Moonlighting MPs

I'm sure that I'm not the only person who finds Gordon Brown's non-attendance at the special session of Parliament - held as a tribute to Margaret Thatcher - more than a bit pathetic.

Because the former Labour leader was quite happy to praise The Iron Lady and talk up their supposed similarities - when he finally set foot in 10 Downing Street as prime Minister.

In September 2007, Gordon told a press conference that he “admired” Lady Thatcher as a “conviction politician" - before adding - "I am a conviction politician like her.”

Yet the sometime MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath issued a statement to say that he could not make it back to House of Commons for the special session of Parliament - because he had “immovable commitments”.

Which involved Gordon in giving a speech in Cannes as part of his role as the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education - one of his many extra-curricular activities as an MP.

Instead Gordon was 'represented' by his wife - Sarah - who sat in the visitors' gallery of the House of Commons and issued a tweet on Twitter saying:

“Just arrived at House of Commons to represent Gordon in the gallery for tributes to Lady Thatcher as he had immovable commitments today.”

To my mind that is a laughable thing to say and a ridiculous way to behave - because the Prime Minister cut short an pre-arranged visit to France himself while was official business - when he learned the news.
Many other MPs - on all sides of the House of Commons - would have had to re-arrange their diaries in order to be present on the day.

So what's the big deal about Gordon Brown and his allegedly immoveable comittments? 

Readers will be pleased to learn that Gordon will be able to attend Lady Thatcher’s funeral at St Paul’s Cathedral in London next week - where he will no doubt be rubbing shoulders with the great and the good from around the globe.

Bah humbug - I say.