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Chuka Umunna does a runner when others might blather Chuka Umunna does a runner when others might blather
(less than a minute earlier)
On reflection, Chuka Umunna may now wish he had come better prepared. With most of Westminster talking of little else but Eric Pickles’ letter to Muslim leaders all morning, it was not unreasonable of Sky’s Dermot Murnaghan to ask the shadow business secretary if he thought it was patronising. But Umunna had not read it and was not going to pretend he had. Murnaghan looked amazed. “I can do you a few more minutes on David Cameron’s employment speech, if you like,” Umunna said helpfully.On reflection, Chuka Umunna may now wish he had come better prepared. With most of Westminster talking of little else but Eric Pickles’ letter to Muslim leaders all morning, it was not unreasonable of Sky’s Dermot Murnaghan to ask the shadow business secretary if he thought it was patronising. But Umunna had not read it and was not going to pretend he had. Murnaghan looked amazed. “I can do you a few more minutes on David Cameron’s employment speech, if you like,” Umunna said helpfully.
This was not what Murnaghan had in mind at all. “We’ve already forgotten the prime minister’s fairly dull speech,” he said (in as many words). “Just give me a few words that will make a story. Patronising or not patronising, that is the question.” Realising that he was now the one being patronised, Umunna did a runner mid-interview.Ministers must often wish they could do the same during departmental questions in the Commons. But saying “thank you for asking me that question but, the thing is, I really haven’t mugged up on that. I know I should have done and I apologise for that, but I am not going to waste everyone’s time by blahing on non-committally about something I know nothing about,” isn’t an option.This was not what Murnaghan had in mind at all. “We’ve already forgotten the prime minister’s fairly dull speech,” he said (in as many words). “Just give me a few words that will make a story. Patronising or not patronising, that is the question.” Realising that he was now the one being patronised, Umunna did a runner mid-interview.Ministers must often wish they could do the same during departmental questions in the Commons. But saying “thank you for asking me that question but, the thing is, I really haven’t mugged up on that. I know I should have done and I apologise for that, but I am not going to waste everyone’s time by blahing on non-committally about something I know nothing about,” isn’t an option.
Which is how junior education minister Edward Timpson later came to find himself saying: “The honourable gentleman’s point is a very important one in the lives of many grandparents and I have recently discussed this issue with family groups that represent grandparents to see what more we can do. They were fruitful discussions. This is an area we need to look at and I will continue to work with them” – ad-libbing a response to what seemed a quite straightforward question If in doubt, waffle. Having done nothing to enlighten either himself or the house on the nature of those discussions or why they were fruitful, he sat down.Which is how junior education minister Edward Timpson later came to find himself saying: “The honourable gentleman’s point is a very important one in the lives of many grandparents and I have recently discussed this issue with family groups that represent grandparents to see what more we can do. They were fruitful discussions. This is an area we need to look at and I will continue to work with them” – ad-libbing a response to what seemed a quite straightforward question If in doubt, waffle. Having done nothing to enlighten either himself or the house on the nature of those discussions or why they were fruitful, he sat down.
There is already an end of term feel in Westminster, an understanding that, even with four months still to go before the election, the business of government is doing little more than ticking over. Or winding down. Barely 100 or so MPs made it to the Commons and most of those who did were more interested in offering their birthday greetings to the Speaker, John Bercow. The education secretary, Nicky Morgan, got the ball rolling. “First, Mr Speaker, may I wish you a very happy birthday? I am sure that members on both sides of the house wish you the same.”There is already an end of term feel in Westminster, an understanding that, even with four months still to go before the election, the business of government is doing little more than ticking over. Or winding down. Barely 100 or so MPs made it to the Commons and most of those who did were more interested in offering their birthday greetings to the Speaker, John Bercow. The education secretary, Nicky Morgan, got the ball rolling. “First, Mr Speaker, may I wish you a very happy birthday? I am sure that members on both sides of the house wish you the same.”
Chloe Smith, Barry Sheerman, Yvonne Fovargue, Virendra Sharma, Graeme Morrice and Martin Harwood bowed low in their salutations. Not to be outdone, Geoffrey Robinson mentioned that he had sent the Speaker a card. “Creep,” said a lone voice. Morgan tried to put a stop to the jollity, but the few MPs who had made the trek to the Commons had not done so to waste too much time on policy. On and on it came, the Speaker love, some of it even genuine.Chloe Smith, Barry Sheerman, Yvonne Fovargue, Virendra Sharma, Graeme Morrice and Martin Harwood bowed low in their salutations. Not to be outdone, Geoffrey Robinson mentioned that he had sent the Speaker a card. “Creep,” said a lone voice. Morgan tried to put a stop to the jollity, but the few MPs who had made the trek to the Commons had not done so to waste too much time on policy. On and on it came, the Speaker love, some of it even genuine.
With time slipping by, Keith Vaz was not to be denied. During a question about Leicester schools, he said: “They all provide an excellent education for local children. I am sure that today many of them, as part of their duties, will be painting birthday cards to send to Mr Speaker.”With time slipping by, Keith Vaz was not to be denied. During a question about Leicester schools, he said: “They all provide an excellent education for local children. I am sure that today many of them, as part of their duties, will be painting birthday cards to send to Mr Speaker.”
Quick as a flash, Morgan replied: “Knowing the right honourable gentleman, I suspect that he will have a photograph taken of him with the children painting their cards and it will appear in the Leicester Mercury very shortly.”Quick as a flash, Morgan replied: “Knowing the right honourable gentleman, I suspect that he will have a photograph taken of him with the children painting their cards and it will appear in the Leicester Mercury very shortly.”
The education secretary is not an easy politician to love, but just for a moment there was even more love for her than there was for the Speaker.The education secretary is not an easy politician to love, but just for a moment there was even more love for her than there was for the Speaker.