Political Week on Twitter: May 13th – 18th
Heckled Cabinet ministers, a new president struck by lightning and trouble in the Tory party: just another week, then… We began on fairly solid ground, for unpopular Cabinet ministers being heckled by their public service workforces is now so unremarkable that most politicos don't even bat an eyelid. Still, there is a macabre sort of pleasure at watching the powerful squirm. Health secretary Andrew Lansley faced the Royal College of Nursing's annual congress in Harrogate on Monday:
RCN Congress is laughing at Andrew Lansley telling nurses to report low staffing nurses to bosses #rcncongress
— politicshomeuk (@politicshomeuk) May 14, 2012
Q: Guess how many hands went up at RCN conference to question "Is NHS safe in Lansley's hands?" A: 1 [and they were having an epileptic fit]
— Marcus Chown (@marcuschown) May 17, 2012
He was not ripped to shreds, so it might have been worse. But their open hostility raised questions about the whole point of the exercise – and Lansley's future as a Cabinet minister.
Why does Lansley bother going to the RCN conference? Would be quicker to sit in the stocks in Parliament Square and get pelted with fruit
— Tim Shipman (Mail) (@ShippersUnbound) May 14, 2012
Big question is will dc keep lansley? Big big question after watching his reception by disdainful but not that disrespectful rcn today.
— Toby Helm (@tobyhelm) May 14, 2012
Having watched Lansley's treatment, home secretary Theresa May must have been shuddering before her appearance at the Police Federation's annual conference in Bournemouth on Wednesday. Even before she started speaking, she would have been all too aware of the feelings of police officers:
MT @alantravis40 Theresa May insists podium is moved at Police Fed conf so shes not in front of logo'Cutting police by 20% is criminal'
— lucy manning (@lucymanning) May 16, 2012
Home Sec was greeted in silence by rank-and-file officers holding up signs reading "enough is enough" #pfew2012 telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/la…
— PFEW (@PFEW_HQ) May 16, 2012
After enduring the annual bruising from Police Fed chair Paul McKeever, May bravely tried to get through the session. But it was as painful as expected.
You're a disgrace, Police Federation member tells Theresa May itv.co/JFUWsI
— ITV News (@itvnews) May 16, 2012
Glad to see Sun, Express and Telegraph defend Theresa May against "militant" and "rude" @PoliceFedChair -see bottom of: conho.me/JQoSBM
— Tim Montgomerie (@TimMontgomerie) May 17, 2012
Across the English Channel, the elements were preparing a reception of another kind for France's new president, the Socialist Francois Hollande.
President Francoise Hollande's plane – Air Force Un – struck by lightning en route to Berlin, proving that God is definitely a Eurosceptic.
— Tony Parsons (@TonyParsonsUK) May 15, 2012
Unlike David Cameron & George Osborne, it appears Francois Hollande has a Plane B.
— Rory Bremner (@rorybremner) May 15, 2012
Hollande was rushing off to meet with German chancellor Angela Merkel to deal with the eurozone crisis. The contrast with his frosty start with David Cameron did not go unnoticed in Britain…
Wonder if David Cameron still thinks it was wise to be too busy to meet Hollande ?j.mp/KJlbvD Je suis in socialistè
— AndyD (@SwindonG) May 9, 2012
As Francois Hollande prepares to meet Merkel. we learn that he and Cameron won't meet until next month's G8 summit. What does that tell us?
— glenoglazaSky (@glenoglazaSky) May 14, 2012
… a point which Ed Miliband made the most of in this week's prime minister's questions.
Miliband suggests Cameron send a text message LOL to Hollande. First LOL gag! #pmqs
— glenoglazaSky (@glenoglazaSky) May 16, 2012
David Cameron trying to claim Hollande as an ally in austerity really is hilarious. #pmqs
— Chris Wallace (@CJWallace91) May 16, 2012
The Tory backbenchers backing up the PM in prime minister's questions were the same ones who were engaged in a subtle fight for the party's future this week, through elections to the executive of the 1922 committee. Feathers were ruffled as the leadership was seen to support the '301 group' of modernisers.
This battle for the Tory 1922 committee has really kicked off. “This is an exercise on Salisbury Plain with live ammunition,” says one MP.
— Michael Savage (@michaelsavage) May 15, 2012
Voted in the 1922 elections. As I suspect most have done, I voted on individuals without a thought to what 'group' or 'slate' they were on
— Daniel Byles (@danielbyles) May 16, 2012
In the end the result was something of a score-draw – or a victory on points for the modernisers.
Wow! 11 of 18 Tory MPs on 1922 committee voted for In / Out EU referendum. Big shift towards those wanting referendum
— Douglas Carswell MP (@DouglasCarswell) May 16, 2012
Sigh of relief for Cameron (?) as Peter Bone & Christopher Chope from the awkward squad voted off the 1922 committee & 301ers triumph
— glenoglazaSky (@glenoglazaSky) May 16, 2012
Observers were noting that the consequences of the elections went far beyond the character of one committee. This might just be about the future of the coalition.
More than left or right, the 1922 election was about generational shift. 11 out of 12 on exec haven't been MPs more than 2 yrs.
— Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) May 16, 2012
#1922 Loyalists in place on '22 committee for major putsch next year. But risk it will neuter '22 and force opposition under ground
— Christopher Hope (@christopherhope) May 16, 2012
The prime minister had more important things to worry about, as he engaged in another bout of plain speaking on Europe.
Time for the #eurozone to "make-up or break-up" Cameron says in #PMQs, watch clip bbc.in/J872MT
— BBC Daily Politics (@daily_politics) May 16, 2012
Eurozone nations all tell me they are grateful to David Cameron for pointing out that there may be a problem.
— Jim Pickard (@PickardJE) May 17, 2012
Word of advice Mr Cameron, before you go giving advice to the Eurozone, get your own house in order, Arrogant out of touch, pompous Idiot.
— Dave Camoron (@EtonOldBoys) May 17, 2012
"open speculation about the future of some countries in the eurozone is doing real damage"G Osborne's lecture clearly missed by D Cameron
— Patrick Wintour (@patrickwintour) May 16, 2012
If the PM thinks the Eurozone has to "makeup or breakup" why did he veto the "make up" last December?
— Faisal Islam (@faisalislam) May 16, 2012
Can i just say Dave's new policy "Break up or make up" may have been inspired by the classic "Break Up to Make Up" by the Stylistics, 1973.
— ann treneman (@anntreneman) May 16, 2012
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