Parliamentary plaudits
There are one or two very enjoyable political social events, not least the Channel 4 political awards ceremony this week. There is always a great deal of good humour, laughter and teasing. Whilst Nick Clegg (a possible award winner) was absent, the Liberal Democrats side was represented, amongst others, by Lembit Opik, who appeared with the two Cheeky Girls on his arm. The food served, however, would be guaranteed to keep them thin.
Alastair Campbell’s book on Tony Blair was given an award, and two Conservative politicians in particular. George Osborne, who in December became the Spectator magazine politician of the year, won the Channel 4 prize as opposition politician of the year. Yesterday he scored again, inasmuch as poor Alistair Darling had to do a u-turn on capital gains tax. William Hague’s brilliant speech on Europe on Monday was re-shown, and it secured his recognition as well. Now David Cameron and George Osborne are in Davos with a queue of people waiting to meet them.
It has been a dreadful week for the Government. And a remark by Jon Snow, the master of ceremonies, showed that Gordon Brown’s reputation for dithering is sticking.
And yesterday we had a seminar on the subject of export promotion, something of a serious issue considering our trade imbalance. It is clear that if and when we win the next General Election, this is yet another structure which will have to be re-assembled.