and Mr Salter were reported like this:
Yesterday Mr Bercow's campaign manager, beery Martin Salter (Lab, Reading W), tried to cement his young man in place by saying: 'Mr Squeaker, it gives me particular pleasure to welcome you as our new reforming Squeaker.' He went on to say that 'the whole House should now get behind you'.
While Mr Salter was saying this there were groans and laughs from the Opposition. I heard someone make pretend retching sounds. When Mr Salter proceeded to ask a long question - longer than others were allowed - people shouted 'Speech!'. In other words: tell your mate Salter to shut up, Bercow.
by the estimable Quentin Letts of course
18 comments:
You are probably right, but Tony Page has told us not to "read the mad woman's blog", so therefore we are not.
oooh, excellent! thanks Tony for driving traffic to my blog, great stuff
That Quentin Letts is a prick and everyone knows it.
Dear me - they don't like it up 'em, do they?
Quentin tells it like it is - unlike firey pants Macguire from The guardian.
"When super-sickly-loyal George Turner (Norfolk North West) rises, old Labourites want to stick fingers down their throats. They are not much more impressed by Barbara Follett (Stevenage), Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North) or Jane Griffiths (Reading East), who sit on the green benches like babies watching Teletubbies: open-mouthed, blinking with wonder."
Quentin Letts on Jane Griffiths.
fab, keep em coming boys! So was the "beery" epithet justified then? Or not? Boys? Boys?
I take it all back - insightful Quentin is not that much of a prick after all
Everyone knows that, since 2005, Salter has developed a 'problem' that used to be referred to, kindly, as 'tired and emotional' or, with courtesy, by saying that a particular person was a 'bon-viveur'.
Quentin Letts, being honest to a fault, refuses to pussy-foot around.
He describes Salter as 'beery'.
A less kind journalist would have used another word, often used in connection with the Roehampton Priory and other such places...
Well, this does help to explain why Martin seems to react in such a very extreme way as far as Jane is concerned.
I was finding it difficult to see why he is so obsessed by a woman who has not even lived in Reading for over four years and has held no office there since that time.
Alcoholism is a really serious problem and it is a disease - therefore Martin should not be derided for it or made fun of.
If the journalist Quentin Letts was trying to mock an alcoholic then he should be ashamed of himself.
Matin should be encouraged to visit AA - obviously not somewhere where he is known - so that he can get the help and support he needs.
And if he has family, then Al Anon can be very helpful.
I hope I don't sound too preachy, but I volunteered for The Samaritans several years ago and think that these problems should be taken seriously and that sufferers like Martin should be offered help not abuse to deal with their problems.
Martin started having two over the eight in a big way at the start of the parliamentary candidate selection process for his seat.
Words were had after an incident outside the Chamber - and its fair to say that he's failed to get a grip.
A shame - he's a cheery chap - but once the bottle gets a hold its a relentless mistress. Sadly, he's not the first colleague to go this way and won't be the last.
Well - so he has started behaving in the House of Commons like he behaves in Reading has he?
Only in Reading he is not 'cheery' at all but becomes abusive, bullying and a threat to himself and others if anyone dare to cross him after he has pickled his brains.
Its why I no longer go to party meetings in Reading.
Men who are drunks should stay out of politics.
If he spends his time at parliament pissed as a parrot was he advised to stand down by the Chief Whip?
He was told that he would not be receiving Ministerial 'help' next May if he did not accept help offered.
I understand he didn't accept it and was told to stand down.
WHat would be the help?
A drying out clinic?
Yes - and/or a series of counselling/therapy sessions with an approved and therefore secure practitioner.
The House is a notoriously liquid environment - but when colleagues take this to the length of threatening other members after imbibing or insulting Officers of the House, then measures are taken and help is offered. As it should be and the sensible course is always to take the asistance.
Martin did not do that.
Does the Reading Labour party know that he was asked to resign in advance?
Yes - the officers were informed, as were regional officers - some time ago, actually.
Then why was he allowed to say he was standing down - it seems as if he has been ordered to resign because he is an unpredictable alcoholic.
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