It’s been over three months since the general election, and almost all new MPs (335 of them – over half of the Commons) are still without phones in their parliamentary offices. Thanks to Westminster’s sluggish and bureaucratic setup, the only way to get in touch with them is via email, which usually takes weeks to get a response. Not exactly ideal for those needing to get business done…
Fresh-face MPs have complained to Guido about the how “frustrating” the painfully slow process has been. Not least because any hack with a deadline who wants to speak to an MP’s office have no efficient way of doing so. Some have taken matters into their own hands, with one LibDem MP even posting their business WhatsApp number on the parliamentary website just to be contactable. If it takes more than three months just to install a phone, one wonders how long it takes to get anything else done…
Nigel Farage had quite the first day in Parliament yesterday. The “new kid on the block” enjoyed his inaugural pint as an MP on the Terrace, sharing a drink with an unlikely companion—his Clacton rival, Giles Watling, who just happened to be the only other person in the bar. Meanwhile, Nigel’s celebrity status wasn’t lost on the House of Commons staff…
Guido hears a memo was sent round to staff instructing them to ‘stop asking Nigel for selfies’ as they aren’t supposed to show partiality toward MPs or parties. The Reform Leader already charming his way through the ranks…
The Scottish Parliament banned rainbow lanyards last month to “help avoid any potential misperception over the absolute impartiality of all Scottish parliamentary staff.” No such policy looks to come from Westminster – taxpayer-funded spending on the lanyards has shot up by 431% in the past year. Some MPs are wondering why…
It has now been revealed that spending on rainbow/progressive flag lanyards has risen from £380 to £1,639 in the last year – thousands are available for staff to wear from the ParliOut Workplace Equality Network. Parliamentary rules are clear that staff “must carry out their duties and deliver services with complete political impartiality, and must be seen to do so. The wearing of pins or badges which express a personal view on a politically controversial issue would not therefore be appropriate in the workplace.” Parliament may be crumbling, though at least it’s doing so in solidarity and allyship…
Government minister Maria Caulfield is on the morning round and made clear the government’s displeasure when it comes to the Speaker’s conduct last night. Caulfield has said Hoyle’s “position is difficult” and she “would struggle now to support him“. An Early Day Motion declaring no confidence in Hoyle has ticked up to at least 42 votes. The ball is in the government’s court when it comes to voting Hoyle out. Just Stop Hoyle?
Labour claims it is “categorically untrue” that the Speaker was told to pick Labour’s amendment while meetings took place with him and the party delayed proceedings in the Chamber for as long as possible. At the very least Caulfield says Hoyle’s decision to go against the Clerk of the house is a “red line“. Hoyle has apologised and seemed genuinely contrite last night…
As UK food price inflation skyrockets by a record 13.3%, parliamentarians will soon have to dig deeper into their pockets to fund their taxpayer-subsidised dining: the Commons catering venues are whacking their prices up… by just 5%.
The biggest hit to Members’ wallets, however, will come from the booze hikes. Alcohol prices are going up by 10% across the board…
“Prices in House of Commons catering venues will increase from 6 March 2023 as part of the annual financial planning round, to keep up with the increasing cost of food and drink.
The overall increase on food is 5%. Alcoholic drinks, where served, will increase by an average of 10% overall to become more aligned with external establishments. Price increases have been agreed by the Finance Committee and the Commission.”
The House of Commons bulletin claims that booze prices will now be more aligned with “external establishments“, although as Guido’s already pointed out, when a pint costs £6.45 in the Red Lion, and £3.45 over the road in Parliament, a 10% increase doesn’t quite align things. Bottoms up…
Away from the noise of the Budget, earlier this week Conservative MP Robbie Moore led a Commons debate on child sexual exploitation across Bradford, calling for a “Rotherham-style inquiry” into the scandal and claiming it had been “swept under the carpet” by the local authorities. Although the debate only attracted small number of MPs – none of the three Labour MPs for Bradford bothered to appear, despite two previously claiming they would – there was one booming voice lending his support to Moore’s campaign: the Honourable Member for Ashfield, Lee Anderson. Asking Moore to give way twice so he could give the Chamber a piece of his mind, Anderson said:
“The only way that we know the full scale of these vile crimes in Bradford is for a full Rotherham-style… investigation, and would he also agree with me that certain local politicians on the council, and the mayor, should hang their heads in shame.”
“Once this inquiry takes place, and we get to the bottom of this, and these grooming gangs are put away where they rightly belong in prison, then the next call will be these lazy politicians – and they need locking up too.”
Even Moore sounded a bit surprised by Lee’s fury…
