Ealing MP Andrew Slaughter had an arresting metaphor today to support his attack on Hammersmith Council.
The debate was about the sad plight of local papers under threat from disappearing advertising. The Hammersmith paper has had its advertising cut from underneath them by a vast Daily Mail size free paper that is packed with local advertising. The Tory Council claimed that this council tax subsidised paper is 'filling a gap in the market.' Andrew said this excuse is rather like a 'kerb-crawler claiming that he was serving the unfulfilled sexual appetites of women.'
Lib-Dems Cardigan MP Mark Williams had a less convincing argument. His outrage was that a weakened Cardigan and Tivyside Advertiser would leave his constituents distressed, bereft of regular bulletins on the current state of scallop dredging in Cardigan Bay. I did NOT make that bit up.
This is the first time I have intervened on the worrying crises of regional papers. They will be sorely missed if they disappear. I emphasise that if market forces are to be distorted by subsidies, outrageously right-wing local papers must have a duty of political balance imposed on them in exchange for subsidies. That is what already happens to broadcasters. The news is better as a result and trusted by the public.
GAS attack
Life on the backbench is always livelier when Stephen Pound sits next to me as he did today. The inventive raconteur is still under G.A.S.attack by e-mails. The Gromit Appreciation Society are unforgiving. Even though we all know it was the Guardian's fault for mixing up the 'great' Peter Sallis with the 'late Peter Sallis.' Peter has been restored to full life and vigour and has asserted that he is not dead.
Stephen was provoked today by a question on equality which mentioned 'single' people. Another MP put in a plea for single people. 'You're not single,' barked Stephen 'you're a serial shagger.' With a gleam in her eye a woman MP sitting in front of us said , 'Can I be introduced to him?'
It would be ungallant to name the woman. But she has a penchant for the double-entendre. Describing the large amount of correspondence she has, said ' I have to handle six inches of mail every morning'. On another occasion she defended the errant, sex scandal-ridden John Prescott as a 'fine hands-on minister'.
Pride and shame
I am big in Baku but tomorrow it will be a day of ignominy in the UK.
There is an unpublicised visit to London by the President of Azerbaijan. Because of his odious human rights record I put down this EDM.
That this House is deeply concerned with the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan; condemns the attacks and imprisonment of youth activists in Azerbaijan on 10 July 2009; calls on the Government to demand their immediate release and an end to prosecution of independent media and opposition activists and to restore BBC Radio broadcasting, shut down by the Aliev government earlier this year; and hopes that the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will robustly defend human rights during President Ilham Aliev's current visit to the UK.
But I will be avoiding eye contact with other Labour MPs in the morning because the Daily Mail will list me as a 'hero.' It's because I voted on humanitarian grounds to stop an Asperges Syndrome sufferer from being deporting to the USA. There are problems with an unequal extradition treaty with the USA.
I was more comfortable when the Daily Mail denounced me as 'An enemy of the State.'
Praise from the Daily Mail is indeed wounding but if suffer you must then at least you do so for a good cause.
Far far nobler ... No greater love ... etc etc
Careful though Paul, you might start giving people expectations of their political representatives, then where would we be.
Posted by: HuwOS | July 16, 2009 at 12:38 AM
The extradition treaty is an utter scandal, abused by the US with the connivance of the Government. The Daily Mail isn't always wrong - after all, a broken watch is right twice a day.
Posted by: Kay Tie | July 16, 2009 at 09:27 AM
The extradition treaty is so one sided - why do we agree to this? Or is it a 'special' treaty for the 'special ' relationship ?
I was surprised that so many Labour MP's rolled over for this. If it not to inflict defeats on the government then is it a good time to bring some of the 'tough stuff' to Parliament if the Labour MP's won't rock the boat?
And don't worry about the Daily Mail - their adulation won't last
Posted by: Tony | July 16, 2009 at 02:57 PM
Oh sweet Jesus
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8152099.stm
(please excuse my blasphemy)
Posted by: Chris Carter | July 16, 2009 at 08:17 PM
Tony Blair, ex pm, war criminal and envoy for peace in the middle east for president of Europe.
A cunning move in an attempt to discourage the Irish from passing the treaty that.
Very devious and who knows it might just work.
Posted by: HuwOS | July 16, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Thanks. It was no painful in the Daily Mail. Te heroic dozen were modestly presented. the ones who had signed an EDM and then did not follow their support with a vote were crucified.
I agree Kay Tie. It was the right thing to do.
Posted by: Paul Flynn | July 17, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Interesting theory Huw. The Irish voted strangely last time. the Blair threat could push them over the edge.
Posted by: Paul Flynn | July 17, 2009 at 12:02 AM