European Political News

This week legislation was largely forgotten as we all got a vicarious thrill from the surprising sexual antics of Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, Hague and Harman crossed handbags on the issue of which of them was going to come first in Parliament's Best Dressed List, and a Minister learned the hard way that sometimes the best thing to bring to a contentious debate is silence.

The state visit of French President Nicholas Sarkozy and his eminently suitable (ahem) wife added a certain je ne sais quios to the usual humdrum of Westminster but, as is often the way with these things, below the glittering surface the grubby underbelly of politics continued to undulate. The Speaker's increasingly desperate attempts to keep the furniture-related spending habits of MPs a secret has elicited criticism from those brave crusaders after truth in the fourth estate, whilst the row over the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill has led to a somewhat embarrassing climbdown on the part of the Government. In other news, the Conservatives blame Labour for falling marriage rates, and Alistair Darling's ability to enjoy a pint of mild and bitter in the boozer after work has been cutailed by those most feared crusaders for justice and DA TROOF: bloggers.

With the Parliamentary spectacle of the Budget behind us, this week politics descended into navel gazing and - occasionally - farce. An outbreak of jealous bitchslapping at Downing Street in the wake of the departure of former Brown aide Spencer Livermore coincided with a sharp dip in the polls for the comrades. Smooth. Meanwhile, details of the Liberal Democrats preparedness for Government leaked out causing speculation on the blogosphere of an alternative SNP-Conservative Unholy Alliance after the next general election, the Gord got down with Doctor Who, and a Conservative Opposition Day Motion on Post Office closures came close to causing red faces on the Labour benches. (more…)

Roll up, roll up! See the Eighth Wonder of the Parliamentary Estate: the amazing Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling ventriloquism act. SEE! Alistair deliver his first Budget as Chancellor! GASP! At the way that way his lips move so convincingly as he mouths stuff about “stability” and more tax on The Booze (cries of “shame” from students everywhere)! MARVEL! At the…yeah, that’s enough. Yep, it’s Budget time people, and frankly after the incident and romance surrounding the culmination of the Lisbon Treaty in the Commons last week, I’m surprised we can all cope with the excitement. Elsewhere, wee Nicky Clegg delivered his first address to the assembled Liberal Democrat masses at their spring Conference, the Speaker was on the receiving end of a bout of happy-slapping from a former member of staff, the polls indicate that the Tories shouldn’t start getting complacent yet, and a Conservative MP threw a hissy fit and resigned the whip. (more…)

This week it’s all about the Lisbon Treaty, folks. I know, I know, but before I precipitate the kind of mass exodus that can only be engendered by the words “long debate on Europe,” consider this: nothing in politics reignites flagging interest like a good ol’ fashioned split and, this time it’s not the Tories. We’re through the looking glass here, people. In other news, the theme of “booze Britain” was given a new lease of life with the release of the interim report on the new licensing laws, Margaret Hodge’s comments on the Proms allowed hacks everywhere to crank out the phrase “political correctness gawn maaaaaaad” or variants thereof, David Cameron and his Merry Men got all chain gang on the Government in terms of prison policy, and a Labour backbencher attempted to hold John Humphrys to account over his questioning of Opposition spokesmen. Good luck with that one, love. (more…)

On Thursday this week we’ll be starting a multi-Parliamentary roundup from multiple personalities in multiple Parliaments. Sadie Smith of Sadie’s Tavern did a trial run around Westminster. Here is the summary; the full report is over at the Tavern. (On a sidenote, we are still thinking about names for reports. Suggestions are welcome in the comments). Westminster Watch 25/2 - 3/3 It’s been a week of contrasts and thinly veiled class warfare here at Westminster. Revelations in last week’s Sundays that Commons Speaker Michael Martin had snaffled a cool ?17,000 of expenses last year to pay a mortgage on a house he already owns has divided opinion amongst MPs, the press, and bloggers alike. In the red corner the Martin cheerleaders are muttering how this is all an eeeevil campaign perpetrated by a bunch of Eton hoorays in the media and in Parliament who want to remind the proletariat of their place; in the blue corner his detractors are trumpeting that this is an outrageous misuse of public funds for which he should resign (even if he weren’t a bit crap). Meanwhile, at least one potential contender for the Speaker post - should Martin, entirely by his own choice you understand, fall on his sword - has been practising his Elder Statesman routine in front of anyone who can’t manage to run away fast enough. News from Elsewhere The bowel-clenching tedium of the debate on the Lisbon Treaty was unexpectedly enlivened by some we-shall-not-be-moved action from the Liberal Democrats. A protest on the roof of the Commons led to the arrest of a Parliamentary bag-carrier. And the Gord got down wiv da kidz at the Labour Party’s Spring Conference in Birmingham. Wicked, innit? Read it all. Tags: westminster watch, sadie smith, michael martin, mr speaker