Guido’s Heathrow/China story earlier was dismissed by pro-Yeo types (of which there are very few) as a conspiracy theory and a weak line of attack. Seems Sky News did not agree with them:

Just because a conflict of interest is declared, it does not mean the conflict of interest goes away…

Unsurprisingly, the Speaker’s vanity crèche in the old Bellamy’s restaurant in Parliament has turned out to be an expensive mistake. Cass Horowitz, a former researcher involved in trying to stop the original project back in 2010 has been number crunching:

“…there are currently 15 children attending it on a regular basis despite the fact it can cater for up to 40 children. These 15 children have six members of staff (probably the equivalent ratio to a five star hotel) and thus presuming a salary of 30k and including the loss of the original refurbishment, they are being looked after at £81,154 tax payer pounds each. In other words they’re probably the most expensive babies in Britain!”

When political correctness is at stake, who cares how much it costs!

Back when he was a young gun revolutionary Neil Kinnock left us in no doubt as to how he felt about the House of Lords, describing peers as an assortment of “brigands, muggers, bribers and gangsters“. He seems to have mellowed with age…

New figures show that Lord and Baroness Kinnock claimed over £66,000 in Lords expenses in the last year alone. Despite speaking on average just once a month, Kinnock has regularly been claiming his £300-a-day expenses allowance, topping up the £10 million in salary and pension benefits the couple enjoyed on the EU gravy train. Alright, alright, alright for some…

Fresh from the humiliation of his premature gold medal boasting at the Olympics, President Hollande is facing the much predicted taxodus from Paris to London.

This morning’s City AM reported:

“London-based recruitment firm Astbury Marsden, which specialises in the banking sector, has seen a 51 per cent rise in French-language applicants in recent months, compared with the same period of 2011.“There is a definite spike in French-speaking candidates,” said managing director Jonathan Nicholson. We have not seen similar increases in candidates from other countries.”

When Hollande vowed to steal 75% of his hard-working countrymen’s income earlier this year Dave promised to roll out the red carpet. Now they’re saying au revoir to François…

Boris tells a press conference:

“You’re going to be treated to a wonderful, juddering climax.”

The Centre for Policy Studies is keen on making infomercials to accompany their research. They’re pretty good:

A worrying poll undertaken by the CPS has found that only 10% of the British public realise the Coalition intends to raise the national debt by £600 billion this Parliament.

You thought this government was cutting debt?

Green lobbyist and part-time MP Tim Yeo has taken a break from the golf course to make some waves today by calling for an expansion of Heathrow airport. Writing in this morning’s Telegraph, his main gripe seems to be that he can’t fly directly to some parts of China:

With Hurricane Isaac bearing down on the southern states the Republicans have had to delay the start of their national convention in Florida. Cue Guardian contributor and green totalitarian George Monbiot to wish for the worst on his political enemies:

If #Republican convention – mostly #climatechange deniers – is flooded, there is a God. But not the one they envisage. #gop2012—
  (@GeorgeMonbiot) August 28, 2012

They’ve sacked people for less…

Via @charlotteahenry

Just when there was a lack of headlines regarding mass awareness of a certain feline story, Larry the cat has saved the day. It seems Downing Street’s second laziest resident has finally caught a mouse:

Don’t show Essex Police.

Via @OllyGrender