I've just left the Spectator Parliamentarian of the Year Awards at Claridges. I had never been invited before so it was all a new experience - very much a gathering of the Westminster 'great and the good'... And not so good in some cases. Anyway, here are the award winners...
Newcomer: Nick Clegg
Inquisitor: Michael Connarty
Peer: Lady Thatcher
Speech: William Hague (Wilberforce speech)
Resignation: Tony Blair
Minister to Watch: Liam Byrne
Campaigner: IDS
Parliamentarian: Alex Salmond
Marathon Man: Ian Paisley
Politician: George Osborne
The most bizarre (and as yet unexplained) quote of the lunch came when IDS proclaimed that he was the only one in the room ever to have see Dr John Reid in his underpants. John Reid, who was presenting the awards, remained inscrutable. I suspect Glasgow kisses were exchanged afterwards.
22 comments:
Think I may know the answer to that one.
Both were on a visit arranged by BP to Azerbaijan in the early 1990s, and they probably shared a room at the hotel in beautiful down-town Baku. Both were splendid company (I was the Head Office stooge who accompanied them).
Is the "Minister to watch" award given to someone of great future potential or to a minister with tendencies to corruption and deviance?
I have seen IDS in his underpants, if that helps at all. ;-)
BTW, how can you have a top resignation? Is that the person the Speccie most wanted rid of?
Surely Lord Drayson's resignation to go racing at Le Mans was more entertaining/novel?
Gideon .... Politician of the Year. Jesus what a load of nonsense.
Mr. Dale - was it really necessary to leave us with a mental image of Dr. Read in his skiddies .... quite put me off the afternoon digestives.
Ian, how remarkable , you posted a blog after the lunch. Most people, including myself, are incapable of speach and movement after the event.
The thought of Dr John Reid in his underpants makes me feel errrrmmmm funny.
Imagine him in Calvin Klein Y-fronts? no.
Imagine him in Speedos bikini briefs? errrm no.
I bet he is a boxer man.
As The Spectator was good enough to award Lady Thatcher, can you give her the honour of spelling her name correctly?
To The Tower with you!
Nothing for Lord Ashcroft?
What a scandal!!!!
Donor of the year?
'Honest' Peer of the year?
Most talked about Peer of the year?
I'm shocked!
Is there a tower in your day, Canute?
Thatcher peer of the year? Me thinks some brown nosing going on....given that Lady Thatcher made no speeches or even voted much.
John ye dirty wee bugger. Yon Y fronts hae mair skid marks than Pirelli's test track
"Nothing for Lord Ashcroft?"
He was high on the list Gary but it was a close run thing with the Unions (Unions 50p more.....would you believe it!) so we kicked both into touch. Thank God Gordon wasn't on the panel or we would have all 'Gone West!
Your Spectator Team
Such a pity Lord Falconer didn't win the 'Chutzpah of the Year' Award for his sordid attempt to up his pension.
Salmond as Parliamentarian? He's never bloody there!
If Liam Byrne is the One to Watch, then the Labour Party is royally screwed...
Surely Liam Byrne's "Minister to Watch" award refers to his proclivity for dealing with "important and urgent deportation issues" on his mobile phone while driving. And this is the nasty little smear who won his way into Parliament by denigrating his by-election opponent as "Nokia" Davies. Yuck!
Oh, and having watched the Lib Dem contenders on Question Time I rather thank the Speccie has picked the wrong "newcomer". They of course, like you Iain, favour Clegg - but Huhne also came into the Westminster Parliament only two and a bit years ago. He hardly looks like a newcomer anymore - more like a completely credible party leader. Clegg went into tonight's debate as front runner, and to my view got thoroughly overtaken.
"Salmond as Parliamentarian? He's never bloody there!"
Much like Brown's mental state.
It's revenge for Labour spinners saying Major wore his outside his trousers, and about time.
Poor old Maggie, having to endure tea with Gordon Brown. She deserves one.
"Marathon Man: Ian Paisley"?
"Marathon" as in "nutty"?
I am glad to have read John O's explanation about Dr Reid's underpants as, when I read your item at first, I assumed the joke was that he doesn't usually wear any. I believe that is the tradition is certain circles, including possibly in the tough Glasgow surroundings in which Dr Reid was brought up. Some of his other habits have been reported as allegedly a bit basic as well. He is also about the least popular Minister ever with his civil servants, but I am reliably informed by the civil service friends who have told me this that that is nothing to do with his underpants. Thank God.
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