Army drafted in over MPs’ bills, Carol Vorderman’s awkward Tory endorsement
Expenses-abusing MPs to be court-martialled
Following the revelations a few weeks in the past that 4 MPs had been allowed to say driving fines on bills, questions started to swirl round whether or not the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), the impartial physique that oversees MPs’ bills claims, continues to be as much as the job.
It now appears IPSA themselves have realised they want a bit extra regimented oversight.
Beachcomber can reveal that Brigadier Jonathon Blair-Tidewell has been drafted in because the physique’s new Compliance Officer, efficient 30 May.
The Brigadier served within the British Army for 26 years earlier than deciding the House of Commons was in want of some rigorous boot camp coaching about what MPs can and can’t declare on the taxpayer’s dime.
According to IPSA, Blair-Tidewell was “responsible for the deployment, sustainment, and recovery of all UK military forces on operations worldwide” in addition to having toured Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Cyprus.
Even these courageous missions might pale as compared if he tries standing in the way in which of sure MPs and their questionable expense claims…
Crunch Tory Mayoral weekend
While the Tory occasion eats itself alive, the standard cogs of politics haven’t stopped turning. Sir Arbuthnot hears this weekend is a make-or-break second for Tory hopefuls vying to change into the occasion’s London Mayoral candidate.
On Sunday all seven candidates are heading into Party HQ for an interview, with the ultimate three being determined that day.
On Monday morning the three profitable candidates are booked in for a gathering in Downing Street, presumably to speak about their plans and instructions for London and the marketing campaign.
In extra worrying news for the occasion, this choice timetable is already operating every week delayed in comparison with the timeline drafted two months in the past…
Tory leaflet undermines Countdown Carol’s outrage
Carol Vorderman has lately remodeled herself right into a darling of the anti-Tory Twitter mob, continually accusing the Government of corruption, lies, sleaze and all the remaining.
Yesterday she branded Boris Johnson “disgusting” and accused him of “robbing and gaslighting”.
Carol didn’t at all times have the identical politics, nevertheless.
It’s properly documented that method again within the halcyon days of 2010 she actively supported the Conservative Party and David Cameron, defending them on Question Time and even rocking up at Party HQ in Milbank infrequently.
Now Beachcomber can reveal her help didn’t cease there – together with her making appearances on official Tory Party marketing campaign literature.
A protracted-forgotten “magazine” for older voters, produced printed and printed by Tory HQ, featured a beaming Carol on the entrance web page and a promise from her that the Conservative Party would enhance schooling.
Her overview of the Labour Government was damning: “A thriving economy depends on a thriving education system. Pupils can’t learn and teachers can’t teach when lessons are disrupted. And all too often, parents can’t get their children into the first choice school”.
Beachcomber’s unsure Carol’s newfound hard-left base of Twitter supporters would react too kindly to his archival discovery…