** MPs Expenses ** Mitchell's Shame ** Embarrassing Emails ** Binders Of Women **
MPS EXPENSES
John Bercow is trying to block the publication of details of MPs' expenses which could show if they are renting their taxpayer-funded homes to each other, according to the Daily Telegraph. Because apparently it is 2009 again.
The paper reports Bercow has written to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) urging it not to release documents revealing the identities of MPs' landlords for security reasons. Thought we were done with all of this? Apparently not. There better not be any duck houses involved.
Today's Memo is edited by Ned Simons (@nedsimons) as Mehdi is bunking off school.
MITCHELL'S SHAME
Tory MPs huddled together last night in a Commons committee room to discuss the fate of chief whip Andrew Mitchell, hours after Ed MIliband had taunted the prime minister over the plebgate affair during prime minister's questions.
Cries of "shame" were said to be heard coming from the meeting of the 1922 committee. Sky News' Jon Craig says that while the majority spoke out to defend Mitchell, five MPs were highly critical. He says they were; James Duddridge, Anne Main, Sarah Wollaston, Andrew Percy and Philip Davies.
The Guardian reports that David Cameron has told Mitchell he needs to "rebuild his relations" with the Conservative Party. In effect telling him he needs to get on just good enough terms with MPs so he has enough authority to then convincingly threaten them on behalf of the prime minister in future.
EMBARRASSING EMAILS
No not this one. David Cameron is under pressure to reveal whether he withheld emails and texts between himself and Rebekah Broos and Andy Coulson from he Leveson Inquiry. Harriet Harman wrote to the prime minister yesterday demanding he come clean
During prime minister's questions Chris Bryant asked whether he was refusing to publish them because they were too "salacious and embarrassing" He added: "I wouldn't smile, when the truth comes out the prime minister won't be smiling."
PEOPLE FALLING OVER
Yesterday a video emerged of Australian prime minister Julia Gillard falling over. Which is also an excuse to replay the video of education secretary Michael Gove slipping over.
BECAUSE YOU'VE READ THIS FAR...
The Obama-Romney debate given has been given the animated Taiwanese video treatment. Warning: A panda gets punched in the face.
140 CHARACTERS OR LESS
@Mike_Fabricant Now that Sky News are quoting me, I may be asked to do the 4am newspaper review. At least 200 people watch it. I'm a B list celebrity.
@Aiannucci According to Twitter "twitter" is trending. These are the end times.
@samsteinhp vice president's pool report: ""Malarkey! Malarkey!" the crowd shouted out. Biden smiled."
900 WORDS OR MORE
The Prince of Wales must be free to give his opinions, writes Jack Straw in The Daily Telegraph. "Any minister will tell you that the confidence of the Crown is vital for the system to work".
In The Times, former MP Louise Mensch writes from New York: "Nobody in the Conservative tea room discusses replacing Dave with Boris. But people do discuss likely successors. In this respect, Michael Gove’s Europe intervention was hugely significant. "
And Peter Oborne, The Daily Telegraph writes: "Withdrawal from the EU has changed from being a fringe view to mainstream opinion."
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