It was widely noted that the Prime Minister remained grinning in his seat after PMQs to hear a Point of Order directed to the Speaker from Tory MP Simon Burns. Burns wanted to know whether the Speaker would withdraw his letter of recommendation for Carol Mills as Clerk of the House. The letter is currently languishing in Number 10.
What’s more, Mr Steerpike hears that a guffawing David Cameron fired up his backbenchers for today’s skirmish at last night’s meeting of Conservative MPs in the Boothroyd Room. ‘What does he want me to do with this letter?’ quipped the PM, adding:
‘Shall I just stuff it down the side of the sofa? Put it in the bin? Or shall we just forget we ever received it?’
The PM was heard to later joke that ‘this is example of when government inaction has been a good thing’ and as he praised Sir George Young as chief whip, added that it was a shame that he had not been made Speaker instead.
Mr S suspects someone is greatly enjoying the Speaker’s growing discomfort.
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