confirmed: the next Star Wars film will be made in UK. Great news for our creative industries. May the force be with us.....

— George Osborne (@George_Osborne) May 10, 2013

 

But with its plucky band of rebels taking on an overarching inter-galactic empire, is the story too close to home for a Government facing an amendment tabled by its own backbenchers condemning the lack of an EU referendum in the Queen’s Speech?

If the directors need any help casting the new picture, Dot can see Nadine Dorries as Princess Leia, with elder statesmen Nigel Lawson as Obi Wan Kenobi.

But by next week Mr Osborne and David Cameron may well wish they were all in a galaxy far, Far-age away...

 

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