Apparently the Cabinet Minister is the Conservative Party Parliamentary Chief Whip and he had an altercation with the Police at Downing Street – something to do with his bicycle. It is the type of story that the UK domestic media take up and run with for days on end and it bores the crap out of me.
In fact, this story is an example of why I only listen to the BBC World Service, watch CNN International, Bloomberg and CNBC where the headlines are about international matters. Admittedly I listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 for about 20 minutes in the morning too when I get up in order to get some sort of domestic angle. But I don’t read the UK national newspapers that much for the same reasons.
Seriously, please answer me this? Don't these parochial stories and the incessant chatter about them drive you mad? I got a lift in a friend’s car today and was subjected to this story on BBC Radio 5 Live after the copper involved went to his 'Federation Rep' - the Policeman's Union. It turned out to be sixty minutes of a phone in with Numpties going on and on about class warfare...arrrrrrrgh.
OK the Chief Whip may have be an aggressive prat (Hello!?! That's what Chief Whips are supposed to be – they 'whip' parliamentary backbenchers into line to vote for the Governing parties legislative programme though the Parliamentary Lobby). Look’s like this Whip was stupid and likely stressed to the Nines (wouldn't you be if you were Chief Whip of the UK Conservative Party right now?). For Heavens' sake he apologised straight away. Yep that’s right, the politician said ‘sorry’. Someone make a You Tube Video out of it and make him look silly!
BUT LET'S MOVE ON to the important global stuff that is affecting us all....