Jul/10
08:52 2
Watching Westminster? US congressman in pointy-fingered outburst
Hats off to US congressman Anthony Weiner, who unleashed a tirade at Republicans looking to block $7bn funding for incapacitated firefighters and others 9/11 first responders. Flying in the face of convention in the House of Representatives, a pointy-fingered Weiner refused to give way to requests for intervention, screaming at colleagues to “sit down”:
Have the House Democrats been taking tips from Tom Watson?
Hat-tip: Alex Smith
Jul/10
15:46 8
Tory MP gets knuckles rapped over ‘illicit image’
Scrapbook fans may have noticed that Socialist Animal is something of a stickler for parliamentary rules, and as such couldn’t let this one pass by.
Newly elected MP for Gloucester Richard Graham has received his first ticking-off from the Sargent at Arms over an inappropriate image. However those of you who were hoping for a Nigel Griffiths style dirty pic will be disappointed to learn that Graham’s offence was altogether more tame.
It would seem another newly elected MP (whom Graham refuses to name) chose to document their induction day, and took a photograph inside the commons which is strictly forbidden under parliamentary rules. Graham then had the brass neck to send the picture off to his local paper.
Has the man no decency?!
Jul/10
12:39 9
Daily Telegraph: David Cameron is getting fat
There is some conspicuously lowbrow reportage in today’s Daily Telegraph, whose Andrew Brown notes the prime minister’s expanding midriff:
Mr Cameron’s shirt … now appears to be a size too small. And he’s notably thickening around the midriff. As doctors like to point out, this centrally-distributed adiposity is a particularly perilous kind of weight gain, since it is associated with an increased risk of heart problems.
Of course, people have been remarking on Mr Cameron’s chubbiness for years now. Before the election, some Conservatives worried that his well-nourished appearance was off-putting to the electorate, making him appear overly prosperous, soft, cosseted and out of touch.
What is surely missing from the Torygraph’s coverage, however, is a Heat Magazine-style “circle of shame”. Please allow Scrapbook to oblige:
Buttered crumpets for elevenses?
Jul/10
15:56 2
Wingnut jailed for egg attack on Tory peer
One of the so-called “Islamic” wingnuts who pelted Tory peer Sayeeda Warsi with eggs because she didn’t “represent Sharia” has been jailed for six weeks.
The men were reportedly members of Al-Muhajiroun, which advocated the creation of an Islamic state in Britain. The group was subsequently banned under terrorism legislation, along with the so-delusional-it’s-actually-funny Islam4UK.
If they’re so hot for Sharia law, Scrapbook suggests pelting politicians with eggs in Riyadh.
Jul/10
14:13 1
The man in the (not so) white suit
While the political temperature may have cooled as parliament approached the summer recess, many members still opted for an attire better suited to an oftentimes hot and humid Westminster. And while they may look good on the rack in Debenhams, the cream and tan shades of linen suits are not forgiving of MPs neglectful of their dry cleaning obligations.
In most desperate need of a trip to Johnson’s is Liberal Democrat Julian Huppert, who strides around the parliamentary estate in a suit described by Scrapbook’s source as “absolutely filthy”.
Jo Swinson and Simon Hughes inspect Huppert's grimy garb
So now parliament has risen, perhaps the honourable member can make like Martin Bell and actually visit the dry cleaners?
There are enough of them in his Cambridge constituency.
Jul/10
12:40 11
Labour MPs presented with options for shadow cabinet reform
The Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) have been presented with options for reform of the shadow cabinet. Letters to MPs from Margaret Beckett and Tony Lloyd pave the way for ballots on 8 September for the size, composition and gender profile of the shadow cabinet and between 30 September and 7 October for its membership.
The timetable is underpinned by the imperative to have an opposition team in place for the Comprehensive Spending Review on 20 October. The options for MPs outlined in the letter from Beckett are:
Selection of the shadow cabinet: wholly appointed by the leader; wholly elected by Commons members of the PLP; wholly appointed by the party leader; 50/50 split between party leader appointments and elected by Commons members of the PLP; two thirds elected by Commons members of the PLP, one third appointed by the Leader.
Size of the shadow cabinet. In addition to the leader, deputy leader, PLP chair, leader and chief whip in the lords, the available options will be: 19 members (present number); 16 members; 12 members.
Gender profile. The percentage of places reserved for women: 50 percent; 40 percent; matching the whole PLP’s current profile of 31.5 percent; 30%, increasing to 50% by 2012.
Frequency of elections: every year; every 2 years; once a parliament.
The PLP will also be asked whether the Chief Whip should be appointed by the leader or elected by MPs.
While anoraks and other observers will savour the prospect of a mini-referendum to precede the election proper, the process has not been welcomed by some senior Labour MPs. Garry Gibbon quotes one former cabinet minister:
“Shadow Cabinet elections? Why the hell didn’t we abolish them? We just forgot.”
This sets the scene for plenty of arm-twisting at Labour conference in Manchester.
Jul/10
19:04 3
State of play: UK social media in 2010
Just how big is social media in the UK? This video from Simply Zesty has some seemingly unbelievable statistics.* Of the 85% of the UK is now online, it is claimed:
- 25 percent write blogs – that’s over 12 million British bloggers
- 60 percent read them – 31 million readers
- 1 in 3 UK adults agree with the statement “I could not live without the internet”
And if you want to show Political Scrapbook some social media love, you can do so on Facebook and Twitter.
Hat-tip: Mashable
*The research was conducted by market research company TORA but, clearly, a social media consultancy has a vested interest in exaggerating the importance of, um, social media!
Jul/10
14:03 9
Channel 4′s sweary lift
Any tweets mentioning the phrase “Channel 4″ are now displayed on screens inside the lifts of its Horseferry Road headquarters. Quite how this helps to fulfil the broadcaster’s public service obligations is unclear, however early indications are that the system is a boon to the Tourette’s community:
As Davina says, “you are now live on Channel 4. Please do not swear!”
Second image: Chris Applegate
Jul/10
09:23 5
French jobs for British workers: Nick Griffin’s irony free holiday
So it appears the MEP we just love to hate has been having a little time off with his family in France. And who can blame him, what with the stress of his party wanting to boot him out, pending legal cases and Her Majesty the Queen telling him to f*** off when he’d already rented a morning suit for her garden party. Apologising for his lack of Twitter posts, Griffin had this to say about his time abroad:
“Ex pat Brit in car hire place very pro Bnp and so upgraded my pre booked car to a convertable [sic] for free.”
Notwithstanding the fact that the BNP leader is setting himself up for a possible breach of European Parliament gift rules, it would appear Mr Griffin is a firm supporter of “French jobs for British workers”. These racist “indigenous” Britons working as car hire clerks in France.
Just where are they flocking from?
Jul/10
19:25 3
Twitter says goodbye to BP’s Tony Hayward
The spoof BP Global PR Twitter account is giving Tony Hayward a send off in its own inimitable style:
Mr. Hayward’s public relations case study is now over.
