Reading Chronicle | Opinion | Richard Benyon's Westminster Diary

Friday, 16th May, 2008

Published: Thursday, 1st May, 2008 08:00

Richard Benyon's Westminster Diary

By Richard Benyon, MP for Newbury

Comments (0)

Print Article

Image related to story, see caption or article text

Newbury MP Richard Benyon

NO PRIZES for guessing that Parliament was rife with gossip and intrigue last week.

The loss of the 10p tax rate was going down like a lead balloon on the doorstep in marginal seats and Labour MPs returned from their Easter break in rebellious mood.

MPs could be found in corridors talking earnestly into their mobile phones or having heated conversations in sullen groups. As a Whip one of my tasks is to be a “teller”. This means you have to count MPs through the lobby as they vote.

As they passed, snippets of conversation could be heard giving a measure of the depth of unhappiness on the Government benches: “… told Gordon it just won’t wash with the electorate…”, “… spitting feathers …”, “… totally fed up…”. Then on Wednesday, half an hour before Prime Minister’s Questions, came the climb-down. The atmosphere in Number 10 must be sulphurous. All this at the time of local elections, the London Mayoral election and a by-election caused by the death of Gwyneth Dunwoody. It has all come too late as any changes will not be felt in people’s wage packets for some time.

I was called a murderer this week. It happens most nights when I leave the Commons onto Parliament Square. A small encampment of eccentric anti-war protesters have established themselves there, and one rather shrill girl has taken to hurling abuse at us when we leave.

Some say this is disgraceful and these people should be removed. I have a rather more live and let live attitude. Parliament Square has been a crucible of free speech and protest for centuries and we should not be so precious that we mind about such abuse.

I can never quite hear who I am supposed to have murdered but that is not an invitation for you to write and tell me.

The ring leader of this glee club is a strange man called Brian Haw.

There is something to admire in such persistent campaigning but I gather from the tabloids that he has loads of children who the taxpayer looks after, while he has passed the years ranting at passing cars in Parliament Square.

Perhaps he sneaks off during the day, has a shower and is “something in the City” before returning to shout at MPs.

Comments