Meedja on the Insanity Pills

PM to make 'Queen's Speech'...

Gordon Brown is to set out a 'Queen's Speech' type run-down of his plans for the year ahead. BBC. ePolitix. Economists say that Alistair Darling's plans for dealing with the 10p tax crisis could prove costly. The Guardian. UK hospitals are still dirtier than patients would like them to be.… read more…

Written by Oli Anderson on 14 May 2008 7:47 AM. Permalink

Ministry for Administrative Affairs

Feeling Good?

People, it's a new dawn, a new day, a new Parliamentary session - are we all excited? Are we? Woohoo. Well, it looks like it's going to be slightly more interesting than last week (with all due respect to Brenda) as at least we get PMQs, but unfortunately the debates… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 11 Nov 2007 10:34 AM. Permalink

That Was The Week That Was

Brenda and backbiting

The week began with the fallout from Nigel Hastilow's Enoch-stylings (good, one Nige. Note: this is sarcasm), moved on to the Queen's Speech on Tuesday and ended with a whimper rather than a bang as the debates on the Address meandered pointlessly on until the House rose on Thursday. Things were… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 10 Nov 2007 11:50 AM. Permalink

Points, In Order

House Up (but not in the commuter belt)

BONG! In the debate on the Queen's Speech today, attention was turned to (amongst other things) new-build housing. The Tories were all: what do we want? Lots of new housing! Where do we want it? Nowhere near my million pound pad thank you very much! BONG! The inter-party slapping over… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 8 Nov 2007 6:25 PM. Permalink

Meedja on the Insanity Pills

Daily Mail: getting to the heart of the Gord's vision

As far as "stealing Conservative clothes" goes, the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal that Sarah Brown has taken her husband's example one step too far. Yesterday, arriving at Parliament for the Queen's Speech, Mrs Brown shocked onlookers by wearing a coat. Said a nearby Tory MP, "This is another example of the… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 7 Nov 2007 12:52 PM. Permalink

Ministry for Madness

It's like RAY-HEEE-HAIN on your wedding day

Isn't it ironic? One time Prime Ministerial hopeful Michael Meacher had this to say on the Gord's policies with regard to housing announced yesterday: It’s good that after two decades of neglect of social housing amidst the triumphalist ideology of private ownership, the national scandal of housing need is now… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 7 Nov 2007 11:14 AM. Permalink

While You Were Sleeping

Bring me the head of Gordon Brown!

The Times is getting its journalistic knickers in a twist over what appears to be some intern buggering up the personalised-to-your-area press release jobbie. What do we want? An Independent Inquiry(TM)! When do we want it? NOW! Keith Vaz MP, chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, condemns the Government's "British… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 7 Nov 2007 8:45 AM. Permalink

Points, In Order

Brenda plays Westminster

BONG! Roundup on the Queen's Speech first, kids: the Telegraph has a transcript, Peter Kenyon wonders what will happen to party finance reform, Nick Robinson reckons that the Gord was warned to be on his best behaviour and play nicely with little Davy Cameron but Davy reciprocates by whipping out the sling-shot nevertheless, the… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 6 Nov 2007 5:26 PM. Permalink

Meedja on the Insanity Pills

Going backwards

So far the issue that seems to be exciting everybody the most in relation to the Queen's Speech is that Jack Straw walked backwards at some point. Meanwhile, the Beeb has a summary of the 29 Bills announced here.… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 6 Nov 2007 12:31 PM. Permalink

Gawd Bless Yer Ma'am

LIVE! Queen's Speech, 6/11/07

Well done Her Majesty! Didn't she read the list of legislation beautifully? Amongst everything else there will be legislation on the EU Reform Treaty, a Bill to keep da yoof in education, various stuff on climate change, reforms of the criminal justice system, a new Homes and Communities Agency is… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 6 Nov 2007 11:58 AM. There are 2 comments so far. Permalink

Department of Advance Early Warning

Queen's Speech Live @ 11.30. Or thereabouts.

It's all happening in here, people. Is it going to be a speech that recaptures the initiative for the PM, or a widely-trailed damp squib? How much will it be affected by the immigration shenanigans of recent weeks and what impact will this debate have on Brown's housing policies? Will the… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 6 Nov 2007 10:11 AM. Permalink

Ministry for Things We'd Like To Know

Cards on the table

Although the Queen will be delivering her speech in a slightly posher accent than the bloke who wrote it, many have been pointing out that the contents will probably sound remarkably similar. In July the Gord gave his pre-Queen's Speech to the assembled Chamber in which he outlined many of his… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 6 Nov 2007 10:01 AM. Permalink

While You Were Sleeping

Pomp and Circumstance

Good morning, folks. As you are aware - great excitement - today is the day when a game old bird in lots of twinklers delivers a speech written for her by someone else whilst some bloke with a big rod (arf!) bangs on the door of the Commons. Ah, modernity, eh?… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 6 Nov 2007 8:40 AM. Permalink

Points, In Order

Rubbish and Her Maj's mysterious illness

BONG! Ken weighs in on the pay-as-you-go rubbish policy and is all, "it's rubbish!" BONG! Queen's Speech tomorrow folks, and the Guardian has this summary of expected announcements. BONG! On the subject of Her Maj, the Telegraph (who else?) has another of their cracking headlines: "Windsor Foot and Mouth relief… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 5 Nov 2007 6:01 PM. Permalink

Department for the Tyburn Jig

Spooky

MI5 say that "thousands pose UK terror threat," and at the same time the Government announce they're thinking about extending the 28 day detention period to 47, no wait ... one hundred ... nah, that's too many - tell you what, how about 56 days? We all good with that? Cool.… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 5 Nov 2007 5:55 PM. Permalink

Department for David Beckham Studies

We Don't Need No Education

According to reports, one of the Bills to be announced the Queen's Speech will raise the school leaving age to 18, and introduce other methods to drag reluctant teenagers into the world of work. Curiously, the Beeb was reporting on Breakfast that this would involve fining the jobless youngsters. Er ...? Anyhow,… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 5 Nov 2007 1:00 PM. Permalink

While You Were Sleeping

Resignations and turmoil

In response to the Enoch-stylings of one time PPC Nigel Hastilow, Olly's Onions suggests that the Tories take advantage of the publicity and launch a poster campaign ... Fair Deal Phil has a look at what all this says about the real impact of Dave's shiny, shiny hair on… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 5 Nov 2007 8:49 AM. There are 2 comments so far. Permalink

Points, In Order

Engage brain THEN open mouth. Not t'other way.

BONG! Ben Brogan on the Nigel Hastilow resignation. Tip for Tories: claiming that Enoch Powell had a couple of good ideas is not the way to make friends and influence people. Here endeth the lesson. BONG! The Provisional BBC takes Davy's policy on birching the Scots to its logical conclusion.… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 4 Nov 2007 5:49 PM. Permalink

Department of Kite Flying

The Gord: real fame at last!

Gooood afternoon folks, it's time for the weekly round-up of the Sunday papers and let's start with some excellent news. Yup, negotiations are underway for the Gord is to appear in his very own episode of the Simpsons, and the Independent on Sunday has got its mitts on a leaked a… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 4 Nov 2007 12:26 PM. Permalink

Ministry for Administrative Affairs

Quick! Before anybody sees

Not much going on this week folks: the House is prorogued on Tuesday, after which everyone empties out until the Queen's Speech on 6th November. Full agenda here, and highlights (such as they are) below: Oral PQs Monday: Culture, Media, and Sport; Olympics; Church Commissioners; Public Accounts Commission; Speaker's Committee… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 28 Oct 2007 10:14 AM. Permalink

Westmonster: “Queens Speech”