Anthony Steen MP is to retire at the next election, he has just told ConservativeHome

“The real issue is who can fix the country, and I have become a distraction, so have decided that I won’t stand again. I don’t want to risk the party losing the seat, so it is in the best interests of the party that I go. There has been no pressure from my association; they have been marvellous: members have been very put out by the Daily Telegraph coverage.  I’ve had a very good innings, there’s no bitterness, no anger, but as the saying goes, all political careers end in tears.”

He will be able to spend more time gardening, saving the taxpayer a fortune.  Voting blue in Totnes was perhaps going a little too “green” with Steen claiming some £88,000 in expenses for the upkeep of his garden.  Guido will admit this, Steen goes with class, without desperately clinging onto the greasy pole.

UPDATE : The Tory press office says: “Sir Peter Viggers has confirmed that he will retire as MP for Gosport at the next election. He will do so at the direct request of David Cameron”.  Out for a duck.  Well fired for claiming £1,645 for a floating “duck island” in his garden pond. Quackers.

Won’t be about his personal mores, just his financial dishonesty.  That Cowley Street moral high ground looking increasingly shaky..

Hat-tip : Liberal Vision

According to PoliticsHome, who interviewed 1225 voters immediately after Michael Martin resigned, the public overwhelmingly wants more politician’s blood.  This is far from over with the dispatch of the Speaker.

Good spot by Tory Bear, this is apparently his first Twitter and is supposedly a genuine reply to Austin Mitchell MP.  Get ready, Nick Brown is one of Gordon’s most trusted confidantes…

UPDATE 12.10 : Nick Brown’s Twitter account has been deleted.  Think that suggests it was genuine.

The Prime Mentalist visited Sellafield earlier this year (January 23). A report recently released by a Board of Inquiry reveals that on the very same day of his visit a radioactive leak was discovered.  Jonah’s curse goes nuclear.

The leak was classed as at “level two” on the Nuclear International Event scale – the highest at Sellafield in many years.  Not a good precedent for another international event – the World Cup.  This week Gordon held a photo opportunity to support England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.  So that is that jinxed, football definitely “won’t be coming home”…