The Sunday Times gossip column toady mentioned that my book Commons Knowledge was in demand from new MPs. So much so that Amazon has run out. The writer said that new MPs will not be warned to beware of the Central Lobby.
Sadly that story is not in the old edition of the book. It was a tale I planned to put in the new edition which I have not yet written because of the chaos in parliamentary rules. But I did mentioned it on this blog last year.
"A new insight into the role of the Central Lobby was revealed to me shortly before the recess. An MP friend found himself sitting next to a woman in the Central Lobby last week. She was waiting to see her Tory MP. My friend chatted to the lady 'as you do', he told me.
The following week he had a letter from her saying that she would like to see him again. She said she hoped he did 'not have a girl friend.' Gosh! A member of the cabinet who was sharing our dining table recalled an MP for a northern town who explained the role of the Central Lobby to him. 25 years ago he had advised the cabinet member that if he was ever 'short' of a bed warmer for the night, the best way to solve the problem was to linger around the Central Lobby and engage a stranger in conversation. The lecherous MP spent so much time pursuing his passions in the Central Lobby, he lost his seat in 1983.
In my sheltered life, I have always seen the Central Lobby as a beautiful mock Gothic cathedral-style forum at the heart of the Palace. It's an inspiring place in which to meet constituents and now do television interviews in the dry. I must reveal its alternative sleazy role when I re-write my book.
The public deserve to know the truth."
You would not believe it. For the first time for 18 months one of serious national dailies rang me. they have shown no interest in any of the blogs about Afghanistan, Swine Flu or any of the subjects on this blog. But a mildly prurient story of today attracts the interest of the Daily Telegraph. I was polite, but with some difficulty.
Posted by: Paul Flynn | July 26, 2010 at 02:01 PM
LOL, we believe it Paul.
We would expect little more of them.
Posted by: HuwOS | July 26, 2010 at 04:04 PM