Category Archives: Labour

Media complain about “too aggressive” Guido stunt on Ken

1:24pm Wed March 14th

Doth the ladies at Guido Fawkes complain too much about the “leather-jacketed heavies” who apprehended their chicken as it attempted to doorstep Ken Livingstone:

“It was a pretty hectic chicken raid, assorted Labour heavies got heavy.”

But their own footage (video) shows a supposedly innocent chicken grabbing a campaign sign, with one appearing to strike an ITV camerawoman in the face after which she is forced to retrieve her equipment from the floor in the middle of the mellee.

Meanwhile, LBC’s Dan Freedman (@LBC_Dan) complained of “way too aggressive” tactics, with Guido and his entourage barging through staff and campaign volunteers:

You’re either in front of Guido … or trampled underfoot.

Eric Joyce tries to save his skin: pleads guilty to assault

10:48am Fri March 9th

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Appearing at Westminster Magistrates Court in the wake of his Strangers Bar brawl, Eric Joyce has pleaded guilty to four charges of common assault – likely to reduce the sentence he will receive.

As Scrapbook revealed last month, Joyce was up against video footage of the incident along with a wealth of testimony from bruised and battered parliamentarians.

Perhaps Joyce thinks a lighter punishment might enable him to cling on until 2015. With the maximum sentence for assault at six months, however, he will not be automatically disqualified as MPs are only disbarred by serving more than a year in jail.

Time to get a move on with that recall law.

Lansley confronted by NHS protesters in North London hospital

5:39pm Mon March 5th

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Minister pursued down corridors at Royal Free Hospital
Hospital staff were “hand-picked” to minimise trouble
Journalist banned from visit still grabs picture

Andrew Lansley was pursued down hospital corridors this afternoon, according to journalists on the scene at North London’s Royal Free. While print and online journalists were kept away from the health secretary, local hack Tom Foot still managed to grab the snap above.

And despite attempts at stage management (there are claims that meet-and-greet staff were vetted in advance) and entering the premises via a back entrance, a member of the public still confronted Lansley with his police escorts watching on.

It’s uncertain whether the solitary video camera authorised to film caught this exchange.

Police and Parliament authorities have iPhone video of Eric Joyce brawl

6:37pm Thu February 23rd

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The second half of Eric Joyce’s altercation with fellow MPs and police officers was filmed on a mobile phone, Political Scrapbook has confirmed. With Strangers’ Bar relatively quiet, and contrary to previous reports of “lots of” footage, Scrapbook understands that only as many as two videos may exist.

One individual is know by name to the Serjeant at Arms and may have already been interviewed by police.

Political editors have spent the day speculating which of their colleagues may have the mystery second copy.

Media pursuing phone and video footage of Eric Joyce bar brawl

2:42pm Thu February 23rd

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After allegedly being headbutted (twice) by Eric Joyce, Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew says he intends to press charges. And it gets worse:

Lots of photos and phone-videos exist of last night's little fracas in Strangers' Bar

February 23, 2012 2:45 pm via Mobile Web ReplyRetweetFavorite

@philhornbyitv

Phil Hornby

We hear there’s a new paper launching this weekend.

That noise? Sunday editors getting out their chequebooks.

Aidan Burley in Commons clash with Ian Austin over Nazi stag do

11:15pm Thu February 9th

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Dudley North MP Ian Austin isn’t letting the matter of Aidan Burley’s Nazi antics go easily. And complaints from an Oldham student that Burley was playing with his phone when he should have been listening to a holocaust survivor in Auschwitz made for fractious scenes when raised in the Commons this afternoon.

This is well worth watching if only for the Burley reaction shot.

If looks could kill.

Shadow minister Rachel Reeves joins the Tories (at chess)

8:55am Thu February 9th

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Rachel Reeves, shadow chief secretary to the treasury, has seen a lightning rise since she entered Parliament in 2010 — but should that be unexpected of the UK’s former under-14 junior chess champion?

Reeves attended the closing dinner of the London Chess Classic 2011, Chess Magazine report. During the meal, she took part in a match alongside fellow MP (and brother of the London Mayor) Jo Johnson, advised by game legend Gary Kasparov.

Need any help? Osborne attempts to psych-out Reeves

In a tactical display that may be starting to worry CCHQ, Reeves won the match, finishing with the aggressive but dubiously-named move of the “bishop’s sac”. Even chief Tory electoral-strategist George Osborne (who moonlights as the Chancellor of the Exchequer) dropped by to take some notes.

It looks like Ed Miliband and his Rubik’s cube have a little competition on the Labour frontbench.

“Doncaster” doctor used by Cameron at PMQs doesn’t live in Doncaster

4:43pm Thu January 26th

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A “Doncaster” doctor used by David Cameron to promote his health reforms yesterday has quit his commissioning group and doesn’t even live in Doncaster. The prime minister attempted to embarrass Miliband at PMQs by quoting a medical worker supposedly from his own constituency:

Speaking as acting chairman of the Doncaster pathfinder CCG he said this: ”Becoming one of the first national pathfinding areas is a real boost for Doncaster” … I think what is good for Doncaster is good for the rest of the NHS too.”

But the health profession magazine GP magazine has revealed that Dr Conner was no longer chairman of the commissioning group — at the cornerstone of Andrew Lansley’s controversial reforms — and had actually left the area.

Nice attack line. Shame about the facts.

Category Archives: Labour

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