Forum Topic

What will Ann do with her bumper summer break?

From BBCiLast Updated: Thursday, 19 May, 2005, 11:13 GMT 12:13 UK  MPs' bumper 80-day summer break  MPs will get a longer summer break this year MPs are to have an 80-day summer break from the House of Commons. Commons leader Geoff Hoon said the House will rise on 21 July - and not return until 10 October, after the party conference season. That means the recess begins a week earlier than expected - and does not include the short sitting in September introduced in recent years. Ex-Foreign Office minister Chris Mullin said he was disappointed the Commons was reverting to such a long break. No decision for 2006 He said: "Nothing so much brings us into discredit with our constituents as the idea that we take - which is false in many cases I know - two-and-a-half months off in the summer." The reason given for the two-week September sitting being cancelled is so a new security screen can be fitted in the Commons. Mr Mullin said the shortened break should be reintroduced in 2006 to which Mr Hoon replied just because the recess was extended this year did not mean any decision had been made about the future. MPs facing criticism about the length of time they have off from Parliament point out that in many cases they spend much of recesses carrying out work in their constituencies.

Conal Stewart ● 7282d17 Comments

Think she'll pay us a visit out here in the wild west or are we just too common for her to mix with?

Conal Stewart ● 7278d

Filling out 'expense' claims will take up a fair amount of time I shouldn't wonder.

Keith Iddon ● 7279d

Oh I'm quite sure they'd love that.  Political Gangstas in Northern Ireland usually do their training in places like Colombia, generally under the guise of Birdwatching.  It's ok to be a Political Gangsta if you're of the republican persuasion according to New Labour.  You just can't be a political gangsta of the muslim persuasion.

Conal Stewart ● 7281d

I know, I've met some of them.  Maybe we ought to send some of the gangstas over there for training?  On the taxpayer, naturally...

Phil Andrews ● 7281d

I don't think they are very gangsta.  She's not in the same league as Northern Ireland's politicians.

Conal Stewart ● 7281d

I don't think they are very gangsta.  She's not in the same league as Northern Ireland's politicians.

Conal Stewart ● 7281d

Maybe that would explain the gangsta posse?

Phil Andrews ● 7281d

She doesn't mix with us riff raff in Brentford, she prefers people in Covent Garden.  She'll think you want to steal her bags.

Conal Stewart ● 7281d

Conal,Maybe she'd let me carry her bags?

Ann S. Allridge ● 7281d

I hope you have a nice time.  I wonder how many weekend trips to venice Ann Keen could slip in during the summeer on her nice summer pay packet.

Conal Stewart ● 7281d

Conal, I am hoping to have a long weekend in Venice......I wouldn't describe it as a 'bumper summer break' though.Oops!  My apologies...that Ann!

Ann S. Allridge ● 7282d

loved the pic deff likeness off you phil lolwill ann take time this summer to answer the questions put to her on hereprobably not

Simon Anderson ● 7282d

http://www.chiswickw4.com/default.asp?section=community&link=http://nnet-server.com/server/common/polbandicart.htmA good likeness of Phil don't you think?

Morag Campbell Hawick ● 7282d

Plague?  Oh dear.

Conal Stewart ● 7282d

Spot on Phil.As Woods cartoon suggests a plague on both her houses.

Morag Campbell Hawick ● 7282d

"MPs facing criticism about the length of time they have off from Parliament point out that in many cases they spend much of recesses carrying out work in their constituencies."Starting as they mean to go on, eh? As I live in the constituency I shall keep my eyes open for flying pigs or Ann Keen and in the unlikely event that I see a flying pig, or in the even more unlikely event that I see Ann Keen, I will keep everybody posted.

Phil Andrews ● 7282d

Some selected responses from the BBC website.."Just because the MPs have time off in the summer away from London does not mean they are not working. I think the break is a fantastic time for the MPs to get about in their local areas and get in touch with the people they represent, and not just waste away on the green benches!" -Sam Ellis, Retford, Notts, UK "I am actually in favour of the longer summer break. I think that it is important that MPs spend time in their constituencies as well as in Westminster, and the break gives them the opportunity to do that. If we feel our local MP has not been sufficiently active, we can vote him/her out at the next election, but surely the possibility for local activism and representation should not be removed?"Anthony, London "Well, they can always use the time to see how the real people live whilst taking up their highly paid outside interests along with their overpaid MP's salary and allowances."Anthony Parker, Burntwood, England ___________________________________________________________I don't think Anthony, Sam, and Anthony have a lazy remote arrogant MP like Ann Keen.Lucky them.

Conal Stewart ● 7282d