BBC Parliament is a favourite channel so when Robert was out I thought I’d see if Bertie would enjoy it as much as me. We kicked off with a Bill in the House of Lords introduced by Lord “Big Issue” Bird about poverty.
He spoke incontinently to empty benches. A Conservative peeress replied with platitudes. Then Lord Giddens spoke as if he was delivering Thought for the Day on Radio 4. Lord Giddens is a distinguished sociologist and spoke elegantly without hesitation, deviation or repetition but poverty isn’t his subject. Next up was the Bishop of Leeds who waffled about visiting Kazakhstan. It was not the finest hour in the Upper House. Like Peter Rabbit after too much lettuce, Bertie was soporific.
I switched to Department of the Environment Questions in the Commons. Unlike PMQs sensible questions were answered briskly without any barracking. Greg Hands, Conservative MP for Fulham and Chelsea asked what the government was doing to reduce the pollution caused by the closure of Hammersmith Bridge. When I walk across the bridge, which is closed to traffic, I take deep breaths and enjoy the reduction in pollution but Hands opines that it has worsened emissions in Fulham High Street. Then the member for Hitchen and Harpenden asked a question and I had a glimpse into the future.
It’s not unusual, as Tom Jones croons, to hear that the country is divided over Brexit. This is usually the view of politicians. It would be fairer to say that the country is divided – the electorate versus the politicians. The electorate far from being divided are united in despising politicians of each and every party.
Perhaps a new generation of MPs will command our respect? The member for Hitchers and Harpers was elected in 2017; meet “Bim” Afolami. He is both brainy and articulate. I’d put money on him being our first black Prime Minister. He is a darling of the Conservative party because he went to Eton and Oxford so won’t rock the boat. If Rory Stewart ever becomes PM (I think he will peak as Foreign Secretary) I’m sure he will recognise Bim’s abilities.
https://youtu.be/Y-X4rmwbtns