Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans has kicked off Westminster’s card-giving season with another classic offering. Living up to his high standards, this year’s effort sees Nigel’s Christmas spirit making a move from the Speaker’s office to the Cabinet table, thanks to cameos from Rishi Sunak and a Father Christmas appearance from Col. Bob Stewart. There’s even an MP4 add-on available via QR code…
Apparently, Rishi’s Christmas Card is less self-deprecating than last year’s. Guido’s sure his is in the post…
Fresh from his Brazilian jolly, celebrating the victory of Putin apologist Lula, Jeremy Corbyn made a point of order in the Commons this afternoon to moan about Rishi Sunak. According to the Absolute Boy, the fact that Rishi mentioned him during PMQs yesterday proves he lives “rent-free” in the PM’s head, and that Rishi should have had the decency to alert Jeremy of his attack lines ahead of time. Presumably this won’t be an issue in future, given Rishi made it quite clear he’s planning to do this on a weekly basis…
For the avoidance of doubt, Penny Mordaunt politely reminded him of this fact at the despatch box. Even the Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans couldn’t resist a wisecrack…
Another vintage Commons clash last night between Lee Anderson and Ian Lavery, with Anderson once again accusing Lavery of “stealing money” from the miners, and Lavery getting so upset he actually asked Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans to “protect” him from Anderson. Not a demand Evans took to kindly…
Anderson: Does he think that any Opposition Member who has received a donation from the RMT should put that money in a pot to help people who suffer during next week’s rail strike? Does he also think that other MPs who have stolen money from the mineworkers—165 grand in the case of the hon. Member for Wansbeck (Ian Lavery) —should pay it back?
After eventually convincing Anderson to withdraw the remark, Evans turned his attention to Lavery:
Lavery: On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. You have been in the Chair three times when the hon. Member for Ashfield (Lee Anderson) has made allegations. He withdraws his ridiculous remark and consistently comes back to say it again. As Deputy Speaker, you are not protecting the likes of myself. I need your protection.
Evans: Order. Do not make allegations against the Chair, ever. You saw how I treated Mr Anderson. You just leave it with me—I don’t need lectures on how to do my job.
All this happening in the mother of all parliaments, rather than the school playground. At least it was entertaining…
MPs are getting into the festive mood with Christmas cards now filling the postbags of their colleagues. Guido particularly enjoyed Chief Whip Mark Spencer’s offering this year, joking about the woes of trying to keep MPs in line via Zoom. Also sporting the House of Commons’ fetching £45 Christmas jumper…
Not to be outdone, Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans – who has a tradition of unique festive cards – has posted out this incredible offering featuring a cameo from Sir Lindsay himself:
Guido expects his Christmas card from the Chief Whip must have got lost in the post…
A Tory Party fringe event this afternoon saw Tory deputy speakers Eleanor Laing and Nigel Evans speak at a “The Future of Parliament” chat hosted by Conservative Young Women, in which it was revealed the new Covid-friendly voting method in the Commons – with MPs tapping their vote in via a card reader in the No or Aye Lobbies – will stay forever post-pandemic, signalling an end to the ancient method of six Commons clerks recording votes by hand (and latterly by iPad), based on members’ name. Hopefully this will both speed up divisions and the time it takes to get MPs’ votes up on the Parliament website…
During the Zoom fringe event, Evans also revealed that while Big Ben’s scaffolding has begun to come down, it will take a whole six weeks for the metal casing to be removed entirely.
When asked about the legacy of John Bercow, both were very diplomatic however conceded the former speaker allowed too many Urgent Questions and Sir Lindsay has now got the balance right and is making the right procedural calls, including disallowing the Brady amendment. Finally, they supported the u-turn on cutting the number of seats in parliament and keeping the figure at 650 due to there now being no MEPs. Bravely they even spoke the unspeakable truth: that rejigging seat boundaries will actually “benefit the Tories”…
Nominations close for the role of Deputy Speaker today, with the election being held tomorrow. Guido brought you the list of candidates last year…
Peter Bone, an underdog contender for the role, and has sent MPs a comedy video urging them to end his contribution from the backbenches by relegating him to the Speaker’s chair:
Dear Colleagues,
If my email of yesterday didn’t convince you to vote for me as Deputy Speaker, this should be the clincher, as if you vote for me tomorrow, you’ll never have to hear this again!
With very best wishes,
Peter
Bone clearly hoping he won’t come in Beethoven’s 5th…
Guido understands Rosie Winterton is the only Labour candidate standing is therefore guaranteed the second Deputy Speaker spot leaving two up for grabs for the likely five Tory candidates.
Nigel Evans has been picking up momentum, securing the support of Tracey Crouch, Carolyn Harris, and Angus MacNeil; as well as picking up a lot of support from the new ‘blue-collar Tories’ – including his former Parliamentary assistant Simon Fell who is now the MP for Barrow and Furness.
David Amess and Robert Goodwill have been campaigning for the role for a shorter amount of time, and are also considered underdogs in the contest.
Eleanor Laing meanwhile is pitching more for the Labour vote with Chris Bryant and Wes Streeting on board. She will have to overcome memories of messing up in the Chair as MPs were voting on the election bill last year. Laing appeared to have not understood there was no committee stage for the bill and attempted to accept an amendment from Chris Leslie – leading to the face of Bercow having to take over. It was all very awkward.
Voting takes place tomorrow, with the top three candidates (provided at least one is female, Labour, or both) winning the three Deputy Speaker roles…
