Parliamentary sketch – Fruitcakes to the fore
Have the loonies finally taken over the asylum? We’ll find out in the coming days…
I am asked what I think about the re-election of a Cornwall Councillor who, apparently, holds the view that disabled children should be “put down”? Of course, it is possible that many of those who voted for him weren’t aware of his real views – this sometimes happens!
If there were a campaign to treat tiresome old bigots in the same way as this particular councillor proposes that disabled children should be treated then it’s possible he may begin to understand the offence he has caused? I don’t think the penny has dropped yet.
Meanwhile, Parliament has enjoyed its eccentric highlight of the year – the pomp and pageantry of the State Opening and The Queen’s speech. (In spite of her being the Duke of Cornwall’s mother it seems The Queen was unaware that this event clashed with Helston Flora Day. I have forgiven Her Royal Highness and explained I was in Helston!)
The State Opening saw the usual marching up and down and slamming doors in people’s faces etc. One thing you might not know is that Government Ministers have to work hard to a very strict deadline to finalise Her Majesty’s words. That’s because the speech has to be written out on goat’s skin, and it takes a few days to dry!
Perhaps the Prime Minister should write all of his policy ideas down on goat skin to allow them a few days to dry before having them announced to the world. It would give him time to carefully reflect. A Party he recently dismissed as “fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists” has benefitted from a recent swing in popularity and has the PM panicking.
When you can’t cope with things at home it helps to blame an enemy abroad. The sages on Conservative benches walk corridors shaking their heads, mumbling that the party is being led by “swivel-eyed” backbenchers who “love banging on about Europe”!
It would of course be sensible to have an intelligent debate about Britain’s relationship with Europe. Though to do this in a state of panic and on the basis of an ill-considered initiative would be unwise. The clearly unsatisfactory nature of many of the European institutions, allegations of corruption and unaccountability and the unacceptable micromanagement from an over centralised Europe are all matters that deserve calm debate. A debate in the British tradition of considered reflection as we allow time for the ink to dry between exchanges…
Andrew George
MP for the West Cornwall &
Isles of Scilly constituency of St Ives
14th May 2013