Margaret Beckett Forgets Her Convictions

Was I alone in watching the Trident debate and thinking to myself that if Margaret Beckett had been on the backbenches she would have been speaking out against a British independent nuclear deterrent? Power is a great diluter of conviction, is it not?

A Way to Broadcast the Bremner/Beckett Tape

So it was Margaret Beckett who was duped by Rory Bremner into having a conversation with Gordon Brown about a rehsuffle. I'd love to be a fly on the wall when she next sees Patricia Hewitt. Bremner says the tape cannot be broadcast on TV because of Ofcom rules. True, but of course internet TV is not bound by them... I'm sure I could find a way of broadcasting them on my 18 Doughty Street programme! Anyone got Rory's email address? If so please email it to me rather than leave it in the Comments.

Read an edited transcipt of the conversation HERE.

Foreign Office Want Leo Beckett to F O

The Foreign Office diplomatic wallahs are tearing their hair out about Margaret Beckett's husband Leo. Seventy nine year old Leo is at his wife's side 24 hours a day. He acts as her paid assistant and resides in her office in the Foreign Office, much to the consternation of her Private Office officials.

A recent 'diplomatic incident' at Chevening has had them reaching for the smelling salts. Leo Beckett was showing a group of Africans round the 'grace and favour' residence. When they got to the staircase he apparently used a term to describe the builders of the staircase which the African visitors were less than impressed with.

The Foreign Office are counting the days until Gordon Brown takes over in Downing Street. They are counting on him replacing Beckett to finally rid them of their office squatter.

UPDATE: Feb 20: I've just received a call from an extremely rude woman called Liz Bryan who said she "works for Margaret Beckett" denying this incident took place. When I asked what her position was, she became very coy and wouldn't continue the conversation. I asked her for her phone number so I could ring her back and she put the phone down. She did have time to tell me that Leo Beckett wasn't 84. I gather he is 79 so I am glad to change that. She also denied that Mr Beckett is a permanent fixture at the FCO. Not what I hear from multiple sources.