As Lord Dobbs prepares for the launch of Season Two of House of Cards on Friday, Guido can report a Machiavellian plot worthy of his characters. The progress of the EU Referendum Bill came to a grinding halt when the Lords voted against it. The vote turnout was a surprisingly low 310 out of a potential 800, on a subject that really brings old Tory lords to life. Some 90 Tory Lords were missing during the vote. Dobbs led in the Lords for the Tories and has privately voiced his dismay to friends at the lack of effort put in by the Tory whips in the Lords. Cynical old hands suspect that it suits Dave only to be seen to be pushing for a referendum bill with opponents voting it down.
It highlights to the public that it is the Tories and not UKIP which can bring about a referendum and unites Tory MPs under one banner in an endless war. You might say that actually passing the Bill would mean the PM would be closer to actually having to do something about the EU. Guido couldn’t possibly comment.
Deirdre Kelly, AKA White Dee from Benefits Street, has written this week’s Diary for the Spectator:
“Last time, I voted Liberal Democrat. And why? Because we’ve been Labour-governed for quite a while in Birmingham. Nothing was being done, cuts had been made, the system just seemed to be completely falling apart. The only person that seemed to show any interest in our ward of Winson Green was the Liberal Democrat candidate. It’s unlikely I’ll be voting Clegg, though, so unless there’s an amazing UKIP candidate it’ll probably be Labour.”
It seems the Red UKIP message is working.
Pssst @David_Cameron, don't forget to bring some girls to work today. #PMQs
— Guido Fawkes (@GuidoFawkes) February 12, 2014
A frontbench full of female ministers and four more women sitting directly behind Dave at PMQs:
Responsive government in action…
Via @generalboles
Oral Questions to the Prime Minister
Q1 Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion)
Q2 Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin)
Q3 Andy Sawford (Corby)
Q4 Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds)
Q5 Cathy Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Q6 Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View)
Q7 Neil Carmichael (Stroud)
Q8 Mr William Bain (Glasgow North East)
Q9 Stephen Doughty (Cardiff South and Penarth)
Q10 Rushanara Ali (Bethnal Green and Bow)
Q11 Stephen Timms (East Ham)
Q12 Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield)
Q13 Graeme Morrice (Livingston)
Q14 Mr David Amess (Southend West)
Q15 Gregg McClymont (Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Comments in the comments please…
Following her Twitter Bitch Fight win over Owen Jones last week, Louise Mensch is taking on all comers.
In her sights last night was Daily Mail political duo James Chapman and Tim Shipman, so the audience could expect a bit more of a heavyweight clash.
They were not disappointed:
@GuidoFawkes @jameschappers oh get over yourself Chappers FFS. It's your own twithandle!
— Louise Mensch (@LouiseMensch) February 11, 2014
@ShippersUnbound @jameschappers I don't want to get over myself Shippers. Menschers is fine where she is 🙂
— Louise Mensch (@LouiseMensch) February 11, 2014
@ShippersUnbound were you a political columnist for the Sun at the time?
— Louise Mensch (@LouiseMensch) February 11, 2014
@ShippersUnbound citation needed (and you see, I'm quite interested in politics). We manage to have some fun here. http://t.co/A7LcWA5hu4
— Louise Mensch (@LouiseMensch) February 11, 2014
Score draw. Rematch!
“Last week, Nick Clegg returned from a trip to South America. Goodness knows what he smoked out there, because he actually made a couple of smart points. First, the so-called War on Drugs isn’t working. Second, we should appoint a royal commission to look into the alternatives. The fact is our current approach to drugs is neither practical nor effective. I strongly believe in promoting individual freedom – but I also strongly believe in reducing the public harm caused by drugs. As a parent as much as a politician, I say we have to accept that current policy has not achieved the reductions in crime or consumption that we’d hoped for. I know he slagged me off in this newspaper yesterday, but on this one I agree with Nick.”
Finally a politician with an interesting line.
