See you at Christmas…

UPDATE:

Not something you see every day http://t.co/1bokUubt—
Sean Curran (@cripeswatson) January 15, 2013

Gordon is in town as is big oil’s Al Gore, who was sighted on Air Street earlier. Which reminded Guido of one his favourite videos…

You do have to wonder about the calibre of some of our MEPs. Last night the LibDems’ man in Brussels representing the north-west Chris Davies launched a stinging tirade against UKIP, backing Rotherham child-catcher Joyce Thacker’s defence of the decision to take away foster children from a UKIP couple last year. He had clearly been reading this weekend’s news:

In Strasbourg tonight I defended the Rotherham social workers who believed that UKIP was racist and took away foster children.—
Chris Davies (@ChrisDaviesMEP) January 14, 2013

The character of political parties, like people, is shaped by those with whom they associate. Too many UKIP MEPs associate with racists.—
Chris Davies (@ChrisDaviesMEP) January 14, 2013

Now surely someone who is going to get on their high horse about racism would have to have a squeaky clean record on the subject? Not Chris Davies. Back in 2006 Davies was forced to resign after a series of inappropriate comments about that old chestnut, the “Jewish lobby”. According to a Guardian report from the time he was forced to apologise for comparing Israeli policy to the Holocaust and had to quit his post as leader of the LibDems in the European Parliament. Probably wouldn’t be a good idea for Davies to go through the Rotherham adoption process any time soon…

Guido has always said the best way to provide a living wage to the lowest earners is to cut tax rather than raise the minimum wage. Campaigning Tory MP Rob Halfon has launched a new petition to reverse the last government’s scrapping of the 10p tax rate, aptly calling it the Great Gordon Brown Repeal Bill. As if by perfect timing the Prime Mentalist will be speaking in Parliament for the first time in over a year next week. You can sign the petition against him here…

Norman Lamb’s local paper reports that he was “ambushed” by Morris dancers in his constituency over Christmas. One photo op that the LibDem Care Minister should have skipped…

John Kerry will been nominated by Obama to replace Hillary Clinton. The office of Secretary of State should be more than a safe haven for Democrat presidential losers. Interestingly the first white male to hold the job since 1997. 

It’s well over a year now since Gordon Brown has spoken in Parliament but he has manged to put in two written questions on behalf of his constituents. The enquiries to the MOD are on the identical topic to his last batch of questions – ten months ago.

Written Answers – Defence: Dalgety Bay (17 Dec 2012)
Gordon Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent
assessment he has made of reports on the incidence of cancer in the
Dalgety Bay area.

So Brown’s total of contribution this year has extended to nine written questions, which on his MPs salary puts that at about £7,300 a pop. And that’s before you factor in the expenses he still has the cheek to claim…

It has been a month to be proud of our globe-trotting former Prime Mentalist. Not only did he manage to make it a year since he last spoke in Parliament but he has also declared over £300,000 in December’s Register of Members’ Interests, all held by the Office of Gordon and Sarah Brown and not going into his own pocket, of course. While Kirkcaldy goes unrepresented those lucky enough to have Gordon grace them with his presence include the Chinese, Koreans, Americans and Ukrainians. The total £305,037 declaration for the last month is for sixteen hours’ work, or £19,064-an-hour. More than many of his constituents earn in a whole year.

A letter has gone out from the Tories to Ed Miliband calling for the Labour leader to sack his former boss. Brown is jet-setting around the world, refusing to speak up for those he is paid £65,000-a-year of taxpayers’ money to represent, while earning vast sums of money that is being “held” by his company to “support (my) ongoing involvement in public life”. Surely it is time for that “public life” to be lived away from the House of Commons…

Hold the front page: Gordon Brown is speaking in Parliament today. And why is the jet-setting Prime Mentalist gracing us with his presence? He’ll be speaking in a debate on Scottish independence, but don’t let that fool you. The only reason Gordon is speaking, today of all days, is that he somehow got wind of the huge celebrations planned tomorrow to mark the one year anniversary of the last time he spoke in the House. That’s right, the last time Brown spoke in Parliament was on the 30th November 2011. His utter contempt for serving Parliament and his constituents knows no bounds…

Guido’s mole reports a flurry of Westminster activity from the former Prime Mentalist.  Not only did Gordon actually vote last night, he almost made it into the Chamber today. But not quite! He stopped short behind the Speaker’s chair.

So, Leveson aside, why is Brown in town? Guido can report that instead of representing the people of Kirkcaldy, as he is paid to do, Gordon was showing a mysterious balding gentleman around the estate.

A doorman’s conversation was overheard by one witty Member:

Doorman: Who was that then?

MP: The former Prime Minster.

DM: No, no with him.

Boom-tish.