Willy kneel?
All change at the Oldie as editor Richard Ingrams walks out of the magazine he founded 22 years ago after falling out with its publisher, to be replaced by former Speccie editor Alexander Chancellor.
MediaGuido can reveal that Guido’s sketchwriter and resident Bercow-baiter, Simon Carr, will also now have a column in the monthly mag. He will of course continue to write the Gallery Guido and the Speaker Watch sections of this blog.
Good to see fresh new talent coming through, Guido is even thinking of offering Richard Ingrams a job on the blog…
Labour’s Liverpool Wavertree MP Luciana Berger has spoken out over Ed Miliband’s photo with the Sun, distancing herself from the Labour leader, who she calls “Mr Miliband”.
“I welcome the fact that Labour leader Ed Miliband has today made clear that he understands the anger that people on Merseyside feel toward the Sun. I understand and I share that anger…
When asked to pose for a picture to support the England football team at the World Cup, Mr Miliband agreed. He has today apologised.”
Meanwhile a Labour Liverpool councillor has stepped down…
And the winner of House of Cards: Season 2 on DVD to celebrate its release on 16th June is:
Brad Pitt: Hey look, I’ve got rid of my silly, unbelievable beard.
Can the winner, and only the winner, please get in touch here to claim your prize.
The Speaker’s Plan A, to split the role of Clerk and Chief Executive, has failed because it would require legislation to enable it.
His Plan B, for an outsider to come and be the new Clerk, is failing because no one is applying (in the same way, David Beckham doesn’t apply for lead dancer at the Royal Ballet). Hence, head hunters. And hence, Simon Burns in Business Questions asking what the cost would be of the head hunters’ services (estimate: £100,000).
Plan C is an internal appointment.
The rumour is that Liam Laurence Smyth (“Who?”) is pencilled in as the Speaker’s favourite for the next Clerk of Clerks. Amiable, anonymous, the Clerk of Journals. (“He’s done a lot of work for the Speaker in Burma.”) He has a number of advantages – he isn’t David Natzler, the old Etonian dauphin to outgoing Sir Robert. He is nice. He is pliable. He is junior. He fits in with the Speaker’s strategy of Diminish and Rule. Is the rumour true? It’s true there’s a rumour.
The advantages of Philippa Helm are very considerable. She has all the assets of Liam “Who?” but with added diversity. That is a powerful strategic asset in fostering Labour support. Machiavellian logic would put her as the Speaker’s preferred candidate, and all other rumoured favourites as a blind.
PS: Little Prince is obviously having difficulty fixing the panel of selection because when you ask who’s on it – nobody knows.
In order to mark the release of House of Cards: Season 2 on Blu-ray & DVD on the 16th June, the winner of today’s caption contest will receive a copy of the must-watch television series starring Kevin Spacey.
That means you’ll be one of the first to get your hands on the DVD.
Let the butchery begin…
Blue Eyes says: