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After the scandal of MPs claiming duck houses on the taxpayer, Commons expenses chiefs scrutinise every claim.
But spare a thought for Tory MP Graham Stuart, recovering from crippling injuries after a skiing accident.
'My doctor told them that to carry out my MPs' duties, I probably needed an electric wheelchair. The expenses officials said that since I only 'probably' needed an electric one, I'd have to make do with a manual one. I ask you?'
Crippling: Tory MP Graham Stuart was told by expenses officials to make do with a manual wheelchair ********************************************************************************************************************James Wharton, the 29-year-old Tory who won an MPs' ballot to get the chance to turn plans for an EU referendum into reality in 2017, should enjoy his moment in the sun. He is unlikely to be in Parliament when the historic plebiscite takes place: Teesside MP Wharton has a wafer-thin majority of 332 and his constituents don't seem to give a monkey's about the EU. 'I'm not voting for him again,' one local said yesterday. Make that 331 – and falling. More... £11.5bn in cuts? No, we can only manage £2.5bn, cabinet ministers tell the Chancellor Education Secretary Michael Gove is heckled as headteachers pass vote of no confidence in his reforms
The risky roamings of Freya the tubby catGeorge Osborne's cat Freya, who lives with the Chancellor's family in Downing Street, is fast using up her nine lives. The tubby tabby has been spotted in, of all places, the Red Lion pub, on the other side of Whitehall, one of the widest and busiest roads in Central London. The mobile moggy, above, was also seen in a Trafalgar Square restaurant and was found roaming the Foreign Office. 'Freya has seen more of London than most tourists,' said a Treasury aide. Roaming: George Osborne's mobile moggy Freya was spotted in the Red Lion pub in Whitehall ********************************************************************************************************************The Deputy Speaker, Tory MP Nigel Evans, arrested over claims of rape and sexual misconduct with two men, has thanked Ed Miliband for the warm support he has received from Labour MPs. Labour MP Louise Ellman was seen throwing a comforting arm around Evans, and veteran Leftie Sir Gerald Kaufman made a show of offering his support, too. 'Nigel has been deeply moved by the response of Labour MPs,' said a source in the Speaker's office.Duped by Mr Sneaky Michael Gove caused a stir claiming teachers were using the Mr Men children's cartoons in lessons on the Nazis. But he is not the first political figure in trouble over Mr Men. Tony Blair tried to use them to portray John Major as 'Mr Spineless' and 'Mr Dither' in 1997 Election posters. It was vetoed by trustees of the cartoon's creator Roger Hargreaves – but Blair's aides got round it by leaking them to the Press. Mr Sneaky. Mr Sneaky: Michael Gove claimed teachers were using the Mr Men cartoons in lessons on the Nazis ********************************************************************************************************************Ed Miliband's housing spokesman Jack Dromey has dropped a brick. The old trade union warhorse makes the furious point that 'the number of house build starts in Bradford has plummeted by almost 50 per cent in the past year, from 580 to 390.' Jack, that's 33 per cent. The former master of the block vote is, well, a blockhead. ********************************************************************************************************************Innumeracy must be in the air in Westminster: Nick Clegg has apologised to the Commons for claiming during his PM's Questions appearance on Wednesday that 'we spent 100 days legislating in this Parliament for an EU referendum'. He meant 100 hours, but Dog understands why he made the slip – it has certainly felt longer.
