When presented with a cartoon picture of some boobs on a beer pump, Labour MPs in Westminster took us back to seventies student union politics and demanded it be banned. Jane Merrick’s column yesterday is well worth a read on the issue. Guido thinks the Sisters should take a leaf out of their European comrades book. Take for example the adverts for the EU Parliament’s in-house beautician.

Anyone offended on the continent?

Via England Expects

There has been a bitter backlash against hopping mad Kate Green. She says Strangers selling “Top Totty Ale”  is beyond the pale, but there’s trouble brewing. Centre right women’s think tank WomenOn have hit back:

“More authoritarian posturing from radical feministas who are after a fun-free and sex-free world.”

Guido hears the ban will happen though. You can protest it with an offensive Twibbon here.

UPDATE: It’s officially banned. A sud day.

UPDATE: UKIP MEP Mike Nattrass is on the rampage:

“Ms Green really is a humourless sort. She thinks by throwing about this well loved ale will deflect from her own failings. Failings that include failing to declare her financial interests properly. After all she has been censured for not mentioning her Union sponsorship.

Top Totty, first arrived at the strangers bar in 2007 as a guest beer, and was sold out within 3 days. It has been a finalist in the National Beer Awards and is a fine brew. Ms Green obviously wouldn’t know this given that she boasts that she hasn’t set foot in the Stranger’s Bar in year and a half since she was elected. In may ways that tells us everything we need to know.

This sort of knee-jerk Puritanism does more to damage the cause of equality than a thousand beer labels”, he said. “It suggests that to be in favour of equality you must indulge in dour-faced, insult-searching misery.”

Activate the sisters! Fun-killing Labour MP Kate Green has demanded that ‘Top Totty’ ale be banned from Strangers:

She can unleash the faux-hysteria about a picture, but not a peep about the taxpayer subsidy. Priorities…

Picture via Tony Grew 

UPDATE: She’s actually serious:

leader of house of commons agrees with me guest beer top totty should be withdrawn now from parliament bar. Demeans women—
Kate Green (@KateGreenMP) February 02, 2012

Last night Jeremy Paxman hosted the final round of Twitter’s Next Top Model. And what a heated final it was…

Taking Newsnight by storm was GQ’s cover-girl Louise Mensch. The successful chick-lit author sported a vintage cocktail dress, with a simple yet elegant jacket, Mensch perfectly mixed old school Tory for a sexy new-age feel.

Joining her was the recent New Statesman cover-girl Laurie Penny, the former burlesque dancer turned political pundit went for the classic little black dress, accessorised with a small pink badge. A bold colour palette was on display with her hair. With Laurie wearing her political allegiances on her head, we now know why they call her Penny Red.

It’s hard to choose a winner, as all the ladies looked so lovely.

UPDATE: The full cat fight:

Last week it was Louise Mensch in GQ, this week it’s Theresa May glamming up for Total Politics. Guido approves…

Scotland Tonight’s live boob caused some debate in the Guy Newsroom about its news value beyond a titter. Guido doesn’t want to milk it, but he thought he would keep you abreast with the latest developments. The story bounced out of control and STV have been forced to issue an apology after Guido busted the inappropriate background to an interview with Dan Hodges. The Drum, Daily Record, Standard, Sun and Mail have all copped a feel…

Good to see that ITV’s Scotland Tonight decided to put some subliminal messaging about Ed Miliband on to the monitors during their interview with his biggest fan Dan Hodges last night. If you are not at work you might enjoy the closest the Labour leader has got to a bounce in recent weeks. Fast forward to 13.02 here…

UPDATE: A senior Labour source close to Dan Hodges gets in touch to stress that the interview was conducted at the ITN studios, not at the offices of Her Majesty’s Daily Telegraph…

It seems Ed Balls’ most loyal Twitter fan can’t get used to life on the outside, Ellie Gellard used to Tweet relentlessly for Ed Balls when he was running for leader. Having left his entourage to go work for Tetra Strategy, the Twitter foghorn formerly known as BevaniteEllie is now “Head of Digital” for the shady spinmeisters.

And look what a difference it has made to their Twitter feed:

Ed M welcoming Cameron's move (following his) onto attacking "crony capitalism"… says if this becomes battle ground "bring it on"—
Tetra Strategy (@TetraStrategy) January 10, 2012

Tory HQ (unsurprisingly) insist Cameron was correct while Labour HQ send Lord Adonis out to attempt to clarify his 2009 decision. Politics!—
Tetra Strategy (@TetraStrategy) January 11, 2012

Gove now rowing back (!) on suggestions he called for publicly funded Royal yacht.—
Tetra Strategy (@TetraStrategy) January 17, 2012

Compare that to the more neutral offerings put out before she arrived. Though Tetra was set up by former Labour figures, they have been trying to ingratiate themselves with Tories, most notably with their hiring of the disgraced expenses cheat Julie Kirkbride.

Someone better tell the new kid though…

Despite an on camera promise in October, Ed Miliband has failed to release the list of businessmen and lobbyists he dined with at a secret “off the record” supper organised by Roland Rudd the shady spinmeister. His agency Finsbury has a whole host of “predators” as clients, including at the online loan sharks Wonga.

There is growing concern in Labour circles that Ed is not putting his full weight behind Stella Creasy’s ill thought out campaign to outlaw these companies, that she claims, target the vulnerable. Ed has given the campaign the nod, but Guido hears that there is disappointment that it has remained a backbench attack. Some were expecting it to be referenced in Tuesday’s speech. Is Ed pulling his punches because of his behind-the-scenes relationship with Roland Rudd? Proper lefty blogger Carl Packman certainly thinks so. Guido will go further: Did this meeting of “independently minded senior business leaders”, aka Rudd’s clients, include anyone from, or representing, Wonga? We’re still waiting for Ed to keep his promise to let us know who he supped Rudd’s champagne with…

The GQ spread featuring Mrs Mensch has caused a lot of excitement in the Guy Newsroom. The combination of throbbing soundtrack, the minxy pout and the neo-Thatcherite fashion sense really does it for us.

The Guidoisation of politics continues apace…