Wednesday, February 21, 2007

A Different Kind of Westminster Challenge

It was reported in yesterday's Evening Standard that Ed Vaizey's favourite part of his Arctic adventure was when fellow MP and charity fundraiser, Emily Thornberry, fell off the top of the igloo they were building together. I wonder what Emily's high point was? It might have been watching the relations develop between one of Cameron's nearest and dearest and everyone's favourite tip for the next Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg. I'm told that the two MPs became quite close during the trip - perhaps a sign of easing relations paving the way for a possible coalition after the next election? Probably not.

What is for sure though, is that the first Westminster Challenge has been a major success. The initiative, led by former Tory Party Conference Chairman, Richard Stephenson, has generated huge amounts of media coverage and raised a great deal of money for the charities, Crimestoppers, The Children's Society and Cancer Research UK. At the welcome back party hosted by the Lithuanian Ambassador this week, Stephenson announced plans to ballot MPs on the destination for the next expedition due to take place in 2008. Possibilities include; trekking across the Namibian desert, climbing Mount Kenya, a jungle adventure in Ecuador and rafting through Lithuania - strangely nobosy suggested a trek through Chechnya... Click HERE for more on the Westminster Challenge. Ed's take on the trip is HERE. He's says Nick Clegg an't budgin'. Well, he would, wouldn't he!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Clegg and Cameron became quite close? Was it a Brokeback Mountain moment? ;)

Anonymous said...

They never thought of a visit to downtown Baghdad, trecking in the Tora Bora Mountains, white water rafting along the Yangtze or a urban marathon race through Pyongyang?

Newmania said...

I disagree. It gives Emily thornberry a chance to look nice when she is in fact a witch.

We do not need her raising her profile thankyou. We need to remind everyone that she was a far Left Trot who changed her tune for Islington and has become "Green MP of the year" ,with a succession of witless green inituatives. Islington is literally burning with social breakdown ,far from Barnsbury, and it sickens me to see her conduct her charade.

She send her children to the nearby Grammar you know

I submit that she is toxic cow and should not be pretending to be Mummy Chistmas

Anonymous said...

Iain, "strangely nobosy suggested a trek through Chechnya."

Apart from the typo i can't see why no one suggested that either! If the general public got a vote on it, that would be a sure fire winner :)

Anonymous said...

According to Vaizey's blog, Clegg won't consider a closer relationship... Do keep up!

Tristan said...

Clegg was probably relieved to get away from George Osbourne trying to court him ;)

stalin's gran said...

According to the Express yesterday (William Hickey, actually) Ed was trying to persuade Nick Clegg to join a Tory-Lib pact. Clegg is a nive boy - but what would his grandad say?

Anonymous said...

Good for them! About time some of these MPs did some good. Sounds like an excellent idea to whisk them off to do something like this. Anybody know what the next trip will be?