A minor spat has broken out between Welsh Labour MPs Kim Howells (pictured right) and Paul Flynn (below). A couple of days ago I reported a politically incorrect comment Howells had made in a debate in the Commons. "It's not enough to assume that if you eat the right kind of muesli and go to first nights of Harold Pinter revivals and read the Independent occasionally that the drug barons of Afghanistan are going to go away. They are not going to go away''. This did not amuse Paul Flynn, who has a notoriously short fuse. He accused Howells of being 'flippant' and has now tabled a Commons motion accusing the Foreign Office minister of "schoolboy" comments about "life and death" issues. Howells has hit back. He said "I answered [the question] in my own way and if he
doesn't like it, he can do what he likes about it. I take extraordinarily seriously the issue of Afghanistan and have been working very closely with my colleagues in DFID and the MoD to ensure that our troops have the maximum protection in Afghanistan." Dr Howells has provoked strong reactions in the past with his outspoken comments. While arts minister, he wrote on a comment slip that items shortlisted for the Turner Prize were "conceptual bullshit". He also remarked during a Commons debate on licensing laws the idea of "listening to three Somerset folk singers sounds like hell". He once described the royal family as "a bit bonkers". Seems like he should know!
Hat-tip to BBC Wales
A minor spat has broken out between Welsh Labour MPs Kim Howells (pictured right) and Paul Flynn (below). A couple of days ago I reported a politically incorrect comment Howells had made in a debate in the Commons. "It's not enough to assume that if you eat the right kind of muesli and go to first nights of Harold Pinter revivals and read the Independent occasionally that the drug barons of Afghanistan are going to go away. They are not going to go away''. This did not amuse Paul Flynn, who has a notoriously short fuse. He accused Howells of being 'flippant' and has now tabled a Commons motion accusing the Foreign Office minister of "schoolboy" comments about "life and death" issues. Howells has hit back. He said "I answered [the question] in my own way and if he 
doesn't like it, he can do what he likes about it. I take extraordinarily seriously the issue of Afghanistan and have been working very closely with my colleagues in DFID and the MoD to ensure that our troops have the maximum protection in Afghanistan." Dr Howells has provoked strong reactions in the past with his outspoken comments. While arts minister, he wrote on a comment slip that items shortlisted for the Turner Prize were "conceptual bullshit". He also remarked during a Commons debate on licensing laws the idea of "listening to three Somerset folk singers sounds like hell". He once described the royal family as "a bit bonkers". Seems like he should know! Hat-tip to BBC Wales
2 comments:
As someone who lives in Newport I cringe every time this bearded windbag opens his mouth.
Its bad enough that he was found guilty of libel the other year, yet lacks the moral fiber to resign, but his abilities as an MP leave a lot to be desired.
Hurrah for Dr Howells!
In defence of Paul Flynn, he is also one of the more outspoken and entertaining Welsh MPs (even though on certain subjects he's totally bonkers). Then again that's even less excuse for his being so touchy when he's on the recieving end rather than dishing it out.
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